Well thanks for the welcome to the FTE ... Great people here and lots of great experiences, information and more.

So I have finally acquired over years of waiting my grandfathers truck, a 1977 Custom I6 Automatic. After my grandfather passed it became my Uncles and a daily overworked neglected farm truck. And being from the farm community myself I know how it goes, if it runs great it will work, if it don't it hits the pasture.

So this thread is kinda my build, restore, ask questions tribute to the man thread. Don't get me wrong my grandpa was a hard *** Romanian with a heavy hand but this is what I have to remember him and plan to put it back to where it was when I was little, except for the sipping whisky under the seat.

 

And here is when I got the truck, loaded with shingles that were rotting the box, sitting in the grass but a beauty otherwise. Memories I tell you.

 

I know pictures can be deceiving but it looks like a really good truck.
Be sure to keep us updated on your "journey", there are a lot of good memories ahead...and a lot of frustrating ones too.
Have fun.

 

That,s my favorite grill from all the dents. Looks like you have a parts truck there also. So get at it and enjoy all the memories.

 

that dent sitting next to it looks like its not to bad either.

 

With the old dent home had to get after the faded "coral" paint. It needed work but amazingly nu-finish works wonders and a can of elbow grease





Under the hood was in need as well, it had a Dodge Aries rad installed and some oil hose as a transmission cooler. I got the original rad from the farm and was told it leaks but so far it is great.

 

The other one I may be able to get a hold of but it had been spoken for. My Uncle in the picture promised it to someone else ... and the newer Ford to the left of it was rotten ... through and through

 

I always love a good resurrection. Enjoy your grandpa's truck and keep the pictures coming as you go. Good luck

 

So the flooded carb is rebuilt, not much comes in a rebuild kit anymore. And the valve cover cleaned up and a new gasket, sure helps the PCV work better now. Just need to replace the electric choke now ... wont pull off anymore

 

I think todays project might be getting a little more from the alternator. Or at least what it is capable of. The wiring is old and taped and retaped so time to open it up and change. The "F" "I" and "S" terminals are all wired up but the last which I believe is ground is not, although my battery grabs ground off the alternator bracket.

The wiring could definitely be upgraded and there needs to be a ground to the voltage regulator, I believe it is still working but the amperage goes up and down with rpm although headlights stay bright.

So we will change some wires, delete some wires and ground the regulator and see. Also have to stop the alternator whine through the radio, but this I believe tobe also a ground issue otherwise I have a filter to install off the solenoid.

 

http://vid12.photobucket.com/albums/...psf78i5gf0.mp4

Here is a video of the noise I am trouble shooting. The rockers being positive stop tell me it has hydo lifters so I am betting on that but the blow by. Am I missing something here or are the rings that bad to let blow by past or pressure building in the block. The PCV is new and hooked to manifold vacuum so I am confused.

 

I am doing the same thing with my grandfathers 76. Looks like you got a real nice truck to start with. Hope I can help you along the way.

 

It sounds like the engine is just worn out. And that is bucket loads of blow by. Have you done a compression test ? It looks to be running on 5 cylinders.
Where in Alberta are you located ?

 

I am close to you in Edmonton. The truck was a farm truck for many years and only wenthe to the field and back so I was thinking of adding some ATF and then dump the oil and filter and see. I plan to do a wet dry compression test this weekend. My thoughts were that if the valves aren't fully open or closed with gummy lifters maybe the blow by is sneaking past the valves. It was less when I got it but as I drive it it becomes more.

 

Oh and the original six failed .... I am unsure on this one