Getting her ready for the long haul

[87ChevyR10]

I've been on here along time but I have never been a consistent poster here, though you may recall me as I tend to be pretty detailed and include shoot tons of data or pics if at all possible.

heck, when i had an issue with the fuel pump back 10 years ago i had moved to Savannah GA 4 1/2 hrs south of "home" to me. Y'all were the ones who helped. shoot, between Chris, Vile, bd, im forgettin a few but yeah.

So I'm at my night job, using the free time i have researching and narrowing down options and honing in on exacts. I have to put new rims and tires on her, replace the old tank with a fuel cell and it is my choice to replace the feed/send fuel lines while i am at it, completely. A fuel pump is needed but thats an issue in a thread i just posted about here in the appropriate forum. Yep, its a good one.

I am super excited to have her back with me. EVERY DAY. This is a very special truck. So all excitement mentioned? I'm terrified, aint gon line. I did go down last may and tune her up completely, new plugs, wires, dist-cap/button, oil, optima battery. Ran her for a bit and she has sat since. Now its time to go get her.
 
670 miles roughly. 13 hrs give or take an hour on my driving. My overly analytical mind at this point beginning to conjure up the things that could happen. Nightmares of breakdowns, unplanned tow bills, what ifs. A buddy said, hey man, it breaks down? It breaks down. Grab a Uhaul truck, dolly and finish the ride. Hmm.... sounds like a doable option. So yeah, within the timeframe of the next 2 weeks roughly, this should all be going down.

I'll be dropping photos of it all along the way.

Glad to be back in the mix. I signed up to most of the other square sites over the years but this is the only place i really go to.

[Mike81K10]

Get AAA motor club. That way if you have a breakdown, you can get it towed.

[Shifty]

Awesome man, looking forward to the sights!

[JohnnyPopper]

Check your air pressure before you leave and every time you get gas. If it starts pulling either way, check pressure on the side pulling.

Check the age of your tires, look for DOT and the four digits that follow. The first two are the week of the next two, the year. If they are more than ten years old and you cannot replace them now, drive under the speed limit.

Last, lift each front wheel off the ground and rotate the tire. With your hand on the bumper feel for any grinding of bearings being transferred to the bumper. Obviously if you hear grinding you need to service it.

If it's clean, wouldn't hurt to take off the grease cups and at least pack the outer bearings. If it looks dry and cracked, good time to pull the rotor and pack both inner and outer.

If it looks average, you can squirt some grease toward the inner bearing without pulling the rotor.

If time and money won't allow service, driving slower will keep things cooler. Heat KILLS!

Hand tools, gallons of water, flash light-but you knew that right? 

Look forward to hearing about your travel adventure, be safe, and have fun!

[87ChevyR10]

My guy.... heck of a list, i'm with ya. So....

The tires are going to be brand new and I am going with 15x8 in the front, 15x10 in the back.
https://www.bbwheelsonline.com/pro-comp-steel-wheels-rimss-series-51-wheels-rims-15x10-5x127-5x5-gloss-black-44-mm-offset-PCW51-5173/

I don't know what I wanna do tire wise yet but I do know I am going with the old-school d window/racing rim look, all black.

Battery is brand new. A full tuneup was done 12 mos ago but i am going to certainly check all that out. shoot, the front end rebuild kit ima toss in the cab.

Now, what you said bout lifting it up and rotating the tire to inspect for grinding? I definitely wouldn't have done that, but I will now. And thats a plus on checking the bearings. My dad DID actually teach me that.

One time he was laughing at this guy on TV using a tool. Gave the ol "this is how REAL mechanics do it, that shoot don't get in the bearings like this!" bit, right? All the while he's talking he has a gob of grease in his palm pounding grease into it, til he stops and literally points out after knocking off the excess, to see grease actually coming through the seams from the outside in. So, yeah, heck yeah, ima definitely check that out. Sorry for the quick story time. Its crazy I thought about that while writing.

I am debating whether to rent a truck and a uhaul flat trailer, or chance driving it? I will make that decision once I get the rims tires and all that put together, see what we got.

Definitely going to keep yall updated.

[Captkaos]

I would drive it locally for a while get it up to temp and then check to see if everything is up to par.  Check all fluids, along with the above and if you don't fee comfortable after driving it around for an hour then tow it.

[Shifty]

Driving it would be cooler, but being broke-down on the side of the road....not as much. 

[87ChevyR10]

But being broke-down on the side of the road....not as much.

Yeah, that part.

So, from what I'm looking at. I don't WANT TO go the transport route but I just got quotes from a bunch of places.

Honestly, from the initial quotes, its cheaper or about the same price to have it transported vs  my already quoted comparison of full size rental truck for a couple days, bought tow hitch/receiver, rented auto trailer. So, I may just go the transport route. Which leaves me to focus on other things then while i am down and I am OK w/that.

Capt - awww man been a minute brother. Good advice. Definitely in the plans.

