SkinnyG's 1977 Chevy Silverado

... and broke the end of the dipstick off again.

That sucks about the recycler hitting the roof.. looks like you got it back into good shape though.  I can definitely say heating with a torch can move a lot of metal, as I've used it to correct warp in 1/4 and 3/8 plate from an overzealous welder with the sparky gun.... What kind of rollers are you using with the tremclade? I have to do some repairs on the daily and hate overspray. That and I am horrible at blending panels with paint guns. Also are the dipstick tube rotting out and breaking or just breaking?

It's the actual dipstick.  Fatigue on both counts.

I've now shortened an extra disptick from the 4L80 parts I have for my '61 Apache, and marked a new "full" line.  We'll see how long that lasts.

4" foam rollers from Home Depot.

Driven it a few times now, including the highway.

The hippy-shake-shake it's always done at pretty much only 80km/h appears gone, as is the nasty part-throttle-cruise nasty noises of death and vibration. It's toyed with me like this is the past, so I am part expecting it will all be back within a few months. I'm sure hoping not.

This notable improvement is likely because of all new thrust washers and the end play tightened to the absolute minimum (0.005").

Notable improvement in the shift quality into 2nd with the clearance tightened right up with a scraped low/reverse friction under the piston. That was a good move.

Notable improvement in the shift quality into 3rd with the dual-feeding done internally instead of with the TransGo fancy separator plate. I did the dual-feed in the V8 Firefly internally, and the shift feel was notably better. Basically, if you're in the TH350, dual-feeding 3rd involves throwing away two seals and plugging a hole. Save that shift-kit money for something else.

Notable improvement on shift timing with the governor end play reduced significantly. I was not expecting that.

Everything else inside the transmission is the same.

"That was two days of joy." 

Went to put my steamroller summer tires on, and found the fuel pump had indeed died.  This is pump #4 in eight years.

Went through three Carter mechanical pumps in the first two years, finally gave up and went to an electric AC Delco EP12S pump, which I think is just a Facet equivalent.  It lasted just over six years.  Had a couple hiccups, and then required a smack to get going again this winter, but, like a fool, I kept driving it instead of fixing it.  It's dead now.

Bought a Carter-esque P4070 pump ($140CDN), which I'll be putting in today, on my back, in the impending snow.  AND, I park the truck with the only tank I fill right against the house so if someone is going to siphon fuel, they're going to have to work for it.  And that's the side the pump is on.

Film at 11.

And of course, another 30-minute job that turns into a 3-hour job.

And the 4070 seems to be putting out 10psi or more.  A bit too much for a Rochester. Nice.  (Sarcasm).

Now we have a Mr.Gasket regulator set to 4psi.  All is good.

Regulator is $45USD from Summit Racing, which would be $62CDN plus shipping. I paid $70CDN locally.

I've also decided to let the truck go.

I have to craft an ad, and figure out a price.  It certainly has the typical rust issues, but the mechanicals are good.  Sadly, the body is what usually sells the truck, not the mechanicals.

This is my draft write-up so far, not really sure what to ask for it:

1977 Chevrolet C10 Silverado

Allegedly 160,000miles, 2nd owner (I bought it around 2014, and daily-drove this for the past eight years)

THE GOOD:

ENGINE:
    Original 350 engine, bored .020" over with torque plate, balanced.
    Hypereutectic flat-top pistons.
    0.015" steel shim head gaskets (0.040" quench), about 10.9:1 compression, runs awesome on 91 octane with zero problem.
    Ported 305 heads, back-cut valves, radiused exhaust margins.
    Howard's valve springs.
    ARP screw-in rocker studs.
    Crane Gold roller rockers.
    Howard's Cam 231°@0.050", 0.470" lift, 108° lobe separation.  
    Edelbrock intake manifold.
    Idles beautifully choppy, but really decent torque. 
    Polyurethane motor mounts.
    Flowtech headers, 2-1/2", X-pipe, Dynomax Super Turbo mufflers.
    Fully doctored Rochester Quadrajet, runs starts and drives perfect in any weather, APT is accessible.
    Dual snorkel air filter housing, hot air riser off headers.
    HEI distributer properly curved advance, properly selected vacuum advance canister. 
    Carter 4070 fuel pump with Mr. Gasket fuel regulator. 
    Dual fuel tanks.
    Heavy Duty radiator with Ford Windstar dual electric fans.

