45swb project - 2short

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It got worse. The 327 was no good either. Cam and cam bearings were trashed..

Went wheeling in SD.

Came back last week and rebuilt the 350. Dropped it in and got it wrapped up today. Runs good so far with much better oil pressure. Swapped in a better cam while I was in there. Seems like it woke the motor up a bit.

Hopefully now I can enjoy it for a few months before they start putting salt on the roads.
 
Depressing that salt on the road is even an option right now...
 
New hubcaps ordered today from Mr T. $18.00 each.
Ordered new driveshaft bolts to install the re-tubed front shaft as well.
Figured out the brake light thing. My brake light was causing the front TS light and dash light to light. Switched some wires under the dash. They had identical markings but went to different connectors.
 
that turn signal wiring was a pain! Took me hours to figure it out via schematics..
Hope you have your issues worked out and can drive it now.. I just got 2 hubcaps in this week myself.. been waiting about a year fer em..
 
The bell on the crossover pipe has been leaking. It really wasn't the right one. I called to try and source a new one but was told I would have to get an exhaust shop to make one. So I got a 6" chunk of 2 1/2 pipe off the shelf and made one on my anvil. I think I use that thing about three times a year. A cant say I've ever flared a pipe on it.

Exhaust is much quieter now.

Fixed a drip in the rear diff.

Took the carb off to fix the secondary air valve. Most quadrajunks have a misadjusted air valve. It causes a huge dead spot when the secondaries open. Mine was really bad. Found a big vacuum leak at the throttle plate gasket. It went from 10" of vacuum to 17. Runs much smoother and cleaner.

Put a new belt on it. The last one was a bit chewed from hanging off the water pump. I put a new water pump on it earlier in the week. There's supposed to be four water pumps out there for a 350/5.7. Long nose and short nose, forward and reverse rotation. Turns out the pump from a 99 vortec is .5" shorter than a normal reverse rotation pump. New pump and pulley and some serious mods to the fan and it's working.
 
Bombed it all over today. Barely made it home though. Fuel filter is full of crud. I hope that's the problem. I'll mess with it tomorrow.

New hub caps look great on the rear. The front ones were shorter with bigger holes. They go on easier, but don't look as nice with the selectro hubs. I'll put those on the LV and keep the longer ones on the swb.
 
So I need a roll bar or a top to wheel the local off road park this weekend. I figure I have three options

Full interior cage. I have the parts from the po including very well bent front uprights that bend around the dash. They still intrude on very valuable foot well space and will make putting the top on difficult to impossible

Rear hoop only. The bar bent for this would have to be narrowed to be able to fit the top on it would give me a place to put shoulder belts that i really dont care about and would intrude on cab space. Would give a place to go to with a bikini.

Headache rack/ light bar. Would not intrude on the cab. Would intrude on the tonneau. Messes up the lines. I think supports to the wheel wells woukd look to much like a 80s light bar or a 40. If I sleeve it I could take it off without leaving big holes in the tonneau.
 
I also need to figure out a spare.

Mount in proper place. Dont really like the look. Detracts from the pick up look and utility. blind spot in lhd.

Mount on the other side like a late model 40.

Mount on edge in bed behind driver

Toss it in the bed.

No room to mount it on edge along either bed side.
 
My .02.....

I like the headache rack look, then bolt spare to it on the pass side.
 
I think that since the PO worked so hard getting those bends just right (including buying Bend-Tech 3D)- you should use them.:D
 
2fpower said:
My .02.....

I like the headache rack look, then bolt spare to it on the pass side.
Click to expand...

I'm thinking most seriously about this, although I did look at it some more and I could drill a hole in the flange where the top back attaches and then put a sleeved post up to that hole so I can pull the hoop off to put the top on.
 
LukeZero said:
I think that since the PO worked so hard getting those bends just right (including buying Bend-Tech 3D)- you should use them.:D
Click to expand...

They are exactly right which is why I kept them.

However they have to go right in the way of the top. No way to get around it.
 
I was thinking.the motor was just a tweak off somewhere. Another quarter turn out on the idle mixture screws and about 2 degrees more base advance and it runs great. Idle is much more stable. Tip in is greayly improved. It is a joy to drive and a perfect night to drive it.
 
Congratulations!! Third engine is the charm!
 
Ended up with pass side rear tire carrier and single bar in the bed. I might go with more of a headache rack look at some time in the future. Right now I wanted easy in and out.
101_0222.webp
 
Went wheeling this weekend. It was really nice to drive something different and something that took a little attention on the trails. The Pig has been through these trails so often that it is pretty mundane. The 45 was anything but.
101_0223.webp
101_0226.webp
101_0233.webp
 
Wow, Gumb, it looks awesome. I'm so jealous that you have the time to do what I didn't.

I don't know if I ever asserted the right of first refusal. If it's not too late, in the event that you decide to sell the 45, I'd like first crack at getting it back.

Luke
 
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