The plan is to get this back to running condition with a dependable motor. After that I plan to bob the bed 11" and maybe some more goodies. The initial plan is to remove the front clip and pressure wash everything, remove the bed, and clean the chassis. So, where should I start after that?
The question should really be, where can't I go from there!!! It all depends on where/what your overall plans are.....dropping, slamming,or just customizing it and changing things around. It's all up to you. Give us an idea of what your overall intentions are, and we can go from there...
Well, I really want the motor running perfect. That would be goal #1. After that I think I'll start on some body work, but bob the bed first.
I don't need a full length bed, never have and probably never will, this will also drop 45lbs from the rear and after that I'm going to take out the skins which should drop another 10 pounds. Right now the goal will be gas milage, but in the future the truck will take an entirely different direction.
Pulled off the hood last night, and almost got a fender off. Tonight I'll try to work on it for more than 15 minutes. What should I use to clean the motor off? I have a pressure washer, but what chemicles?
If you can't fire the engine don't wash it,you'll get water /moisture in it & will never get it to fire!! Get it running & spray the whole engine with engine cleaner than wash while it is running!!
I have a feeling I'll be replacing the shocks... Probably going to have to replace every gasket on this thing... I'm not sure what the PO was doing here... Oh yeah, and my parts storage system...
Yank the motor out, get a basic rebuild kit (rings, gaskets, etc) take the block and head to a machine shop and have them cleaned and checked (cylinder walls and decks) maybe just have the cylinders cleaned up (honed), then put the motor back together with a very mild, aftermarket RV camshaft, a Weber 36DGEV carb, and paint it up nice. While the motor is out, get a new fender, start working on the bodywork to get it straight. Get the engine bay cleaned up and ready for the motor (this would eb a good time to decide on colors if you want the engine bay to match the outside when it's all done), put motor back in, get running, then keep the engine bay clean and covered while you get the rest of the truck how you want it. Remember, motor first, then the pretty stuff. Good luck.
Great ideas, I just wish, and Im sure Im not alone in this, that these projects would move along faster in real time. . .
It's a heavy duty 2wd transmission that they custom built for pre-running. Same as the street, just tuned.
Cleaning... Got to cleaning a little bit. Used super concentrated Simple Green, sprayed on, wait 5 minutes, hose off. I haven't done any scrubbing yet, I've got to pick up more Simple Green first. Looks a little bit better.... Before: After: