Technical Yeah, Its got a Hemi/41 shop truck

We should recreate the original picture of the truck you sent me five years ago, sticking out the back of your shop. I'd like that!

 

Thank you for the nice remarks. She was very proud of the truck at the show, she even liked talking about it with folks. She knows just about everything about it. It made me quite happy to see. The fact she keeps talking about driving it is the exciting part. We are making a hot rodder out her, never too late.

Hilarious. I should get that on a tee shirt.

 

Ah, that's annoying but at least it's a relatively simple fix. Working the bugs out is fun because there's a light at the end of the tunnel. I'm excited to follow your progress.

 

Some people will do anything to get out of washing windows.

 

You mean this one? If I had known it was going to turn out so nice I'd have charged you more for it. 5 years ago already? It hardly seems like 3.

 

I always like this one with the 6" lowering blocks.

 

Yikes!!

 

Should have some "honey do" credits coming huh!

 

Yeah, that’s the one. Funny, I liked it right from the start. Like it was calling to me. That, or it was just gas.

 

I love it when a plan comes together. For years during construction my wife said she probably wouldn't drive the PU I built for her (scared to hurt it). This weekend she asked me to take her around the subdivision (her driving) and she loved it. She hit the throttle once or twice and it scared her, but she was grinning ear to ear. Later she invited her mom over and took her a ride. I could not have been happier!

There's a lot of reflection in that windscreen but I'm the photog, she's backing out of the drive.

Here they are beaming! She's like a kid on Christmas!

Sunday we took it to dinner, and I was riding shotgun both ways! When we pulled into the bar quite a few friends came out to see the truck and said to her, "you were driving?" Char said, "Why not? It's my truck". Now she wants to take it to shows with me driving my roadster. She never like going to shows before.

I built a truck but I may created a monster.

 

Better put a GPS on it!

 

That was a very Strange day indeed! I really had no plans to sell that project at all for personal reasons. Plans and reality seldom travel the same roads. I could tell when you were walking up to it that you liked what you were seeing. You asked a lot of good questions and when you started talking Hemi (anything but that damn SBC) and pitched a few names I almost got sick to my stomach. This odd feeling washed over me that wasn't common for me at all. I knew the Truck was going to stay local at least until he was ready to bail out. Watching from the sideline has given me peace of mind that letting it go was for sure the right decision. I didn't really lose my Brothers truck, I added 2 good friends to my very short list. Because of this process, a few months back I sold my 36 Ford Truck project to another local fella that dreams of the same level of quality while doing it himself, also in his home shop. Two down and several more to go, what are the odds? Can't wait to see that Grill come back up my driveway to take me for a ride, Heck maybe Char will be the one driving.
Congratulations B-B! Job well done!

 

And you shall buddy. Part of the punch out list (short one albeit) is the brake pedal she say feels spongy and too much travel. She has never driven anything but late models but she may have a point. Having another builder driver it and diagnose would be helpful.

Thos cheap-ass (very expensive) power window switches quit working while Char and her mom were out (embarrassing). I still had some better-quality micros switches in the toolbox so I rebuilt them today, all is good. I had to do the same repair to the roadster this winter.

 

Awesome milestone for you Billy...high fives...the shakedown continues...one helluva diamond of another carat...

 

Its about time. well well , congrats. You can be proud. It's a chick magnet!

 

The only thing left to do is....haul some shop stuff!!

 

I told her I needed to be present for the first 500 miles so I can work through my bugs. There is a little squeak when you turn the steering wheel, I haven't calibrated the electric speedo yet, the AC isn't charged. That sort of thing. By summer it will be ready for her to go play with.

It seems to have attracted Char to it! She kept saying she didn't want to put the first mar in it. Sometimes you can build stuff too nice, I guess. I told her I built it, I painted it. If something happens, I'll fix it. Don't worry about it.

We thought it would be fun to put some blankets and pillows in the back and go to a drive-in movie this summer. There is still one out in Tigard, just out of Portland. Does that count?

