My journey with my 74 High Boy began 3 years ago when I found this truck parked next to my neighbors barn in Washington.

My neighbor purchased the truck off the showroom floor in 1974. When I first approached him, he was "never" going to sell the truck. And to be honest, he still hasn't "sold" the truck however it is now my truck with the promise that I will pass it along to someone else who want's it as badly as I did.

So, it's a western Washington truck that lived out among the pine trees and wet weather. It has cancer, lots of cancer, everywhere the pine needles collected and held moisture. So, she will be in need of a lot of metal work. Thankfully there are still plenty of resources to get said pieces of metal.

My immediate concern however has been the motor and it's desire to mark it's spot every time I parked it. According to the original owner the motor had never been touched. Well, what someone else considers touched and my take on touched are not quite lined up. Every bolt was loose, one exhaust bolt was stripped with a nut on the back side to hold it, the lower exhaust bolts had obvious anti-seize on them so definitely off since it left Louisville. My goal was new gaskets on the pan, covers and new rear main seal. Once I got to the rear main, I find copper staring back at me which means new rods and mains. Heads come off next to find gouges in 2 cylinders deep enough to catch my nails on them. So we are now at a full blown overhaul.

And now starts the problems. I have been trying to find a machine shop in my region that will do the machining, take my money and send me on my way. What I have been coming up against is shops that will do the machine work provided I drop off a long block and pick up a fully finished and assembled long block with a charge commensurate with the markup in parts one would expect. All promising a week to 10 day turn around. When I ask them to do just the machine work I get "6 months or more before we can squeeze you in".

I did finally, just today find a race car engine shop that will do just the hot tank, bore/hone, press in new cam bearings and send me on my way.

This week will be spent tearing the motor the rest of the way down to just a bare block and taking that for machine work as well as getting the crank checked for spec and polished.

 

Welcome to the madness! Great looking truck. Where is the cancer at? Doors look clean, awesome signage on the door by the way.

 

The floor of the bed is gone, the floorboards on both sides in the cab, inside the cab where the cowling vent ends. Not terrible, most of the body is in great shape and the signage on the doors makes the truck. That signage is the main reason I do not want to touch the exterior body because I doubt I could replicate that.

 

Engine is down to bare block, lots of color on all bearings. Cylinders, rings, pistons on the other hand look fantastic aside from grooves in a few bores. Expected to find broken rings but all were intact, sharp and clean.

At some point, something got in the engine, sand, small parts, who knows.

So, my next question, going to put headers on, add an RV cam so, here's where I need the collective knowledge....... Do I keep the stock 2bbl intake and carb, do I find a stock 4bbl intake and add a modern carb, if so what size. Or, do I get an aftermarket intake, carb and if so, what brand, size etc.

I don't want a hotrod, I want something I can drive to the store or the local weekend coffee and cars, sound good and get down the road. I have kerosene powered aluminum tubes to go fast.

 

Ditch that boat anchor inrake , go with an Edelbrock 4bbl intake . I personally like Holley for a carb .