1978 non - rust pile

kb426 · March 02, 2020, 06:43:52 PM

I removed the gauge cluster and changed out the speedo from the 76. It's working now.

The thermostat appeared to be stuck open. I put a new unit in and it refuses to open. I thought it was airlocked. I bled it 3 times before I gave up.

I don't remember having a new one do that before.

Crosley.In.AZ · March 02, 2020, 11:03:54 PM

Quote from: "kb426"Tony, a guy on ebay that went by Siless. 36 sq. ft. of sound mat and 36 of thermal mat was a little over $92 for both / free shipping. I didn't see any difference in this mat and most of the others I've used.

OK .... thanks. I looked the guy up on eBay. Looks a lot like stuff I used a few yrs back on my old Dodge. It stuck purty good to the metal. I used a small heat gun to help shape it as I stuck it to the floor.

I stuck some of the sound deadening stuff on a stainless steel kitchen sink years ago... really quieted down the noise on the sink when the disposal was running.

kb426 · March 03, 2020, 06:58:12 PM

O&S was determined to get something accomplished today. I started off welding up the holes in the top of the cab from the KCC lights. Next was the cb antennae mount and then the rusty floor. I had some gold lacquer in a spray can that I shot on the areas to stop rust until I decide where this is going. I put sound mat on the floor and the rest of the roof. Then I put down a layer of thermal mat. I cleaned out the seat belt retractors. The mice had inhabited that also. Then I installed another thermostat. Job completed. The pics are of the welded areas, mat and the thermostat I removed. The springs and middle came apart. Has anybody seen one do that before?

WZ JUNK · March 03, 2020, 07:29:54 PM

Looks good from here.

kb426 · March 04, 2020, 06:58:01 PM

Today was a light afternoon. I swapped seat mounts so the correct 78 mounts are on the 76 seat. Way better.

I decided to leave the seat in the truck and just raise it up and change the brackets. I think it took 3 times as long that way.

kb426 · March 07, 2020, 06:58:35 PM

O&S worked but little to show.

I moved the 76 cab back by the alley. The scrappers have been coming by so I'm hoping they pick it up. If not, spring clean up will take care of it. I pulled the 76 chassis around and removed the rear bumper. It was a Ford part. It's now on the 78 and I have a tag light. I stripped all the parts from the 76 dash and did a little dent removal. There was one screw hole in the middle that I welded up. I did some sanding on the 2 dash pads I have. The black unit is in better condition. I may try gluing some vinyl over it. I noticed that the master cylinder started leaking. I have one left over from the 32 that I believe will work. It was 72 degrees this afternoon and around 30 mph wind. Not bad for the 1st week of March.

kb426 · March 10, 2020, 06:37:43 PM

The dash from the 76 is now cobalt blue. It had less holes than the 78 unit. I took the floor mat out of the box. Laid it on the drive in the sun and in 10 minutes, I was able to move it easily.

idrivejunk · March 11, 2020, 01:33:58 PM

Bill, I like the mat. Of course

Hope it has a mild, pleasant fragrance.

Wish those were available for cars, too. Maybe they are. Your latest truck sure is snazzing right up.

kb426 · March 11, 2020, 07:10:39 PM

I installed the cut down remainder from the 76 into the 78 for a headliner. It's ugly but effective. I put new rubber bumpers on the tail gate. I replaced the ends on the sunvisors that connect in the middle under the mirror. There is a new dome light cover. At this rate, in about another 30 days, all the little stuff will be completed.

kb426 · March 12, 2020, 08:33:11 PM

O&S struggled all day. This was the last warm day for a while so I was determined to get some stuff accomplished. I have 10 hours in today's tasks.

1st on the list was to replace the mastercylinder. After everything went to the toilet, I ended up cleaning the sludge out of the original. It's working as of now.

2nd was the install of the rubber floor mat. I watched the install video. Took those guys 4 minutes. It took me around 3 hours.

I'm going to wait for some warmer days before final trimming. The shifter boot has a tear. I'm going to see if a new one is available before final trimming around the trans. I decided to swap dashes about mid afternoon. I put the black dash pad on . It has been prepped for a cover pad or something else in that line of thought. As I'm installing this, I realize that I didn't paint an ash tray yet. WTH? Age strikes again. The new light switch didn't cure the dome light problem so there is more fun awaiting. I suspect a grounding problem somewhere. Enough fun for one day.

kb426 · March 16, 2020, 07:52:23 PM

O&S did a little work today. It did take many hours though.

I installed the window channel kits and the door weatherstripping. I went for a ride and the only noise is coming from the vent wings. I didn't replace the gaskets in them. There was no rubber on the driver's side so this is a nice improvement. Sorry I'm not more exciting. I'll get a better project in the future.

kb426 · March 19, 2020, 08:13:12 PM

O&S got some exercise today. I pulled the right front fender and worked on repairing the damage from what appeared to be on over extended door opening. The top hinge was bent. I replaced it with a unit from the 76. I did some metal work on the door and fender. It's functional but not pretty.

I replaced the master cylinder with a new unit. That should be the end of that leak.

I have been trying to remove the ball from the gooseneck hitch. While I was under the truck removing the pin that holds it, I found that all the u-joints are wore alot. The journey continues.

kb426 · March 21, 2020, 07:06:19 PM

Today was O&S at it's finest.

I installed cap, rotor and plug wires. I put the rest of the sound mat in the doors and then put as much thermal mat as I could reach in them. I bought a pair of speakers and installed them. There's no good antenna but it makes good static now. LOL. I installed a pair of repro door panels. One fit nice and the other didn't. Most of my projects don't need repro parts. I'm real happy about that.

idrivejunk · March 21, 2020, 07:52:08 PM

That is a tough spot just to get function, at the hood / fender / door intersection. And repop fenders / doors are fairly ridiculous so you done good to run whut you brung.

kb426 · March 22, 2020, 06:52:05 PM

O&S accomplished a little today. I finally got the dome light to work. I pulled the fuse block from the firewall and searched for the feed wire for the light. It's plugged in where the block says aux fuse. There was no fuse in it when I got the truck. Put a fuse in and the dome light works.

I should have checked that before I traced all the other wiring in that circuit out. Another one of "those" deals. I changed oil in the truck. Nothing came out that wasn't supposed to be in there. There was tape and some decals on the rear window. About 15 minutes with the razor scraper and they are history. Now for the best part of the day: I've been fighting a rattle behind the seat ever since I changed seats. I have looked under the seat twice and even had it apart once looking for whatever was causing the noise. After the oil change, I'm looking at the front of the bed where it's pulled loose right in the middle. I look down between the cab and back of the cab to see if there's anywhere I can press against to push the bed back together. Behind the passenger side, I see a rusty 6" clevis. It was almost down at the bottom and me being about half blind, hadn't seen it. I used a piece of tig rod and a wood pry bar and lifted it right out.

I went for a ride and as you might imagine, it's real quiet. With the sound mat and the thermal pad, that truck is real quiet inside. It does have a stock muffler on it so there is very little sound. Before I changed seats, everything rattled so I guess I didn't notice just that one noise. If it had some decent tires, it would be good to drive.