Search results

  1. MikeB

    3" drop spindles and rubbing solutions

    Sounds like something may have changed, or we got ball joints from a bad batch. I say "we" because a buddy and I bought CPP upper control arms for 55-57 Chevy, and all four(!) pre-installed ball joints had cracked boots. CPP replaced them, but I ended up selling them and using Moog. Among the...
  2. MikeB

    1981 El Camino parts runner

    Cool! So is that a combo sending unit and pressure switch?
  3. MikeB

    1981 El Camino parts runner

    For an old engine, even 10 psi is OK at 700 RPM. If it's higher when cold, some 10w-40 might help.
  4. MikeB

    1981 El Camino parts runner

    On at least some GM vehicles, like my 82 C10, the choke wire was connected to its own terminal on the oil pressure switch. That was so the choke would heat up (and start to open) only when there was oil pressure, not just when the ignition was on.
  5. MikeB

    3" drop spindles and rubbing solutions

    This won't help you, but may help others here: I did a lot of research and bought the Western Chassis 2.5" spindles. They let the stock control arm clear a 15x8 rally wheel by 5/16" or so. *** Bennyt -- if you used CPP ball joints, good luck! I've seen brand new ones in the box with cracked...
  6. MikeB

    shock advice

    I've used Gas-a-Just shocks on one car and one pickup over the years. They are monotube shocks, which is a step above the Monroe someone linked to above. The 69 C10 I gave my son has a set that's gotta be close to 20 years old (around 30-40K miles). As for a stock replacement, the KYB Excel-G...
  7. MikeB

    305 build advice. Any and all advice is appreciated!

    That's very good advice! The short block must be in good shape before you start bolting on parts. As for a cam, only a few will help a 305 with stock compression. You should aim for more lift with just a bit more duration. Chevy made an "H.O." (high output) cam for the 305 when used in the...
  8. MikeB

    3 on the tree

    That's a flashback! I forgot all about the transmissions in my 55 and 57 Chevy cars with non-synchro 1st gear. But now I remember double-clutching and rev-matching to downshift to 1st while the car was still rolling.
  9. MikeB

    Alaska 86’ differential questions

    Many of the GM axles had a code stamped into the front side of the passenger side axle tube. This for 70s cars, but it's an example. https://www.novaresource.org/axle.htm
  10. MikeB

    3 on the tree

    I spent more than $100 trying to restore the column shifter on my 82 C10. But almost none of the parts were available, and that was 5 years ago. I ended up making some bushings using shim stock to reduce the slop. Also used a hard plastic cap I found somewhere as a bushing! The slop was...
  11. MikeB

    Why do you love your TH350?

    Spinning tires is more a function of low RPM torque, axle ratio, and torque converter stall speed. Even with 29" tires and a 3.08 axle, a 2000-2200 RPM converter (like a Hughes GM20) will let you do some serious tire spinning in 1st gear, and even chirp the tires going into 2nd. And a mild 383...
  12. MikeB

    Time for a crate engine. Suggestions?

    Hey Rich, seem like you had a cam suggestion for the basic 350 crate engine, right? For guys inclined to change the cam, please note that the assemblers used LOTS of nasty hardening gasket sealant. That means the engines will rarely, if ever, leak if you don't make any mods. However, be...
  13. MikeB

    Time for a crate engine. Suggestions?

    Duplicate post. Don't see anyway to delete it.
  14. MikeB

    Time for a crate engine. Suggestions?

    I've installed 3 of the base Goodwrench 350 crate engines over the years -- one in my 69 C10, the others in friends' 51 Chevy truck and 55 Chevy car. All had small 4 bbl carbs (450-600 CFM) and headers. By hot rod standards it has crappy heads, low compression, and small cam; however, everyone...
  15. MikeB

    Carpet: pre made kit or ??

    If you get a pre-made molded carpet, make sure it goes under the seat and covers the entire cab floor. Also, I have found on a couple old vehicles that molded carpet rarely conforms perfectly to the transmission hump. Of course the only fix for that is "cut and sewn" carpet, and that may not...
  16. MikeB

    Best $6 I ever spent.

    Beats the heck out of a $300+ dash pad! Mine had one of those cheesy, glue-on plastic covers, and the pad was cracked like crazy from some PO who had cut two square holes for speakers on the front edges of the corners, so it was beyond repair. I'd get a sunshade to keep that new cover looking...
  17. MikeB

    New impact: air vs battery powered?

    About batteries not lasting very long: I think the latest generation of Lithium Ion batteries are 10x better than the old nickel metal hydride. I've been using a Bosch drill and 3/8" impact driver for at least 7-8 years now, and both of the 18-volt batteries seem to work like new. Of course...
  18. MikeB

    Door controlled courtesy light.

    Even if your truck does not have interior lamps, your fuse panel may have a fuse labeled "courtesy", "dome" or something like that. If not, find a fused circuit that has a "constant" 12 volt fused source, such as the horn circuit. Typically, one side of the lamp(s) is wired directly to a 12...
  19. MikeB

    Lowering just the rear of an 84 c10

    I remember those days, when it was popular to jack up cars in the back. And sometimes using longer shackles to compensate for sagging springs. Cheap fixes for kids on a very tight budget!
  20. MikeB

    Heater fan switch not working

    Are you saying it works on LOW but not on MEDIUM or HIGH?
  21. MikeB

    8 MPG?

    Correct! For a 350, compression with 64cc heads and .043" quench height would be anywhere from 10.0:1 with flat tops (with 4 valves reliefs) to 9.4:1 for a Speed Pro hyper-eutectic with 12cc dish to around 9.0:1 - 9.2:1 for a stock type piston. (I don't recall the dish size, so I'm guessing.)...
  22. MikeB

    8 MPG?

    :D:D:D
  23. MikeB

    8 MPG?

    Well said, and funny!
  24. MikeB

    Rear sway bar

    Well, I ended up returning the Addco sway bar. It's designed for the end links to attach to the leaf spring u-bolts using an adapter bracket, and the center section attaches to the frame rails. Very unusual. However, I could not make it fit after 2-3 hours of trying. Thank goodness I...
  25. MikeB

    350 build advice.Heads,Cam .Etc.

    I just read that you want to use the truck to tow. if that's the case, you'll want something not much bigger than a stock cam, and definitely not 214 degrees INTAKE duration, unless your truck has 3.42 or 3.73 gears. 204/214 on a 110 LSA would work OK, and the 214 exhaust lobe might help out a...

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
48,414
Posts
1,066,884
Members
42,798
Latest member
ronscoms66
Top