73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Projects Posts (NOT VEHICLES) => Topic started by: ssapach on September 03, 2011, 12:26:52 am
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Well I finally got tired of the propane enough (and enough time off work) to tackle this project.
First off I'd like to mention: "Cheap, reliable and fast. You can pick any two...."
So I'm about $1300 into this for parts, some of which I didn't need but said heck with it since I'm already tearing things up under the hood.
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f350/gophergunner/Misc%20Projects/IMG_1555.jpg)
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f350/gophergunner/Misc%20Projects/IMG_1556.jpg)
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f350/gophergunner/Misc%20Projects/IMG_1560.jpg)
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f350/gophergunner/Misc%20Projects/IMG_1563.jpg)
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f350/gophergunner/Misc%20Projects/IMG_1568.jpg)
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f350/gophergunner/Misc%20Projects/IMG_1569.jpg)
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f350/gophergunner/Misc%20Projects/IMG_1567.jpg)
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f350/gophergunner/Misc%20Projects/IMG_1572.jpg)
Not to try and be too dull, but the pictures are pretty self explanatory. Remove old stuff and install new.
Of course with my luck I just happen to be doing this during a long weekend....so I tried to get as many of the things I needed before the weekend.
I'm sure I didn't need a new intake, or I could have gotten a cheaper carb.....perhaps I could have gotten used take-offs of both from a wrecker. But I figure since the engine itself is still in great shape (only 131, XXX km's on it) why not get some good parts for it. I also bought a set of headers for it, so I'll see how much of a struggle they will be to install.
And of course I don't like leaky engines too much so I got a few extra gaskets to replace while I had stuff apart, but plans for that may change depending on everything else going on.
One good thing for all this is that I managed to score 2 fuel tanks for free. One of them was practically brand new with a new sending unit as well. My friend wanted to get rid of them because he parted out the truck and these were just taking up space.
I will also have more pics to follow as I continue on. So for the time being, ENJOY!
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looks good so far. Why did you get rid of the propane, just curious.
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I wanted to get rid of the propane for a few reasons. It's not as easy to find as gasoline or diesel, especially late at night. I will likely gain some power after the swap and with any luck a bit of mileage.
The truck is kind of a pig no matter what fuel it burns, but without an engine properly built for propane I've been told I'd have better power and economy with gas. No sense in me building up a propane engine when the fuel isn't as readily available either.
It's a shame the truck burns so much fuel, because I really do like driving it. For a 25 year old 1 ton truck, it rides and handles quite nicely.
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You should try and sell all the propane stuff. I used to work for a propane company and some of the guys there used to run propane on their trucks. They were all furds and I know they paid alot for propane specific parts.
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When I lived in Texas I bought a 82 C20 3+3 from a friend after it was stolen and recovered. The thieves took the front seat, tires and wheels and the fuel selector under the truck. It was a both LPG-gas type. In Texas you had to prove the usage so they could assess a tax and the minimum tag was kinda pricey so I ditched the conversion. I can remember him telling me it was a wash back then, yes the LP was less expensive but got worse performance and mpg but he kept it for the range he could go without stopping for fuel. LPG was fairly common around Dallas back then but as an occasional driver it didn't pay to use it.
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After I'm done removing all this stuff I will likely put it up for sale. Maybe someone would like it for an off-road vehicle, seeing as how it will run upside down and all ;D
I'm just taking a lunch break....but I managed to wrestle off the running boards. Someone intelligent decided to bolt some brackets to the back of the cab. Right into the back of the cab corner. I wonder what goes through someones mind when they think that something like that is a good idea...?
But I removed all my crummy old running boards, they needed to go anyways. Now my drivers side propane tank main valve seems to have a handle that's broken off. I sure hope I can close it.
The fun continues....pics to follow later.
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nice new parts you aquired man... great project. keep up the good work
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The pile of junk I removed. I had to torch some exhaust bolts off the manifolds, but mostly it came out nicely so far. I have a bit more exhaust to rip out, it's all rusted up anyways. Sadly, the running boards were more work to remove.
