Starting to work on truck after 20 years

[rws1012]

I have been reading on this site for a while. Just signed back up. Finally getting to start rebuilding my 66 longbed truck after sitting for 20 plus years Bought a 1979 crossmember yesterday. Planned to start the motor last weekend and found it is locked up. Imagine that. LOL It is a 250 with 3 on the tree.
Plans are to rebuild 250, add 700r4, a/c, rust repair and paint. This is a great site with a lot of great information. Thanks to everyone for your info. I will be asking a lot of questions probably. LOL

[mongocanfly]

welcome....
before you commit to the 700r4 you might want to do some research....http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=769021

[Clyde65]

Welcome back!

[stsalvage]

If i was you I would not bother with the 700R4.If your going to spend 2500.00 on the rebuild and then pay a guy to set up the shift patterns.

Best off buy your self a 4L80E go out an buy the TCI computer for it witch will cost you 700.00.You can buy a used 4L80E for 500 to 700 with only 80K on it.Plus it will pull what you want it to pull.Plus with the TCI harness and computer it has 5 different run cycles.One for race one for towing One for cruising an ever so often jump on it One for Gas savings and one Pulling a steep in climb like the rocky mountains.

You really should do some looking.I've seen th400 bolted to 250 engines and 292.Plus the 4L80E is a 400 trans same bolt holes as are 1967 -2011.For the money you will save and less problem plus you can Keep the trans in overdrive in the 4L80E but u leave it in over drive with the 700R4 you can burn it up.

[rws1012]

Thanks for the reply's. I needed some ideas on different transmissions. Just getting this thing started on teardown. Will try to post some pics when I figure out how to do it. Being old and retired has it's moments. LOL. I am wanting to put in a column shifter and would like some ideas on that. Been doing some searching on this site and it has a ton of info. Thanks to everyone for the reply's.

[WhippinSaw]

Congrats on getting a plan for that old truck. Mine sat for 21 years, (until the kids went to college) had to pull plugs, lube, spin the oil pump and break it free. The motor was locked, but it did pop free, I was able to get it rocking a little with a breaker bar and just kept working it. Had to replace carb and other parts, but it runs and sounds just like it did when I was much younger. Got some Garage pics?

[rws1012]

Still working on trying to get some pics uploaded. Not very good at this computer stuff. Bad internet service here. My truck is a long fleet and it is 555 Saddle paint color with white cab. Rockers are bad and cab mounts are shot. Bed is a sheet of steel. Working on getting front clip off now. Will pull motor and trans. Maybe with the engine on a stand I can get it unstuck. Thanks for the replies.