Thread: 1972 Chevy K30 Longhorn Build

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And even more nice pics, thanks Boss!

Nothing majorly new with the truck. I have been daily driving it putting the miles on it. I've hauled some decent scrap loads. (Too bad they aren't worth anything) Anyhow, I finally managed to get the 03 Dodge engine reinstalled and running. Only thing left to do is replace the oil pressure switch because after the truck starts warming up, the oil pressure gauge falls to 0 from 60. So, either the switch is bad, or there are issues in the oil pick up/oil pump. This engine was ran out of oil before so I'm hoping the switch is just bad for who knows what reason. The truck had 293k on it so it is a good possibility. If it is an engine issue, the owner can take the truck to the guy that rebuilt the engine. I'm fresh out of time for this truck.

Last week I got the 7.3 parts back from the machine shop. Last Saturday I spent the day cleaning the parts, installing the crank, checking the main clearances, then re-installing the crank for the final time. finally, it has .003 of clearance and I can move forward on it. I started cleaning the pistons and rings and I found the previous shop must have broken an oil ring because one of them was a used one. 2 steps forward 4 steps back with this darn truck!

Since it was so nice today, I finished de-greasing the trans and tcase, and got them painted. I used black primer first, then gloss black single stage. As long as they set up nice, we're good to go. The owner of this truck wants everything painted with a gun now. I have no problem doing it, he just better understand it takes a little more time. Especially in the prep. People just don't realize it.

The patience of Jobe...




YES! YOU!

You mean you can't just wiggle your little finger at it and _KERZAM its done?

Originally Posted by firebird77clone

You mean you can't just wiggle your little finger at it and _KERZAM its done?

People think that happens. My magic wand has been broken for a while too.

I can't believe I missed the truck thread for four years! Great project and very cool truck, you can count on one more follower of this thread.

Thanks Steve!

This morning I put a mechanical oil pressure gauge on the 03 Dodge. I fired it up, let it warm up and then ran it at 2k for around 5 minutes and the cluster oil pressure gauge fell to 0. I jumped out and checked the mechanical gauge and it was showing 30-32psi at idle. Good deal. My brother was on his way from town with an oil pressure switch already. I threw it on when he got there and ran the truck at 2k for 20 minutes with no more oil pressure dropping issues on the cluster gauge. The engine finally warmed up and the thermostat opened, so all is good. It is officially done. Now I have 1 more dodge to finish the engine on and get it all together and I can concentrate on the ford over haul fiasco. I also have another dodge to replace the turbo and repair the down pipe on. I'm trying to hurry because I'm collecting cash for another project I found in Ohio....

Ahhh to be young again and keep buying projects


.

Originally Posted by Mike P

Ahhh to be young again and keep buying projects


.

just bought a 80 ElCamino I'm 72 your only as old as you think

Getting back to the magical wand scenario, I chuckled because my first thought was of the owner who wants the top notch job is, " You surely have made a mistake, it can't of cost that much to do that little job? " You keep at it Ryan and charge the full amount for these jobs you are doing.

Originally Posted by Whiplash23T

Getting back to the magical wand scenario, I chuckled because my first thought was of the owner who wants the top notch job is, " You surely have made a mistake, it can't of cost that much to do that little job? " You keep at it Ryan and charge the full amount for these jobs you are doing.

It's real funny how when you tell people you need money, they get distant and silent. The guy with the red dodge was supposed to be coming to get it Saturday. I haven't heard anything from him since Friday afternoon. I told the kid that owns the blue ford that I couldn't work on his truck anymore until he pays me towards the labor I've done to it. I've got 120hrs in it, and he's given me $100. Those tallied hours are on the slim side too. If I actually kept track how many hours I had in phone calls from him, trying to get set up with different vendors to get parts for this truck, responding to his texts at all hours of the day, and the countless hours researching and looking for info online to make sure this build will get him what he wants, it would probably be 200-250hrs. Or more, who knows. But you guessed it, I haven't heard from him since I got off the phone with him Thursday night.

Back to the more projects. I found a 1968 C60 4 door chevy truck. I am going to build a 4 door 67-72 at some point and getting this truck will save me a lot of fab time. If things don't work out, then I'll end up building one later. The original coach built 4 door trucks are getting pretty darn hard to find. They are ugly, but I'm going to modify the doors and door openings to make it look better if I get it. We shall see.

I have often thought I should get the title for ransume when taking on projects for others.

The very last time I worked on someones car as a paid repair, I had replaced the radiator.
When they arrived to pick up the car the guy puts his daughter in the car - he was going to have her drive off while he "haggled" with me, he didn't bring any money either...

They came into the shop with a question.. why won't the car run? I said did you bring 400 bucks? they said no, "we'll pay you next week".
I said no you won't, you have 24 hours to cough up 400 and then you can have the car back. He said what did you do to the car? I said I removed the battery! He complained so I said no worries, I'll take my radiator back out and put your battery back in and then get off my property!

Of curse he acted like I called him a thief.. I said no worries, I don't need you or your crap, so pay up or I'll keep the car and give it to my nephew. He came back the next day with the money, acting all pissed off. I made it a point when he was walking away to yell Happy Motoring!

Heaven help you folks who can deal with it day in and day out. My fuse is to short for "customers".

The very last time I worked on someones car as a paid repair, I had replaced the radiator.
When they arrived to pick up the car the guy puts his daughter in the car - he was going to have her drive off while he "haggled" with me, he didn't bring any money either...

They came into the shop with a question.. why won't the car run? I said did you bring 400 bucks? they said no, "we'll pay you next week".
I said no you won't, you have 24 hours to cough up 400 and then you can have the car back. He said what did you do to the car? I said I removed the battery! He complained so I said no worries, I'll take my radiator back out and put your battery back in and then get off my property!

Of course he acted like I called him a thief.. I said no worries, I don't need you or your crap, so pay up or I'll keep the car and give it to my nephew. He came back the next day with the money, acting all pissed off. I made it a point when he was walking away to yell Happy Motoring!

Heaven help you folks who can deal with it day in and day out. My fuse is to short for "customers".

I have been thinking of totally going out on my own, but these deals sure make it easy to say, to heck with that. I really need to quit working on other people's stuff and work on my own stuff. Just work OT at work to get my parts. Oh wait, I already am. Dang it.

I did use the truck for hauling something. Haha I need to get the trailer wiring done because I could have used it to pick up a junk car yesterday. Instead, I used an old Dodge.