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f350/gophergunner/Misc%20Projects/IMG_1575.jpg)
Truck looks better without the darn running boards though. Look nicer when the propane tanks are gone too!
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f350/gophergunner/Misc%20Projects/IMG_1573.jpg)
You can kinda see the bracket someone decided to bolt to the cab corner. I will trim it down, but I'll likely leave them as they are just because I don't have time to open up the can of worms called "body work" just yet.
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f350/gophergunner/Misc%20Projects/IMG_1574.jpg)
And I tore off the valve covers to replace the gaskets. Decided to wash them up and paint them......Chev engine blue, just to give the engine bay a little more excitement.
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f350/gophergunner/Misc%20Projects/IMG_1576.jpg)
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Not tightened down yet, but just to give everyone the idea.
It may seem like a waste considering how oily/dirty the engine is below the heads, but it was easy to do and helps with the looks a little.
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f350/gophergunner/Misc%20Projects/IMG_1577.jpg)
These are the new mirrors I got, not the greatest fitting brackets I must say, but I managed. Need to fully attach them, they are just temp. with some screws. I have actual threaded inserts that expand for installing mirrors.
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f350/gophergunner/Misc%20Projects/IMG_1578.jpg)
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f350/gophergunner/Misc%20Projects/IMG_1579.jpg)
I know everyone loves seeing pics, so I'm definately going to share them when I take them.
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man, i love the truck. its very clean. looks great as your decluttering it.
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It's clean considering it's an Alberta truck and the age of it. These older ones are usually quite rusty these days.
I think I only got my hands on it because it was on propane. I'm sure the previous owner would have sold it long before I came along if it were running on gas.
Well I found out that my headers will fit. Lots of struggling and a bit of swearing, but follow the instructions and remove everything from the engine that they tell you to and they fit. The only disappointment is that the bolt holes aren't very perfectly matched. I had to drill them out a bit so I can get all the bolts in.
Now I will just have to remove the front driveshaft to get the starter back in. While I had it out, cleaned up the connections and made up a new positive cable from the battery.
I might have a few more pics later on today.
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I believe you are right, no running boards and no propane tanks will give your truck a new look.
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Made a new positive cable to the starter.
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f350/gophergunner/Misc%20Projects/IMG_1584.jpg)
I really like the Chev engine blue color. Just to give the engine bay even more excitement I painted the cover of the air cleaner.
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f350/gophergunner/Misc%20Projects/IMG_1585.jpg)
Got a bit of a hold up now. The fuel pump I got won't fit. It's got a pretty deep body on it and it hits the cross member before it fits up to the engine block. So Monday is a holiday, and I doubt the parts store in town will have another fuel pump in stock so I likely won't see one until Wednesday. On the plus side, someone plugged the hoses off for the fuel lines and I blew a bit of diesel through them and was surprised to see that it was all clean coming out the other end.
I still have things to do though. Need to clean up and fix a second set of fuel tank brackets, then paint them and the tank. Perhaps I will have some time to clean up some messy wiring as well.
Everything seems to be going alright so far, just taking a little longer than I originally expected. But I'm sure I will enjoy the outcome.
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i agree man...i love that chevy blue alot.
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I had a CNG van (94 Dodge factory CNG) it got vary good mileage. when we converted it back to gas the mileage went down! only reason we converted to gas was there was no CNG pumps in Morgantown anymore so it was kind of useless for shuttle service we had(only could fill up at PITT). and why do people dislike the running boards?
Mariah
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Iand why do people dislike the running boards?
Makes us look old ;D
They trap stuff and create rust.
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looks nice so far. Is that an imco propane system?
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I believe it's spelled "Impco", but yes that's who made this particular setup.
Well not as good of a day so far......just a note, taking an 8 foot dually box off a truck isn't exactly a 1 man job. Broke one of the stake pockets away from the inside of the box and bent the top rail a bit. No biggy, I can bend it back and weld it down.
