1973 Chevy Parts Hauler

[ck80]

I'm hoping the best for the engine that's in it, just for the sake of simplicity. If it doesn't work out, my vote is 455 Olds. I always thought they would have been a great truck engine.

many a square body ran a 455 olds... back in the day. The late 70s diesels were the 5.7 olds. When those conked out simplicity had guys swapping 455s in and keep the olds setup as an olds. Over time those trucks got reswapped to a sbc because that's what someone had... just like just about everything else out there these days

 

[Wraith]

Back to de-bubbaing and detint it today

Before




After




Also took time to pour a 50/50 combo of acetone and power steering fluid down the cylinders to try and break the engine free, we'll see....

 

[TURNA]

Dam windows came out nice

Can you come over here an show my wife how to do that?

 

[HAFROD]

Summit Racing has tail lights, grilles, etc for these trucks really cheap. I love the truck and an awesome parts hauler it is

 

[ssn696]

How is the bed floor?

 

[Wraith]

How is the bed floor?

It's Schroedinger's floor at this point, it's covered by a rubber mat so its either all good or all bad. We will all know tomorrow morning.....

 

[street sweeper]

Truck looks sweet! makes me want to get my monte back on the road and see what i can do in terms of shining it up

 

[1evilregal]

hopefully you can save the engine..

the rest of it is turning out pretty nice! looking at this thread, I'm remembering my buddy in high school had one identical to yours, with the exception of being green and white... the 454 would pull anything except gas mileage! sadly, even though it was only 12 years old back then, the Michigan winters had already taken their toll and truck had really bad cancer...

keep chipping away,it'll come out great!

 

[Wraith]

So, interesting turn this morning. Doing some more general clean up, then get under to see if the engine will move but I take a flashlight along, called it, the flexplate is toast. BUT, I look at the pan and there is only three bolts holding it on. Drop it down and the oil pump is gone(guess that was it in the front seat lol). This engine looks like brand spanking new inside, as it should, but will not turn still. Now I have to figure out what they did wrong 16 years ago.

The clues:

1. Oil pump out and in truck.
2. At least enough used rod bearings in truck to cover maybe four rods? Wish I would have counted.
3. Abandoned what they were doing and put pan back on with three finger tight bolts.
4. Engine won't rotate.

Any Sherlock Holmes fans here?

 

[TURNA]

It's broke my dear Watson!