I think that the rear end is settling a bit too low. I have decided that I will access it after 500 miles of driving and maybe re-arch those rear springs or mod my spring pockets. I talked to Oregon Spring in Tualatin and they don't have a furnace any longer but they think they can put and inch and half in them in the press. We will see. @Pist-n-Broke said we could do an alteration to the front hangers and pick it up that way too. All part of the game building cars from scratch.

 

I have followed this build from the start. It has turned out great and what a bonus, having a wife that is totally on board. Awesome stuff all round.

 

Wait a minute... Window switches in a roadster?

 

Sad to say it is the only one I know of within 200 miles? Of course, drive in movies in the rain are good for only one thing I can think of.

 

Shhhhh

 

I drove the PU to work today to put some miles on it and continue to work through the bugs. I adjusted the brake pedal, it is much better and will lock 'em up if need be. But now I need to adjust the brake switch as the lights do not come on until half pedal or so. I built the assembly with an adjustable switch bracket so it is an easy fix when I get home tonight.

I also repaired the window switch so all is good there. If you use these things...

...go ahead and order these and stick them in. You will have to sooner or later anyway.


It is a bit low. I backed in and almost stuffed the pipes on the side walk in front of our building!

I'm still getting used to the length and size, but what a joy to drive. The ride is every bit as nice as my 442. It ran 185 degrees until I was stuck in the line to get a coffee at Dutch Bros. It got as high as 197 but no puking or anything. Smelled a little warm but everything is brand new and that is expected.

I need to remember to stop about a foot shorter! And I need Char to remember to the same. My wife said @Pist-n-Broke is correct, the rear bumper needs a tuck job and that means the pipes have to be hemmed and re-flared. They are never done.

 

Yeah, those microswitches are too light-duty to take the DC current inrush from the window motors. The DC rating @ 125V is only .6 amp, you will see failures. You could fix that with relays...

 

Billy, you have more talent stuck under your pinky nail than I have in my whole body. I do, however, know when something is a flawless work of beauty and your truck is just that. I watched through your whole build and I have tremendous respect for your talents. What a spectacular truck. Well done, sir.

 

And that's the thing man, the Coach Controls panel has relays built in for the window switches. They are still failing on both cars. These new switches seem to better quality, once replaced the switches work as designed. I am in no way an electrician not do I pretend to understand any portion of the process, but those cheap little switches in the $200 PW switches seem to be crap.

Thank you very much, that is an awesome compliment!

I pulled into the garage tonight, loosened the 1/2" nut (welded in stud) that holds the elevator tower I built into the brake pedal mount, slid it forward a tad (highly technical term for less than an inch) and tightened it back down. Brake lights come on immediately when the pedal is depressed (pressed?)...activated. Anyway, it works more good.

 

That is one wasaay really cool truck my friend! Congrats!

 

Job well done!
I'm sure the people in your office have been aware of this project....reactions after seeing it in person?

 

Next up, speedo calibration. There are several methods available. One requires a pace car or GPS, one requires a measured mile, one they say is instant and another that I can't figure out.

next one

Next

and finally

Which of these makes the most sense for a one-man calibration? @Crazy Steve I'm lookin at you. I guess they all will work but let's say no pilot vehicle, no GPS (I could down loan an app). Right now, the odometer is recording miles traveled and the needle is showing 25 MPH at (guessing...50 MPH) so I know the signal is present. I live on a highway so the measured mile is dangerous at speed. As is the iphone GPS idea. But I need to get this set up.

Looking for input gents. This is Classic Instruments 1940 Ford panel, I have seen tons of them on the HAMB so you know what I am asking.

 

My processor ran outside to try to stop me before I caved in the pipes on the curb. She is a certifiable Ford nut and loves the truck. Her hubby is a diesel mechanic and she thinks he knows a guy that will charge my AC at my house. I like that idea rather than leaving it at a shop all day.

A lot of folks are not "car people", all they know is it is shiny and low. I'll take that. It gets a ton of attention everywhere I drive it. More so than my Olds, Dune Buggy or Roadster (I'm embarrassed to say).