Doing alot of upgrades

[Camaro_nut2001]

I'm not to good on these pictures but here is the distributor and I found my oil leak. I thought it was the valve cover. Look at the dist. gasket.

I got the dist cleaned up and going to build it tomorrow if the good Lord is willing but that's all for today

[Camaro_nut2001]

Well my Dad came by and wanted to see the progress on the truck. We went out in the garage and he brought up how much slack was in the timing chain, I told him I hadn't checked it yet but I was going to when I got the intake off. He wanted to check it tonight so I grabed my breaker bar and turned the motor back and forth while he felt the #1 piston. He said there was to much freeplay so I had him turn the motor and I felt the piston and sure enough there is way to much freeplay so I guess i'm going to put a cam and gears in. I was hoping I wouldn't have to go that far as my plans were to just dress it up a little but I would have noticed the wear in the chain when I took the intake off so my upgrade has changed a little bit. I hope to post more pictures tomorrow night.

[bamabaxter]

I am definitely up for helping you out with the motor work.....or anything else for that matter.

[Camaro_nut2001]

Originally Posted by bamabaxter

I am definitely up for helping you out with the motor work.....or anything else for that matter.

Wow, Cool!!! Come on lol, just kidding. If you want to come over this weekend I will be in the garage Fri. & Sat. just give me a call. I am probably going to have the cam out tomorrow so all I'll be doing to the motor is cleaning. My gauges are suppose to be here tomorrow so we could build the dash cluster and put it in or we can build the dist.

[Camaro_nut2001]

Hey folks, I've been down in my back for a couple of days so I haven't been able to do much. I wired my gauge panel up this week on the dining room table where I could sit down to work on it. That little surprise for the center hole didn't turn out to good so I had to make adjustments to it for the time being untill I can come up with something I like. I want to put a clock in it but I can't find one that size. One of our members called me and was going to come over but I was in to bad of shape but now I feel a little better so maybe he can come and help me put the column in tomorrow. Any case, here is what I got done this week and installed it today.

[glider_6969]

How are you going to connect the wiring up from those new gauges. Are you going to splice into the old harness? I'm curious, thinking maybe of upgrading my gauges just not sure how I would like to go about it. If you could some more pics would be great of your progess. Keep up the good work.

[VA72C10]

glad you're feeling better. nice improvements so far...keep at it...

[Camaro_nut2001]

Originally Posted by glider_6969

How are you going to connect the wiring up from those new gauges. Are you going to splice into the old harness? I'm curious, thinking maybe of upgrading my gauges just not sure how I would like to go about it. If you could some more pics would be great of your progess. Keep up the good work.

I ran all new wires for everything but my fuel gauge and blinkers and I had to tie into my original harness for those two but it is hardly noticeable. There are a few switch on power tabs on your fuse block that you can plug into. The way I did it was I built my gauge panel and labeled all the wires and put female butt connectors on the ends. I did my truck the same way with new wire with male butt connectors labeled where they went. I just took my gauge panel out to the truck and it was just a plug in deal, just plug the same labeled wire together that way if I ever have to take it back out it will be easy and I left all my wires marked. You can run all your light wires into one hot and one ground. You can run all your switch on hots into one but I chose to run each gauge seperate. If you need any help just let me know.

[Camaro_nut2001]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

glad you're feeling better. nice improvements so far...keep at it...

Thank you.

[VetteVet]

I would like to see your thread as a sticky on this forum, at least for a while. Those are great pictures BTW. Once the upgrades are completed they could be moved to the FAQS for every one to see with a" How To Label", like some that are there already.

[Camaro_nut2001]

Originally Posted by VetteVet

I would like to see your thread as a sticky on this forum, at least for a while. Those are great pictures BTW. Once the upgrades are completed they could be moved to the FAQS for every one to see with a" How To Label", like some that are there already.

Well hello my instructor friend, that would be great as I might be able to help someone like you have helped me. I don't know how to get it moved or anything like that but if I can help someone I'm all for it. Thank you VetteVet you're a great asset to this community.

[glider_6969]

Originally Posted by Camaro_nut2001

I ran all new wires for everything but my fuel gauge and blinkers and I had to tie into my original harness for those two but it is hardly noticeable. There are a few switch on power tabs on your fuse block that you can plug into. The way I did it was I built my gauge panel and labeled all the wires and put female butt connectors on the ends. I did my truck the same way with new wire with male butt connectors labeled where they went. I just took my gauge panel out to the truck and it was just a plug in deal, just plug the same labeled wire together that way if I ever have to take it back out it will be easy and I left all my wires marked. You can run all your light wires into one hot and one ground. You can run all your switch on hots into one but I chose to run each gauge seperate. If you need any help just let me know.

