Posted: 6/15/2019 6:59:20 PM EDT
[Last Edit: RobertL][Edited]
|
My Dad passed away last year and I inherited his car and tractor collection. His 1970 Chevy pickup has sat for almost 5 years and I recently got it out and got it running. I had planned on freshening it up and selling it, but after driving it some, I’ve decided to update it and keep it. Between his cars, trucks and tractors and my cars, trucks and tractors, it’s more than I can maintain. I’ll be thinning them out over the next couple of years, but this one is staying. He built it in the mid/late ‘90s from a low mileage, one owner truck. It has a mild 350/350 combo with a really nice paint job and in-dash Vintage Air. It was decorated with his Army pilot’s wings. Here’s a picture from when I pulled it out of storage. 
I got it running and have been fixing a few minor issues. I removed the wings and had the pinstriper re-stripe the front clip. Here’s how it looks today. 
I’m going to do a 5 bolt, disk brake conversion, drop it 4/5 and set it on 8” and 10” wide 20” American Racing Torque Thrust IIs. I also plan redoing the 90s style tweed seat with black leather or vinyl. I’ll try to update with photos as I go. Here’s Dad with his beloved Bird Dog in Vietnam in 1969. Damn, I miss him. 
|
Official NorCal call sign Moss
NRA Benefactor Life Member
SAF Life Member
GOA Life Member
JPFO Charter Member
MSF Life Member
FPC Member
NRA Benefactor Life Member
SAF Life Member
GOA Life Member
JPFO Charter Member
MSF Life Member
FPC Member
PROFESSIONAL FIREARMS SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER
Joined:
Jan 2012
Posts:
23685
EE: 100% (8)
WV, USA
|
A little back story on the truck, about 3 years ago my Dad decided he wanted to get the ‘70 running. This was about the same time I was trying to convince him to quit driving due to his advanced neuropathy. It had been setting for a couple of years and needed a battery. When he put the battery in, he reversed the polarity. Needless to say, it wouldn’t start. A week or two later, he ran his FJCruiser into our office and I was able to convince him to quit driving. The ‘70 has been setting since then. When I decided to get it running I figured I would have a bunch of electrical issues to deal with, but that really hasn’t been the case. The only thing that didn’t work was the aftermarket cruise control. The control panel would light up, but it wouldn’t function. I’ve been working all afternoon fixing minor issues and one of them was rerunning the air duct for the drivers left hand AC vent as it was off and wasn’t blowing. While fixing it I found a couple of fuses way up under the dash for the cruise control. The 5 amp for the control panel was fine, but the 10 amp for the unit itself was blown. I replaced it and hopefully the cruise will work when I can test drive it tomorrow. I fixed a bunch of other issues this afternoon. The truck has always had the original green seat belts. When Dad did the truck you couldn’t buy reproduction retractable belts and Dad didn’t want to change them for non-retractables. I bought a set of the new black retractables and put them in this evening. I also replaced the 2-1/4” fan spacer with a 1” spacer as the fan was too deep into the shroud. I also replaced the kickdown cable because the old one was broke. I made a bracket for the throttle return spring because I didn’t like the way it was hooked up. The truck has always had a problem with hot starting. It starts great hot If you shut it off and start it right back up. It also starts great if if you shut it off and let it set an hour or so. The problem was poor starting when it was shut off and then allowed to set for 15 minutes or so and then it would have to crank for a period before it would start. I suspect it was heat sinking the carburetor so I put a 1” phenolic spacer under it. Just playing with it this afternoon, it seems to have helped. Currently, I’ve got the valve covers off of it and have glued in new steel core valve cover gaskets as the old ones were leaking. I like to let them set over night and I’ll put them in tomorrow morning. Night all! |
Official NorCal call sign Moss
NRA Benefactor Life Member
SAF Life Member
GOA Life Member
JPFO Charter Member
MSF Life Member
FPC Member
NRA Benefactor Life Member
SAF Life Member
GOA Life Member
JPFO Charter Member
MSF Life Member
FPC Member
|
Wow...that is a sweet old truck. Definitely keep it in the family. Chevy hot-start problems usually are a result of the starter getting hot. It's kept cool as you drive. When you park it, it takes 5-10 minutes for the exhaust/block to heat it up...along with the wires going to it. Try a little heat shielding to the starter and the wires. Cheap and easy fix for the summer heat. Verify there isn't any loose/corroded connections on the stater too. _ |
|
Originally Posted By 78JeepCJ: Wow...that is a sweet old truck. Definitely keep it in the family. Chevy hot-start problems usually are a result of the starter getting hot. It's kept cool as you drive. When you park it, it takes 5-10 minutes for the exhaust/block to heat it up...along with the wires going to it. Try a little heat shielding to the starter and the wires. Cheap and easy fix for the summer heat. Verify there isn't any loose/corroded connections on the stater too. _ |
Official NorCal call sign Moss
NRA Benefactor Life Member
SAF Life Member
GOA Life Member
JPFO Charter Member
MSF Life Member
FPC Member
NRA Benefactor Life Member
SAF Life Member
GOA Life Member
JPFO Charter Member
MSF Life Member
FPC Member
|
Originally Posted By ziarifleman:
I would convert it to an EFI system, myself. |
Official NorCal call sign Moss
NRA Benefactor Life Member
SAF Life Member
GOA Life Member
JPFO Charter Member
MSF Life Member
FPC Member
NRA Benefactor Life Member
SAF Life Member
GOA Life Member
JPFO Charter Member
MSF Life Member
FPC Member
Had a good morning with the truck. Got the valve covers on and took it for a test drive. The air blows out all four vents now and THE CRUISE CONTROL WORKS!!!
