my shipwrecked '63

[ohmthis]

Progress! And although you're creeped out by the snake, the black snakes will keep mice (rodents) out of your house...of course, you don't want it in the house either! I don't know if you saw my post on JeffinMooresville's thread about the hood bolt, but I was wondering if you could get your mig welder tip under your dash and put a small spot weld or two on the nut at the end of the hood hinge bolt. I don't know how tight it is under there, but just a suggestion. If you 'spot' weld the nut to the inside firewall area then you could easily remove the bolt on the hinge for needed maintenance.

A tig torch might be better if you have access to one. You can control the heat to keep finished surfaces in better shape. Another plus is no sparks to burn the new carpet and other finished areas. You can weld it without filler which would make it a one hand deal. April, is that red wire loom or tubing on the top of the firewall?

[shipwrecked]

I tried to spot weld a bolt thru that opening back a long time ago. It broke free so here I am still with a bolt and nut thru it,

Looks like a giant mess, but good thing I know exactly what it is all doing.
I spent some time working a turn signal problem. I couldn’t get front right turn signal to work. Seemed to be an open cuircut in there... take fuse panel out to get to the bulkhead plug. Bulkhead plugout and thirty minutes later I see I had thewire plugged in to a hole that didn’t match up to its mate on the other side of the bulkheads. Quickly put it in right spot and all is well now.

Wiring my speedo panel up to match required wires behind it, and testing all connections. SO far all electrical works.

Quick question...
Oil sensor is here.



How do you attach a connector to it?
One of these? Just bend the ears together?


Tomorrow I have to go to work for about two hours to mentor some new machinery techs who are starting school. I have to meet with them every week for their 12 week long school. It’s class 16-19. Exactly 20 years ago,I was part of 16-99.

Progress on truck tomorrow hopefully will be installing my speedo panel, and working on a fuel line.

Doesn’t seem to be a fuel return for my carb. I don’t remember there being one on the original. But it’s been five years.
Any insight? My photos don’t show well enough.

Also looking to maybe start the truck this weekend.


The red/black stuff on top of firewall is a wire loom.

[slick4x4]

Those oil pressure senders have their own style of connector
I'm sure they sell new ones
If not , I can find a good used one

[slick4x4]

It will look similar to this .. just slides over



Ive had coils to the distributor have the same type
In a pinch .... I have made a decent connector from a female spade

[unibody madness]

What Pat said, female spade connector, its been on mine for years now

[ohmthis]

April, if you don’t mind me asking, can you tell me where you got that wire loom at? It looks much nicer than the solid black that I have seen.

[shipwrecked]

April, if you don’t mind me asking, can you tell me where you got that wire loom at? It looks much nicer than the solid black that I have seen.

It’s a loom but no side opening. Think Chinese finger trap.
I bought on eBay I think. It’s been well over a year since I bought it.

[shipwrecked]

Today was fun. But also a pain in the butt. I’m chasing an electrical issue. I no longer have rear right turn signal.
I think it’s at the bulkhead plug but what is weird is I tested yesterday and it worked. And the lightbulb is okay.

All left side works and even the indicator in the das.

High beams are weird. The high beam indicator comes on when low beam is on. Another weird thing to work out.


So all other electrical items work. I accidentally bumped the key from on to start and it tried to kick over. I immediately switched to off and then acc,

As of now, battery is unplugged and waiting.

I made a makeshift fuel line so I can put a gas can to it instead of kicking in the fuel twnk n the bed. I want to run a better fuel line from back there forward but I need afitting the local parts house didn’t have.



This weekend it should be ready to start.



Just put her to bed for the night.

[shipwrecked]

April, if you don’t mind me asking, can you tell me where you got that wire loom at? It looks much nicer than the solid black that I have seen.

Found it,..

https://www.ebay.com/itm/25-FT-1-4-Blac ... 33ccda5154

[SteveCanup]

The turn signal problem is possibly a grounding problem. Mine did that and I remembered that the screws that held the turn signal unit in were not grounding it to the bed...fresh paint will do that. Clean the screw holes to bare metal or run a ground wire to the turn signal unit and see if that doesn't fix the problem. Also make sure that your screws are not rusty. Also the high beam indicator light is certainly a ground issue with your instrument panel...mine did that.

[ohmthis]

April, if you don’t mind me asking, can you tell me where you got that wire loom at? It looks much nicer than the solid black that I have seen.

It’s a loom but no side opening. Think Chinese finger trap.
I bought on eBay I think. It’s been well over a year since I bought it.

I know the type, but have never seen it in any colors besides black. Thanks, I’ll do a search. Whoops, I replied before reading, thanks for the link.

