M715 project underway 305 chevy with 200-4R auto

Sounded great and "Good on 'Ya Mate!"

Shaking is one of the reasons I have not done much driving of my truck yet. I am hoping that new tires, balanced will help as well as a NOS steering box and replaced universal coupling in the steering column.

Okay it's time for another update.

I got a couple quotes for a custom exhaust and decided I better just make do with a home made system. I'm planning on putting a diesel in this as soon as it is rebuilt anyway. I'll look at the custom exhaust at that time.

I spent most of the day running around on Saturday and gathered up a bunch of pre-bent pieces for the exhaust among other things. I brought them home and started assembling them into a workable exhaust.

I got the muffler installed by early afternoon today and need a few more parts to get it out the back where I want it to exit. I decided I would install a trailer hitch on it so I could bring my trailer to my dads with the truck this afternoon and drop it off. I figured I'd stop at Advanced Auto on my way home and get the few clamps and pieces I needed to complete the exhaust.

I was a mile or less from my dads house when the right rear tire came off and flew across the street and hit a tree. The back end hit the pavement at about 35 and the drum went skidding across the street too.

What a disaster. Fortunately no oncoming traffic so no collateral damage.

So I found three of the lug nuts and all the parts that came off. I had a high lift jack and started jacking the truck up to re-install the drum and wheel. Every time I'd get the truck off the ground the jack would start to shift. I'd quickly lower it and re-position it. I was on a hill but I was just at the bottom of it.

I finally convinced my son to sit in the truck with the brake depressed and I was able to jack the truck high enough to install the wheel. I got the wheel on and tried to install the lug nuts but found out I don't have a 1" socket or wrench in my truck.

I tried tightening them by hand but the threads on the studs were a little full of steel from the wheel.

I finally relented and called my dad for help. He came with a 1" box end wrench and I was able to tighten the three lug nuts I found.

I started the engine to limp to my dad's house and the engine was making a terrible clicking noise. I never heard that noise before. I shut it down and popped the hood. I disconnected the alternator field wire and had my son start the engine. That's when I realised the power steering pump bearing. I don't have power steering but I do have a serpentine belt set up so I left the pump on.

I guess I should have plumbed it in a loop and filled it with fluid.

I took the belt off and started it up. I drove it up the hill and shut the engine off to coast down the other side. I didn't want to run it too long with no water pump. I started it up when the light changed and gunned it up the next little hill and shut it off again. I coasted to my dads house from there.

Best I can figure I didn't tighten the lug nuts when I did the brakes on that wheel almost two years ago. I never drove it until this weekend and I've already put almost 50 miles on it. It started feeling like the truck was wandering just before the tire came off. I guess if I ever feel that again I'm stopping to check things out right away. I drove almost a mile feeling like the truck was wandering.

It seems odd to me that the bearing would go out on the power steering pump when the back tire falls off. Is it a coincidence or did the sudden jarring do in a failing bearing? That must have been the squeaking you could hear in the video my son took on Friday's Maiden voyage.

Thanks to George aka Flingarrows I now have some better rubber on my truck.

This is a shot of the buckshots next to the stock tires. (I believe the stock tires are the original based on the dates on the tires)http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/8522/biggertires.jpg


Thanks again George.

I also have a video of my truck driving on them here.

Not sure why I can't seem to get Imageshack videos to work.

Here it is on on Youtube if anyone cares.

Tires really do make the vehicle.

I just got home about 45 minutes ago from my marathon trip. Tires look good on your truck Paul. It was good to meet you and Luke

My progress today.

Now I plan on pushing it into my garage and starting a power steering, power brakes and 6.2 diesel install.

I should be done by Friday. I just don't know which Friday yet.

http://i46.tinypic.com/4gehf.jpg

Anyone use a CJ GM conversion radiator in their 6.2 diesel truck? What did you do for a lower radiator hose?

I am making some progress getting the 6.2 diesel install finished. I have installed a power steering box. I have plumbed a hydroboost and power steering oil cooler.

I have the radiator back in and have installed a new upper hose.

I am trying to find a lower hose that is 2 1/4 inch ID at the pump and 1 1/2 inch at the radiator. I have a used hose that fits but would like to replace it with a new one.

My problem is I don't know where the hose I am using came from and I can't seem to locate the hose part number.

I went to NAPA and AutoZone today. I ended up buying two lower hoses in hopes one would fit. Neither one will.

I tried boiling one of the hoses to see if I could get it to slide over but the pump outlet is just too big. Getting an inch and a half hose to stretch over a two and a quarter barb is not working.


I lost the detent pin for my stock transmission also. I took the top cover of the transmission off. I cannot see the pin inside the transmission. I am a little concerned I will destroy the transmission if it is stuck inside it somewhere.

Anyone have any suggestions on how to flush the pin out if it is inside the tranny?

I think I could be ready to fire the 6.2 up by the end of the day tomorrow.

Summit racing has a good online selection of rad hoses. Hundreds, and include dimensions.

As for the detent pin, is it steel? Maybe a metal rod or coat hanger with a magnet attached, fished around the drain hole. Turn the output shaft a bit to dislodge it if its sitting on a gear?

I started my truck up today for the first time with the 6.2 installed.

I still have a lot of work to do to get it drive-able though.

I ended up cutting the firewall to get the engine in the truck so I need to do some patching of the firewall soon. I also need an exhaust because there is a lot of smoke coming in the cab through the firewall right now.

I am still missing the pin that holds the shift lever. I'm not planning on driving the truck until I am reasonably sure that pin isn't inside the transmission. Today I made a new pin out of a 1/4 bolt and installed the shift lever. I noticed third gear would not engage easily? I shifted the transmission into all the gears and third gear finally engaged. I will be pulling the top of the transmission again to have another look before I drive it.

My power steering worked but my brakes need to be bled. The brakes seem to work but I can't really tell how the hydroboost is working until I dare drive it. I did notice the steering got difficult when I pressed the brakes. Is that normal?