CK5
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I've had the car for less than a week, so haven't gotten too much done. Mostly just small wins to make it more enjoyable to drive in. The list of things to do is much longer, more expensive, and more difficult than the list of things done.
Small things I've done:
Small things I've done:
- Replaced the brake pedal pad. Old one was about to fall off and was worn down to the metal
- Fixed all the seatbelts. They were all twisted up somehow. Had to unbolt the bottom to get them lined up right.
- General cleaning of the interior
- Replaced the dome light covers
- Tightened up the side mirrors so they don't shift every time a door is closed
- Chasing down rattles (missing bolts under the glove compartment, missing rubber bumper under center console lid, etc)
- Get the rollers inside the door hinges rolling again. They were frozen on both doors, so it was loud as hell to open/close them
- Spark plugs & wires
- Battery
- New fuel pump
- Oil change
I think my general plan of attack is going to be:
I hope y'all are down to answer a ton of questions, because there will be a lot!
- Get it running well. I don't think it's running bad. I've gone on 3 1 hour trips in it driving 55-60. But it idles high/rough, especially on cold start. And is kinda rough up to 35, rougher at 35-40, then smooth above that speed. Not sure why it'd only be bad at certain speeds? Since I don't have much experience I'm going to take it to a shop I trust to hopefully get a list broken into 3 parts: what needs to be fixed for it to be safe, what needs to be fixed for it to be reliable to run around town, what would you fix with unlimited budget (which I don't have lol). I'll have them do stuff from the list I don't feel comfortable doing, but I'm looking to work on it on my own for the most part.
- Get the smell out of the interior. Pretty sure the carpet is fine, I think its the insulation under the carpet.
- Address some rust concerns. Right rear floor panel looks like its toast. Most other places just seem like surface rust, so need to figure out a plan to tackle that so it doesn't get worse, then protect it.
- Roof paint is peeling bad with a bunch of surface rust underneath. Need to figure out what to do to protect it while I wait to clean up the whole exterior
- Suspension is awful and tires are going. Need to replace both
I hope y'all are down to answer a ton of questions, because there will be a lot!
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My first question...any idea what this wire is? I think something chewed threw it while it was sitting. Under the dash on the passenger side. The door controls don't work on the passenger side, I'm wondering if its related? My stereo also doesn't work anymore, so could be related to that too?
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Bent77
Guest
So there are some resources here on the site. I think I need to make a list of threads to help some of you guys find them, as they are kinda buried
When I first got my 77, my uncle gave me a Chiltons manual for it. The newer Haynes manuals are also very good, and include wiring diagrams. I’ll take a picture of the one I have here in a bit
meanwhile
https://ck5.com/forums/threads/87-91-tbi-wiring-diagrams.302678/
When I first got my 77, my uncle gave me a Chiltons manual for it. The newer Haynes manuals are also very good, and include wiring diagrams. I’ll take a picture of the one I have here in a bit
meanwhile
https://ck5.com/forums/threads/87-91-tbi-wiring-diagrams.302678/
Phew those wiring diagrams are way over my head lol I may just have to take apart some of the dash until I find the other end of the wire and maybe I can run it back to where it came from or where its going to. And yeah I need to pick up a Haynes or Chiltons manual. Probably should have been the first thing I picked up.
I'll look at the diagram for a bit though. Maybe something will click...
I'll look at the diagram for a bit though. Maybe something will click...
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Bent77
Guest
Those look all to be engine diagrams. Give me a bit to find some chassis diagrams
Ok that makes more sense then. I think that's why I was confused because it didn't seem like anything was running to anything on the interior. Which I guess would be called chassis. I gotta get my lingo right 
B
Bent77
Guest
That’s ok, one step at a time. Apparently I need to hunt down some good wiring diagrams to post in there
Based off of these images I found in that service manual, I think its my Front Door Harness. Which would make sense since my window & lock switches don't work on that door. I'll see if there's a split wire running from the door.
I’m also trying to get the ball rolling on pulling/cleaning my carpet and replacing the insulation with something cheap temporarily.
What are y’all’s recommendations on decent, cheap insulation I can put in?
I’m going to have to cut some rust out of the floor and need to pull everything to see what I’m working with. The old insulation also smells god awful and trying to get rid of that too, so just want something cheap but decent to throw in. Once I get the rust fixed, I’ll go for a long term solution for insulation.
What are y’all’s recommendations on decent, cheap insulation I can put in?
I’m going to have to cut some rust out of the floor and need to pull everything to see what I’m working with. The old insulation also smells god awful and trying to get rid of that too, so just want something cheap but decent to throw in. Once I get the rust fixed, I’ll go for a long term solution for insulation.