[87ChevyR10]

10 days later.... $1000 less..... $1700 to go


But dang I got stuff on the way! So thus far I've purchased some torque wrenches and jackstands to help with things. But part wise, from Summit ordered: Package Details:
1) ACDelco 88876933 Pitman Arms 2) Cardone Industries 277522 Steering Box 3) Moog ES2004S - Moog Tie Rod Sleeves, 4) Monroe Magnum Steering Stabilizer SA1932

From Jegs I got a heat shrink kit and these rims for her, wanted to go with the basic  classic racing wheel look
555-681022 D Window Wheel [Size: 15 x 10 ] for the rear
555-681012 D Window Wheel [Size: 15 x 8 ] Front

I dropped the part #s as people who posted theirs over the years doing my research,  really helped me out alot. So, maybe one day the info helps someone else who looks.

I am honestly excited. Right now I don't know yet if I'll be undertaking this by myself or not still, but, I'll plan for just me. I did call my cousin though who is in with a bunch of people who still race cars, so hopefully I can get a little help.

Oh and of course I have the POL front rebuild kit. So outside of replacing control arms completely, this front end is going to be 80-90% new

No more floating and bobbing.

Next round of ordering includes my sway bar/front springs, shock mount relocation kit.

After next week, all I got left is tires and fuel system

[87ChevyR10]

The marathon continues..... sheeesh.


Just got:

- #3001 quick release
- Grant GT 4 spoke Challenger wheel
- 3196 short hub kit
 
Tires, fuel system, shocks. Almost home. Tires are picked(BFG T/A 255-70-15), fuel cell/lines/pump choices are almost locked down.

Definitely made the call for help already.

[87ChevyR10]

Update: Last update I had dropped a bunch of $ on her, well, unfortunately, since then, life got lifey. My FT day job had been on the ropes for almost 18 mos, but it had become clear to me its days were numbered. I hung on there as long as I could, but once there was signs of instability there, I had to quit buying parts and prepare for the future. SO....

I finally found a job to replace that one equally, so I have resumed purchasing the last of my parts.

So I last purchased moog 6454 springs and a 17 gal fuel cell.

I have toiled over research on NPT/PTFE/AN fittings and that has been a learning experience in its own. Realized how vast of a market there is for adapters and such. It has provided me a lot of opportunity to uh....learn, lol. But its confusing as heck at times. Swivels, 90s, 45s, 4 to 10 AN, etc.

I feel pretty confident now I've got the right fittings of choice down. 8AN male outs, so i had to find reducers for each 1/4 & 5/16 & 3/8. I am going to use the reducers to the 90 pushlocks ending in hose barbs, evil energy fuel line.

Hopefully these temu hose clamps aren't trash, lol.
 
What's left is pre-formed brake lines, tires and transport. Thank God I am in the home stretch.

I am hoping to avoid walking or biking everywhere another Philadelphia winter by getting my baby back before then. The past 2 years of that have whooped my ass via 2 mi walking plus train or 8 mi RT biking.

I am trying to get as much done when in GA as possible to ready her for here because once she's here, I am completely on my own and will have no where to work on her like back home. Philly streets are the last place to work on your vehicle. Done got runover and left for dead. Ain't like back home, a rocky driveway or put her in the grass and slide up under with no care other than a jack failing. Up here? Nowhere to work on things unless you know someone. Or try your hand in one of the many abandoned lots up here. That though is sure to bring on unwanted attention, police or otherwise.

I'll figure it out, like I nearly always do. Been a long ride but I'm almost there.

[Shifty]

You don't lack for passion! 

[87ChevyR10]

Mannnn I'm trying! Alot of that, alot of research, and hopefully a little help, I'll get it all done. Not so sure by myself though. My cousin is friends with a lot of local dirt track folks, so she said she could likely come up with a couple.

But 3 people? I can get it all done and maybe mess around and sand/prime/spray the rear frame while i got the bed off. I don't drink anymore, but if they do, heck some $ & beer will go a long way.

[87ChevyR10]

A lil update. Almost done with all the parts buying. I have VHT Rollbar/Chassis paint to buy. Grabbing a case to take care of the frame from the cab back. Sand, spray with some rust treatment, prime and VHT RC. I figure if I'm gonna take the bed off for the fuel cell install and mounting and fuel line install/routing, I might as well handle that part of the frame too, no?

Also going to replace all 4 shocks as well, so its almost a full suspension sweep. Ended up going with a full monroe set.

All I have left to purchase are the rear drums. I'll be replacing all rear components so she is gonna have full fresh brakes ALL at the same time....for the 1st time. They've always been changed 1 or the other.

Aside from the mentioned, I am now at the tire stage. I'm kind of thrown because I was going to go for some regular all season stuff. But I always bought those down south. I'm down south anymore so i may need something more suited for a Philly seasons. Suggestions?

[87ChevyR10]

Welp... I said i would update when the next news hit. This is some of the better news. Looking like I will be going to pick up my 87 next month give or take.

Was going to drive it last time i posted, but, since will haul it with a rental truck/trailer.

Past ready. I miss my ol girl