Rookie
Posts: 6
Joined: Wed Feb 05, 2014 9:50 pm
34-37 C-1 Rodstoration
During 2006, I finally badgered my father into letting me take the truck (another huge mistake on my part). The truck would start and drive, but the steering was not connected and only the rear brakes worked. The truck didn't look "too bad" on the trailer when it arrived, but I was mistaken. My father ran the engine with bad 5 year old gas, that had been sitting in the Arizona heat, and ruined the SBC 350.
My original intent was to get it back on the road and use it to drive to work daily. Unfortunatelly, with the engine ruined and all the steering and brake work needed, that didn't happen. I ended up tearing the truck down to the frame; I cleaned and POR-15'd the frame before replacing all the brake and fuel lines, installing a rebuilt 327 and an iffy TH200R4. I welded up over 70 holes in the firewall plus another 25 or so in the cab. I also replaced both lower rear cab corners and pounded out many of the dents. The cab wood was rotton, so I replaced most of the support wood with square steel tubing and reinforced the floor with steel and new wood. I replaced the wood framed doors with steel doors (I'm in the middle of installing electric window raisers.) I replaced all of the wiring, added appropriate relays and fuses where none existed before. I removed rust and treated the metal before applying primer and satin paint (to hide the rest of the flaws and dents). After I put the cab back on the frame and got the truck running again, I repaired the grill, worked on the bed and fenders to make them a bit more presentable. (I ended up replacing both front fenders with others that needed a lot less work). I obtained a ?1 1/4 ton truck front bumper that I almost immediately tore it off>>>> that is another story.
The truck would only run about 10 miles before the gas filter clogged up from all the junk inside the original gas tank. I installed an aluminum fuel cell in the back with a new electric fuel pump and have not had any fuel delivery issues since.
I also replaced the 73 Pinto front 4 lug spindles with Heidts 2 inch drop spindles, new disks and GM calipers. I still need to do something with the rear suspension. I have not decided whether or not to leave it stock, go with a 4 link or replace it with newer style aftermarket leaf springs.
I've had the truck on the road for a few years now. I take it to the Fallbrook Car show every year and try to get a major improvement each time. My long term goal is to drive the truck the entire length of Route 66, probably not in one trip though. I think I'll go from ?Santa Monica to Barstow first, then Barstow to Denver, then Denver to KC for the Midwest Annual Truck Show. I'll make the end run to ?Chicago at the start of the weekend or maybe take an extra day at the end.