HG's Bigass Farm Truck

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Nice work on the truck and beautiful Huskies! Is Ivan a red? That sure is a pretty color on a Husky. I'm not sure I've seen one of those before.

Yes, he's reddish brown. It's not uncommon really but most people are familiar with the more classic grey, black, white coloring. I'm working on my plow truck right now so no update until I finish the axle swap.

[hgs_notes]

I started a build thread for the plow truck too...

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...68#post8915468

[400/400]

Thanks for the updates!

[hgs_notes]

Plow truck is back together. Not quite done but the rest can wait a while. Time for rust repair. Again. The inner rocker was really bad but I think I got the worst of it out. Gotta trim a little more at the bottom of the B pillar then I can start fitting new metal in. The regular cab inner rocker patch is different than the original on the rear portion where it meets the B pillar so I might have to change it up a bit. But it's still the best option since the reproduction parts for a crewcab or suburban are inadequate. I'll probably have to put the door on to get it in the right position since I had to hack so much out.

Hope to have this side done in the next week. Wish me luck.

[Ol Blue K20]

Good luck!

[hgs_notes]

I believe this front inner rocker is the worst of it and I have that done.

[Ol Blue K20]

Looks good bud, keep at it!

[hgs_notes]

I thought the inner rocker was a PITA but getting the regular cab outer rocker to fit a crewcab B pillar is worse. Going to take some persuasion.

[hgs_notes]

Eventually I got it close enough to satisfy my loose standards. I'm using adhesive on the gutter section and on the upper ends. The rest will get welded. That's why there's self tapping screws holding it. I'll finish the welding in the next couple days then make the little patches I need for the rear rocker, which isn't much and should be a snap.

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice work on it! I've got a slue of rust repair ahead of me on a big blue beast. I should really get it done before it gets hot out!

[hgs_notes]

Front rocker almost done. Just need to put some plug welds on the bottom flange. Also got the top patch done on the rear rocker. Just one patch left then put the doors on!

[LT7A]

Looks good! You're making short work of it.

[hgs_notes]

Last patch is in. My lesson learned from this was to not put the weld seam right on the bend because it's thinner there so welding and grinding causes holes, which need to be welded again. Also, believe it or not the patch steel is thicker than the OEM parts.

But it's done. I'll do a little cleaning and rattle can spray to preserve it then put the doors on this weekend. Get some insurance on it next week and take it out on the county road for a couple miles. It hasn't been out of the yard in about 5.75 years. I should probably get the fans powered up for the radiator too.

I still need to fix the driver side cab support and replace the body mount bushings but it can wait until after I put a few miles on it.

[hgs_notes]

Brown

[Ol Blue K20]

Looks good..

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

Looks good..

Thanks! It ain't pretty but it's a driver again! Got the doors on this morning, cleaned the windows and got the junk out of the bed and down the road we went. Runs good. The only issues I noticed on my very brief drive was the tranny hunts between first and second during take off and there's a whining noise from the rearend when coasting down from highway speeds. Oh and the seat is too soft, I sink down too far. Wasn't planning to use the original seat but for now it's better than a crate on the floor.

Before the engine swap we timed it to 60 mph with the 454 and 400 tranny. It was about 24 seconds. A real dog. But it rode nice for a 1 ton and the big crewcab was great. Today the 0-60 was around 10-11 seconds. Not really getting on it just like getting down a freeway on ramp. And it cruised at 70 like I was in my Yukon Denali. So smooth in fact I better check the tire pressure. Lol

Lots to do yet but this was a big step today.

[hgs_notes]

Tonight I got the coolant fans hooked up. I wasn't 100% sure my fan relay was going to work. It came with a temp switch that goes on the engine but I wasn't going to use it. The engine harness has 2 wires for fans and the instructions say to connect to the relay ground. I took a chance that the relay ground and the temp switch wire were the same thing and it worked.

Next was using my cheap ass OBD2 code reader to finally find out why the check engine light is always on. Took a few tries to get an app that worked and make a connection with my phone but I got it. The only codes were for oxygen sensors not working. It's trying to read all 4. I only have 2 and no cats. So part of the problem is programming. The other problem is the sensors. When I was hooking them up the plugs were slightly different. I used a razor knife to get the 2 plugs to fit together knowing that they may not work but worth a try. Apparently they didn't connect. So I need to get the correct oxygen sensors and get some programming done.

Lastly I wanted to get the idle adjusted. There's a procedure in the manual for the harness and I followed it but no change. Maybe the oxygen sensors effect it? IDK but in gear it idles at 500. In park it's about 1400, way high.

