1952 Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe Build

Yeah your almost there now.... My doors all had crumbling window rails and guides... Unusable. The back half of the car was basically junk because it was left on a hill in a rainy and wet Prescott Washington. There were mice and other dead things in it when I had it towed home. The entire interior was a moldy and rusty mess. What I find most interesting is how you are able to put that newer motor in. I have a guy who is selling a good running Lexus v8 for 500 bucks but I'm not sure i can deal with the FI and wiring and computer deal. I'm chopping and modifying mine so as to get rid of the entire back half. Lol.

 

Kind of like the old hammer story. Great build, you've got there.

 

Any Updates?

 

Hey guys, sorry no updates lately. It's in the middle of triathlon season, so my priorities change a bit. Plus, the wife and I are looking to move from Memphis to Colorado Springs, so the budget is a bit tighter. I still need to head to the junkyard and get a rearend, then I guess some wheels/tires.

If anyone has any 15x7, 5 on 4.75" steel rims for sale near the Memphis, TN area, please let me know.

 

OK, so it's been far too long since I've worked on this pig. In the last 6 months we've moved to Colorado Springs, CO and have somewhat settled into a routine. It's too cold/snowy outside to do any meaningful training, so time to get to work!

First order of business...I need to find a blazer rear axle. I'm sure there are a few junkyards around the area, but I've since sold my trailer. Is there anyone in the area that has a small trailer I could borrow for a few hours, or someone with a pickup who wouldn't mind helping? I am not above bribery (beer).

Secondly, don't have the workspace that I used to have, since I've now got to share a 2 car garage with the wife. So it looks like painting will take a backseat to getting it running.

Thanks everyone for bearing with us during the move, etc. I hope to have some regular updates again soon.

Thanks,
Sean

 

ok then - lookin' forward to your updates

 

Kool...thanks for the update..

 

Hey, was coming to check on this build. I'm excited to get working on my 52 and your thread is one of the best build threads I've found. Would love to see any pictures of progress or situation update!

 

Thanks Whitey...I haven't done much, been trying to accumulate parts lately. I got a battery, that's about it!

No, truthfully, I have been restoring a few motorcycles lately, trying to get some money together to buy a few needed parts. Since moving from Memphis to Colorado Springs, that took the vast majority of my play money away. The last seven months have been tough, as I want to get out there and work, but other things always seem to get in the way.

I have made a goal to get the car running (at least) by the end of the year. It's pretty close, so at this point just needs wiring, a fuel tank, radiator, and some misc little stuff.

 

So I've been puttering a little bit, and decided it was time to hear it run. So I wired up the computer, put a little fuel in the fuel rail, and decided to see what happened!

 

I've done a few little things lately. Nothing big, but every little step helps, right??

Took some 3/4 angle and tacked together a battery hold down.

And I started making sure all the gauges worked before hooking them up, and sure enough, the mechanical temp gauge didn't work. So I took a cheap mech temp gauge and gutted it, replacing the existing stuff.

Of course, in the process of mounting the sender for the gauges, the brass adapter broke off in the head, which meant drilling and retapping the alum head. But it finally seated and all appears to be working ok.


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One of the last big things I've been needing is a rear axle. It still had the original closed rear end, and I had pretty much resigned to pulling a Blazer rear out of the junkyard. But since I don't have a trailer anymore, it was gonna be a big deal.

Lo and behold, the morning I was thinking about heading to the yard, I look on Craigslist and there was a complete rear axle from a '60 Biscayne for sale, drum to drum, disassembled for only $50! So I headed down to Pueblo to pick her up!



The 1st thing I did was remove the old wheel studs and redrill the axle shafts for 1/2" studs (since the Jag front uses them and I didn't want two different size lugs).

Removing the original axle was a bear...60 year old nuts aren't too keen on coming loose. But after a couple of hours with heat and air tools, the rear was free!


New was grinding off the old brackets and getting the housing ready for the new perches.

Got everything in place, welded the perches and put on some underhood black paint.

Still need some leaf spring plates before solid mounting, but it's getting there!


