Projects I'm all in...My '38 Chevy PU Build Thread

horses for courses eric.its choc a block here morning and evening the infrastructure is unable to cope.need something that will trickle along when needed to.

 

Didn’t think about that, you’re driving in a totally different environment than us over there

 

Ripped it all back apart again. Time to clean up the chassis and put it together for the final time.

 

Got something done this weekend:
Put the correct u-bolts in the front end:

The shocks were slightly out of plumb and it drove me nuts, so this was my solution to get it right:

Steering box had a ton of play in it, so I adjusted that:

Then ripped the brakes back apart and cleaned them up and started cleaning and painting the chassis:

 

Looking good Eric - just don't spoil it and look in a mirror - hah -

 

Haha….no worries, I broke all those long ago!

 

Wheelies! No, just spraying some paint. Decided to paint the chassis in sections. Started with the front suspension. The engine crane has been indispensable. It may spend a lot of time in the corner, but when you need it, you’re glad it’s there.

 

More progress. Plan on getting the chassis finalized this week and then back to work on the cab.

 

This is the box my calipers came in, I got a kick out of it:

 

hi eric tell me about your front disc kit .what diameter is the rotor and what thickness is the rotor.in metric or imperial chris

 

Hey Chris,
It’s a kit I bought from ECI probably like 30 years ago (not an exaggeration). It’s for a 41-46 GM axle which is what I had at the time and since I had that front end all redone and had the brakes and everything, I just stuck it under this truck. Essentially they are just mid 70s GM disc brakes (I always just use ‘75 Camaro parts for it). There is a bearing adapter that goes on the spindle so the inner bearing will fit, and the outer bearing I believe is from a Mustang II or Pinto of the 70s flavor. Should be an 11” rotor I think. The thickness I don’t know off hand, but can measure them tomorrow.

 

Oh, and I swapped out the wheel studs for 3” ones for racing.

 

the long studs was going to be another question

 

I have the same type of kit on my '37 truck, I purchased mine in 1999 from Master Power brakes. It uses '70 - '79 Camaro/Firebird front rotors and stock single piston calipers, I believe stock small bearing ( outer ) and Ford inner bearing on a special made adaptor spacer. I will dig around and see if I can find the bearing numbers, I wrote them down incase I needed one. I maybe backwards on the bearings, Eric maybe correct, I do know one is a Ford. My truck has a rear axle from same years out of a Firebird, I have a manual brake master cylinder from a Mustang that had manual drums all around. I tried a Camaro master cylinder, but didn't like how it stopped. The Mustang unit works better with leverage I have, pedal setup is a universal from Pete & Jakes from 25 years ago.

 

This is the instructions for the same kit I used my '37. https://mpbrakes.com/images/MPB-F200-145.pdf

 

Joe, you may be right with the bearings. It may have been a ford inner/Chevy outer. I also have the bearing numbers written down, I’ll have to look them uo

 

Chassis is ready to go down the road, save for two things. It needs to be plumbed and I screwed up and put the rear shocks at different settings so it’s sitting crooked. Started cleaning the cab again yesterday to get it ready for primer and lizard skin. Then I can sit the cab back on the frame for hopefully the last time.

 

looking good

 

Thanks Chris. I’m pushing hard to have this running by the fall and on the road by next spring. Sick of staring at it and wishing.

 

Well…its been a bit, work has been really busy. However, I have managed to stay on this thing at night and some weekend days. I’ve just been really bad at posting (surprise, surprise). I’ll post some of the progress here now. Filled the unnecessary holes in the firewall.

 

Plumbed the chassis for brakes and fuel. Need the cab on and engine in to finish that up.

 

Cleaned and aged the valve covers, breathers, and intake. May not be everybody’s cup of tea, but I wanted that no nonsense look to the aluminum. Clean, but not polished. Also rebuilt the carbs, so the top end is ready to go.

 

Spent a lot of time doing some prechecks on the engine as well before sending it back for decking and balancing. Waiting on that to come back to me. Also have a new set of cylinder heads that I set up for the solid roller cam, so I’ve been keeping busy. Just started the distributor last night, should have that ready to go soon.

 

i like it i think you can finish it

 

Looking great there Eric - nice job on the chassis - coming together nicely - heading down that finish line and grabbing that checkered flag

 

Just keep plugging away, chugging to that line. Talked to the machinist today, going to be another three weeks before I get my block and parts back. Not ideal, but plenty of other crap to do until then.

 

Nice work, those pictures reminded me of my old setup

 

Hahaha…yeah, they look a bit alike! I knew you had good taste.

 

Got the flamethrower painted this week, but had very little time in the garage this week. Oh well.

 

Finished up the flamethrower. Threw some new points in and cleaned it up. Left the weights and springs as in for now, we’ll see how it runs when we get there. Still waiting on the composite gear to show up.