Gutters...hmmm...could work. Maybe 3" SS tube split down the middle on each side! The tough thing with the chop is the 1 piece windshield on these but it can be done. Corner windows need worked around. I'm going to cut mine when the time comes!
holy ****, i just spent two hours reading this, but worth the time. looks like you got some good stuff going here, and way to get the hot rod blood pumping early in the kids. makes me anxious to have some kiddos of my own! thanks for taking the time to keep up this post, always makes me motivated when someone else is making progress on their 54 pickup, since right now i am not. too many other priorities right now. oh well at least i got a car to cruize now, so i have plenty of time to get the the truck done. tell the kids i said keep up the good work. it's all worth it when you the the road the first time and cant wipe the grin off of your face afterwards!
Thanks for the support Duece. If what you cruise is your avatar, you're doing fine! I'd have to say the best thing about having kids when I was young and broke is that I'm not that much older now and they are really putting forth the effort. I really don't mind buying parts and telling them they can pay me back later because in the end, I know it will be worth it. I really couldn't care less if they paid me back, it isn't what it is all about. It is the time I get to spend with my boys and the learning I've done on the hot rod front.
thats a great at***ude! don't we all wish we could've grown up with folks like you! and yes, the avatar is my summer driver
To be honest, I wouldn't be this far without you guys. I'm over my head but I'm not going to try to fake it. Did get the clutch pedal set up today and no more binding. Found I missed one of the water pump bolts today as we put in the anti-freeze. Need to remove the alternator to fix it. That is my weakest point, not finishing something before I move on. Now it is setting us back. Supposed to be brutal the next few nights. Into the -teens. I'll hold off a few more days to do that. Did find some more parts on Craigslist and the HAMB that we'll be making an attempt at soon.
Got the fuel system working last night. Pump engages and pressurizes the lines. Tightended everything down but found a leak at the carb. I think we missed the gasket at the filter. Should have that wrapped up this weekend. Plan is to fire it as soon as possible to keep on testing things out and get an exhaust on it.
i might have that copper ring gasket for that Rochester..want me to do a search and rescue on it for ya?
Stop by on your way through to Autorama, Bob. It is in the driveway! Randy, sounds good. I'm hitting NAPA just in case as well.
ok sounds like a good plan!..but i will look and see if i have the fitting as well.. when is the FIRE IT UP! date?
His birthday party is Sunday so I'd like to hit it then. Autorama tomorrow so maybe we do it before we go just so he can tell everyone at Autorama!! Need to make a shifter extension, though, before he drives it!!
The YouTube is in the plan. We hope to get the fuel lines sorted in the morning. Stupid NAPA didn't have any friggen copper crush gaskets! Had to ORDER them. How many friggen Qjets are in this tiny town, anyway? Picked up some more stuff and a HUGE thanks to Last G-Man, GeeMann51 and Marcy for doing a relay to get Court a windshield from Dallas to Detroit! A big happy HAMB Halleluja! The boys shopped at Marcy's Autorama booth for a minute and are both now Norwell Equipped!
Update for today: I should just start a blog on this dang thing!! We got the water pump leak taken care of. Then chased it to the thermostat housing. Then done with that. Put the wire loom holders on to keep the plug wire routing pretty. Ended up with too many gaskets on the carb to keep it from leaking (like 3) and I have my concerns. I'm going to order a new bung to see if that makes a difference. And get another new carb filter on hand. Now we have no spark and I knocked something over and drowned my volt meter so I'll be getting a new one of those today. Didn't test it before so not sure that we ever had spark. It was a running Diz when we got it from Vance but that was like 3 years ago! Court changed the tires over to the Cusion Aire set that we have and he put on the 54 Olds caps that I'd picked up some time ago. Looks pretty good and these are what we'll run to start with. 2 of the tires are new and 2 are like new. Picked up the stuff to start figuring out his E brake set up. Cleaned the inside out to get to everything. Still need to mount and hang some wires, the relays, and the flashers. Chased around the ends for the speedo and back up lights, now just need to determine which is which so we can put them into the plug and plug them in. Getting there...piece by piece.
dan, cool update... when you get your camera working again please show some pics of the work... no spark... Sound Familier have you check out your Distributor condenser ? Greetings Rob, hey here is a idea... i ship a old VW Rabbit to you and you ship the 54' to me..... good plan... LOL..
Man, if i read things like this i realy missing my dad helping me out.... your boys rule.... keep them motivated dan,
hope you got it under that tent you had your bailer under..this friggen rain is rediculous. chasing electrical problems in a monsoon is a *****.
Yeah, that tent is about to get busted out tomorrow. Too much going on today to screw with it. Got about 10" in the pasture so I'll be moving goats indoors in a hurry! I'll be making a run to NAPA when they open, Dave has all the good stuff to test the HEI and he's got some stuff coming in for me.
Did I mention that I got to meet Stephen Fields at Autorama Friday? Going to pick up a 235 for the next boy's project from him on Saturday. Hell of a nice guy and his 32 Plymouth barn find roadster kicks ***.
Couldn't find a picture of my first AD truck so went back to Stovebolt.com gallery. Check this one out!! http://www.stovebolt.com/gallery/bowles_danny_1953_01.htm The little red head on the bumper turns 16 on Thursday and this whole thread is about HIS truck!!
Had Court's 16th birthday party today. On top of our family, we had Enjenjo and Mrs. Enjenjo, Hippie6, and the Von Rigg Fink family. It was great to have you all. Afterwards, Court had an FFA (Future Farmers of America) meeting so I went home and got to work on the back up and speedo plugs. Back up switch is wired up and speedo plug is cleaned out. Plan to have that in tomorrow between the rain drops. Crossing off the list, one line at a time!
thanks for the updates. i know what it's when the progress seems slow, but hey, these days most of us have more time than money, so you might as well take the time to do it right. you wouldn't want to end up with a ratrod anyways. tell the kids to keep up the good work! hopefully some more pics soon?
Speedo and back up lights are wired. Going to look into the floor cover and shifter. Need to look up a blacksmith buddy of mine to see if he would contour some black pipe for it. Then make an adapter to slide onto the NV3500 shifter. More time than money is right. I'm laid off this week! Anybody got any lenses for the fender mount turn signals? I think ours are marked L370 whatever that means, red and amber. One of each are broken. More pictures this week. Finally found the camera from doing stuff at Enjenjo's!
The Jalopy Journal
