73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Members Rides => Topic started by: JohnnyCanuck on March 14, 2011, 12:32:30 am
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First of all hi to everyone, really enjoying the forum, been lurking and borrowing ideas and techie stuff so figured I better join up. I bought this truck two weeks ago, this is the 2nd '78 GMC I've owned over the years. This one is in real decent shape, original paint too, the original crank packed it in last year, the 454 has 3,300 kilometers. I have a new dash and gauge bezel coming, needs a good cleaning and cutwax. Has a 14 bolt rear end (10.5), front end was rebuilt when engine was done.
It has a weird brake problem, when you step on the brakes, the back brakes lock up, soon as you release the pedal it's fine. It has a new brake booster/cylinder, I think it might be the wheel cylinders, still checking on what it might be. I have a ramjet set-up coming for the intake that should work better than the current set up.
Also trying to find an OE grille, not having much luck but I have some feelers out at various auto-wreckers.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/JohnnyCanuck62/IMG_10652.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/JohnnyCanuck62/IMG_1067.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/JohnnyCanuck62/IMG_1066.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/JohnnyCanuck62/IMGP4731.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/JohnnyCanuck62/IMGP4729.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/JohnnyCanuck62/IMGP4730.jpg)
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The rear brakes are adjusted too sensitive, you need to close them up a bit.
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The rear brakes are adjusted too sensitive, you need to close them up a bit.
x2, also to check your wheel cylinders if they are leaking or evidence at all that they were leaking, replace them, way better than to be driving and have them lock up. Also welcome from California.
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I got nothin to add to that except welcome from AZ and if I track down a good 78 GMC grille I'll let you know!
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Welcome from NW Indiana
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welcome. what is on your heater hose, a filter?
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Welcome from a fellow Canadian!
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welcome. what is on your heater hose, a filter?
It's a circulating heater, circulates the coolant thru a heater that helps it to start when it's cold. It has block heater so not sure why he installed them, I'm taking it out.
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Didn't noticed this before, why is the air cleaner top on upside down ? Is this for something I don't know about, or just to let the dust in more.
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Didn't noticed this before, why is the air cleaner top on upside down ? Is this for something I don't know about, or just to let the dust in more.
It's faster. Learned it in high school, so must be true ???
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Didn't noticed this before, why is the air cleaner top on upside down ? Is this for something I don't know about, or just to let the dust in more.
It's faster. Learned it in high school, so must be true ???
When the engine was done, the truck wasn't get enough air, the fellow that did the work said it was quite boggy. The carb was off the original 400, he rebuilt it, no difference. He flipped the lid, it helped, he took the snorkel off and it ran fine. It's not a good setup, I'm looking at an after-market dual snorkel setup to close everything up and still get enough air, I just need to ensure it will run in the winter properly.
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I flipped mine upside down because it would bog at WOT. After I flipped it it helped, but now I get all the hot air off of the engine ): I put an open element on it now, used on of the air cleaner spacers to get it off of the accelerator pump linkage.
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Flipping the breather lid is to make the secondaries sound cool!
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Flipping the breather lid is to make the secondaries sound cool!
Agreed ;)
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Everybody used to flip those in high school. I never noticed any increase in power just a decrease in mileage because it sounded cooler and I was always standing on it. :D
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I finally got this home today, we had to shovel snow for 2 hours just to get the fence & gate out, been one of those winters.
here's the back alley:
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/JohnnyCanuck62/IMGP4736.jpg)
FINALLY in my driveway, so scungy and dirty but at least it's home:
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/JohnnyCanuck62/IMGP4740.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/JohnnyCanuck62/IMGP4737.jpg)
Still have to figure out the brake problem, the back brakes want to lock up, only the weight of the camper keeps them from locking up. New booster and master cylinder, brakes front n back. He says he played with the proportional valve but that's my next step.
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If your rear seals are leaking at all the rear brakes tend to grab.
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I check out the proportional valve the piston and needle in there were fine, I pulled off the back wheels and found the longer brake shoe in the front. Swapped them around the way they should be and brakes work like a champ. thanks for the suggestions, I appreciate it.
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That's a sweet Camper Special you got there! Did the cab-over camper come with it when you bought it?
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Yes, it's a 1978 Vanguard camper, the guy had all the original paperwork and manuals for it. Really good shape everything works, bit on the heavy side but lots of room, it sleeps 6 if you can believe it with no fancy slide-outs. I bought the truck and camper for $2700.00.
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awesome buy. looks in good shape. glad you got the brake problem fixed up.
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Here's a pic with the camper off. I have also replaced the dash, steering wheel, gauge bezel and the fuse box. I'll get a pic of the interior this weekend.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/JohnnyCanuck62/IMGP4756.jpg)
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Yes, it's a 1978 Vanguard camper, the guy had all the original paperwork and manuals for it. Really good shape everything works, bit on the heavy side but lots of room, it sleeps 6 if you can believe it with no fancy slide-outs. I bought the truck and camper for $2700.00.
Wow! Awesome buy!
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Nice! What size of tires on this truck?
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I love the color!
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such a tough. beastley looking truck.
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Nice! What size of tires on this truck?
they are 285/75r 16's. I need to get a leaf added to the back, the camper sat on it for 2 years.
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Sweet ride! I think I have a grill if you still need one, but I'm a bit south of you.
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Sweet ride! I think I have a grill if you still need one, but I'm a bit south of you.
I am going picking in Dawson Creek for some parts, they claim to have a couple but if I can't find one I'll check and see what shipping would be for that, thanks for the offer sir!
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It's nice to see that you got it back on the road and it is working again.
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Not a problem, its just taking up room here. Good luck with the search and let me know if you come up empty ;)
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I've smelled gas in the cab since I started driving it, found the gas hoses to the tanks and the vent hoses all dry and cracked, I'll have to wait until Monday to get the proper hoses. Added the dash skin and steering wheel, tried to fix the heater switch but its broken off the back of the heater controls so I'm stripping it from a donor truck along with the seat.
Here's the interior before:
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/JohnnyCanuck62/IMGP4731.jpg)
After:
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/JohnnyCanuck62/newinterior.jpg)
Engine bay before:
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/JohnnyCanuck62/IMGP4738.jpg)
After:
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/JohnnyCanuck62/cleanengine.jpg)
Too bad the headers aren't ceramic paint but maybe I can paint them over the winter.
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looking awesome for sure...
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After various emails to different auto-wreckers over the last 3 months, I finally found one in our local pick & pull. It was parked with the foreign cars for some reason and I got the grille and two dog dish hubcaps for 80 bucks. I also ordered springs all the way around, they will be here on the 18th, put them in, load the camper for May long weekend, can't wait.
Before, missing a few teeth:
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/JohnnyCanuck62/IMGP4774.jpg)
grille and hubcap - those are the screws taped up near the emblem:
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/JohnnyCanuck62/IMGP4775.jpg)
after:
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/JohnnyCanuck62/IMGP4776.jpg)
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looks much better with the things you have done to it. great job
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much better