What have you done to your square lately??

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Ken B

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2019
Posts
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1,478
Location
indiana
First Name
ken
Truck Year
81
Truck Model
c10
Engine Size
250
Got the engine running yesterday. very pleased that it fired off so quickly. I have a new fuel system so was concerned about leaks , problems.
New tank , lines, fuel pump. tested new fuel pump by cranking disconnected fuel line at carb into a milk jug, great flow. hooked up the fuel line to the carb and it fired right off. Need to add some atf and replace coolant temp sensor before I really run it up to temp.
Gave myself a pat on the back
 

williestreet

Junior Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2023
Posts
18
Reaction score
101
Location
Halifax, Nova Scotia
First Name
John
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
1500
Engine Size
305
The list of things I have found wrong with this truck since it's purchase last fall is long. But I wanted something to get me off the couch and out in the garage and it has certainly accomplished that goal.

This is my first older truck and I have a lot to learn. Many of these issues would have certainly been caught before purchase by more experienced people, but you have to learn somehow and it is satisfying to get some of them sorted, the truck running better and learn in the process.

The truck always started and ran fine. Maybe seemed a little rich but no stumbles or obvious issues when taking it for a drive. I was occupied all winter with rebuilding the rear end and other issues and never really looked too close under the hood until June when it was finally licensed for the road.

I knew the engine was changed a few years ago. When I started investigating what carb was on it I discovered it had one of the electronic carbs, but my truck doesn't have any of the electronics control stuff. Everything I have read says my truck shouldn't run and it's impossible to run this carb on a normal truck without the control gear.
It did run fine, but probably way rich so I looked around and found a recently rebuilt normal Rochester.

The oil pressure switch near the distributor is the one wire type so I had to find another keyed power source for the electric choke. I used a wire off the wiper motor and it seems to work fine.

The old carb base gasket was in poor shape, but the install went better than I expected and in a few hours the truck was back running. The replacement carb was setup for a 350 but it seems to run fine on my 305. After running it a bit I will probably investigate what changes should be made if any.

Next week I'm sure there will be something else to deal with.
 

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squaredeal91

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Joined
Mar 10, 2023
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2,600
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4,739
Location
Cave junction Oregon
First Name
Greg bush
Truck Year
1991 SB
Truck Model
K30
Engine Size
5.9 Cummins 12 valve
The list of things I have found wrong with this truck since it's purchase last fall is long. But I wanted something to get me off the couch and out in the garage and it has certainly accomplished that goal.

This is my first older truck and I have a lot to learn. Many of these issues would have certainly been caught before purchase by more experienced people, but you have to learn somehow and it is satisfying to get some of them sorted, the truck running better and learn in the process.

The truck always started and ran fine. Maybe seemed a little rich but no stumbles or obvious issues when taking it for a drive. I was occupied all winter with rebuilding the rear end and other issues and never really looked too close under the hood until June when it was finally licensed for the road.

I knew the engine was changed a few years ago. When I started investigating what carb was on it I discovered it had one of the electronic carbs, but my truck doesn't have any of the electronics control stuff. Everything I have read says my truck shouldn't run and it's impossible to run this carb on a normal truck without the control gear.
It did run fine, but probably way rich so I looked around and found a recently rebuilt normal Rochester.

The oil pressure switch near the distributor is the one wire type so I had to find another keyed power source for the electric choke. I used a wire off the wiper motor and it seems to work fine.

The old carb base gasket was in poor shape, but the install went better than I expected and in a few hours the truck was back running. The replacement carb was setup for a 350 but it seems to run fine on my 305. After running it a bit I will probably investigate what changes should be made if any.

Next week I'm sure there will be something else to deal with.
Looks good. I love Chevy Orange
 

82sbshortbed

Fuckemall!!
Joined
Mar 1, 2018
Posts
15,981
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53,856
Location
SE Texas
First Name
Doug
Truck Year
1982, 1984
Truck Model
1500 shortbed, 1500 longbed
Engine Size
454, 305
Got the 6x9 4way Pyle in the 30 year old Sony speakers box. Sound way better. Just wanted to hear them before the cab corner boxes get here. Best 50 bucks I've spent in a while.
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Sure my neighbors enjoyed the sound test too. Lol
 

brooksman9

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Joined
Sep 26, 2021
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569
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1,643
Location
Olive Branch, MS
First Name
Patrick
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
Silverado & Custom Deluxe
Engine Size
350 & 305
Cleaned up to motor as best I could and brushed some red paint I had left from the first Camaro I did. Will need another coat but it looks 100% better than it did. Edelbrock intake on the way and will get some new valve covers too.
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SlickGTP

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Joined
Feb 24, 2011
Posts
787
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125
Location
Houston, TX
First Name
John
Truck Year
1973
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
454
Haven't done much in awhile except install the correctly sized fuse for the High Blower Setting... I kept wondering why I was blowing the 15amp fuse only to find out from other threads that I had undersized it substantially. Now I start dreaming of A/C, Stereo, and all the other things that poor truck needs. lol
 

Travlr

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2023
Posts
247
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805
Location
Central Utah
First Name
C
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
K20 Camper Special
Engine Size
350
Cleaned up to motor as best I could and brushed some red paint I had left from the first Camaro I did. Will need another coat but it looks 100% better than it did. Edelbrock intake on the way and will get some new valve covers too.
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I'm gonna leave the patina on my engine in the body swap show truck I'm building. The body will have original patina so the engine will too.
 

ChuckN

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Joined
Nov 8, 2022
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Location
Bellinham, WA
First Name
Chad
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
350
Pushed the boat a little further from shore today, did about 50 miles. Could’ve gone further, but freeway driving ain’t super fun in this thing- in the future, I’d like to take a look at spring/shock options. She held together just fine. No fluid losses, no overheating at speed when driving in traffic.

I also ordered some new grille trim, and when it comes in, I’m going to clean up the grille and repaint the blue stripe in the middle of the grille.

A week from tomorrow, the date arrives for the 3.42 posi, then “C10s on the Capital”. Is August 10th, if nasty fire smoke or severely hot weather doesn’t arrive.
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gerhed

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2024
Posts
62
Reaction score
165
Location
Kentucky
First Name
Jason
Truck Year
1983
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
350
I washed it today. I got it running a couple days ago. So I figured I should clean it too. I can't believe the bed is in such good shape after sitting outside for all of its 41 years, until I pulled it into the shop a few days ago. Anyway, here the before and after pictures.
 

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gerhed

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2024
Posts
62
Reaction score
165
Location
Kentucky
First Name
Jason
Truck Year
1983
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
350
Here it is clean lol. I didn't know I could only attach 5 pictures at a time.
 

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