Ol' Blue

[sphinx]

This is Ol' Blue, a '76 C10 with a 250 I6 and TH350, no options.  We picked it up in March.  It was my wife's uncle's truck but it had been setting since he passed away 6 years ago.  We did the basic systems /fluids check, shot some oil into the cylinders, installed a new battery, and fired her up.  We had to replace the front calipers, pads and master cylinder before the short drive home.

The plan is to get it back to road worthy condition as a week-end driver.  Not sure of the specifics at this point.  I have never did any engine work beyond replacing a water pump, breaks or putting a kit in a carb.  I have did some light body work but that was 20 years ago.  So this will be a learning experience. 

[Tx_Phil]

Looks like you have a really good starting point.
I've not been around here very long but I have notices that there is a wealth of knowledge on this site and the members are very willing to share their knowledge.
Good luck with the project.

[bd]

Welcome to the site from Central California!  Nice project truck.  You should have a lot of fun with it! 

Looking at the line of the hood, it seem there's a slight bend forward of the hinge.  If the hood binds while closing, you might want to check those hood hinges before the hood buckles.

[sphinx]

Thanks for the heads up on the hood.  It is not creased 'yet' but I take car to keep the hinges oiled until we can remove it and check out the hinges.

[sphinx]

Tx_phil thanks for the shout out.  I've been browsing the forums since spring but just got around to posting.  You are right there is a lot of info here.

[Tx_Phil]

I found this site by luck. I picked up an 87 4x4 suburban to use as a hunting truck but it's in pretty good shape so I thought I would try to make it a hunting / road worthy ride. I can already tell it will be a slow process but it's fun.

[sphinx]

Here is what we found when I took out the floor mat, then the started removing the dash components.  The floor pan on both sides is rusted along with the kick panels.  Also after removing the heater core/fan assembly, it looks like there are some holes in the lower part of the fire wall. Time to buy a welder!  I guess the money pit starts here.

[sphinx]

In the last few weeks we have removed the front clip, fenders, pulled the engine and transmission.  Found more rust problems, this time in the rain gutter area.  It looks like over the years the cowl area was not cleaned out and it rusted through in to the both the engine compartment and the cab.  I cleaned out the old body panel sealer and pored a good coat of rust-mort in there.  On the inside I'm planning to clean up the metal and put some fiberglass (I know it's not metal, but good grief, if I going to replace that much metal I might as well replace the cab) under the dash to plug the holes.  On the engine side I'll probably put some dura-glass and prep it for paint.  Then re-fill the drain with new panel sealer.  Anyone have any thoughts on repairing the rust in the cowl are please give me a shout.  Oh, the wraps in the blower holes are there to keep the squires out of the cab; they'll hide nuts anywhere!

[hotrod24]

Welcome to the site. You are in the same boat I am in but mine is alot worse lol. Back in the summer I did what you are going to do with the fiberglass. Its a good thing to use to patch the holes and to keep the rain out for a bit but its not a long time fix. Like me I just done it till I can get a mig welder and then go back and do it right. From the looks of your cab it would be worth the work, money and time to repace the metal I know if mine was like that I would lol.  But with that said I am still going to give it a try and rebuild my cab. Would you have any close ups of the rust on the cowl? Also here is a link to my build that might give you some ideas and so you can see that your cab really is not that bad...

http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php/topic,19440.0.html

Thanks
Dusty

[oldwhity]

Welcome from Maryland!!  I have the same rust problems by the kick panels lol.  Ugh! At least you have a roof to work under!  Looking good!

[wlmckee]

I like the Cadillac on the front grille

[sphinx]

HeHeHe....... my wifes uncle put the cadillac on when the chevy bowtie fell off.  I thought he was looking for an H2 emblem to replace the broken custom delux on the fenders!

[sphinx]

The roof is another project.  This is a lean to with slab.  I found out that an engine host makes good roof jack!   The lean to was only 6 feet of the ground could not even raise the hood under there.  A few new rafters and some new tinand now at least the rain does not pore in all the rust holes.  The squirrels leave me presents all the time.  May be should repaint it with real tree for the squirrels to feel at home.

[sphinx]

Haven't done much work in last few weeks been busy on other projects.  Have been thinking about what to do with the motor.  Its a 250 with an intergrated head (yikes).  I have a donor truck with a 250 regular head that I can swap.  I have no idea how old or the condition of the donor.  However it will run.   I fire it up evey couple of months to keep it working.  If i do a head swap can I use any of the parts (springs values push rods etc) from the intergrated head?  supposedly my uncle had value  job done on the intergrated head about 2 years before the truck was parked.  Now it was driven very little before he passed away because he was in and out of the hospital so much the last couple of years.  I estimate less than 10k miles on the valves.  I thought about keeping the intergrated head on rebuild the carb and run it.  But i really want a better exhaust and to do that I need to swap the head.  A 350 would be nice but i would have to start from scratch

[bake74]

     It is good to have a project to work on.  Nice to have you here.