So overall it's running decent and the fans work and it doesn't overheat. So insurance, get the hood on, make sure the lights all work and I'll put some miles on it. Oh and I have to get the driver door window swapped to the manual regulator. No AC so it's a must have.

Going in the right direction!!

[hgs_notes]

Got insurance on it. But it's not quite ready for a road trip. I got the driver door window regulator swapped so I have air conditioning. I bolted the seat down. Haven't done seat belts yet. And found my tailgate, which is in worse condition than I remember. And it doesn't fit. I don't remember what the deal was when I took it apart but it's an 80 and up tailgate which has different trunnions and I don't have the parts to mount it.

So I called my local parts supply, daburb, and he was out of new gates but had a decent used one for cheap. So I got that as a temporary one and will get a new one later, before paint.

Going to get the hood and grill parts on, probably tomorrow, then drive it to town and see how it goes. The new oxygen sensors will be here Tuesday. I'm still shocked that the only trouble codes were for the sensors. Junkyard engine that sat for several years before I got it running. Unknown condition other than the junkyard people saying it ran good before they pulled it.

[hgs_notes]

Spent the day working on reassembly on the front end. Mismatched bolts, missing bolts, missing bulbs, broken bits, etc. Replaced the tail light lenses. The lights all seem to work but not the blinkers, the flasher isn't clicking I don't think. Got the hood on. Complete pain getting it lined up and it's still not right. Will probably have to replace the hinges. The hood release cable is broken so I can't put the grill in. Should have it next week. Went for a drive though and it rides and drives great. Brakes are a little uneven, probably from sitting so long. Got the gear noise from the rear I need to check out. A small tranny fluid leak by the radiator somewhere.

[hgs_notes]

https://youtu.be/HTrWX1Lq2G8

[rgunlock]

I've been enjoying watching your progress on this truck, but that video was NOT what I expected when I followed the link Lookin good!

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

I've been enjoying watching your progress on this truck, but that video was NOT what I expected when I followed the link Lookin good!

Haha, perfect. The song popped in my head because I was going for a drive down highway 68 in my big old pickup truck. My daughters showed me that years ago and it stuck. LOL.

Didn't do a lot today. I routed some wires after getting them loomed up. Connected a ground wire that was missed for the light harness. Most of the wiring is still a loose mess but I'll work on it. I've got bigger fish to fry...

Wanted to put some miles on it and I needed some things so I asked the wife if she wanted to ride along. She brought the puppy with because he needs more exposure to the public. So we went for a bit longer drive today and had transmission problems. Thought I fixed the leak but didn't. Fixed it in the store parking lot. And added 2 quarts of tranny fluid. It didn't leak that much, it was just low because I hadn't really filled it all the way, which is one of the things I needed from the store. The leak was solved by Just using some Teflon tape on fitting threads. The bigger problem though is it loses overdrive after it warms up. And then it really hunts for gears between 2nd and 3rd at part throttle. It got me home, 40 mile round trip. Nothing is hot.

I found a website that tells how to diagnose the most common problems with the 4L80e and I think it's an electrical side issue and not mechanical. I could be wrong but the symptoms seem to indicate a sensor problem sending bad info to the ECU or a solenoid acting up. I'm going to get the codes read for it and talk to a couple mechanic friends and see if I can figure it out. Fingers crossed that I don't have to pull the tranny. I think I only paid about $400 but that doesn't mean I want to dump a grand or 2 into it now.

Picture could be titled "because roadkill". Not the first time doing repairs in a store lot. Probably not the last.

[hgs_notes]

Today's progress. It's got a front bumper.

[Ol Blue K20]

The bumper makes it look a lot better

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

The bumper makes it look a lot better

Yeah, the grille will too. I have a new one but waiting to install until after I get the new hood release cable in. Just ordered it so next week.

Also ordered a new OBD2 code reader.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08PFJMTY3...R9F18B8T31MT34

Supposed to read transmission codes and other stuff. The wireless cheap one I have now will only do engine codes and is really frustrating to use because it's wifi and doesn't stay connected. I bet I had to reconnect my phone wifi to the code reader a dozen times. Eventually I got it and was able to clear the oxygen sensor codes after replacing them. New code reader gets here next week too so we'll see what I find.

Going to be a hot weekend so probably going to float in the pool more than work on trucks. I don't really have any new pics to share so instead here are pics of what I'm looking for in future projects. If you know where I can find a Chevy van, short, without a bunch of windows in fair condition let me know. Or a boat tail riviera, 71-73. Less than $2500, project cars.