Thanks I appreciate the offer. That's why this place is great for info and help.

[chevydog66]

Looking good. This place has good prices on gauges. www.egauges.com Oh, and how do you know if there is too much slack in the timing chain? How many miles are on the motor and how did it run?

[Camaro_nut2001]

Originally Posted by chevydog66

Looking good. This place has good prices on gauges. www.egauges.com Oh, and how do you know if there is too much slack in the timing chain? How many miles are on the motor and how did it run?

Hey thanks alot, yeah I checked them out "after" I bought my lower gauges at the big truck salvage yard and they do have some good prices. On the slack question, I watched the cam turn while I turned the crank back and forth. I was able to turn the crank more than I should have before the cam turned. You have a little freeplay but this was a little more than what I thought it should have. As far as the milage, I have no idea but as clean as the valley is it doesn't have a bunch of miles and it ran decent but the P/O had it a tad bit outta tune, plug gap was wrong etc... but after I got it home and played with it a little bit it is pretty torquey. Basically I'm just going for better looks and sound than I am performance as I've got all the performance I want in my little truck.

[Camaro_nut2001]

Well I've been playing with my truck and got the dash gauges, tilt steering column and steering wheel on. The cab has all new wire and all run in wire loom. All the electrical components work like they should and I'm happy with adding the door jamb switches and under dash courtesy lights on each side, I think they look good when you open the door. My buddy called me this morning and asked if I would come up and help him pick the best parts out as he is building one sbc out of three to put in his Rat Rod and trying to do it with just buying oil and filter. We got enough decent bearings, pistons, rings and a pretty good set of heads. I put the bottom end, cam and gear together today and he sprayed the best head gaskets we could find with copper paint. I'm gonna go up tomorrow or Monday and time it for him as they are gonna try and put it in tonight. I've got a little 600 holley I'm soaking and gonna put it together for him tonight but back to MY project. Here is a before and now picture. My plans are to tear into the motor next and more pictures to come soon.

[VA72C10]

nice work on the upgrades.

[Camaro_nut2001]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

nice work on the upgrades.

Thank you, it's taking me longer as I have bad days when I'm unable to do anything but look and good days when I can get a little done but I've been trying to help a friend get his Rat Rod ready for the spring Rod Runs. Dang, I hope I have mine back together in time, lol.

[bamabaxter]

Lookin good

[Camaro_nut2001]

Originally Posted by bamabaxter

Lookin good

There's my neighbor, how are ya Bama? Thanks. I spent all day yesterday helping a friend build a motor for his Rat Rod. He's building 1 out of 3 and trying to do it with just buying oil & filter. I went up and put his bottem end together and I put a little 600 Holley together last night for him. Picking out the best bearings, pistons etc... is tough, lol but I was able to roll around on his stool and do it. I just had to stand to torque his mains & rods.

[glider_6969]

Nice job with the steering column and gauges the work is looking good.

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Those new guages turned out nice and the steering wheel really sets it all off..

[bamabaxter]

Sweet deal...Maybe I can go check it out with you one evening. Glad that you got a chance to get your hands greasy on a motor. I know it always makes my day.

[Camaro_nut2001]

Originally Posted by glider_6969

Nice job with the steering column and gauges the work is looking good.

Thank you.

[Camaro_nut2001]

Originally Posted by FRENCHBLUE72

Those new guages turned out nice and the steering wheel really sets it all off..

Thank you. I wanted a different steering wheel as I don't care much for Grant wheels but my plan is next winter I want to put in a Ididit or Flaming River column and I will buy a nice steering wheel. Right now I'm just trying to get it ready for the Rod Run's. I have BIG plans for it next winter and I will be selling a few things.

[Camaro_nut2001]

Originally Posted by bamabaxter

Sweet deal...Maybe I can go check it out with you one evening. Glad that you got a chance to get your hands greasy on a motor. I know it always makes my day.

Hey Bama, yes you can go with me, my buddy said it was fine. Give me a call when you're not busy and we'll get into something. Tomorrow I've got to go adjust the valves and put his intake and dist. in. We should be able to fire it and I can play with it a little for him then i'm going to finish my motor as i'm done with the upgrades on my interior for this year.