Well every week for the past year or so I have expected to be driving it in 2 weeks. Finally on Saturday I drove my 47 Chev Sedan Delivery onto the street for the first time I was pretty damn nervous before hand but super happy afterwards. I drove it around the block - 4.9 miles to be exact. No video, just some pics from afterwards (I work alone and didnt want to risk a funny youtube video moment). Its been a real struggle to get it this far, partly because I just underestimated the amount of work/time involved and also because even though I didnt know what I did want - I knew what I didnt want ! So I ended up blowing it apart and replacing most of the mechanical parts. I've been learning as I go with a lot of it and some things were done 2 or 3 or 4 times before I was happy with it (or I got it working!). Still got a huge todo list and its in no way finished, but I hope to at least make it to some of the events around the area and meet some of the Hambers. The basics: 355 sbc, 4sp Muncie, 59 ford 9", camaro subframe. Thanks to the various alliance vendors and private Hambers who have sold me parts and to the board members who have answered my sometimes dumb questions and replied to other hambers questions that I have in turn searched and searched on. Heres some pics taken saturday after the drive. cheers ricki
WOw! Man that thing is awsome! My dad loves those old panel vans. I sent him your pics and he just srtarted going off about this one sitting in a field a few miles from his place. I sure hope this is the jump start he needed. Being retired he needs a little more to do. That first drive is always the best. Congrats man!
Congratulations! I know how happy you feel. I just got the motor started in my 50 chevy for the first time this weekend... hope I get to drive soon too.
LUCKY ******* ! you must have insects stuck between your teeth from walking around smiling all day!!!
That looks real good. When are you bringing it back to NZ?You would certainly have 1 of a kind back here.
CONGTATULATIONS Almost nothing sweeter than that 1st drive. Looking good. Are you going to put a color on it, or is it FINISHED? .
Thanks everyone. Yeah I am still b*******, it makes all the times I wanted to hurl hammers and rocks at it from a long distance seem distant memories Its not finished and I will keep plodding along with it, but I dont know how long it will take me. I was concentrating on the basic build/fabricating, reliability and safety items. Cosmetics are next. It needs outer bodywork and paint - probably a green color not far off what it is now. It also needs an interior. I have the interior completely bare at the moment (apart from por15 from top to bottom and a split back bench seat frame from a 49 chev bus.coupe). I also have a full list of mechanical stuff to do (install hand brake, finish exhaust routing etc). Not sure if it will ever go back to NZ? But if it did it wouldn't be alone. A while back I posted progress pics and got an email from a "Mr Skidmore" in NZ who has a 47 sedan delivery also. His is a similar style to mine and also green (lighter shade), except his was nearly finished (properly finished) and it looks to have been built to a very high standard (I was jealous!). cheers ricki
Lookin damn fine!! That baby don't need no hood!! Hop in that cool ride and join us in Beatrice Ne. on Sept. 20th. We had a bad *** chevy panel there last year. They would look Soooooo Cool together!!-Sololobo
The Jalopy Journal
