Well, just to bring anyone interested with our project a small update. First off? Always be weary of anyone that states a truck is in 'good' shape LOL.

We did the waterpump yesterday (Sunday). Not to bad of a job, but I know I put in about almost 3 gal's of mix when I did the hoses. Drained the system fully, and only got 2 1/2 gal's out this time around? I'm hopeful it was just an error on my part. No white smoke, No bubbles out of the radiator while we 'burped' the system, and no signs of any leakage. But I will say--Good thing we did drain it again. All sorts of crusty crapola came out of the 'mix' I put in a few weeks prior. (it started off as 'green'...and came out greenish/brown with small crap mixed in) And we now have a working Temp Guage!!

For those keeping score: The guage sits dead center when the engine is fully warmed up and idleing.

Ok..Finally got the other tire off to inspect the brakes and suspension. Good news? The steering linkage is pretty tight! Bad news?

The idiot that did the last brake job did install a new brake rotor--which is now pretty well warped up due to the caliper being seized up. Upon closer inspection? The caliper's spring clip was installed UP SIDE DOWN!! I banged it free a bit with a little play--had my wife nail the brakes-- And the caliper piston comes 'out'...but never goes back 'in'. And the brake hose? Nice knot in the rubber at the mount LOL. Shocks are also spent--I can see where the oil used to be, and the trail it left.

I knew we had basic brake jobs to do here...Master cyc. is totally caked with rust and a cob-job with the lines. But finding the caliper seized up--with the spring 'key' installed wrong way up? Classic.

So I added for the weekend work load the following:

L/R brake calipers
L/R brake hoses
L brake rotor-extreme heavy grove cut into back side.
Master Cyc. and new lines to the combo valve.
New Bearings for the rotors.
Need to see if the warped rotor can be safely turned on the right side. It looks pretty recent, I'll let NAPA measure it and see if it can be turned. It's got loose bearings (not that bad, but noticable) So it'll get replaced anyway.
And new Shocks.

The power steering gear box and coupler will have to wait until my tax refund. I found a rebuilt gear box pretty reasonable...however they want $155 for the core (and only about $130 for the box??)

There be the update. I'm trying to get all mechanical stuff with the front half done before we tackle the rear brakes and parking brake cables. We have to leave the rear half of the truck sticking out of the garage, and it's got over 2' worth of snow in the bed LOL...It's a heated garage, so we want the drainage outta the area of the wooden floor.

S-

 

Sounds like you are getting alot done. Maybe you should start one thread with all the stuff you are doing so everyone can read about it in one place.