Intro to Rufus

[mdmead]

Stay focused on the projects or they get lost and interest goes away.

Whaaaat?.....

Is that directed at me Skip?! I mean really!

[Smiliesafari]

DANG.........Matt, you weren't supposed to see that. Like my Momma used to say "If the shoe fits".

[markmitchinnh]

My S-10 came with factory aluminum 15x8 rims I hated them so I was walking through a local salvage yeard and found a set of black steel rims with fake bead locks on them (aftermarket) I bought them for 75.00 repainted them and had my 31x10.50/15 tires installed and balanced
looks great and rides better because the rims are offset different so my tires stick out a bit.
Found out by searching online the rims brand new are 150.00 each. I love to bargain hunt.

[1Gary]

I know you guys are right.The ZQ8 16x8 4 1/2 offset rims with 235's would look sooo nice through.Oh well,moving on................

[astrozam]

Gary, I agree with Dean. This is a "shop truck" not a project truck. Every penny you spend on this truck other than maintenence is money taken away from the projects. Stay focused on the projects or they get lost and interest goes away.

x2

[1Gary]

Well Rufus is at the tranny shop to have the clutch put in and I hope it goes in without a hitch.Supposed to get it back on Friday.

[blacknome]

I know you guys are right.The ZQ8 16x8 4 1/2 offset rims with 235's would look sooo nice through.Oh well,moving on................

The S10/Sonoma wheels have the same BS and bolt pattern as the Gbody and some Fbody cars. In fact a lot of the suspension parts directly interchange with the Gbody ( I run 2003 front spindles on my 84 MonteCarlo because they use a 2 piston caliper ).
The Sonoma/S10 use the same 5 on 4.75 bolt pattern that GM used forever. Late 70's and Early 80's Fbody and Gbody steel & aluminum wheels look great on the Sonoma/S10 as well as do the MonteCarlo / Corvette rally wheels from the late 60's / early 70's.

Either way it's a nice truck and a bonus that you got the sport package !

[1Gary]

Well as it ended up it needs a mater/slave cylinder too. ](*,) ](*,) Another $250-$300 bucks.Well I know 6 months from now it will be a faded memory.

[markmitchinnh]

I had to replace the slave and master on my clutch too, I hope you don't need to rreplace the line its not made anymore. I had to use brake line with compression fittings to reuse the ends because no one has them.

[1Gary]

Mark on mine the line and master is all one part.

The clutch is done and I am trying to get used to it catching as it should.I need to replace the rad.That's ok because I expected to have to do that anyways.

[1Gary]

Put on a fuel filter.On these it has a quick connect for the fuel line outlet.I had to cut out the old one and put in a splice kit in and the barb's for that are really tight.What a PITA that was!!!. ](*,) Those hard rubber lines are not fun.

I got a Delco junk yard radio for it.It is the first radio I have had in my daily driver in 7 yrs.I am enjoying that for sure.Sound nice with the door speakers.

[1Gary]

Found out a neat feature on the radio.I thought I was having a problem because the radio didn't turn off when I turned off the key.Well there is a delay build in.If you open the door the radio turns off.Kind of cool.

[1Gary]

Well Skip and Dean I hear ya about it being a shop truck and all.I did buy it right and if I where to drive it for only acouple of yrs I don't think I would be out money.It runs amazing real strong.So here are the next steps:

Well in the continuing quest to make this truck turn key reliable today Rufus gets a new rad,thermostat,gasket,cap,oil cooler lines,fresh antifreeze,oil cooler adapter gaskets and O-rings,oil change and Wix oil filter,cleaned up battery pick and pull tray and painted with POR 15,painted with battery terminals protected paint,repaired fuel line from replaced fuel filter(yeah those nylon fuel line crimp clamps are a pita),drivers side door pins,bushings and door spring,replacement third door handle,O2 sensors.Got a check engine light that scans as a O2 sensors.If all goes well that should clean up the mechanics on this short of Delco cap,rotor,wires,and plugs and a new rear cover and gasket for the rear end which I will do next week.Then the NYS inspection.

Once all the above is settled in we can move onto the body work and paint.Because of some real crappy bondo work on the passenger cab corner and the bottom of the third door we found with a magnet,the box has got to come off.I haven't decided if I am going to replace the box with a step side box that is a clean no rust one or do the same for another freight side box.I do want to just R & R the third door with a rust free one.And because of having to remove the box I am considering a color change to the Ole Yellar dark mustard yellow with silver metal flake clear coated.

Yeah I know.I walk into the shop and everytime Ole Yellar is weeping at it's headlights.Maybe next week I can squeak out the bearings for the 383 build and then send out the rotating assembly for balancing.

[MountainManJoe]

Good work, Gary. But personally, I'd rather see Ole Yellar come to life than some old truck.

[1Gary]

Me too bud.I relearned a hard lesson when the LT took a dive and was forced to drive the RV.It doesn't pass many gas stations and I drove it for like two months. You absolutely have to have a solid daily driver to work on a project.I have high hopes for this truck to work out like that. [-o<