My second M715 build. What was I thinking?

[jeeper]

Yesterday I got a rear drive shaft installed. It probably isn't permanent though. I ended up learning after a couple unsuccessful attempts at finding the correct u-joint that GM used a Saginaw joint. Other manufacturers use Spicer joints. They are not the same. What I ended up with is a 3-3130 joint that converts the Saginaw R3 to Spicer 1310. I then was able to install the stock M715 drive shaft. This leaves me with two slip joints on the same drive shaft. It looks silly. I haven't tried it at speed yet but I assume it will work fine.

[jeeper]

After spending too much time working on other things I'm trying to button up a few more details on the truck this weekend.

I'm planning on installing a CJ7 brake light switch. I've already started and hope to remember to get some pictures before I get too far along on that.

I've also got a few leaks that need to be stopped.

I was pretty sure I was taking my time to get everything tight as I went but I seem to have a major transmission line leak. I haven't looked yet but I'm guessing by the puddles I'm leaving that the leak is at the connection point on the transmission.

I also have a leak of engine oil that appears to be a small drip at the connection of the line to the engine block.

And lastly I seem to be seeping antifreeze from the rear crossover port on the head. That should be the easiest to fix so I will probably start with that.

[jeeper]

I got the new brake light switch installed. I'm hoping I'll have enough time to wire it in this weekend.

[jeeper]

I didn't actually get the new brake light switch wired this weekend. Life keeps happening and I didn't have a lot of time this weekend after all.

I did attempt to get the coolant leak taken care of. It seems to be gone but I haven't run it long enough to be sure. While I was at it I noticed I had never installed the TV bracket and cable for the 700R4 so I got that installed and adjusted. I also installed a new transmission dip stick tube. The original got kinked somewhere along the line and I couldn't pull the dip stick out of it after that.

I don't have any rear lights now. I'm not sure when they quit working. I think as long as I need to open them up I may as well replace the lamps with LED. I'm hoping to stop after work and look for some. I count 7 total 1251 lamps in all the rear sockets. Not sure I'll do them all at once. I may not do the blackout lamps.

[jeeper]

I got the brake light switch wired a few days ago but still didn't have brake lights. I downloaded the schematic from the link at the top of the page and proceeded to start testing everything.

I noticed that the blinker switch wasn't allowing voltage through on all the terminals so I took that apart and cleaned all the contacts inside. This allowed all the signal lights to light from the blinker switch but my brake lights still didn't work.
I tested the 3 lever switch with an ohm meter and had continuity where I thought I should but still had no brake lights. I ended up putting in another 3 lever switch and now I have brake lights. I am in the process of taking the old switch apart to check things out inside it.


The solid state blinker module is dead but I will replace that with a standard blinker like on my first truck. I can't see spending that much for a blinker module when it's so easy to convert.



So I'm inching towards getting the truck road ready. I still need to install a fan behind the radiator and I still need an exhaust. There are other minor details too but those are the major ones.

[jeeper]

I'm sure I'm a bit ahead of myself but I ended up putting insurance on the truck and getting a plate on it today. I'm legal to drive on the road.

I haven't taken it out yet and am expecting to get an opportunity tomorrow. I still need the cooling fan and exhaust installed though. But it's going to get tested out on the road as-is.

[Von]

Steady progress.

Congrats on the tags and insurance!

Are you going to put a torque converter lockup kit on that 700r4?

[Flingarrows]

Good progress Paul

[jeeper]

I'm not looking to do a lockup kit at this point. Maybe after I drive it for a while I'll change my mind.

My test drive was pretty short. I had a pretty big fuel leak on top of the engine. I had a loose hose clamp on the line feeding the IP. I ended up pulling the intake off completely to get that repaired. That's when I remembered I haven't installed a fuel filter yet. I will be putting a filter by the tank before I put any more miles on the truck.

I will also be getting the exhaust installed before long. It is too loud for my liking. My son thinks it sounds good though.

[Von]

I'm not looking to do a lockup kit at this point. Maybe after I drive it for a while I'll change my mind.

Understand that, first things first. I drove mine a few months without the switch working... I thought it was defective or I wired it up wrong and was too busy working other kinks out to mess with it. Turned out to just be a bad ground. It works great. Definitely makes a difference, I've got it set to kick in at about 38 MPH.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Twice the price of other switch kits but I didn't have to open the trans up and can move it to another transmission.