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  1. Grumpy

    Aluminum head thoughts

    Remember when installing aluminum heads to follow the manufacturer's recommendation for head gaskets, as a regular head gasket may not be compatible with your choice. All of the USA-based companies selling heads have tech lines with actual people and they know their stuff - the manufacturers...
  2. Grumpy

    Do these racing stripes work on this square?

    For myself, one of the best things about hot rodding and fixing up vehicles is not looking at everything and loving every last paint job or modification you see, it is observing what others have done and whether or not you like it - countless times I have wondered about doing this or that only...
  3. Grumpy

    How slow is your daily driver?

    My car is so slow, it comes with its own helmet, crayons and adult diaper. edit: Any slower and it could be a Democrat President.
  4. Grumpy

    Opinions + Pictures needed on a 2/4 drop for a C10

    As far as drop spindles go, stay moderate unless you will be purchasing larger diameter rims. A 2.5" drop will still permit you to retain 15" diameter rims, however you need to ensure the edge of the rim does not contact the control arm when in sharp turns. This issue is exacerbated with...
  5. Grumpy

    HELP!!!!

    This is where I said to verify the intake manifold gaskets. Lay them on the head and observe if the gaskets are able to seal around the entire intake port of each port. Big Block Chevy heads come in many configurations: round port (yucky old grain truck and school bus stuff,) oval port (much...
  6. Grumpy

    HELP!!!!

    Before installing the intake, did you verify the the intake gaskets for mismatch?
  7. Grumpy

    How to brighten up aluminum intake manifolds

    I picked up a used aluminum intake and am looking to restore the luster it had when new. The previous owner had it painted VERY orange and I believe the paint was applied with a soup ladle. What do you recommend for blast media and what are the recommendations for preserving? I have tried...
  8. Grumpy

    Flat black instead of chrome

    Many of us here are old enough that if you actually remove perfectly good chrome, our general reaction would be identical to a cat if you put a leash on it.
  9. Grumpy

    Carburetor recommendation

    Questions you need to answer for yourself: -What is the AVERAGE RPM you will be running at? If you are going to be averaging around the middle third of your RPM range, then a smaller carb will provide better response at the expense of the top end. If you are going to beat it like a rented...
  10. Grumpy

    What new tools have you got lately?

    I'm doing another gear swap in two weeks. After that, we can discuss these ones.
  11. Grumpy

    Do U joints have to align in any way

    Other than phasing the yokes (which is not normally an issue on squares,) I will provide the OCD/Anal Retentive view: If the grease nipple points out at a slight direction, ensure you are able to connect a grease gun to it. And if you are SEVERELY OCD: ensure the u-joints are installed such that...
  12. Grumpy

    What new tools have you got lately?

    Tools I made for the differential on my square. The long one bolts directly on to the yoke and has a provision for the socket to go directly on the pinion nut. The smaller also bolts directly on the yoke, and is for removing the yoke itself. I couldn't afford the ones I really wanted, so I did...
  13. Grumpy

    Vibration - Driveline Saga

    I will run with the data your driveshaft is balanced and when you installed the u-joints you ensured they moved freely on their axis before installation; your driveline angles are accurate and the output of your transfer case is not worn out / leaking seal (telltale.) Check for "silly" issues...
  14. Grumpy

    New Gears Sing a Little

    I'm with Bextreme. Personally, I use a Snap-On dial torque wrench with the tell-tale needle. That way I can turn the pinion nut and see what peak torque is and I also start turning the pinion nut by hand and then check the rolling torque - yes, I am CDO.
  15. Grumpy

    plans have changed - need opinions

    It is only a money pit if you let it become one. Here is what I do, and I do not suggest this for everyone. Calculate what you would spend (bi-weekly, bi-monthly or monthly) what you would normally spend on either a new vehicle for yourself, or say a decent used one. This also means you will...
  16. Grumpy

    The Electric Vette is Near

    I wonder if GM (a subsidiary of the Chinese Communist Party) will ever publish the total amount of carbon emissions created in the manufacture of one new 'Vette? Include data such as the total number of tons of ore mined to create the EV batteries and the method that will be used to recycle...
  17. Grumpy

    How to measure your driveshaft correctly?

    When measuring driveshaft length, I NEVER try to eyeball where the centre of the bore is for the u-joint cap. The easiest I find is to start by placing the tape at the 2" mark (the tab at the end is supposed to move slightly depending on if it is pulled tight - measure inside - or pushed tight -...
  18. Grumpy

    Swaping engine internals opinions, and does this look bad to you?

    For the money that you will spend and the return you will get out of it, I would look for a rebuildable 350. As long as you don't want over 400 hp, having a four-bolt block and a forged crank are not necessary. If you have choices, look for some used Vortec heads, as they breathe a little better...
  19. Grumpy

    The Quest for the Last Radiator

    My McGuyver skills are impressive without me having to boast; for years, any crew that seen me step out of the service truck KNEW they would be up and running soon (their words, not mine.) I can still sweat a bronze ID tag onto a brass tank and repaired an aluminum oil cooler on a QSX and...
  20. Grumpy

    The Future of Battery Electric Vehicles (and I don't like them)

    EVs are not working out in rural Canada very well. The cold is simply too much for their systems to be able to have any appreciable range. Everyone in the cities who have one love them - strangely, they are also the same people who advocate lockdowns, mask mandates, welfare and someone...
  21. Grumpy

    The Quest for the Last Radiator

    The one in my '85 was seeping a bit near the bottom. Closer inspection revealed a pin hole that would have been easily repaired. So I priced out at the local shop (they do exceptional work!) and it was almost as much to fix it as it would for installing a new core. So I priced out just the...
  22. Grumpy

    Anyone dealt with LMC Trucks for parts?

    I've dealt with them and love their products.
  23. Grumpy

    Lets see your cell phone mount

    When I am in my square, the cell is in the glovebox with the battery out. Priorities.
  24. Grumpy

    1985 K20 350 Lost Spark While Driving

    New parts fail too. That's why there are dealerships for new vehicles. Years ago, I worked on a tractor that had a failed hydraulic pump - after replacement, same thing..... so another new pump. Four pumps and two weeks later, a fresh bulletin comes in regarding a particular brand of...
  25. Grumpy

    Rebuilding a 5.7 350

    You never mentioned that you verified the piston ring end gap. This is absolutely critical! If you do not have the proper tool for setting the rings down squarely in the bore, a double female coupler (plastic) from a hardware store would give you a ballpark view. Get one that has a hex in...

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