What have you done to your square lately??

JamesSam said:

Fairly certain this rad has plastic tanks. It always has kept the truck cool though, even with the reservoir somehow evaporating periodically.

Click to expand...

I filled up the reserve tank a couple times in two days and drove it a lot. Would it be possible the pressure was making the coolant seep out because I overfilled it?? Only asking because the drips seem to have stopped and the rad is still full...or is that just because the coolant is actually cold now?

I have been corresponding with a fellow named Brian Harris. I finally got a Stage 1 Chip for my 1987's computer. First Impression is WONDERFUL!

First step was unplugging the Magic Wire and setting the timing to 0 degrees, the original factory spec.






Next, I got the glove box to open all the way so I could access the ECM. It sits above the glove box, up pretty high against the underside of the dash. The chip is behind that rectangular plate with the two 1/4 inch screws holding it in place.

I didn't realize you could still get chips for the older stuff, cool!

Redfish said:

I have been corresponding with a fellow named Brian Harris. I finally got a Stage 1 Chip for my 1987's computer. First Impression is WONDERFUL!

First step was unplugging the Magic Wire and setting the timing to 0 degrees, the original factory spec.

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

Next, I got the glove box to open all the way so I could access the ECM. It sits above the glove box, up pretty high against the underside of the dash. The chip is behind that rectangular plate with the two 1/4 inch screws holding it in place.

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

Click to expand...

I've dealt with Brian in the past, he's a good honest dude.

Removed the candy wrappers, still a twenty footer but a five footer in the dark. A couple sags in the white paint and a little cobbly in some areas down low but it still works for me and I am still motivated to getRdone.

mxer147 said:

Removed the candy wrappers, still a twenty footer but a five footer in the dark. A couple sags in the white paint and a little cobbly in some areas down low but it still works for me and I am still motivated to getRdone.

Click to expand...

I had a friend that painted and he had a little tool that could shave the sags till they were gone. It had a razor blade that skinned off the high spots. The tool was maybe the size of a silver dollar.

Travlr said:

I had a friend that painted and he had a little tool that could shave the sags to they were gone. It had a razor blade that skinned off the high spots. The tool was maybe the size of a silver dollar.

Click to expand...

The problem is that when the run or sag is shaved off, there's often solvent pockets left exposed that look like pinholes. Depending on the color and location, the sag may be less noticeable.

I’m not restoring it to show condition so I plan to leave my personalized flaws in the paint. Considering it’s a driveway DIY paint job, it looks good enough and should protect the metal for another 10-20 years as it sits outside to weather.

I pumped the gas a couple of times and the big block came to life.
It has been several months since I have used it.

We love this simple beast.

Catbox said:

I pumped the gas a couple of times and the big block came to life.
It has been several months since I have used it.

We love this simple beast.

Click to expand...

There’s something satisfying about the notion of an old vehicle just lighting off with a few pumps on the gas pedal and…. Vroom.
The old 74 CJ could sit for 2 hours or 6 months. Pull the choke, giver a half dozen pumps on the gas pedal and off she goes.
Both the 77 and 86, same way save for having electric chokes and only needing 1 push on the pedal.

Troubleshot with the radiator today. Warmed it up and it stayed dry as a bone. After driving around the neighborhood for about 15 minutes and never going over 30 mph I pulled back in the driveway and sure enough the leak had sprung again. For whatever reason I was hoping I could drive it a bit and not see signs of a leak, but no, I have a leak.
Now the second half of the story:
After troubleshooting with a little free time I now had to go pick up my daughter and her two friends from swim practice, so I jumped in the CRV and it won't start. No turnover just the engine light on the dash and enough juice to lock and unlock doors. Battery dead. I could not get the CRV jumped with my truck (I blame the side posts on the battery) so I probably need a new one. Had this one in it for almost 3 years. I had to take the truck and squeeze all 3 kids in the cab. Luckily this trip was not far. The truck never went over 190-ish and I had toget it up to 50 mph for a minute on this ride.

@JamesSam Is that the drain petcock? If that is your leak point...that is an easy fix.

JamesSam said:

Troubleshot with the radiator today. Warmed it up and it stayed dry as a bone. After driving around the neighborhood for about 15 minutes and never going over 30 mph I pulled back in the driveway and sure enough the leak had sprung again. For whatever reason I was hoping I could drive it a bit and not see signs of a leak, but no, I have a leak.

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

Now the second half of the story:
After troubleshooting with a little free time I now had to go pick up my daughter and her two friends from swim practice, so I jumped in the CRV and it won't start. No turnover just the engine light on the dash and enough juice to lock and unlock doors. Battery dead. I could not get the CRV jumped with my truck (I blame the side posts on the battery) so I probably need a new one. Had this one in it for almost 3 years. I had to take the truck and squeeze all 3 kids in the cab. Luckily this trip was not far. The truck never went over 190-ish and I had toget it up to 50 mph for a minute on this ride.

You must be registered for see images attach

Click to expand...

local battery distributor told me to never over crank the bolts going into side terminals. They told me this when I asked for longer bolts to go into the side terminals. When you over tighten, it could pull the inserts out internally. Make them good and taunt.

Just an FYI.

Today was steering column day. Well, the latest in a couple steering column days, but I made tangible progress.

Always helpful stink bugs on the job.



Not too bad, most of the chrome is intact on the balls. Cleaned with wd40 then washed out with the alcohol brake cleaner. Then, some 10w40 from the pump can swirled well and then some grease from the grease gun and Bob's your uncle.




The upper column lower bearing was originally hanging loose from its plastic housing so I pulled it out ever so carefully to clean and lube it. Got it back in but managed to get the shaft collapsed about ¼ inch doing so. The slide hammer has that convenient little hardened pin on top, which grabbed the hole in the shaft just fine while I stood on the steering wheel and gave it a couple upside down whacks.



There's another thread where a feller was asking about the rubber boot on the lower shaft. This will have to do for now, pinhole leak or vent hole, if it fits it ships. Rag joint seems fine I'm on to the steering box seals next and probably weepy hoses too. This ain't no resto-mod.

Thinking I should clean up the gages while I have the column out



Yeah, saddle and gray blue mixed. The last owners were, weird to say the least.