I believe that is a vacuum line for the air controls. From best I can remember the one with the grommet goes through the front upper firewall and connects to another diaphragm valve that is in the cowel where the wiper linkage resides.
I’ll check under the cowel for a split wire too.
I’m starting to think I’m going to have some electrical issues. Between that dangling wire, the stereo not working, one of the dash lights going off then turning back on tonight, and the amount of wiring just running under the carpet. Is it normal to have all of this just running under the passenger & driver seat? I’m thinking they’re from aftermarket speakers and there used to be a car phone in here way back, so maybe that too. Guess I’ll find out where they run off too when I pull the carpet...
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You're a smart one stump_puller. Did some more digging through that service manual with your direction that it may be air related. Found this. Says orange for that vacuum line that runs through the firewall and the one I have dangling it attached to one that has an orange stripe...seems like a match from the way it looks. I'm guessing my AC doesn't work then (or something else air related), but its so cold out I haven't tested. Will confirm tomorrow, then figure out how to fix it. Thanks for the help!
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I'm resurrecting this "build" thread over 5 years later. I'm about to kick off a major chunk of work that I will be asking a bunch of questions. Luckily over the years, I've gotten much better at searching Youtube and forums .
Since I got the truck in February 2021, I've just been enjoying it and not focusing on "restoring" it. I've driven it about 20k miles in the last 5 years.
How it currently sits:
Some, not all, of the things I've done over the last 5 years to get and keep the truck roadworthy. Some done by me, some done by shops depending on how much time I had available and how quick I needed it done:
SO that's the new goal. Learn to weld. Fix the rust. Do a light frame off restoration. Get this old truck that I care about so much to last another 40 years in the family.
I know this will be a process for a new welder. I'm just going to take it slow and steady. I'm not on a timeline.
I think most of the rust issues are pretty standard. Its quite bad on the "rear kick panel" where the bottom seat belt bolt goes on the drivers side. Passenger side is rusting through there too, but not gaping holes. I'm most concerned about that area and what I'll find when the top comes off because it has never been off. There are a couple of small bubbles on the edge of the roof, so I'm expecting there to be some holes in the back of the cab.
Anyways -- wish me luck. Hopefully I stay pretty active on the project and on here. Some pics below on some of the damage. Still in the process of pulling the interior out.
Driver's side "rear kick panel"
Roof -- I don't think this has gotten bad enough that its pitting. Fingers crossed.
Tailgate area
Both rockers need replaced. Probably inner and outer. The one pictured below is by far the worst. The other is bubbling but has no holes. I still assume it will be quite bad once I get in there.
Plus one of the rear quarters behind the rear tire.
.Since I got the truck in February 2021, I've just been enjoying it and not focusing on "restoring" it. I've driven it about 20k miles in the last 5 years.
How it currently sits:
Some, not all, of the things I've done over the last 5 years to get and keep the truck roadworthy. Some done by me, some done by shops depending on how much time I had available and how quick I needed it done:
- Replaced all springs and shocks to bring the truck back to factory ride height
- Multiple rounds of u-joints in the back. One round of u-joints in the front
- New fuel pump, filter, sending unit
- New ECU and replaced some corroded wiring going to it
- New tires and threw the original wheels back on. Unlink a lot of people, I downsized my lift and tires
- New tie rods, center link, steering stabilizer
- New cat and cat back exhaust
- Found a new front bumper and brackets to replace the bent one
- Multiple attempts at stopping a rear main seal leak. Still not successful.
- Basic things like battery, plugs, wires, air filter, new wiper arms and blades, wiper motor (twice), getting rid of all the rattles, lights, lenses, some weatherstripping, brakes, wheel bearings, etc
SO that's the new goal. Learn to weld. Fix the rust. Do a light frame off restoration. Get this old truck that I care about so much to last another 40 years in the family.
I know this will be a process for a new welder. I'm just going to take it slow and steady. I'm not on a timeline.
I think most of the rust issues are pretty standard. Its quite bad on the "rear kick panel" where the bottom seat belt bolt goes on the drivers side. Passenger side is rusting through there too, but not gaping holes. I'm most concerned about that area and what I'll find when the top comes off because it has never been off. There are a couple of small bubbles on the edge of the roof, so I'm expecting there to be some holes in the back of the cab.
Anyways -- wish me luck. Hopefully I stay pretty active on the project and on here. Some pics below on some of the damage. Still in the process of pulling the interior out.
Driver's side "rear kick panel"
Roof -- I don't think this has gotten bad enough that its pitting. Fingers crossed.
Tailgate area
Both rockers need replaced. Probably inner and outer. The one pictured below is by far the worst. The other is bubbling but has no holes. I still assume it will be quite bad once I get in there.
Plus one of the rear quarters behind the rear tire.
