TADAAAAAAAA!!!!! I'm amazed how well it turned out. $6 in steel and a few hours time saves me the $800 a replacement firewall would have cost me. It's not EXACTLY like an original firewall but it serves the purpose. Filling the brake hole, a little more grinding and a little filler will finish it up. Or maybe I should just grind the welds a bit and give it a coat of satin black, more in keeping with the 'old hot rod', not done perfectly look. Both bumpouts are the same size, some sorta optical illusion makes the new one look smaller.
Figured while I was at it and things were going well I'd clean up the old master cylinder hole..... easy peasy!!
Woodster, Did you find a replacement wishbone? I have a 35/36 here that I'm not going to use. Drop me a message. Cliff Ramsdell
Amazing Grace song comes to mind. " You save a wretch like me ,once was lost ,but now am found." Fantastic... What is your plan for steering box. I like the 37 -40 cross steer that was in it but not the ugly high cut out in the firewall. Is there a way to avoid this cut out and still have the steering wheel at a good angle. Have been contemplating this on our own 32 pickup build.
I'm going to run Uni steer rack and pinion with a couple u joints so I can put the column at any angle I want. I hope to copy the original.
Busy day..... the seller said he had the engine running a short time before and I was going to give it a try but something told me to at least pop the heads off. The right side was tough, snapping off two studs but the left came right off...... and there was RTV on the gasket. Hmmmmmm...... both valves wide open on that cylinder caused me to wonder what the story was inside. The half inch gap between the lifter and valve might be a problem!! The valve seems to be bent just a bit so I guess it's off to the engine shop. I didn't see any cracks and there is no perceptible ridge at the top of the cylinder so I think the rest is okay. The pistons have '80' on top so I assume that means .080 over bore. I gave the Cornhusker trans adapter a trial fit and then put it back in the truck. everything fit well and it clears my firewall.
Took my engine to a local machine shop and he wasn't interested in any sort of repair... wanted to do a $7000 rebuild instead. I left a bit depressed and then remembered that I live five miles from Vern Tardel, one of the top flathead experts in the country. I went by his shop and he told me I had a 'nice little engine there'. He's going to do the valves and replace them with stainless steel valves and better springs. He told me to go home and powerwash and wire brush the whole thing before I bring it back. I feel lucky to have him do the repair because the sign on the side of his shop says "No new work for 2017"
I dropped my engine off at Vern Tardel's shop this morning. With his 'full up for 2017' sign I was happy that he agreed to do the valves but when I dropped it off he said he was going pop the pistons out, check the clearances and give the cylinders a quick honing (takes the scratches out) He asked if I was going to run aluminum heads and said that he would check them for clearances. I think part of his interest is that he spotted the relieving around the valves and he believes there's a Mercury crank and big cam in it. He thinks it's an engine built by 'Bingley'.... I've never heard of him but it got Vern going. So my stuck valve has turned into a freshening by one of the best flathead builders in the country. At this point I don't know or care what it costs..... it'll be a 'Vern Tardel Flathead' in there!!!! Priceless......
So cool to have Vern do the flat motor for you, and I was pleased to see you got your t5 adapter from Gary at cornhusker. His are the best out there.
Ed bingelli,a legend with a flathead,worked with vern at his shop and taught him alot of tricks! Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I feel so blessed. First to find the truck and now to have one of, if not the best, flathead builders freshen up what appears to be a pretty healthy little engine with some local history to it. He said it would be a while...... I assured him I would patiently wait. The Cornhusker kit has every nut, bolt pin and part needed to easily bolt a five speed to that flattie. I highly recommend it. I make a headliner kit for 49-51 Ford and Merc woodies and I try to do the same thing. Nothing worse than having to run the local hardware store fifty times for little crap and I appreciate the efforts put into the completeness of his kit. Gary O
Thank you for the info!!!! Vern said he would know if Ed built it once he got to look at the crank. I'll let you know when I know. Gary O
Bing's Speed Shop!!!! I used to drive past it on Santa Rosa Avenue. They tore the building down just a few years ago... apparently we needed a new car wash.
[HQUOTE="Bader2, post: 11969253, member: 249550"] Hahminahahminahahmina..... Is there a truck in there somewhere? Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app[/QUOTE]
Got a call from Vern Tardel a couple days ago that he needed a few parts to finish putting my engine together. What started out as a stuck valve has morphed into a complete rebuild! He said while it was apart he "might as well put bearings and rings in it.... The balanced is real good in this one..... That's a Merc crank... want me to bead blast the manifold? Do you have carbs? Drop those off and I'll go through them...... I think we'll be ready to start it Monday"!!!!! It's also got a new Melling oil pump and a milder cam. No identifier but he said it had a hell of a lift. I have been sooooooooo fortunate having Vern taking an interest in my engine and making sure that my truck will be a great runner for many years.
It's alive!!!! Engine was fired up yesterday and ran a couple hours so he called me this morning to come listen to it. It's music to my ears and I can't wait to get it into the truck
Trans is on and ready to go into the chassis. Gotta weld on the engine mounts and start on the K-member. Cornhusker T-5 adapter was complete and made this swap easy-peasy.
Hope this is not OT, but Bing in the guy that put a flathead with 3 twos in a 40 Willys, and ran low 12's. That's one nice 32 you have there....
Nobey, Bing's a local hero. His Willys has been restored and shows up every now and then Ecodesign, is that your drawing? Talent! '33/'34? I had a '33 when I was 20-ish ('71)
Welded in new motor mounts and popped the engine in, the first of several in's n out's I'm sure. Now I can weld on the suspension brackets, trans mount, steering, etc.
The Jalopy Journal