[shipwrecked]

figured out my bad right turn signal. The pin I had crimped on the turn signal harness was not done correctly. I spent hours chasing this down and should have known better- but I did a test on it three times and kept getting different readings. I really need new glasses!




With that- I have working lights all around!!!!!









My high beams are out of adjustment I can see by a quick gopro video I made. It is aimed like Forrest Whitaker's eyes.

Tomorrow- Plan is to get the truck bed cleaned out. There is stuff in there from the tear down- like the old wire harness, and the steps. I actually will be rebuilding the side steps at a later date.

I also need to paint the door panels- but that can totally wait. The truck is so close to be fired up!!!!

I ordered two floor mats from stock interiors. Same company that I bought my carpet from.

So much going on.

[shipwrecked]

77* out today....

Then a pop up thunderstorm happened.... soaked my garage.
Almost got her running. Need to do a better fuel prime.
Starter isn’t disengaging quick enough either.

[ThinLizzy13]

That must be really satisfying to be at running stages finally!
Have you adjusted your vent rod on the carb? My truck would give me some wonky idling/no start if I didn’t have it dialed in.

[shipwrecked]

I was supposed to have a friend come by today to help me out but he cancelled. I ended up taking my rims and wheels with me and picked up my new tires. Picked up the tires and headed base auto shop to mount and balance.
Goodyear wrangler radials, size 235/75r15 for my innie stock rims.















I got it done, but ended up helping two kids fix the car they were driving. They got in over their heads changing lower control arms, tie rods,sway bar, and struts. They had no idea what they were doing and the attendant isn’t allowed to help them. He is only allowed to hand out tools, sell fishing licenses and ensure people are being safe.

[shipwrecked]

Spent the morning installing my Lisense plates forward and aft. The aft one is on the lower cross member below the bumper. Kinda hard to see.... if I did it how it was originally on a flareside,the plate is completely blocked by the bumper. SO I mounted it where it was on the wrong bed. I ran a light to it, and it I stopped a dim light for sure.(all incandescent lightbulbs)




My friend Jim came over after he got done doing plugs, coils on his caddy. He s a E7 in CG as well, but electronics tech type, he has lots experience dealing with carb and distributors, I don’t. So he spent the day with me in the garage trying to figure out my issues. We seem to have the distributor issue down. I had it a tad bit too retarded,

The engine wants to run!

Issue we dealt with most is the starter system.

The bendix seems to be unable or unwilling to disengage from the flywheel. I have a new starter and bendix. We changed the bendix out because installedone was destroyed.




Maybe I’ll spend so,e time tomorrow rechecking my switch and wiring. It just seems like the power is staying active to the starter not turning off till I turn the key off. But also not engaged when at accessory. SO when I turn to start, starter engages. When key is in On, the starter stays on.

[slick4x4]

Just unhook your cable going to the starter
Then turn the key like you are starting it
You should hear the solonoid CLICK on
Then turn the key back to run
You should hear it CLICK off....
If not , leave it in that position & start testing voltage on wires
Sounds like your feeding power from your solonoid after it is activated

[shipwrecked]

Had to go to Portsmouth today for a recognition ceremony that was actually a plug for a different thing instead of original intent,
Waste of a full day it felt.

Got home and messed with the key switch.
May have found my issue. I have a premolded plug in the back side of the key switch, but look at below photos and see if you see what I see.

The circled items have connection if in key position indicated.







With the plug now...

[shipwrecked]

That plug was exactly the problem.
I took it out, wired everything without it and started her up. She ran.

I spent a ton of time hand priming that mechanical fuel pump.

Once I finally got fuel, I got a fuel leak. One that wont seal up. Done the double flare on the fuel like 4 times, replaced the fitting and still.

So off to the drawing board (NAPA Auto parts) to gather some materials for this piece of crap fuel line I keep trying to fix.

More to follow.

I am going to install that tachometer on the steering column. I really like to know what the RPM is.

Will spend time tomorrow hooking up the rest of the gauges too. Hopefully tomorrow I can do the cam break in. Its been stupid till this point. Hope no damage has been done to it.

[shipwrecked]

We've got a RUNNER!


I was scared when it was pouring oil all over the rear cylinder exhaust manifold from the rocker without the cover on. I shut down, put the rocker cover on and started her up again. That oil was everywhere.

I keep getting weird fuel leaks at the flares near the carb. I just cut a piece of fuel hose and clamped I on there as you can see in video. it worked.

We have 5 miles on my odometer now because the transmission was spinning despite being in neutral. I don't have a driveshaft installed so that is causing it to have no resistance. The transmission is in neutral! I checked via the column and physically down below.




I feel so relieved! So accomplished over all this.