But then as I was trying to back up the skid steer with the box in the air, one of the lovely brackets from those running boards was catching on everything. I kind of had to drop the box at this point, which resulted in my driver's side dual fender breaking a bit. Already had a broken one on the passenger side, might as well match them up ::)
Then, the box finally comes away from the truck......swinging ever so slightly into the tire of the skid steer and breaking the rear passenger tail light. Bent in that rear end a little, but that doesn't bother me so much because it was bent a bit before this.
So I finally got my damaged truck box off. Then I washed the rear of the truck down. About 50 lbs of dirt and gravel came off the darn thing.
I have a few brackets to remove, some genious decided to weld some brackets to the frame for the hitch that used to be in the box. So I have to clean that up.
And on and on this thing goes......
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Not many pics today. I got caught up in all the work and just wanted to keep moving.
This is the sketchy valve on one of the propane tanks. It managed to close though, allowing me to unhook and remove all the propane stuff finally.
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f350/gophergunner/Misc%20Projects/IMG_1588.jpg)
And here we are with the gas tanks installed. I managed to get filler necks from a diesel pickup to have the larger hole in them.
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f350/gophergunner/Misc%20Projects/IMG_1590.jpg)
I think I need to clean up some of the wiring while I have the box off. Also, I'm missing the plugs for the sending units on the tanks. They were cut off because the sending units on the propane tanks happened to have threads/nut to hold the terminal on. So I need to find a couple or figure something out for a plug.
If all goes well, I should be able to hook up all the plug wires, give it some fuel and get it started. Then adjust timing.
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Ahhhhh it runs.....
Took a couple tries to start, but a little gasoline encouragement into the carb got it fired up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-2ziJGPACU (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-2ziJGPACU)
I tried to embed the video but I couldn't get it to work.... :-\
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Been kind of busy with other things lately, started combining so now that's priority over working on the truck.
But today I tackled the rear brakes. Gave the truck some new pads, slave cylinders and park brake cables. As long as I have it all apart I'm putting new bearings and seals in the hubs. Pinion seal needs replacing, diff will also get new oil at this time.
Painted my rear wheels flat white as well. Nothing professional but it looks better than the rust speckled dirty white wheels they were before.
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f350/gophergunner/Misc%20Projects/IMG_1598.jpg)
After this is all done, I have some wiring to clean up and I want to remove the hitch receiver and maybe get it painted. It looks to be home made, but it also looks to be pretty darn solid so I just might have to keep it.
Then it will be onto the front hubs, we'll see what condition they are in after I open them up, but I at least want to paint the front rims too and perhaps put a new set of locking hubs on that I've had sitting in a box for 3 years now.
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Looking good, your video does not have any sound, and your gas gage looks like so many older chevy's I have seen. LOL
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Huh, the video has sound when I watch it. If anyone else has issues with the sound and maybe knows a correction let me know.
Also, the fuel gauge is like that because it's not quite hooked up yet. ;D
So I removed my bug deflector and put in my new lights. Well the low beam lights, had the high (lower) lights replaced a while back. Should be nice lighting on the road now.
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f350/gophergunner/Misc%20Projects/IMG_1603.jpg)
Also removed a bunch of wiring that was just strung out all over the truck in such a mess. Most of it was for the trailer plug, but it didn't all work and it was such a mess and poorly done that I just ripped it all out.
Also removed 3 switches from the cab, 2 of which weren't hooked up to anything.
Next I have to remove the brake controller. It's actually tied into the brake lines.......this is something I've personally never seen before. :-\
Anyways, here is the pile of wires and junk I removed.
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f350/gophergunner/Misc%20Projects/IMG_1604.jpg)
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looking great man!!!
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Thank you! And a thanks to everyone else for the positive feedback and encouragement.
This conversion just keeps getting extended to other things needing attention on the truck.
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Well I've been busy lately with farm work so not much progress on the truck.
But I got myself a hidden hitch/removable ball for a GMT400 style truck to use for my old beast. Of course I had to do some fabricating of my own to make it work. There isn't much room between the frame and bottom of the box on these trucks, 3/4" MAX. So I used some 3/4" plate to make some brackets to attach my quick release mechanism to.
