Old Iron 2.0

[handloader90]

Got the tail light lenses and housings swapped out. Did the side markers too. I'm holding off on the running lights/ front markers? until I swap my valance and headlight bezels over from my '76 SWB, the bezel only covers the headlight vs. the current ones which cover the headlight and front marker. I ordered the correct stuff for the older version.

I just kinda set them on there but I mocked up the Ruffstuff perches and beast ass shock mounts. Side by side comparison of Ruffstuff perches next to DIY4X perches. I had to chop maybe 1/4 " of material from the bottom of the DIY4X perches for them to even sit on the axle tube (this was about a year ago), I like how the DIY4X perches are fully boxed for more strength but I like the length of the Ruffstuff perches (plus I didn't have to hack them up to make them fit) and they look a little easier on the eye (not that it really matters). I think the length will maybe help out with spring wrap but I plan on running a trac bar on the 14bff so that should definitely help out too.

 

[handloader90]

Thanks to @Heavyleft I found a nice surprise under my tailgate trim, I was looking around for a stamped tailgate because I hate the look of the trim panel and low and behold I already had one.

 

[Bent77]

I found the vinyl sticker letters for the stamped gates off eBay recently...

 

[handloader90]

I found the vinyl sticker letters for the stamped gates off eBay recently...

Nice. I've got a quart of some dark grey monstaliner sitting under my work bench in the garage and I think I'm gonna roll the tailgate with it, don't know how vinyl would stick to it but I would like the letter to be white to pop out against the grey.

 

[handloader90]

All lights work, I don't know if reverse does... don't really care.

It's got Sylvania H4 lights courtesy of the P.O., they don't look like much in the pics but they're bright as shit. I plan on making or buying a new headlight harness, LMC sells a "HD" one that includes relays for a decent price $30 or so.

 

[handloader90]

Some POS hacked the rear frame rails all to shit and just completely ****ered them up.

I was gonna fix em up, make em stout and put the factory bumper back on but I'm thinking of different options.

One idea is a "high clearance" trailer hitch lol. 3/8" thick or so steel plate in line with the frame rails straight back connected by rectangular or square tube with a hitch in the middle and some shackle mounts on the corners.

The hitch that is on there now hangs way low and it's not secured properly, somebody tried to weld portions of it to the frame rails... I'm glad they failed in doing so cause it'll make my life a little easier.

 

[handloader90]

The last parts needed showed up on my doorstep not too long ago.

Throttle cable bracket, throttle stud bracket, a 1/4" throttle stud and some rubber/ nylon bushings for the throttle stud.

FYI the Holley and Quickfuel bushings are the exact same.

The brackets look to be made out of 10 GA steel with a zinc finish. I'm pretty stoked that they're not flimsy brackets cause I've dealt with cheaply made ones before and they like to bend on you.

I'll be installing them after I take the kids out to get new backpacks for school.

I'll try to get a video of the K5's "first startup" and see if I can upload it on here for those that are interested.

 

[handloader90]

Also, put 5 quarts of oil in the truck yesterday, 1 quart consisted of 16 oz. of Restore and 16 oz. of Lucas Zinc.

Hoping that the Restore can help out with the blow by that I've got and maybe the engine will hang around for awhile.

No spots on the floor after putting the oil in, we'll see what shows after I drive it around for a bit and pull it back into the garage.

 

[Truckman4life]

Man, the ends of your frame rails are way different than my '83. I just made some simple 1/4" thick plates for my bumper/hitch. I'll get it built next week and post some pics in my build thread.

 

[handloader90]

Well I tried to fire the truck up and it backfired through the carb and made this rumbling hissing noise at me... checked the plug wires for proper firing order and all was good there.

Pulled the dizzy cap off and I was 180 off, pulled #1 plug, put my piston stop in and hand cranked it until the piston caught on the stop, messed with the dizzy until the pointer was on #1, put everything back together and she fired up real good.

I'm gonna have to chop the videp down to upload it, the fuel was already primed from the first attempt when it was 180 off so it fired up pretty quick.

 

[handloader90]

The Ballsack hit the streets tonight.

Still smoking blue pretty bad on the passenger side, hopefully that Restore will start working on the cylinder walls as I drive it around more.

 

[handloader90]

Holley/Demon really did some good R&D on the Street Demon carb.

You can see in the pics where there is a stop cast into the base of the carb specifically for their throttle cable bracket.

I was worried that the bracket was gonna pull forward upon acceleration due to only being able to use one of the two mounting holes like cheaper ones that I've used before so I went ahead and got nyloc nuts for the carb studs too, the integrated stop/notch was a pleasant surprise.

All the throttle stuff that came in the mail works flawlessly.

 

[handloader90]

Man, the ends of your frame rails are way different than my '83. I just made some simple 1/4" thick plates for my bumper/hitch. I'll get it built next week and post some pics in my build thread.

I'm gonna assume that the '73-'80 rear frame horns are different from the '81-'87's just like the front frame horns are.

Let me know when you finish so I can give it a look and maybe it'll give me some ideas.

 

[handloader90]

The Ballsacks 1st fire vid.

 

[Bent77]

Yeah she's like a 3 pack a day smoker at that rate!

 

[GWeakland620]

Glad to see the good progress. Driving first time is always a good payoff.

 

[handloader90]

So I started the blazer up this morning and was idling around 1200, broke out my timing light which tell me the RPM's and backed the idle screw out until I got to right around 850 RPM's.

I wanted to see and hear the secondaries open up so I hit the throttle linkage pretty good and for whatever reason the alternator belt popped off the alternator fan and started whipping around, severed the upper radiator hose and wrapped itself around right behind the fan...

My pulleys are lined up pretty straight in line with eachother and the belt was tight... maybe too tight?

I got a new belt and radiator hose, gonna put them on here soon.

 

[handloader90]

So the belt that was on there was to wide at 1/2", It needs a 3/8" wide belt to fulley seat into the pulley grooves.

 

[JoshHefnerX]

Good thing you didn't have a piece of yourself in there when that let loose. Be getting ER pics now instead...

 

[handloader90]

Good thing you didn't have a piece of yourself in there when that let loose. Be getting ER pics now instead...

The belt whipped my arm 1 time but that was it, didn't do any damage.

The engine was running so I made sure to steer clear of the fan but I definitely wasn't expecting a belt to pop off and get all crazy.