Re: $2000 budget to start
 

Omg , just get a good battery and a clean fuel source and try to start the dang thing , you'll go nuts just getting to that point listening to way too many online mechanics . The trucks reasonably clean stop driving yourself over the edge and start it , let it idle for a few minutes and THEN , shut it down and move on to step 2 . This thread is a month old it only takes 15 minutes to find out if it will run :smoke:

Re: $2000 budget to start
 

^^^This too^^^^^

The old '71 K5 I bought had been sitting for years...........I checked the oil, cut the fuel line hose and stuck it down into a small gas can, ran a hot wire straight from the battery to the HEI, hooked up my remote start switch down at the starter, dumped a little gas in the carb, and fired it up.

Re: $2000 budget to start
 

Sorry to Grumpy Old Man for taking so long.

I did get it started after messing around with the carb and getting new bolts. It ran but there was a knock in it. So I let it run a bit longer and revved it up to hear a knocking that sounded like a guy in the motor with a hammer banging to get out. Pretty sure it is need of a full rebuild. I was a little bummed out but figured something was pretty wrong since my dad let it go.

Re: $2000 budget to start
 

Well I got some good news after I found out the original motor needs to be rebuilt. A buddy of mine has an Eddelbrock crate motor that he bought for a 79 build he was doing. He is selling the truck to a guy doing an LS swap so he is keeping the crate motor. He wasn't interested on making any profit since it is for me so he is letting me have it for$350.
It was bought in 2011 and only has approx. 35K miles on it. It is a 350 with the Eddelbrock intake, carb, valve covers, and air cleaner. He is giving it to me with the Hooker Headers on it, alternator, compressor, and distributor. I went over to hear it running this weekend and it started right up after sitting for 3 months and idled smooth as could be. I am excited. It was bolted up with his TH350 transmission so it should bolt up to mine.
I am going to swap it out with mine and once I get the truck fixed up and driving the way I want I will build the original motor the way I would like. It will be $1500 to build it the way I want so dropping $350 on this motor will save some of my budget. I am going to start a build thread since I am getting the motor delivered next weekend.

Re: $2000 budget to start
 

Now that's good deal!

Re: $2000 budget to start
 

Aren't you glad you didn't start buying parts before you knew if it ran ?

Re: $2000 budget to start
 

For sure. I was being way cautious and thinking too much about it. There was lots of good advise floating around but it was all for not anyway since the motor was toast. This motor will be a great donor motor until I get it driving and stopping correctly and safe.
Then I will build the original motor the way I want.

Re: $2000 budget to start
 

Check out Pirate Jacks brakes in Asheville ,Nc for disc brake conversion kits

piratejacks.net

Re: $2000 budget to start
 

Thanks. It's a Cheyenn Super so I have disc breaks up front and drums in the rear. I just need new rotors and wheel cylinders. If I convert the rear I will need a new break booster, lines, and master cylinder won't i?

Re: $2000 budget to start
 

That is a score!

Re: $2000 budget to start
 

No joke. My wife is big believer in fate and guardian angels and stuff like that. I was so bummed out that night I got the motor running. I was just really hoping it was gonna run well. She thinks it was my dad looking out for me since two days later I got the call about the crate motor.
Who knows. Maybe it was ol Tony sending me down a favor. I'll take it and be appreciative and holler out a big thanks to pops.

Re: $2000 budget to start
 

Don't forget to buy your buddy a case of his favorite beer or take him out to lunch, that is a heck of a deal on that engine...

Re: $2000 budget to start
 

We will have a brisket on the smoker that day and a bottle of whiskey waiting for him.