One of these days, I'm going to post my complete Members project.. a 1989 Chevy K2500 that I bought new when I was 23. What started out as a simple paint job, snow balled into a full restoration, the likes nightmares are made of.
No money, bad friends, shady characters, all of it ... but we haven't given up yet!
Today's post is just s snippet of the luck I've had with my "Big Red". I have reached a point in the resto where the finish line is two turns away.. I'm on the back stretch, and I got a good 2 second lead on #2.
Keep in mind the resto started in 2006.
I started her up for the first time just last year.. in the fall. This is an outside project, so she was covered, and I waited for this spring to finish this thing once and for all.
Started wiring for the new gauges, and the radio, and the overhead console mod, which I've been working on (on and off) between a friends 78 Ford resto (I build the motor, a 351M), and my nephews 2002 fat boy repaint (I took it apart/rebuilt it for him).
Big red has a Getrag 5 speed manual trans, and we started the long process of of bleeding out the slave. I soon realized the clutch had a pressure plate problem.
Motor removal #3. Got it all out, installed a new clutch and pressure plate, and got it back in the truck after a couple days.
Hands are raw.. legs are swollen.. Back is throbbing. She just wanted to fight us coming in and out .. Just pissed off bad dog fought me. Cant say I blame her.. She's been moved around and left for dead so many times.. A good girl can only take so much!
Back at the ranch this evening, I got to thinking about the install.. and it bugged me that I was still using the original clutch fork. She's got 190k miles on her, but still mighty fine.
I wondered over to the U-Tubes to see what a worn out one really looks like.. It was then I realized..
I installed the throw out bearing incorrectly.
Yep, that's right.. I did the famous under the clip install on the clutch fork. God. Mother ^&@^ing Dam&%#!!!
So.. knowing it is what it is... after fuming about it for a couple hours.. I went ahead and ordered a new clutch fork... and began the mental processes of getting the motor back out for #4.
I know what your thinking.. just drop the trans.. But believe me.. in a 4X4, your just 6 bell housing bolts, and two motor mount bolts away from having it out. Yea its a little more complicated then that, but still easier then a trans drop.
So I leave you with this; Take your time.. Just because your an old pro, don't mean you can't mess it up. Fix it. Don't let "It'll be fine" creep into your mind. You know it's wrong.. Get over it, and do it right.
I'm just glad I didn't hook everything up (exhaust cross over, starter, engine harness, etc).. so not that big a deal.. Yea she'll fight me coming out and going in.. but it's gotta be right..
And believe me.. I will thank the God's when this is all over and finished!
No money, bad friends, shady characters, all of it ... but we haven't given up yet!
Today's post is just s snippet of the luck I've had with my "Big Red". I have reached a point in the resto where the finish line is two turns away.. I'm on the back stretch, and I got a good 2 second lead on #2.
Keep in mind the resto started in 2006.
I started her up for the first time just last year.. in the fall. This is an outside project, so she was covered, and I waited for this spring to finish this thing once and for all.
Started wiring for the new gauges, and the radio, and the overhead console mod, which I've been working on (on and off) between a friends 78 Ford resto (I build the motor, a 351M), and my nephews 2002 fat boy repaint (I took it apart/rebuilt it for him).
Big red has a Getrag 5 speed manual trans, and we started the long process of of bleeding out the slave. I soon realized the clutch had a pressure plate problem.
Motor removal #3. Got it all out, installed a new clutch and pressure plate, and got it back in the truck after a couple days.
Hands are raw.. legs are swollen.. Back is throbbing. She just wanted to fight us coming in and out .. Just pissed off bad dog fought me. Cant say I blame her.. She's been moved around and left for dead so many times.. A good girl can only take so much!
Back at the ranch this evening, I got to thinking about the install.. and it bugged me that I was still using the original clutch fork. She's got 190k miles on her, but still mighty fine.
I wondered over to the U-Tubes to see what a worn out one really looks like.. It was then I realized..
I installed the throw out bearing incorrectly.
Yep, that's right.. I did the famous under the clip install on the clutch fork. God. Mother ^&@^ing Dam&%#!!!
So.. knowing it is what it is... after fuming about it for a couple hours.. I went ahead and ordered a new clutch fork... and began the mental processes of getting the motor back out for #4.
I know what your thinking.. just drop the trans.. But believe me.. in a 4X4, your just 6 bell housing bolts, and two motor mount bolts away from having it out. Yea its a little more complicated then that, but still easier then a trans drop.
So I leave you with this; Take your time.. Just because your an old pro, don't mean you can't mess it up. Fix it. Don't let "It'll be fine" creep into your mind. You know it's wrong.. Get over it, and do it right.
I'm just glad I didn't hook everything up (exhaust cross over, starter, engine harness, etc).. so not that big a deal.. Yea she'll fight me coming out and going in.. but it's gotta be right..
And believe me.. I will thank the God's when this is all over and finished!
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