Here’s a few more photos of the interior, the engine compartment and some of the artwork on the truck. 
The seat really needs to go. The guy that did it screwed up the fabric. Dad had picked a grey tweed with just a few red flecks in it and the guy ordered a red tweed with with a few grey flecks in it. It has never looked good in the truck. |
Official NorCal call sign Moss
NRA Benefactor Life Member
SAF Life Member
GOA Life Member
JPFO Charter Member
MSF Life Member
FPC Member
NRA Benefactor Life Member
SAF Life Member
GOA Life Member
JPFO Charter Member
MSF Life Member
FPC Member
Picked up the wheels and tires today.
Got the truck on the lift and got the rear axle and brake drum swap done and painted. 
Also found a set of Denali take offs for the Duramax and got them mounted today. The freaking heat index was 101 today, hopefully it will be cooler tomorrow and I can get a little more done. I plan on doing the C notch and the rear suspension tomorrow. 
|
NRA Benefactor Life Member
SAF Life Member
GOA Life Member
JPFO Charter Member
MSF Life Member
FPC Member
SAF Life Member
GOA Life Member
JPFO Charter Member
MSF Life Member
FPC Member
Did the rear suspension today. C Notch, panhard bar, shock mounts and shocks, lowering springs and new U bolts. I set the rear wheels on hand tight and checked the clearances, everything fits perfect. On to the front end tomorrow!
|
NRA Benefactor Life Member
SAF Life Member
GOA Life Member
JPFO Charter Member
MSF Life Member
FPC Member
SAF Life Member
GOA Life Member
JPFO Charter Member
MSF Life Member
FPC Member
|
Wow that thing is beautiful. At first I was thinking why not leave it the way your Dad had it, just cuz memories. But now that you're into it, I get it. It's an updated version that can still remind you of him. Great truck, great thread. Sorry to hear about your Dad but thank you for sharing the story and pics with us. His service is appreciated. |
John 16:33 In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
|
Here's the Plymouth pickup. It has a '94 LT1 motor with a TH350, Mustang II and a 9" Ford. Sorry for the vertical video. A friend of mine's teenage daughter shot the video.  52C52722 361C 440E 9038 01DF170BE95F |
NRA Benefactor Life Member
SAF Life Member
GOA Life Member
JPFO Charter Member
MSF Life Member
FPC Member
SAF Life Member
GOA Life Member
JPFO Charter Member
MSF Life Member
FPC Member
|
Had a Dr’s appointment today so I didn’t get a bunch done. Finished up the back half of the truck, filled the rear end and fixed a wiring issue. I had tied up the rear light harness when I was cutting the C notch, but it still got hot enough to scorch it pretty good, so I cut it out and replaced the run. The correct lug nuts came in today also, so I switched them out. I also put in the Powermaster alternator and the gear drive starter today. Both of them worked but the alternator had a slight wine at an idle so it seemed like the thing to do. 
The project isn’t finished, but I went ahead and put on the most important piece. 
|
NRA Benefactor Life Member
SAF Life Member
GOA Life Member
JPFO Charter Member
MSF Life Member
FPC Member
SAF Life Member
GOA Life Member
JPFO Charter Member
MSF Life Member
FPC Member
|
Originally Posted By disorientedpilot:
Great truck. Love the Army Wings, no judgment on the removal. |
NRA Benefactor Life Member
SAF Life Member
GOA Life Member
JPFO Charter Member
MSF Life Member
FPC Member
SAF Life Member
GOA Life Member
JPFO Charter Member
MSF Life Member
FPC Member
Got the front end about 95% done today. I was two fittings shy of hooking up the brake hoses but I picked them up late tonight. Tomorrow I’ll mount them up and bleed the brakes. I also need to set a rough toe in on it. Friend of mine has a repair shop and he’ll align it and fab the new tailpipes as soon as I can get it on his schedule. I’m really happy with the stance!
