Jeff Balazs

You probably don't have a PCV set up so it sounds like a warm compression test may be in order to pinpoint what is causing that slight oscillation. Could just be a sticky valve? One of the things I did with my old engine even after dropping and cleaning the oil pan etc....was to do several oil changes to get all the crud flushed out. Each time it ran a bit smoother and quieter. I dropped the pan again in December and there was a fair amount of tar like sludge build up that I am certain was flushed and deposited in the pan because of the detergent oil I am running now. I even pulled the valve inspection covers to have a good look. Everything looks nice and clean now and over the course of time vacuum readings and compression have risen slightly. At idle and warmed up I get a vacuum steady reading of 20.5 so I know my methods have worked. Oh and Btw I checked cold clearances on the valves early on and never made any adjustments to any of them. They just got quieter and quieter as time has gone on. Hope this is of some help. Jeff

Brrrrr...Tee shirt & shorts weather here......might warm up to 80 later. There could easily be a few things affecting your idle. Small vacuum leaks...settings.....worn ignition components.....dirt in the carb.....etc. I like to tinker so I tried a lot of different things. Different plugs for example do have an effect. I am very happy with the results I have got........once it has warmed up. Even here where it is pretty warm it is a cold blooded son of a gun. Jeff

Paul I wouldn't worry about that......the fear of having their fingers burnt should be enough. Jeff

"Little Fauss and Big Halsey" haul their dirt bikes with a pale grey C series and have a soundtrack by Johnny Cash. Total nostalgia for me. Lots of footage with the truck. Jeff

FWIW I think hooking up a vacuum gauge is a great place to start. It can tell you an awful lot.......and paying close attention to the readings is a good way to confirm what adjustments or changes have a actual beneficial effect. I am very happy with the way my truck runs now. And it is by no means a fresh rebuild. One item I came across in my quest to have a real smooth runner was a new idle screw. Most kits don't seem to include this. And my old one didn't look worn at all. But when I decided last fall to go through my carb again.....the kit I got from Roberts had a new idle screw in it. Definitely made a bit of a difference........ With a permanent vacuum gauge connected I swapped this item back and forth just to see if I would be able to read a difference. You can.... and the new idle screw won hands down. Sometimes a combination of few little things like this can make a big difference. Hope this helps, Jeff

Geekay; I would think that at the very least a close inspection of the inner surfaces and a rebuild kit are in order. It could be in much worse shape than you might imagine. Beside the obvious safety issues.......it is in a location that makes it a real PITA to work on. Trust me this is one item you want to get right the first time. Jeff

Thank you Mark. It is all too easy these days to get persuaded by the negatives. It seems to me that this thread is here to highlight the positives.. We have left out an important one so far......the smile factor. I can't speak for the rest of you....but mine never fails to put a smile on my face.Even when it was just a pile of parts. And I'd be willing to go out on a limb here and say that there are several others who feel the same way about their trucks. Jeff

Me too. There are quite a lot of little convenience things like this that you get "used" to having. I really like the area under the seat for spares storage. It is amazing what all you can fit there. I also like the location of the battery.......and the fuel tank. So much nicer than some of the alternatives built at that the time. I am curious how and why this thread was moved? Seems to me it belongs in the truck forum. Jeff

Thanks Paul. I had not seen one like it before.....and it does have Mopar stamped into the housing. I have tried to stick with glass lenses all around so when I spotted this I had to bite. Jeff

There are several things I really like about these trucks........but first and foremost is the truly iconic hood assembly. You just got to love it. Combine that with all the nice cab features and respectable road behavior and you got a winner every time. Jeff

Maybe I see this a bit differently than most? But to me "Back from the Dead" means it is back.....and more or less as what it started off life as. Throw a SBC in it or chop it to smithereens and then it should just say "it's alive" like the phrase from Frankenstein. All too often the true character of these vehicle are destroyed by too many mods. They are at that point something very different than what they were when they were built. In my mind there is a point when "Back from the Dead" no longer applies.

A few more little tweaks. The kids got me a dash cam for Xmas. Of course it is 12 volt, So I decided to upgrade my 6V -12V power converter for the stereo and use the little one I already had to power the cigarette lighter. That worked well and this can now be used to power up other 12 volt. accessories. I had to really search to find a upgraded power converter for the stereo. There didn't seem to be too many options for an quality upgrade under $300 but I found and decided on a unit made by Cruising Electronics out of NZ. Nice unit! Way more power now and at a reasonable price. My stereo is much happier now. I found a nice NOS backup lamp on ebay. Have mounted it and just need to come up with a switch mount for the shifter. Jeff

Just got this NOS backup light for my truck. No box but it is marked Mopar and it was never installed. Original bulb still works too. Jeff

Well if it makes you feel any better the drivers side rear wheel on my 3/4 ton had 3 broken lugs. Boy was it fun to get off. In the end heat did the trick.........but then I swapped in a Cherokee rear axle So I went through it all for nothing. Jeff

Well....I took mine to the local performance radiator shop that everyone around here uses. It was a real mess. He cleaned it....repaired some leaks ...and coated it for $200. I think that is the way to go as the coating selection and cleaning process is best done by someone who does it all the time. I have done some motorcycle tanks myself and there is a lot that can go wrong. Jeff

Yep....and quite a set of springs that is. The whole set up looks very beefy. Looks like you have definitely taken it to another level Brent. Have a ton of fun with it. Jeff

Brent; I was actually thinking 2 1/2 ton.....but I am just guessing based on the size of the bed. It may have had some overload springs added?. I think it would look great with some running lights on top.the cab.. More pictures please. Jeff

Hank; Of all the great movie characters.....I have always identified with Ralphie. I didn't grow up in a place you could freeze your nuts off but other than that it was very similar. I didn't get the BB gun though......until many years later. I think Mom was afraid (rightfully)I would shoot my little sister. Finally when I was about 45 my Dad presented me with a Red Ryder at Christmas one year. My kids got a big hoot out of that. In fact everyone but my sister thought it was pretty darn funny. She was constantly ratting me out to Mom.....and I have been known to hold a grudge a long spell. I am fairly certain she sleeps with one eye open Jeff

Wow! That is cool. I cant help wondering about the rating though.....that is an awfully large box for 1 1/2 ton. Have fun with it. Jeff

Ed; Surely "Back from the dead" covers that.? It could have just sat until it faded away. There are a ton of us who have or are in the process of bringing one of these back from a long sleep. In my mind it is the perfect statement for us.

Agreed......but with a slight change. Back from the dead.........twice! ( even if he was responsible for it's demise the second time around) I think this sticker is perfect for all of us who have resurrected one of these old trucks. Pretty much sez it all. Jeff

Mark; Hey ......all those buttons and knobs are for playing with. I have a few extras on mine...but they all do something. Jeff

Every once in a while you come across something that just sez it all. I found this the other day.....and had to have it. Jeff

I get really quick starts if I follow this procedure. Press on the gas once.....set the choke about a 1/2" to 3/4" out ...and the hand throttle about the same. Crank it over with the key on and be prepared to push the hand throttle in the moment it catches. I generally only need to leave the choke on for about a minute or so. Hope this helps, Jeff

I dunno I kinda like Rat fink.......and I wouldn't mind a bunch of faux rust either if I could figure out how to get it to look just right. You are probably correct about the exhaust stack. Jeff