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WagonCrazy
09-12-2015, 04:24 PM
Had a friend call a month or so ago asking me to help him sell his truck. He is not much of a car guy, and it was in the family for several decades. Running when parked in the garage 10+ years ago, but not started since.
Short story is that we found a mutually agreeable price based on it's condition and he was happy to sell it to me, as he knew I was into these old cars.
Just like the story with finding my Nomad...I wasn't looking for another project. It landed in my lap so to speak...but I couldn't turn this one away.
Truck is in too good of condition.

Manufactured in the GM Los Angeles plant (Van Nuys to be exact), probably never left So Cal. Barely any rust...
46,000 miles on the odometer. I feel fortunate to own this truck now.

Not gonna do much with it for a year or so. Just keeping it securely locked up. Focusing on finishing the Nomad build.

Here's the pics:
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chevynut
09-12-2015, 08:23 PM
Very cool truck Paul. Looks like a nice project once you finish the Nomad.

WagonCrazy
09-13-2015, 05:51 AM
It's very unmolested, so it's difficult to think about tons of mods to it.
It doesn't have the stock 283. It has a later 327 with a 4 bbl carb. Still has the stock 3 speed column shift manual trans though.
Straight axle in front, etc.

And the truck will be for my wife anyhow... She like's the old column shift manual trans trucks. Personally, that don't work for me...we had that with our 9 passenger wagon, and that non syncro-mesh 1st gear was a PITA. So out it came, and in went a 200-4r 4 speed automatic. And I will for sure lose that heavy duty back bumper at some point.

I've been all over the internet looking for pics of custom built 59's and found a few that I like the look of.

Really like the last pic, especially the wheels and color combo.

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WagonCrazy
10-16-2016, 05:47 AM
Yesterday I spent the afternoon putzing around with this truck. Pulled the carpeting out of the cab, then removed the gas tank (which straps in behind the seat). It was bone dry. Opened it up and inspected (what I could see) on the inside, and it looks pretty clean overall. So I put the high pressure hose to it for a while (on the inside) and scotchbrite scrubbed the outside, then set it in the sun to dry. it appears to be leak free.

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WagonCrazy
10-16-2016, 05:59 AM
Then I moved into the engine compartment and removed the fuel pump, carburetor (which was stuck shut), spark plugs (none of which were gummed or fouled). The oil pan was full of oil, and I can see the radiator is full of fluid and holding. So I put several squirts of 20/50 into each spark plug hole, then put a wrench to the crank pulley and turned it over several rotations with relative ease. It turned easily...no stickyness. Might get lucky here and find this 327 engine in good shape. Won't know until I button it all back up and do a compression test.

Fuel pump looks brand new (albeit 16 years ago when it was last put on)...

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The carb is very jammed in the closed position and I'm gonna have to do a rebuild on this Rochester 4 barrel...

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And the top of the intake manifold is pretty dirty but I'm not going to remove it at this point. Just clean it up as best as I can and put it all back together. Put a battery in it and see if the ignition system works well enough to crank it over...

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WagonCrazy
10-16-2016, 06:02 AM
Need to change out the heater hoses and the radiator hoses too. They are dry cracked and any movement creates more cracks, so I'm just planning on them leaking. But I'll do that after I get it to the point of cranking it over and doing the compression test.

markm
10-16-2016, 06:17 AM
That is a great truck, I would love to find a 55/56 in that condition.

WagonCrazy
10-16-2016, 07:35 PM
Today i messed with the baterry and starter wiring (redid the pos and neg cables and added block to frame and block to body ground straps). Then stuck a battery i had laying around in it and cranked it. Plugs are still out but it turned over nicely via the starter. After 15 seconds of cranking the oil pressure gauge rolled up quickly. I could have pulled the distributor and spun the oil pump but i dont have the tool for that. So i fudged.

Tomorrow im gonna do compression test if i can finish my work/job before dark.

Slow progress.

WagonCrazy
11-14-2016, 08:43 AM
It runs!


https://youtu.be/odT536N_Bkc

WagonCrazy
11-21-2016, 07:26 PM
And we now have new brakes and tires...


https://youtu.be/6EhzMWUhRvY

chevynut
11-21-2016, 07:44 PM
Really liking your truck Paul. Looks like it's in great shape!


Not gonna do much with it for a year or so

Really? :p

WagonCrazy
11-23-2016, 07:52 AM
Yep...really. I have a nomad collecting dust in the garage. That's just not right. It needs my time and (lack of) money next. For now, this truck is almost as finished as I plan to get it. Just needs a new seat cover and foam, and then troubleshoot a couple of simple wiring issues, and then its Paula's to drive around mostly.
Just got at quote yesterday for collector car insurance for it. $180 for a year. $20K agreed value. 300/500 coverage with $500 deductible. I'm awaiting the proof of insurance card to be emailed from them, so I can get it off Non-Op and legal to be on the streets. Should have that all in a day or so.

Saved another one!!!!!!!!

WagonCrazy
01-03-2017, 08:11 PM
But then this thing landed in my lap over the holidays...
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That's a complete L59 5.3 and 4L60e out of a 2005 Suburban. Flex fuel LS engine... I got everything needed for an eventual swap...PCM, drive by wire throttle pedal, all bolt on accessories, brand new water pump, new MSD plug wires, even the exhaust pipe with O2 bungs, all of it. $2400

This stuff just lands in my lap somehow. :p

But it's going to sit for a year or so, until I finish this Nomad.

BamaNomad
01-04-2017, 06:58 AM
Sounds like you got a great deal on that eng/trans combo.. How many miles? It will be a great power train for your big window PU! :)

WagonCrazy
01-04-2017, 08:07 AM
80,000 miles.

busterwivell
01-04-2017, 09:16 AM
I love the truck! I love the "after i get the Nomad done" attitude, and you keep playing with it! Good on you! That 5.3 would be an EXCELLENT swap! All you need now is time and money.............

Rick_L
01-04-2017, 06:48 PM
Are those Fleetside fenders steel? Or fiberglass like the Cameos?

That truck has a lot of style.

WagonCrazy
01-05-2017, 08:00 AM
All steel Rick. All steel....

WagonCrazy
03-18-2017, 02:58 PM
Bought a pre-sewn seat cover over the holidays, and last week my wife and I added new foam and recovered it.

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567chevys
03-19-2017, 10:19 AM
Looks good Paul ,


Sid