I can finally drive my truck again!

[Sodium Duck]

Shortly after buying my truck and getting my "racing" sticker...

I had to install new balljoints, locking hubs, axle u-joints, pads, rotors, steering stabilizer. Inspect and repack the bearings.

Got the truck on the road, and thought everything was good. A few days later I ruined a wheel - when I put the lug nut studs back in, I didn't pull them far enough through. Had to take everything apart again. Replace all the lug nut studs up front - which was a pain because each car parts store would only have a few and I needed flippin' 12. And 12 new lug nuts just for safety sake.

So I bought 4 cheap-o stock wheels offline. Great deal, because they came with the original dog dish hub caps and the guy gave me a ton of trim that was brand new in the box for free because it didn't fit his truck.

Then I decided it was time for new tires. Bought the 35's offline, too. Then before mounting them, I had the wheels sandblasted and powder coated. That took a few weeks.

In the meantime, I installed new seatbelts. (The ones that weren't in there... were not there because ALL the seatbelt bolts had been sheared off in the holes. That took like 4-5 hours to drill them all out and re-tap the threads)

New belts for the engine. New air filter. New license plate light. Fixed the windshield washer squirter thing. Had to cut some chunks out of the poorly installed hood cowl so it wouldn't hit the wiper blades anymore.

Just tonight I was driving home, in a massive rain storm, after mounting the tires... and the drivers side windshield wiper fell off the motor. UGH! So I had to fly blind until I got home out of the rain to put it back on.

Installed an entirely new e-brake cable. And had to make a little extension for it to compensate for the lift.

Installed a new speedometer cable, because the one that was originally on there was draped OVER (read: touching) the exhaust. So it was completely burnt through.

Installed a cargo light, and found the wiring went to nowhere. So it's just for decoration I guess now.

I'm probably forgetting more stuff that I had to do... It's been a trip. I've learned a ton. Can't wait to do something else. I'm thinking a 4BT swap...



Basically, I just got the truck. Didn't drive it all summer. And now it's winter. And I'm pretty sure I either have a blown head gasket, or something with a freeze plug.

[thirsty]

That's a pretty straight looking truck. All the work you did was worth it. You should be proud of the truck and the effort that you put into it.
Why do you think that you have a blown head gasket or something with a freeze plug?

[firefighter]

It's always great to have a vehicle back on the road after an extended vacation. I'm sure you're pretty happy.
Congrats !!

The paint looks pretty new on your truck? The wheelwells still look nice and clean.
And yes, the body look good, straight and solid.

You've put a lot of work into your ride. Now it's time to enjoy it.

How tall of lift do you have? It looks like it's sitting right up there.  Nice !!

[Sodium Duck]

When I start the truck up, it blows white smoke. As it warms up, it kind of tapers off and gets less. Plus I have a antifreeze all over my driveway, it started leaking that when it was up on the jack stands this summer.

Yea, the guy had it repainted and did all the "bodywork" before I bought it. This is a joke... he "welded" in the floor pans. Some of it is welded, and other areas are pop riveted in and stuffed with body filler. I need to fix that next year. Grind all that junk out, weld it up, then use that truck bed liner all over the bottom half of the cab, sound deadening mat, and a new carpet.

6" lift and 35's. Yea, it feels like driving a jumbo jet... wanders all over the road, lol

Now I just have to go find a shop that'll *pass* this thing, and start having some fun!

[bake74]

     It's great to hear you are driving your truck.  Just keep plugging away at it and you will get it, then you will be wondering what you will do next. 

[Sodium Duck]

Today I was driving up my street, kinda of a little incline to it. I mashed the gas, and the passenger side exhaust dislodged from the collector, right at the header. I was trying to avoid the exhaust system, but now it has to come apart and get welded. It's held together by prayers and 38 clamps right now... And a coat hanger. I bought some new hangers today.

I thought it was weird though. I think the muffler might be clogged or something. Hopefully i can just reuse everything that's there. I don't want to buy new mufflers.

[Sodium Duck]

And actually my brakes went on the fritz tonight too. I think it's just air in the lines.

[firefighter]

Geezz..... Be glad today is over for you. Today just wasn't your day when it comes to Chevy trucks. Ha Ha !!!