Should work like a charm. Painted the stuff tonight and I need to pick up some proper bolts for putting it all in place.
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f350/gophergunner/Misc%20Projects/IMG_1658.jpg)
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f350/gophergunner/Misc%20Projects/IMG_1660.jpg)
I also got a brake controller and trailer plugs to put on the truck......which will happen one day yet.
I also had a small scare, minor issue, but still scared me a little. I put the box back in place to see how it would fit over the hitch and I noticed my fuel fillers wouldn't reach the box side. So my first thought was that they were from a different truck, stepside maybe, but I didn't know at all really.
Then I realized I just had the hoses on wrong. Short side and a long side on these hoses, and the short side should go to the tank ::)
Ah well, problem solved.
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So I assume you are going to be pulling alot with this truck.
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Not planning on a lot of towing really. Probably see more hauling than towing, but the hitch was cheaper than the steel used to make the brackets. And I had the truck in such a state it was easy to install.
The truck is in such nice shape though (considering where it's from), if I ever had the time/ambition to put a good diesel engine in it then it would likely be used for towing more than my other truck.
Hitch is all painted up and bolted in for good now. Had to modify the release handle slightly to work over the frame.
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f350/gophergunner/Misc%20Projects/IMG_1668.jpg)
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Got the box back in place and bolted down. Lights all hooked up and working, trailer wiring all hooked up and controller wired in. Just have to plug a trailer in to test it good.
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f350/gophergunner/Misc%20Projects/IMG_1680.jpg)
Hitch is a tight fit in this truck. I think 1/2" plate would have worked for brackets and made for a little extra room. But it fit and the box bolted down without issue.
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f350/gophergunner/Misc%20Projects/IMG_1679.jpg)
Still have some little things, like getting the engine running nicely and getting new exhaust put on. Also need to secure my fuel filler necks to the box yet.
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I'm practically done. Well done enough to drive it again. Although the motor needs some fine tuning. I think someone else will be doing that for me.
Brakes need a little bit of fine tuning as well. Think there is still air in the lines, but no matter how much I bleed it the pedal still feels soft. Also, park brake needs tightening.
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f350/gophergunner/Misc%20Projects/IMG_1683.jpg)
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f350/gophergunner/Misc%20Projects/IMG_1685.jpg)
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f350/gophergunner/Misc%20Projects/IMG_1689.jpg)
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truck looks killer man. i like it alot. love to have it haha
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Thanks!
You're not the only one though, a few other people have already told me they'd like to have it.
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aww i love those tanks. i want them. (mine makes my bed kinda small. but im willing to bet the positioning of my tank is a heck of a lot safer.
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If you were close to me I'd say come and get them.
I thought I might be able to sell the tanks with the rest of the propane pieces but it would seem that nobody around here wants anything to do with that stuff.
Maybe one day if I'm super ambitious about a big block in an off-road vehicle it can have some propane.
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The improvement of the truck looks great! Good to see some 4x4 duallys. It Was a bit odd in your video to see gauges in the metric system ;D Also what happened with the West Coast Mirrors?
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West coast mirrors were cancelled. They were a sort of generic "one size fits all" mirror that didn't fit this truck very nicely. And even when it was sort of fitted up, it didn't seem like it would be very solid as some of the adjustable tubes were nearly maxed out for length.
I might try to find some from something like a C60, as they should fit a lot nicer.
Luckily I only drilled a few small holes in the door, nothing a couple tack welds won't plug up.
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West coast mirrors were cancelled. They were a sort of generic "one size fits all" mirror that didn't fit this truck very nicely.
Good choice. Like where your jheaded with the truck. Keep up the good work. What did you end up doing with the propane system? If you interested in letting it go...but if you wanted to hold on to it I would understand
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Thanks!
I wouldn't mind getting rid of the propane system. Right now the tanks are sitting outside but the rest of the bits are just sitting in my storage sea can. No sense in it sitting around for years if someone else would use it.
I had it up for sale locally a while ago, a couple interested people but nobody wanted it in the end.