TRANSMISSION:
    TH350, not original.
    Dual-fed Direct clutch (internally)
    Five-friction direct clutch.
    Wider Direct Drum bushing.
    Hardened intermediate sprag.
    Doubled Sun Gear bushings.
    Extreme Duty low roller clutch assembly.
    Deleted Direct accumulator.
    Hughes 2500-stall converter.
    Shifts FIRM but not punishing.

FRONT:
    BellTech 3" dropped spindles.
    Moog 1-ton coil springs, cut to match rear axle flip.
    Lower control arms moved forward 3/4" for more caster.
    Polyurethane bushings.
    Heavy Duty disc brakes.
    Wheel Vintiques "Vette" rally wheels 15x8 with derby caps, beauty rings, and BFG 245/60R15's.

REAR:
    12-bolt axle.
    Flipped with welded leaf perches, and shock extenders.
    Welded axle tubes.
    Eaton TrueTrac helical limited slip.
    3.73 gears.
    Heavy Duty brakes.
    Big 10 leaf pack.
    Polyurethane bushings.
    Wheel Vintiques "Vette" rally wheels 15x10 with derby caps, beauty rings, and BFG 295/50R15's.

ALSO:
    Comes with full set of winters on Truck Rally 15x8's, used only 1-season.
    Hidden trailer hitch behind license plate.
    Comes with MATCHING squarebody long bed trailer, also with flipped axle, and painted to match.
    I have all my receipts; I dare not add them up.

THE BAD:

    Body and interior is fair; I can't stand doing bodywork.
    Needs rockers & cab corners.
    The floors and cab mounts were good last I checked.
    The bed (not original), is, in my opinion, unsalvageable; 
        I'd cut up the matching trailer and make a new short bed out of it.

THE NEED TO KNOW:

    It's been shortened from a long bed to a short bed. Done properly, safe and strong. 
    Frame is C-Notched and boxed in.
    I've still used it as a truck for years.
    Has not been inspected; does not require inspection.  
    It's a bit thirsty on gas.

Well.

That's that.

Sold the truck and trailer to a guy who came up from the coast to buy it.  He is super stoked about it, in particular that it's not "perfect" body-wise.  Definitely win/win - he feels good about the truck, I feel good about the price.

This means, of course, that I can get the '61 Apache done sooner....

So long, old friend.

Scoreboard !!!!! why is it dusty in here.....did you turn this individual on to this nonsense....er forum....er place to shoot da chit?

He did ask about the "Berkeley this E36 M3" sticker on the back window (grin).

Somehow this look's familiar

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/299943945799566/?ref=browse_tab&referral_code=marketplace_general&referral_story_type=general&tracking=%7B%22qid%22%3A%22-3857274390918520912%22%2C%22mf_story_key%22%3A%22991791636562498373%22%2C%22commerce_rank_obj%22%3A%22%7B%5C%22target_id%5C%22%3A991791636562498373%2C%5C%22target_type%5C%22%3A6%2C%5C%22primary_position%5C%22%3A52%2C%5C%22ranking_signature%5C%22%3A6150674389445640192%2C%5C%22commerce_channel%5C%22%3A501%2C%5C%22value%5C%22%3A0.00014103621793095%2C%5C%22upsell_type%5C%22%3A3523%2C%5C%22candidate_retrieval_source_map%5C%22%3A%7B%5C%226441973459216692%5C%22%3A3502%7D%2C%5C%22grouping_info%5C%22%3Anull%7D%22%2C%22lightning_feed_qid%22%3A%22-3857307307439847299%22%2C%22lightning_feed_ranking_signature%22%3A%226150674389445640192%22%2C%22ftmd_400706%22%3A%22111112l%22%7D

That's the one.  Good thing he's moving things along.  Pity he doesn't understand just. how. junk. the shortbed is - I told him to cut down the trailer, or find another bed; the one on the truck is j.u.n.k.

I miss it.

But I am so freaking glad to be rid of it.

Turns out the guy who bought my truck, is friends with the kid who helped shorten the truck way back in the beginning.  I had the kid sign the air filter lid, and it was still on there.

Kid sent me a video of the truck doing a trailer burnout. 'Course he's like, 27 now.

I never did a burn out in that truck.  Ever.....

Cool circle of life, though, eh?!

Still freaking glad to be rid of it.

SkinnyG (Forum Supporter) said:

Still freaking glad to be rid of it.

that deserved it's own post.  :-D