I decided this stay at home stuff was a perfect time to pull my 78 in the shop and get to work. It died a while back, and I just never got around to looking into it. My boys have been learning a ton and so have I. Thought I would share in some of the progress we have made! I’m starting this a bit late in the game, so the first post will be kinda long.....

Day one, we did some inspection after dismal compression results and found broken pushrods.





The head is in rough shape. I am attempting to reuse as much as possible and get the truck running under its own power. The hope is to then plan something for the motor, maybe a rebuild maybe a replace.....


My lovely wife helping with lifter removal.


Getting the interior scrubbed out, this thing sat outside with a broken window for a few years so it was pretty dirty. The seat turned out great, and I found a piece of the build sheet!

 

Kudo's for getting the Family involved, especially your Wife! Don't see that too often. Looks like you have plenty of space to work in too. What are those green magnetic things on the underside of the hood?

 

Thanks! It has been a good learning experience for everyone so far, and fun. That is a rechargeable underhood light, pretty handy and nice not to have a cord hanging down.

 

I would inspect the timing chain with those damaged push rods in that shape

 

My son and I have been working on his 78 for a little over 3 years now and I'll give you a list of tips we have learned from here and other sources (sometimes the hard way)

In no particular order:

Take plenty of pictures before disassembly of items/parts

If you decide to replace the brake lines, get a complete kit.

If removing the oil pan, go with the 1 piece upgrade.

Plan on replacing anything rubber (seals, brake hoses, etc...)

If you work on any rotating assembly (crank shaft, pinion, trans. output etc...) assume it will need to be Redi-sleeved. If it doesn't you can take the sleeve back. (Assuming you get it local)

A 3 gal. bucket of Evapo-Rust will save you its cost several times over by saving stock bolts, nuts, screws and fasteners as well as some larger parts for re-use.

Trying to clean/flush out a 40 year old heater core is a waste of time. Buy a new one if needed.

If a part is gonna be off for a day or two go ahead and clean it up and hit it with some fresh paint.

Think of how to sequence your to do list. The "while we're in here" bug bites often.

Read the "tips and tricks" sticky as well as the "information and then some" sticky. Lots of how to's. Also, check out the Inline forum for additional info.

If you decide to keep the 300, the efi exhaust manifold upgrade plus an Offey intake with a 4bbl is a pretty good bump in performance.

 

Lapping valves, cleaning up parts, and getting pushrods and valve train installed.

 

Awesome to have the whole family involved. A side note for safety/comfort. That HB bench will flip over in a blink of an eye. Build something like this to make the under the hood work safer and more comfortable/easier on the ol back. An old saddle pad makes for a great radiator leaning on pad.

 

I know what you mean! I’ve been thinking of doing a 3 piece box set that I can put around the front and sides or stack like you did on those framed up ones. Seems like it would be nice especially for my newer truck and boat.

 

And with that nice cement shop floor you can use low profile lockable casters. I just cut down and screwed together some pallets for the front or side ones.