Projects 1957 Chevy Pickup Pt. 2 "El Trucko"

Cracked the oil pan on it. Just another thing to add to the list!

 

looking good, but that sucks ^^. What were you doing to crack it? They aren't expensive, so no big deal. How's the body work coming along?

 

I hit a bump really hard haha. I found a new door and tailgate, but havnt really done any body work.

 

So Im thinkin Im gonna rebuild the engine. Its pretty tired. Sure it'll look cool all lowered and stuff before summer, but whats the point if it wont run worth shit?

 

Focus on one thing at a time. Finish your list, get it so it will run alright. Don't mix and match like you are thinking.. take it from experience. You at least will be able to drive it a little bit and enjoy it. I guarantee that you are opening a hornets nest and it won't stop at just the engine.

Engine rebuilds are a fall/winter project.

 

Its not running alright though, last time I took it out it felt like I had no power, and it spits black oily shit outta of the pipes like it has bad rings.

 

Anyone have any info on were to get a new steering box? Ive only seen a few online and they are kinda pricey....

 

I destroyed my old oil pan, So heres the new shiny oil pan finally in. I like putting shiny crap on turds....

 

Finally got my oil pan issues resolved for the most part. One stupid problem after the other. Time to get this thing back on track!

 

cool build man. i just tore the bed ( or what was left of it ) off my 59 apache. if you ever need sheetmetal or original parts just shoot me a pm. got a few guys i can hook you up with that are sure to help. keep up the good work

 

Thanks for the kind words! Im getting ready to rip out all the old wiring and re-wire the whole thing, and Im also gonna rebuild my steering box in a couple weeks!

 

Update!

My fuel regulator quit regulating, so Im blowing out my float valves out again and flooding. Should get that straightened out this weekend.

The steering box is gonna come out and finally get rebuilt so I wont almost die every time I drive it.

I will be getting a new wiring harness in a couple weeks too, so Ill have headlights again!

 

Can't believe you're giving up on the trailer wire that it came with

 

Haha...out with the old, in with the new.

 

Taylor, where did you get the gearbox rebuild kit? Have you already taken the gearbox apart? Just wondering if you know for sure that your wormgear and sector are still good, and if you've checked your bearrings or not?

I have 4 gearbox columns and am into my second one because the first had major galling / flat spots (I know there's another term for it) on the wormgear.

Also, has anyone following this thread built a skid plate for the underside of their lowered truck or other rod? I'm considering fabricating one and I'm looking for ideas.

 

I just found a dude at the swapmeet who will exchange mine for a rebuilt one for $150.


Also when I bag my truck Im probably going to build a drag bar underneath the truck, so I hit that before I hit my bumper/exhaust.

 

So my brake lights were staying on, even if I wasnt on the brakes and the truck was off. I went and messed with the switch and the lever fell off. Oops!

 

Same thing happened to me. Truck almost burnt down, lol.

 

Haha gnarly! Glad it didnt burn down...

 

Those brake light switches are constantly going bad. I've replaced mine 4 or 5 times over the last 25 years.

 

Picked up a Rebel 9+3 wiring harness a couple weeks ago, but engine issues have been keeping my from ripping out my old wiring and putting he new harness in. I think Im having ignition issues. Backfiring, missing, etc. Gotta figure that out before I do anything else! Stay tuned....


Inspiriation...

 

I managed to rebuild mine - but they do reproduce the switch that mounts on the lower firewall and levers off the pedal.

 

Ya I just got one of those...$8 easy fix. I need to get this ignition issue figured out already so I can drive it again!

 

Finally got some time to work on it! Me and my buddy got it running right again...hopefully. So now its time to get this bitch back on track! New wiring harness is ready to go in, than Im gonna rebuild the steering box after that. Once thats all taken care of Im gonna weld in new cab corners and weld up all the cracks and holes in it....

 

nice truck

 

Thanks!

 

Just kidding! It broke again...

It keeps backfiring while Im getting on the throttle, and then it wants to stall out and die. I rebuilt the carb a few months ago, and Ive tuned it a few times since then and havnt had problems til just recently. The only thing that changed was that I swapped out the 4.5-9psi fuel regulator for a 1-4 psi regulator, but I am running the same at 3.5 PSI. No vaccum leaks, no leaks from the carb gasket or intake. The timing was a little advanced, so I put it back a little. Any idears?

 

check your points. i once had a car, that a week after a complete tune up, was running rough and back firing. i thought it had to be the carb, rebuilt it, and still the same problem. it was burnt points after only one week. had a bad coil and condenser that was eating the points up quickly.
just a thought.

 

I'll look into that, thank you!

 

There is a glaring problem right under your nose...... Who said it was a good idea to put a 1-4 psi regulator in? I am assuming from the pictures that a 350 is installed??? 350 chevys should be runnning 4-6 psi for fuel pressure. Also your timing was probably advanced for a reason.... do you have a timing light or did you just see that it was advanced and put it back to normal? It is best to invest in a timing light. I like the pinstripe work you have done so far. These trucks take a long time to get right, hell I am still working on mine 3 years later.