1978 Chevy LUV Machine

[Novak]

Pulled the carb and did a once over on it and it’s pretty rough. I think my bottom end sputter is my advance because I’m not getting a jet of fuel into the intake when the throttle is jumped. These carbs are throw away parts and so I think I’m gonna move onto a Weber. Not sure if I want an electric choke or not yet.

Moved back to electrical and testing all my wire for the windshield wash and they all have good connections and no dry rot thank God. Ordered an original 78’ switch from eBay and hooked it up and the wipers work! This is the little switch. Doesn’t cross over to anything and the full size GM trucks use a different switch so I had to search good and long for this little bugger

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[Chevy1925]

Did you try pulling the old switch apart and cleaning it?

The nice thing about those old parts is most of the time the issue is obvious and easy to fix. Plus the fact you can actually take them apart without breaking stuff lol

 

[Novak]

Did you try pulling the old switch apart and cleaning it?

The nice thing about those old parts is most of the time the issue is obvious and easy to fix. Plus the fact you can actually take them apart without breaking stuff lol

Yea I’m gonna solder whatever I can because of the slim to none part availability. For some reason the kid before me kept the switch? Son of a gun kept my “LUV” emblem too...
Unforgivable


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[DefiantArms]

Just did a search and found a few for sale in Portland around 1300. Real interested in a 2.8 swap

 

[Chevy1925]

Yea I’m gonna solder whatever I can because of the slim to none part availability. For some reason the kid before me kept the switch? Son of a gun kept my “LUV” emblem too...
Unforgivable


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Ooohhh I thought you had the old switch and it just wasn’t workin

 

[TheBac]

I think its kinda funny reading how you young guys view the technology from the '70s. :hehe:

 

[Chevy1925]

I think its kinda funny reading how you young guys view the technology from the '70s. :hehe:

When I was helping my dad restore his 72 blazer, it really made me wish for the simplicity they had..... but it’s hard to give up the creature comforts I’ve become accustom to in newer rigs.

 

[Novak]

When I was helping my dad restore his 72 blazer, it really made me wish for the simplicity they had..... but it’s hard to give up the creature comforts I’ve become accustom to in newer rigs.

That’s my next project.

This one needs a complete frame off restoration. My bought it for my Dad in 83’ and I’ve had it for awhile. Rings are toast and the trans will knock your teeth out when it’s cold. But it’s sentimental!

What work I did to it is kinda janky because it was my learning curve lol


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[Novak]

I think its kinda funny reading how you young guys view the technology from the '70s. :hehe:

Well you see there is a dewhickey that’s wired up to the thingmah-jig and then it goes to a glass tube with a thin wire in it


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[Chevy1925]

That’s my next project.

This one needs a complete frame off restoration. My bought it for my Dad in 83’ and I’ve had it for awhile. Rings are toast and the trans will knock your teeth out when it’s cold. But it’s sentimental!

What work I did to it is kinda janky because it was my learning curve lol


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I love those rigs! By far my favorite year trucks/blazers!

 

[Novak]

I love those rigs! By far my favorite year trucks/blazers!

Me too. I remember going to river in this thing with the top off! It’s a blast!
I think I’m gonna put the 67’ front end on it. I like how they have a slight point to them


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[Chevy1925]

Me too. I remember going to river in this thing with the top off! It’s a blast!
I think I’m gonna put the 67’ front end on it. I like how they have a slight point to them


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Plus the red bow tie ;D

 

[Novak]

I’ve heard that the old blazers are easy to change body panels on. Something about drilling the tack welds in the door well will drop the bed side? There isn’t any rust just dents on the corners one of which ripped the steel


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[Novak]

Had to pay an electrician.
My service line to my shop is only 60amp and he’s gonna redo it to 100 amp so that I can run some 240 plugs and my compressor welder etc.
that comes before the carburetor


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[Novak]

Did my usual stuff I do everyday and seen this gem sitting in a barn!

And then an hour and half later.....

 

[Novak]

No install pick but this hood latch is on my LUV now.
I needed the grille because mine was zip tied down because the mounting ears were broken off

Grille in

Also got a fan shroud!

And a tailgate handle

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[Novak]

Got my shop all wired up finally!! Bumped the amps up to 100 for my equipment. New 120’s to plug in my vehicles and of course 50 amp receptacles for my tank and compressor

and a new service panel

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[Novak]

Like I said though once that was done then the Weber would be here. A man is only as good as his word!

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[Novak]

Pulled the old studs out and thank God they were not seized up! Got the new carb and adapter plates on. This Weber in comparison to the old Hitachi DGES is way more simple in its functions. It’s doesn’t have a bunch of diaphragms to run the choke along with a solenoid. The Weber simply has a “key on 12V” connection point on the choke and dasssss it!
The adapters were cake walk, used the blue loctite so I can removed it if ever needed. When I called it a day all I had to do as far as installation goes is hook up and block off vents. Already blocked the EGR off butt there were atleast 4 vents that were on the old intake and carb set up.

It’s very obvious that I’m going to need more than just one bottle of super clean to clean up my engine bay


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[Novak]

Got the carb done. Serviced the rear end with Schaeffers and bled the brakes

After servicing

Started it and ran the truck but the darn thing would still backfire if I jumped the throttle so I tested the vacuum advance and it was pretty tight. I had a reman distributor from a 85 iMark so I installed that. Then the truck went from a rough idle and can’t drive down the street to a no spark disaster. The coil is a 50 year nippendenso so I put a new 40k 3.omh ignitor in it

deleted the ballast resistor and still no spark...so I checked everything over and found this

So I got another one for an iMark

I thought that I was possibly losing spark there and even if not it would for sure creat a problem down the road so what’s $5 anyway.
Still didn’t get any spark so I ran through all my grounds and old ballast resistor lines and still kept scratching my head. So when in doubt Voltmeter it out. Finally figured out the wiring order and got spark but now it didn’t want to start....so I checked the fuel pump and for some reason it wouldn’t run even though it’s brand new relay had power. Literally all I did was accidentally arched the spades on the relay while I was testing it and then I left the voltmeter on the fuel pump spade while I cranked it and BAM it started....ran like crap because the timing was by ear and the idle screw was too high up but I let her go and got it warmed up and the battery charged. Once it was hot and pull #1 and the distributor cap and rotated it over til the rotor was on #1 then found the sweet spot on the cam. Put the plug and everything in and hooked up my timing light and started it up! Ran awesome even without turning the distributor at all!!! OEM timing is 6 degrees but I advanced it to 8 and dropped the idle screw down and it actually ran like an old 22R! Drove it down to the gas station last night and pumped ethanol free fuel in it and it ran even smoother.

Went joyriding and couldn’t stop giggling. I’m almost 6’ and these truck were not built for my legs that’s a fact! Tight squeeze by once your in you can reach the other door mirror and grab 4th nearly at the same time!


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