Search results

  1. dsteelejr

    Intake is Outgoing

    I have the factory intake for a 454 with peanut port heads. I replaced it with an Edelbrock intake when I dropped a reman 454 in last year. The only two issues are the front water pump bypass fitting broke off and the threaded portion of it is still inside the manifold. Second, its a little...
  2. dsteelejr

    Wiring issue!

    I would have the 14 AWG fusible link coming right off the starter. That way if the wire shorts anywhere the whole wire is protected from right off the starter post. That’s how I did mine. This pic is one of the wires I made for the primary power off the starter. It was a little too short, so I...
  3. dsteelejr

    Wiring issue!

    You can buy fusible link from the car parts stores. Some carry it, some don't. You can also get it from amazon: Fusible Link Wire 14 AWG Gauge Universal Black 10 FT Spool Coil - USA Made Fusible Link Wire 16 AWG Gauge Universal Black 10 FT Spool Coil - USA Made Fusible link should be...
  4. dsteelejr

    Truck won't start

    When you turn the key to the crank position does your volt meter go dead or continue to read 12V?
  5. dsteelejr

    Truck won't start

    Did you mean it doesn't buzz when you turn the key on? Manual transmission or automatic? Manual trans has a clutch interlock so the clutch must be pushed in. The automatics have an interlock that will only allow the engine to crank with the shifter in P or N. On my '73 C20 that interlock is...
  6. dsteelejr

    2,3 or 4 core radiator for BBC?

    I had an aluminum radiator, it sprung a leak a week ago. I dropped in a 4 row copper/brass OEM style radiator from Summit. Runs noticeably cooler than the aluminum. And yes, this is for a 454. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-382018
  7. dsteelejr

    SBC 350?!?!?

    Yeah, 2.73 in any truck is a joke. I only found this out because I ended up blowing up the rear end. My uncle, who has been a lifelong (now retired) mechanic and has two squares himself, was helping me fix it and he was in disbelief when he had me count the teeth to calculate the ratio for new...
  8. dsteelejr

    SBC 350?!?!?

    The first vehicle I ever owned was an '84 K5. This was way back in 2000 when I lived in CA and it was subject to smog checks. To pass a smog check the engine in the vehicle had to match the VIN. The VIN said it had a 305. PO swapped with a 350 because he said the 305 was gutless (later found out...
  9. dsteelejr

    Which is the Correct Windshield Wiper Switch?

    This is the switch on my ‘80 K25. Luckily I still have my dash apart as I’m finishing up the wiring project. Looks like the same leads, just in a different spot on the switch.
  10. dsteelejr

    Latest thinking on replacement gauges

    Using the tach conversion kit from LMC is going to be the most affordable option. My truck had factory idiot lights so I had to buy new volt, oil and temp gauges in addition to the tach kit. Was about $450. Much cheaper than the higher end after market sets. Plus I enjoy the factory look. I...
  11. dsteelejr

    New cluster/gauge install…Nothing works!!!

    From what I’ve seen the connectors are pinned the same for 76 - 86. ‘73 - ‘75 had ammeters instead of volt meters and mechanical oil pressure gauges, as well as different bulk head connectors and glass tube fuses so they were set up different. And with going to EFI in ‘87 I believe they changed...
  12. dsteelejr

    New cluster/gauge install…Nothing works!!!

    I forgot to mention, the way the connector is pinned is the same for gauges without tach and gauges with tach. You would only need to repin the connector if you were going from idiot lights to gauges as in my situation. The tach doesn’t use anything from the connector.
  13. dsteelejr

    New cluster/gauge install…Nothing works!!!

    I did the exact same thing you are doing on my ‘80 K25, except my reason for it was it had idiot lights and I wanted factory style gauges. First thing to check is power to the small gauges. There is a pink & black wire, circuit 39, that goes into three terminals on the connector. That pink &...
  14. dsteelejr

    What is this loom clip called?

    I bought this for my square 95 PCS Car Moulding Wire Harness... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0833W439M?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share Not bad deal. I also bought some cable clamps. These are available in different sizes. I prefer these metal clamps to the plastic ones. 1/2" Cable Clamp Stainless...
  15. dsteelejr

    Temp gauge posts? Which is which?

    What year is that temp gauge supposed to fit? I’ve only seen stock and after market reproduction gauges with three posts.
  16. dsteelejr

    Have you swapped a 350 for a 454? Advice needed

    The 1979 service manual says: Heater hoses are routed from the thermostat housing or inlet manifold and water pump (radiator on some automatic transmission vehicles) to the core inlet and outlet pipes as shown in Figure 1A-9. Hoses are attached at each end with screw type clamps. From the...
  17. dsteelejr

    Fusible link issues.

    That’s a good looking square. I had the exact same thing happen to me nine years ago. My 1980 K25 was my grandpa’s truck and it sat around for 17 years after he passed until I got my hands on it. About a month after driving it I had the same experience. My uncle, who is a retired mechanic, took...
  18. dsteelejr

    Fuel gauge wiring help?

    Appreciate the advice about connector lube. I hadn’t thought of that. If I understand what you’re saying, if there are multiple wires of the same color that go to different circuits, reverse the male / female connectors so it is sort of keyed to reduce the likelihood of connecting wires to the...
  19. dsteelejr

    Fuel gauge wiring help?

    That color diagram is sweet. Where did you get it?
  20. dsteelejr

    Brake Issues - RPO codes

    I know other users have already answered this question about your axle, but just for your future reference the easiest way to tell is a full floater will have bolts in the axle hub, like in the picture below.
  21. dsteelejr

    Squarebody Down! HELP - Member Roadside Assistance Volunteer Map

    Wyoming 82515
  22. dsteelejr

    Wiring 'factory' gauges 'directly'???

    Good deal. I forgot that up to and including ‘75 GM used a mechanical oil pressure gauge and an ammeter instead of a volt meter. I like to have both ammeter and volt meter, but you’d be better off with a volt meter. The wiring is super easy since it’s simply powered by ignition on switched power.
  23. dsteelejr

    Wiring 'factory' gauges 'directly'???

    $899 is a damn good reason to do it the way you are, but LMC sells the factory style tachometer conversion kit for $300. Where does $899 come from? My ‘80 K25 is a base model that had idiot lights. I bought a tachometer conversion kit from LMC and also had to buy the three small gauges for...
  24. dsteelejr

    Fuel gauge wiring help?

    @Billys44s I wanted to add that you can find good used pigtails, like the one I have as a spare in the picture above, on eBay for cheap. They're going for about $20 to $25 plus tax and shipping. The one in your picture looks a bit hacked up and it can be hard to work with when you have butt...
  25. dsteelejr

    California Square Body fans - Proposal to extend smog exemption model years

    Like @K5ride said, in CA just because your vehicle is exempt from having to be smogged doesn't make it exempt from smog laws. My parent live in the SF Bay Area and recently gifted me their '73 C20 they've had since 1985. I remember as a kid taking the truck to get smogged, then it becoming...

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
45,517
Posts
985,304
Members
38,596
Latest member
brad083
Top