Quote:
Originally Posted by cbs34
OK, OK, I get it. I meant no harm in mentioning the motor replacement, and certainly don't want to be book-whipped about the head and face. Nor do I have any desire to be drug around town behind a truck that I didn't think would ever run again. 
I guess a better question would be how readily available are parts for these trucks? And, how expensive? A little history on the truck...my aunt's husband bought her new and my dad/brother bought her when their brother-in-law passed away. So, it's been in the family since she was new and my dad's had it since around 1967. My dad took good care of her but as he aged he didn't have the ability to maintain her. When I started working at 15, I put every dime I earned into getting her running again and had her painted (I know, I know). The work was done by a friend of my dad's who was the stereotypical shade-tree mechanic, meaning he would turn wrenches in between swigs of beer  (not that there's anything wrong with that so long as you can maintain). Also, I paid to have the seat reupholstered and put some wheels/tires on her. Drove her for a few months but she never ran quite right, didn't shift well, and wasn't practical as an every day driver. After that, my dad would drive her occasionally when he could until he passed. So, I'd guess she has been sitting up for at least 10 years.
I'm somewhat handy but far from a mechanic but I may just drain the fluids, put in a battery and see if she'll turn over. Figure I don't have much to lose. I think the odometer sits between 110-125k but can't quite recall. The truck's about 30 minutes from me but I'll get up there this week and post some pics. I'm sure I'll have more questions after I dig into it a bit. I sincerely appreciate all the help! 
Not real sure where to start if she won't crank. I guess I will have to find a mechanic and have him get to work on her. Long shot here but does anyone happen to know a good mechanic in the New Braunfels, Texas area that would be a good fit for this project? |
Hey no hard feelings, I was just funnin ya a little
Parts are out there depending on what you wanna do. Pistons and rings can be high, but from what I can find the rest of the parts are out there from time to time. You may not need any of that anyway since these engines were so over designed they last forever. Unless someone really abused it, anyway.
When you go, take a wire brush, some starting fluid and a set of standard wrenches and screwdrivers with you. the gasoline in the tank is probably molasses by now. If so it won't run off that. BUT if you can get it to turn over and try to start off the fluid then you'll know you got good bones to work with.
Heres a step by step of what I'd do.
- Get out of your car and complain to yourself that it's too dang cold outside.
- Re-think owning an old truck.
- Decide you made a good decision because you don't want to be cookie-cutter, you're an individual, dang it! A GMC Man!
- Pop the hood, shoo away any wasps or snakes, or homeless people.
- Disconnect the gas line from the intake on the fuel pump. No sense in shooting goo into the carb jets. (actually I would disconnect it from the carb, squirt varnished 10 yr old gas all over myself, and learn a harsh lesson about driving home light headed
).
- Disconnect the old battery, wire brush the terminals, and install yours.
- Run around the door and try to turn the engine over.
- If it tries to crank, squirt 3 seconds of starting fluid in the carb.
- If you forgot, remove the oil-bath air cleaner now and pour the oil in it all down your arm and side, possibly your pants too for fun.
- Consider replacing it with a paper filter, then decide original is best (and cheaper) and resolve to remember that it's full of liquid from now on.
- Now that it's off spray that 3 seconds of starting fluid in and try to start it again.
If it sounds like it's trying to start, or it DOES start, there you go! You're on your way to a moving truck!
About the mechanic request, I was just like you when I started messing with Cecilia a couple of years ago. I knew nothing. Now I are a college professor, as they say. I don't know it all, far from it but I can rebuild a transmission, take off the bed without a crane, rebuild the front hubs, and rebuild a transfer case with the most mediocre of them!
You may not believe it now but you're your best option for a mechanic.
You'll learn alot in the builds and projects section. I like to post what I do as a step by step with lots of pictures, but I'm not finished yet so that only gets you so far. Corts60 had some great stuff too with lots of tips, though he couldn't find piston rings and when someone offered him a load of dough he sold his. There's more info in there and the previous forum posts section than you'll ever read through. Just start sponging and let us know where you are. Lots of guys here will help you out too. You just have to ask.
And above all don't get in a hurry. Take your time, one piece at a time.
When you get those pics takn you should start a build thread and join the club!
ps. sorry this got so long.
