Quite a bit of work done these last few weeks.
New front brakes, including brand new calipers, installed.
New AC Delco brake lines installed. The old brake lines were swelled almost completely shut.
The front brake line junction block was also completely blocked with crud. Cleaned that out and flushed lines and flow is normal again.
Front wheel bearings looked good, regreased and reinstalled.
Also installed my two extra 16" CUCV wheels on the front, doing away with the obsolete 16.5 wheels.
Will swap the rears when I do the rear brakes.
Step Van stops now with authority. Will be even better when the rear brakes are replaced.
Great thing about a Step Van, is that you have room inside for rebuilding a carburetor.
The original carb had been rebuilt before and was way past due for another.
Extremely dirty, but nothing clogged.
Step Van has been starting just fine, but the choke was staying on too long and really choking the engine right after startup.
It took a couple of minutes to warm up before it ran normal.
Adjusting the choke didn't help.
Replaced the choke vacuum actuator and what a difference it made. Starts even better and doesn't run horrible after startup any longer.
Throttle shaft bushings need replaced. They are leaking a bit, causing a vacuum leak. Not bad, but it's there.
Also removed and cleaned the choke thermostat. It had mice remnants and dirt debris in the coil. It's working like it should again.
Will be sending Rochester carburetor out for a professional rebuild in the coming weeks.
I know I could just get a Edelbrock or Holley replacement, but want to keep the original one.
Removed the heater core and cleaned it.
Internally it looked brand new, no leaks.
Cleaned the fins and cleaned up and reattached the hose connections.
They look rough but are fine.
The heater core adjusting valve is impossible to find, so I cleaned it up internally and marked it for on and off.
Can be opened or closed using pliers. Not ideal but will work.
Cleaned the airbox and sprayed fluid film inside to prevent additional corrosion.
Reinstalled Heater Core and attached hoses. Now I have HEAT. Works really well.
I did get all the lights working early on, except one thing.
The brake lights.
Running lights work, turn signals work, emergency lights work.
Had power at the switch and it was adjusted properly.
Fuse good.
Spent an hour underneath checking every inch of wire from front to back, Wires were good.
Even removed firewall connection and cleaned that. No change.
Grounds were physically cleaned and reattached.
Was going to remove the fuse box under the dash and needed to move some connectors from the steering column.
Had already looked at these and sprayed cleaner on them.
Once the zip ties were cut and I actually moved these connectors much more than before, I noticed one wire pulled out a bit further than the rest.
It was loose and I expanded the clips on the wires metal connector and reinstalled the wire in the connector housing.
That was it. I now have brake lights. What a RELIEF.
Step Van is running very well and starts right up and runs great.
Lots of little things done, like fixing the door frame seals that had become loose with age.
Changed the oil and filter again, it really needed it once the internals were getting cleaned again.
Adjusted headlights, made a magnetic cup holder, cleaned up interior a bit more, cleaned steering wheel (it was REALLY gross), oiled the door tracks again, installed missing rear bumper frame bolts, etc.
I still need to do the rear brakes, change rear differential oil, and get the driveshaft rebuilt.
Need window gaskets and will be checking into that as it gets warmer.
Have been driving it around a bit and have put almost 30 miles on it.
Gets to 60 no problem, even though it's a bit scary driving it at that speed on country roads.
I will be adding a VDO or AutoMeter tachometer. Hate not knowing what the engine speed is.
I did add American Flags on the top rear of the sides.
I also did this years ago on my two enclosed cargo trailers and travel trailer. They will not work on my Airstream due to the curves.
She's not pretty, but slowly getting the kinks and issues worked out.