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I'm waiting on some parts to come in, so figured it was time to clean up the rear brake hardware. Got all the bolts and misc hardware cleaned, then re-zinc plated them all.

And here's a pic of my small plating bath. Works great for small pieces and bolts.




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Oh man, that brake hardware looks super nice. When I did the brakes on mine we just kinda brushed them clean and put them back. The rear end is looking good too.

 

Wow great build, you do great work, and if you ask me a lot faster than I and most
When i rebuilt my rear axle (55chevy) i cleaned and painted all the hardware also. everyone that saw it thought i was crazy but i figured i had it out so why not?
keep up the work and the updates, definitely want to follow this thread
subscribed ... or whatever you call it now

 

Thanks guys! Yeah, I have a mental block about putting dirty parts on a car. The whole zinc plating thing may be overkill, but I had the stuff already (from restoring vintage Honda motorcycles), so I figured why not. It's super easy, and only takes about 20 minutes per piece.

I did get in the leaf spring mounting plates, and now she's sitting back on the ground again. Next up is ordering the rear shocks, brake shoes, and brake hardware. Then...not sure. I need to get a fuel system going, but REALLY need to find some junk wheels/tires. It's currently sitting on space saver (toy) tires just so it can roll!

 

Started working on the brake and fuel lines. Wanted to run hard lines for the majority of the fuel system, with only minimal flex hose. Started by mounting the fuel filter.

Next came roughly laying out the 3/8" aluminum tubing, then drilling and tapping the frame for the line clamps.

Got the fuel lines run, and was mulling over where to run the brake lines. Ultimately, I decided to run them along with the fuel lines.



Still need a fuel tank & pump before I can finish plumbing the back.

Any progress is good, but I'm ready to see this thing go down the road.




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looking good man keep it up

 

Latest update:
The car is plumbed for fuel from the engine to the back of the car, still awaiting the tank/fuel pump. It has brakes now, everything is bled and working properly, although the pedal feels a little softer than I would like. Transmission lines are run up to where they will connect with the radiator (when I get one), the driveshaft is in place, and I got a couple tires off Craigslist so that now she sits on her feet again.

So the car was last tagged (and driven I assume) in October of 1966. My tentative goal is to have it move under its own power in October of this year. It's a lot of work over the next few months, but hopefully the funds will be there to accommodate.

Parts needed for driving:
Steering column
Steering shaft
Radiator
Fuel tank
Fuel pump

All said and done, I would have never thought it would be this close. Guess this thing may be driving before the snow hits!

Sean

 

A little more progress. Been putting sound deadener on the floors. Heard good things about Peel and Seal, so I cleaned out Lowes.






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looking good!!!

 

Thanks Stangman.

I got the radiator in place today (I know it's not HAMB friendly), and am one step closer to driving.

And don't worry, I'm not going to run the air intake there!





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Looking good, I'd love to see this car move someday.

 

An amazing resurrection. Especially cool that it has family history. I can't wait to see the end results.

 

Thanks guys! I was really hoping to have it driveable sometime in October, since the last time it was tagged was Oct 1966, but funds may not allow that! So, the new goal is by the end of the year.


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Looking good. Keep the motivation up and keep pushing.

 

Made some templates for the radiator hoses from coat hanger wire, then went to the parts store. Was able to find a couple hoses that worked out.






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Man oh man.

I am new to H.A.M.B., just went through this thread.
Imagine if cars could talk. This 4 door sat outside since 1966, now, after 48 years of waiting and hoping ..... she's been pulled back from the grave and is being brought back to life.
Your attention to detail is amazing, you skills are even more amazing.
I want to see the pics when she's ready to roll on her NEW MAIDEN VOYAGE, with your Mom in the car, as co-pilot. That will be a great moment in time!
Great work!

 

Thanks to Greg (aka Daddy_O), I was able to get a new set of wheels for the car! The others were rusted in half. Good to meet you today at the swap meet in Loveland.




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I'd have offered you up a couple of my extra wheels, but they're quite a ways away from both you and I.