73-87chevytrucks.com

General Site Info => Welcome => Topic started by: Sodium Duck on September 22, 2011, 09:51:22 pm

Title: Hi
Post by: Sodium Duck on September 22, 2011, 09:51:22 pm

Been wanting a 73-87 Chevy since before I could drive. The time was finally right. Picked up an '85. Regular cab, longbed, carbed 305 with a manual choke, 1/2 ton 10 bolts, 6" lift, automatic. Needs finishing and minor work. But I'm looking forward to learning how to do it all. Never done anything beyond changing oil and rotating tires. But I picked up a Chilton book so I should be fine. Tomorrow I start tearing down the front axle so I can install my new moog ball joints.

It's going to be a slippery slope though... I'm already thinking to myself, well I may as well change out all the tie rods too... and if I'm doing that I may as well get a high steer kit... and if I'm doing that I should probably get new bearings, rotors, pads, buy a grinder and some paint, new manual hubs, chromoly shafts, new u-joints... wow this just got expensive! Ugh...

Title: Re: Hi
Post by: Sodium Duck on September 22, 2011, 09:52:56 pm

pics

Title: Re: Hi
Post by: slammed79 on September 22, 2011, 10:36:52 pm

Add a set of 35's and you'll be just about money. Good lookin truck bro!

Title: Re: Hi
Post by: zieg85 on September 23, 2011, 03:50:23 am

Welcome from NW Indiana

Title: Re: Hi
Post by: big bear on September 23, 2011, 05:50:48 am

welcome from northeast ohio. great looking truck.   yup, you will get bit by the bug and then its over haha

Title: Re: Hi
Post by: bake74 on September 23, 2011, 06:29:55 am

     Welcome from California.  This is a great site to find info/expertise that you will need for your rebuild.

Title: Re: Hi
Post by: Sodium Duck on September 23, 2011, 11:10:27 am

Outer lock rings are stupid. What's the trick to getting them out?

Title: Re: Hi
Post by: thirsty on September 23, 2011, 01:13:00 pm

I use two really small screwdrivers keeping one under the lock ring while I work one around the hub. I also use my pocket knife to get under them so I can fit the small screwdriver in the first time.

Title: Re: Hi
Post by: 69byrd on September 23, 2011, 03:14:38 pm

Welcome from Tn

Title: Re: Hi
Post by: Sodium Duck on September 23, 2011, 05:24:16 pm

I asked my next door neighbor for a pick or something similar, he gave me a tool - it's literally a dentist tool. The one they use to scrape all the crap off your teeth. Worked great. I may try a knife on the other side though, that sounds like it would work too.

Title: Re: Hi
Post by: DustyRusty on September 23, 2011, 05:33:17 pm

Welcome from Alaska.

Nice lookin' truck.  Sounds like you have a plan for R & R'ing the front end.  I also found it to be beneficial to make out a budget for covering items necessary for the safe operation of the vehicle and then another budget for "while I'm at it, I might as well...".  A budget plan helped me to prioritize the truly necessary work.

Rusty