|
NRA Benefactor Life Member
SAF Life Member
GOA Life Member
JPFO Charter Member
MSF Life Member
FPC Member
SAF Life Member
GOA Life Member
JPFO Charter Member
MSF Life Member
FPC Member
That Plymouth is hot. I always wanted a Plymouth truck. My stepdad tried buying his parent's neighbor's for 20+ years. It was their dad's and he was probably the original owner. It was pretty worn out but the body was straight and it ran and drove up until the old man passed. It sat for years and we'd stop by and shoot the shit and try and buy it. E finally got a call saying that they would sell it to him. We made a trip with the trailer to find out that the great grand kids had been smoking in it and caught it on fire. 
I'm always looking for them but they are hard to find in original condition. |
Got it buttoned up and test drove it today. Everything functioned as it should and it drove well. I may upgrade the shocks. Unfortunately, the $29.99 shocks that came with the lowering kit drive like $29.99 shocks.
Here are a couple of pictures after I rolled it out. 
|
NRA Benefactor Life Member
SAF Life Member
GOA Life Member
JPFO Charter Member
MSF Life Member
FPC Member
SAF Life Member
GOA Life Member
JPFO Charter Member
MSF Life Member
FPC Member
| It stills needs alignment and a new pair of tailpipes. I’m also wanting to change the grill to a ‘72 style grill. I’ll leave the ‘70 bumper and hide the blinkers behind the grill. I’ve always liked the ‘72 grill, but I don’t like the big turn signals in the ‘72 bumper. I may go ahead and pick up the pieces for the interior also. |
NRA Benefactor Life Member
SAF Life Member
GOA Life Member
JPFO Charter Member
MSF Life Member
FPC Member
SAF Life Member
GOA Life Member
JPFO Charter Member
MSF Life Member
FPC Member
|
Originally Posted By RobertL: They were great for Dad, but I’ve never served and driving around with them on the truck was just too close to stolen valor for me. Dad had commented a couple of times that I could remove them when he was gone. . Told him it was Dad and he passed a few years back and I cannot bring myself to take Dad’s base sticker and rank off the car since Mom comments on it every time I take her somewhere in the car.
|
|
Awesome truck and solid wheel choice, but I probably would've gone with a larger diameter to fill out the fender well a bit more.
Still, beautiful truck. |
|
Originally Posted By RobertL: They were great for Dad, but I’ve never served and driving around with them on the truck was just too close to stolen valor for me. Dad had commented a couple of times that I could remove them when he was gone. |
John 16:33 In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
|
Got the alignment done today. The muffler guy was backed up so that will have to wait. We’re headed to Ohio for a few weeks and the truck will be setting anyway. Had a friend of mine offer me a set of factory bucket seats with the buddy seat. They will need to be completely redone, but it was a pretty rare option. |
NRA Benefactor Life Member
SAF Life Member
GOA Life Member
JPFO Charter Member
MSF Life Member
FPC Member
SAF Life Member
GOA Life Member
JPFO Charter Member
MSF Life Member
FPC Member
|
That thing is really really gorgeous. I am envious in a good way. Thank you for sharing!!! The ride height looks great and you picked well on the rims. I really like that style. It's sort of like an updated Cragar. I'm with the other guy on the grille but of course it's your truck and you might like something different. I think it's really nice the way it is.... but maybe your vision would make it look that much better. You obviously know how to put a nice looking ride together. |
John 16:33 In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
|
Originally Posted By RobertL:
Got it buttoned up and test drove it today. Everything functioned as it should and it drove well. I may upgrade the shocks. Unfortunately, the $29.99 shocks that came with the lowering kit drive like $29.99 shocks.
Here are a couple of pictures after I rolled it out. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/67156/08D97FA7-0469-4314-AD34-E6A9D71A95EC-1016413.jpg |
| Cool old truck. I've probably owned 15 - 20 Chevy GMC trucks over the years, from 1965 to 2018. My '70 was definitely one of my favorites. They were all good trucks and except for my '10 GMC, they each had something unique I liked about them. The '10... I just never found the love for. Wasn't a bad truck, just never cared much for it. |
|
Originally Posted By sigman68:
Not trying to armchair quarterback but those low profile tires probably didn't help the ride any. You may want to take a couple psi out of them |
NRA Benefactor Life Member
SAF Life Member
GOA Life Member
JPFO Charter Member
MSF Life Member
FPC Member
SAF Life Member
GOA Life Member
JPFO Charter Member
MSF Life Member
FPC Member