Unfortunately I haven't been to as many meets this last year.
The truck developed a water leak a year ago which was coming from an awkward core plug. Seeing it was an engine out job, I entrusted the work with a shop over Romsey way.
Needless to say, having the engine removed proved to be too big of a temptation not to have some other work done at the same time. I therefore had new paint in the engine bay, the engine itself painted, new timing chain fitted, the leading edge of the rusty hood was completely cut off and replaced, rust around the guttering and roof panel cut out and replaced and also work on replacing all clutch components.
Obviously this took a fair bit time. The truck was booked in for May last year and I got her back in August. I was hoping to make some late summer events and was really looking forward to a couple of Southsea cruises, but unfortunately for me I had some issues with the clutch fitment. Slowly over winter I have been addressing these problems 1 step at a time. I have made a new release bearing sleeve that was longer than the other with tighter tolerances. This was turned on a lathe and heat shrunk onto the bearing retainer/ throwout bearing sleeve on the Borgwarner T5 transmission. I also found that the pilot bearing was nearly 2mm bigger than the end on the gearbox input shaft spigot. This is where I was having alot of my problems so I ordered some oilite bar and made my own custom bearing. I also ordered and tried a different type of thrust bearing that was recommended to me from a friend in the US (he owns several Chevy C10's with T5 transmissions and knows his stuff).
These things done, I still had an annoying, randomly happening loud clattering sound as demonstrated at a recent Port Solent meet where I arrived is a sweet sounding truck and left in something that sounded like a handful of nuts and bolts shaken in a metal bin. This cost me two visits to a local garage who removed the gearbox and clutch assembly for inspection. I found out this week it now turns out that it was part of the flywheel guard assembly that was warping under the heat of the engine and distorting forcing itself in to the path of the crankshaft hub (where the flywheel bolts to). Obviously it's early days but I have high confidence that this particular problem is behind me. I will upload some photo's later today.
I therefore want to start enjoying my truck again, but like all these old timers there is still plenty of things to do.
