New Camper special...

[Jim Rockford]

well since The 73 is so rusty Out comes the engine and I'm gonna remove everything I can salvage  or posibly sell for parts and the engine is going in the 80 ...pulled it out tonight.





While I was turning the engine over to position it at NO.1  I noticed some slack in the timing chain, After checking it , looks to have about 10 degrees of slop..lol So it will get a gasket kit and a new chain might install a set of 305 H.O. Heads I got laying around.

[thirsty]

Don't forget your new Generals

[Jim Rockford]

No worries there, I hate o part this thing out, but the rear frame and body is just too far gone, and I'll never really ever need that front dana 60 .

[Jim Rockford]

Well the timing chain was worn out, So I installed a double roller chain, and bought all the gaskets to seal her up and Slowly getting the block clean, Installed a new oil pump and screen and check the condition of the bearing, This engine despite how it looked on the outside  it really clean  and has VERY low wear , bearings look like they where just installed and the bores still have the cross hatching. After I get it installed into my 80  it will be worthy of some vortec heads in the future.






After I get the intake resealed I'm gonna finish degreaseing the block and paint the rest black. I hate orange and blue engines.

[Grim 82]

That one piece pan gasket looks like the real deal.

[Jim Rockford]

Yea  read alot of reviews that say they work great, ANYTHING is better than the oil 4 piece setup. Can't wait to see how that new double lip rear main seal holds up. Now I just need two good exhaust manifolds.

[beastie_3]

Those look like original plug wires haha. Thats good to know that the rotating assembly is in great condition.

[Jim Rockford]

even had the old green striped AC plugs...

[Jim Rockford]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIDmcIr-kHY

Me and my goofy  self.

[bake74]

     Jim I feel your pain, my 74 k10 I bought the p.o. welded 1/4" plate basically all over the cab floors and up the inside of the cab corners and kick panels.  Was going to remove it and fix it right, but he really welded it and warped everything else.  So I dragged a 78 k10 home tonight for the body.  (someone tried to steal the 78, they got the transmission and transfer case, radiator and driveshafts ) and basically trashed the steering Column.

[Jim Rockford]

Note the nice new China made exhaust manifolds... I was pissed cause the Ebay ad said they had the heat  shield, and when I got it ...It didn't , so I tried chatting with a rep online and he kept telling me it never said that , even after I gave him the link AND quoted the exact phase from the ad, so I told him screw it, I'll wait 7 days and leave negative feedback.  I really didn't care it was not on there , its just the fact that is stated it came with one.


Bell housing after a couple of hours with wire brushes and a dental pic. Painted with Cast Aluminum paint

Cast Iron paint


I like this cast Iron paint, It matches almost perfect with the brand new Manifolds

Just about ready to swing in

New clutch and pressure plate.

Nice clean bell housing

And she's in.. It was a pain trying to get the trans lined up with the bellhousing, So I'm back and forth under the truck trying the get everything line up Then I see the frigging transmission isn't even bolted to the crossmember...RRRRRR After a few choice words I got a bolt in the trans mount and lowered the jack from the front of the trans and it slipped right in....

[bake74]

     It looks good, you are making real progress.

[jaredts]

Nice work, Jim.  Its definately worth the extra work to clean up and paint everything.  Thanks for sharing the pics.