Freshly rebuilt truck. First time out.

[lyrikz]

My project is currently wrapping up.



Took it to the first car show this weekend. Appeared everyone loved the truck and the rims. I was unbelievably insecure, i didnt even pop the hood to show the pretty 454 because of the hood jam not looking very good.

Cruise it a bit and everyone loved the rims and suspension.

So now that i have a few miles on it, what do you guys recommend that i go back over. What do i check?? Every single creak and rattle i get nervous. Any noise i get nervous. Im going over all the basics but just wondering if you guys had stories on things coming loose on your vehicle on the first few drives or things i can check i wouldnt normally think of...

[original-71]

nice truck..

[Tmwoodall]

Is that black or super dark blue? I have planned to do mine a blue so dark it almost looks black. Can't tell which yours is.

[gearheads78]

I always recheck every suspension bolt and all the brake line / fuel lines and all the engine hoses.

Great looking truck BTW.

[70cst]

Very nice...

[magwakeenercew2jh]

Originally Posted by lyrikz

My project is currently wrapping up.

So now that i have a few miles on it, what do you guys recommend that i go back over. What do i check?? Every single creak and rattle i get nervous.....

Boy, oh, boy! I know what you mean. I kept telling myself whenever I built a truck, car, or bike, "Just look under it for puddles and drive (ride) it..."

But, whenever I stopped for more time than just a traffic light, I'd give it the complete "look under the chassis, look under the hood, look for air sucks, etc".
Seems like the more I looked for something, the more I'd find. But, mostly, stuff I WANTED TO CHANGE. Not stuff that was broken. Or that I had screwed up during the build.
Those seem to become obvious right away...usually to the ear or nose.

If I had the confidence to do it this way myself, I'd say, "Watch the gauges, look under it for puddles, and check (often at first) under the hood for juice where it doesn't belong."

Really nice truck, lyrikz.

[oldblue1968chevy]

nice truck

Id suggest some centercaps of different color or something to break it up. You should be very proud!

[big_al_71]

Al likes it...

[CG]

What, you didnt drive over to my house? Looks great, I bet its a great feeling. I bet you family is digging it too.

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by Tmwoodall

Is that black or super dark blue? I have planned to do mine a blue so dark it almost looks black. Can't tell which yours is.

Its SOO black, it looks blue in pictures.. ahah. Its black. I tried to find the BLACKEST black out there. Whats funny was at the car show there was this really nice fleetside. It was black, and she paid someone to build the truck for her. But you could see a light hint of brown in the paint. My wife noticed it. Mine is the blackest i have scene.. HOK is no joke.

Originally Posted by original-71

nice truck..

Why thank you.

Originally Posted by gearheads78

I always recheck every suspension bolt and all the brake line / fuel lines and all the engine hoses.

Great looking truck BTW.

Right rear brake line had a dribble. I replaced the junction but not the two rear older lines. Of course it leaks there. Checking the suspension and fuel now. Thanks.

Originally Posted by 70cst

Very nice...

thanks. I have never had a vehicle at a car show. Now, i dont know if this is the wrong thinking but i brought my truck to the car show just for people to see what i have done. I didnt build it to win anything. My "buddy" was givin me a hard time saying im going to the shows to just show off.... uhhh, i thought that was what they were for?? I go to see other ideas and hope people like what i did... in th eend though, it doesnt matter what they think as long as i like it.

Originally Posted by magwakeenercew2jh

Boy, oh, boy! I know what you mean. I kept telling myself whenever I built a truck, car, or bike, "Just look under it for puddles and drive (ride) it..."

But, whenever I stopped for more time than just a traffic light, I'd give it the complete "look under the chassis, look under the hood, look for air sucks, etc".
Seems like the more I looked for something, the more I'd find. But, mostly, stuff I WANTED TO CHANGE. Not stuff that was broken. Or that I had screwed up during the build.
Those seem to become obvious right away...usually to the ear or nose.

If I had the confidence to do it this way myself, I'd say, "Watch the gauges, look under it for puddles, and check (often at first) under the hood for juice where it doesn't belong."

Really nice truck, lyrikz.

HAHAHA. Man, that is so dead on. I drive about 20 miles to and from work. Stopped twice to check for leaks/ smoke/smells. ahah. First time i had some coolant out of the resevoir because i filled it all the way to the top and the radiator.. Ya, stupid i know, i just was really nervous. ahaha. Then my temp guage wouldnt work.. Got that fixed...

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

nice truck

Id suggest some centercaps of different color or something to break it up. You should be very proud!

Everyone who spoke to me about the truck loved the rims and couldnt figure out if the hood cowl was a sticker that i cleared over. Half didnt believe me that i painted it on. None of them believed me i didnt it in a garage with no booth. ahah.

Originally Posted by big_al_71

Al likes it...

Thanks al.

Originally Posted by CG

What, you didnt drive over to my house? Looks great, I bet its a great feeling. I bet you family is digging it too.

Kids love it.. And i will be right over. ahaha. Give me a call. I get off at 4, id love to come over and show you. Interior isnt done, but who cares.

[magwakeenercew2jh]

Originally Posted by lyrikz

...snip... I have never had a vehicle at a car show. Now, i dont know if this is the wrong thinking but i brought my truck to the car show just for people to see what i have done. I didn't build it to win anything. My "buddy" was givin me a hard time saying im going to the shows to just show off.... snip.....

I've had trucks and bikes in shows (at least) several times. The '72 was just in local shows. And, I sold it out of a show....which, as I think about it,
was a good reason NOT to have it in a show...oh, well.

But I primarily have entered each of the shows in order to get a good parking place.

[Hubscrub]

i had a fuel line come loose is it i think just watch the gauges and drive.

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by magwakeenercew2jh

I've had trucks and bikes in shows (at least) several times. The '72 was just in local shows. And, I sold it out of a show....which, as I think about it,
was a good reason NOT to have it in a show...oh, well.

But I primarily have entered each of the shows in order to get a good parking place.

ahah. I did love that parking spot.

My buddy said i should put a for sale in the truck for a ridiculous amount of money and see what i get. ahaha.

[oldblue1968chevy]

dude you did that yourself in a garage, good job!

Truck looks great if it were mine it'd have centercaps but take my imput with a grain of salt, it looks great lol

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

dude you did that yourself in a garage, good job!

Truck looks great if it were mine it'd have centercaps but take my imput with a grain of salt, it looks great lol

It has centercaps on there now. Is there a different cap that i dont know about???

[Longhorn Man]

that looks awesome... that's all there is to it

[Shaky]

Originally Posted by lyrikz

Its SOO black, it looks blue in pictures.. ahah. Its black. I tried to find the BLACKEST black out there. Whats funny was at the car show there was this really nice fleetside. It was black, and she paid someone to build the truck for her. But you could see a light hint of brown in the paint. My wife noticed it. Mine is the blackest i have scene.. HOK is no joke.

Amen brother, black should be blaaaack. None of this brownish, grayish stuff.

[CC69Rat]

What size / backspacing are your wheels and tires? How much drop? Thanks..

[Texasbigblock]

I agree! Make it BLACK! beautiful truck!