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'71 Jimmy - "Black Taco" - Bit of an Update (4/5/11)

Are yall using rustoleum like on the 73?

yeah. he's rattle canning it though. It's Medium Olive or something like that. satin finish. Basically something to stop the rust. We might eventually spray it with a nice single stage or possibly a two step. This is all him though. While i've been in atx.
 
Memorial Day Slam - 5/31

Ok so me and my dad spent the first part of the morning cleaning the garage so we could back the '73 in since the top is off.

Then the work on the '71 began.

We pulled the old points dizzy and stabbed the AC Delco HEI we had in the shop. Found a stock set of wires that would work and hooked em up. Found an ignition 12v source and wired it up. Just set the timing close (finger over #1 spark plug hole, find compression stroke when finger gets blown out:D). Here's the video of it just cranking on starting fluid:

[youtube]MT0YOvKV4-M[/youtube]

Tried some more, figured out we weren't getting fuel to the carb. Fuel pump was seized. Quick run to Autozone, new fuel pump on. Ran some extra fuel line into a gas can sitting on the fender under the hood, and took it for a spin down the driveway :D


Dad said he was just letting it idle in Low going out, we're still amazed by how low that gear is, seeing that we've never seen one with a four speed in person. He says the clutch is grabbing good, but the brakes are pulling to one side.

We decided to just put some gas in the tank and see how it would do, ended up clogging the fuel filter. We're gonna try just swapping filters til it cleans up rather than trying to drop the tank. It's cheap and easy.

Cut the mudflaps off too. Those were ugly. haha

So here's what will be accomplished soon:

-Fix exhaust leak(gaskets)
-Change the oil
-Fuel filters
-Electrical/vitals(lights, gauges)
-Check brakes
-16" steel wheels to run tires we got for free
-Front trim and grille
-Drivers side mirror, reassemble DS door
-Get Registration and Inspection

This'll get us roadworthy and inspected.
 
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It's not too hard to walk and keep up with an SM465 in granny low and the engine idling..... :D

Good job, it must feel good to watch it move under it's own power.



:usaflag:
 
cool stuff, I wanna find an old relic like yours and restore it someday.
 
Got out this morning and got the front clip put back together before the weather got nasty. Fixed the latch for the back hatch yesterday, only to discover that it has nothing to latch to on the hardtop:doah:.

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DS Window Regulator Fix

My dad got to work out in the garage while I was at an event tonight, and he figured out how to fix the stripped gear in the regulator. He ground it down and then used some basic washers to space it up where the teeth would engage. Pics to illustrate the finished product, i didn't catch any of the problem before.

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Doors are back together, regulator works great. Replaced the header gasket on the passenger side, to fix that exhaust leak.

Here's a before and after of the paint job(still need to do the hardtop), took some more pictures today.

Before:

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After:

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It looks good, but remind me, what exactly are the future plans for this truck?
 
It looks good, but remind me, what exactly are the future plans for this truck?

Keep it mostly stock.

-Need some 16" wheels for the tires we got in the deal.
-Clean fuel system, battery, lights, etc to get it on the street.
-Paint the hardtop black.
-Fix the rust (Bed, tailpan, top of windshield frame, slight stuff on the rockers)


My dad wants to DD it :D
 
Those old Target 350's put out around 250HP/280lb-ft I believe. Looks like it has a Holley intake and headers so it should be plenty peppy. I recommend using remflex header gaskets it the ones that are on it start to leak. I like the upper radiator hose hackery lol .



thats a factory upper radiator hose assembly. thats gm hackery.

sweet a$$ truck btw
 
I would have killed for that truck as it looked in the "before" pics. That patina is very hard to come by and to me is just plain cool especially on a rig that has an upgraded drivetrain hidden underneath.

Still, you guys have done a good job with the restoration--it looks like you and your Dad are having fun too!
 
Bit of an Update!

I'm home for a few days for thanksgiving break, so hopefully we'll get around to working on this. My dad dropped the fuel tank a few days ago, and it's completely rotted (looks like it was patched on the bottom at some point), and the sending unit is shot as well. So we're looking into getting a new tank and sending unit, and fabbing up some type skid, or finding a factory one to bolt on. Get the fuel and electrical figured, find some 16" wheels, and my dad'll be driving this to work. haha.
 
Bit of an Update - (4/5)

Saw that it's been months since the last update on our 1st gen, so here goes:

Wheels and Tires
My dad hit up the local "Hubcap Store" and got a set of matching black steel 16's for $100. Now to just mount and balance the 33" Remington mudgrips we got in the original deal. Should look gooooooood :D

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Engine
Fairly certain that the holley carb is full of junk despite our attempts to keep anything in the lines out, so while it runs, it wants to starve out, partially due to a mis-adjusted choke I think. If we can get that figured and fix our fuel tank, we'll be running.

Body and Paint
Need to paint the hardtop black at some point, and decide how to paint the GMC lettering on the tailgate (Black? I think yes.) I will have to do some glassing on the rear hatch, as it is in pretty bad shape and find the latch hardware. The rust on the bed floor is pretty bad as well, so hopefully we can find a piece to weld in there. Still need glass for the passenger side vent window. Oh and adjust the hood hinges. The list goes on. :haha:

Electrical
Need to work some more on the lights and getting grounds to work. Need to pull the hour meter(:doah:) and make sure we don't have any other drains with the key off. Maybe make some more of the gauges work and get some lights working behind them.

I'm ready to make some father/son 2-vehicle runs this summer, and dad is just as stoked about driving it as I am. :thumb: We'll make sure to keep you updated!
 
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My dad shot me a text today, said he put on some new wiper blades, and the wiper motor works at both speeds, as well as the blower motor/defrost working as well. sweeeeet :D
 
Been a looooong time since an update.

New shoes:

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Still need to work on tuning the motor, but it runs and drives. Hopefully we'll have it on the road pretty soon.

I'll post up again later, got some questions about the new wheel/tire combo and clearance..
 
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