A Noob's build thread: 50 Styleline

In light of the 4-5 days of icy weather headed our way over the next week, and temps not getting much above freezing, today was my last chance to meet my goal for the year and get the engine *at least* sitting in the car. I have no garage, so I gotta work when I get the chance! The engine hoist that I have is used and doesn't work very well, and whoever had it before me apparently left the shaft extended and let it sit in the weather, because it won't keep a seal or hold much weight for about half of its' length. I put a new jack on order yesterday, but seeing what the forecast was changed to, I decided I had to do something today. I got the engine/trans hooked up to the hoist, and when it would hit a flat spot, I would take the weight off of it with my floor jack from below, allowing it to continue to raise with little pressure exerted on it. Once I got to non-corroded metal on the shaft, it raised fine. However, I knew that this was a one shot deal, because once I began lowering it there would be no room to get the floor jack under the engine once over the frame. I got the thing in with little trouble, by myself, and while I know that others on here do it all the time....I have to say that being my first build, I'm damn proud of myself. I felt like a badass for about 15 minutes after I got it locked/bolted in there. Now I'm back to normal

 

Check out Bass's '49 build thread, he fit a Merc grill in his car using a Merc style opening, and it looks great. Have you tried clearancing the calipers yet for a little extra room? Oh yeah, Venture Bros. rocks!

 

So....I guess Winter really IS coming this weekend. The bad weatherman is saying we're going to get dumped on, so it's time to seal up the car for a few weeks....at least. I've got no garage, and it's just too butt-ass cold out there to do any work. My feet froze in the half hour I was outside, took them an hour until I could feel them at all. Figured I'd post an image to mark my accomplishments up until this point. As I've mentioned before, this is my first build, let alone any major foray into working on a car.

You can't see the 81 TransAm rear back there, my back was too sore and my ass too cold to take a pic!

 

Looking good. Better get her covered up. We are going to get DUMPED ON this weekend!! Break out the shovel!!

 

It's DOUBLE covered, plastic tarp and car cover, held down with bungee cords and spring clamps.

Did I ever say that I hate snow? I think "dump" will be an understatement.....I think this will be a full blown "SHAT UPON"!

 

When you get a chance, could you post some close-ups of that left manifold? A top down and a closer view of that side of the motor would do it. I'm wondering if I need to round up a set of those or I can use what I have, the dump is in the same place, but they run down and across below the plugs rather than up and across like yours. Looks like from that big shot they'll work, if be a little tight on the steering box.

I'm also curious how much room you're going to have between the front of the block and the radiator, but looks like it's going to be a while before you get there. (I'm debating about keeping the serpentine belt setup my motor has on it).

Car looks good so far, at any rate.

 

I know which manifold you're talking about, and I *think* you should be fine using it based on the room that's left around mine. I'll look through my photos and see what I've got....but I'm pretty sure I'll have to wait till I get back from vacation to snap some off. My problem has been finding one for the passenger side, seems that ram's horns are scarce around these parts. I was going to use a matching pair of rear dumps, until I figured out they won't work on mine......even though I see guys using them and I still wonder how they do it. I think it's the Walton Fab mounts, I believe they seat the engine farther back than others do.

Regarding room between the front of the block and the radiator; from the front of the water pump there's about 4-6 inches.....plenty of room. I'm glad I trusted the preset distance of the Walton Fab mounts as opposed to doing the measuring myself. Maybe when it's not my first go-round I'll do it on my own.

 

I can dig it!

 

Yeah, no rush on the photos. I have to think they'll help out a lot of guys sorting out this swap - no one thinks to take pictures with the fenders off and it's a lot harder to judge with them on the car, you can't see nearly as well.


A lot of guys are using mid-90s Impala/Roadmaster/Olds 98 manifolds for the LT1 motors. They come up the same as the ones you have on, with sort of a rounded top, and the left dumps in about the same spot, the right I'm pretty sure goes straight down in about the same area. My You-Pull-It bangs me about $12 each on exhaust manifolds, so they're liable to be a cheap option.

 

FLAME ON!

First time firing up the 283, even with the honing I had to do on cylinder 6, there wasn't any appreciable smoke. Not saying there won't be any...but it's hopeful. I felt like a million bucks....being my first build, and first foray into mechanics of any real type, I'm kinda proud.

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Good for you!!! Always a good feeling. That being said, don't run it again until you get it hooked up to a radiator and get some coolant in it. Don't flush all your hard work down the shitter by not keeping it cooled. Todd

 

Coming along nicely!

 

Ha, yeah....I have to get one of those radiators that incorporates the trans cooler into it, too. Although I don't know of anyone who makes one that will fit the Fitty.

I ran it about 4-5 times, between 30 seconds and 1 minute each time, with ample time for it to cool in between. I needed to adjust the distributor, as it was too advanced. I got it all nice and set, locked in, then disconnected it all and wrapped it up till I get it cooled. Hopefully I didn't jack up anything!

 

Small update. I was originally planning on striping each panel down while I had it off, then shooting it with some rattlecan primer and paint until I get the duckets to either buy the equipment to paint it myself, or have someone else do it. I then realized that this is a fat waste of cash and will only end in me stripping the car twice....so I just cleaned the existing surface with some degreaser and hit it with some satin rattlecan for now. It'll do....and it'll get me on the road quicker and avoid the sense of burnout that's been lingering b/c it's been off the road almost since I got it

I got the Walton Fab brake assembly installed (the photo instructions *do not* account for everything that needs to be done....GREAT kit....instructions need a little work) got the gas pedal from a Volvo 240 installed, but I'll need to adjust it some, rigged up a home made battery pan from a plastic one I picked up from AutoZone and the original battery pan support, got the trans cooler plumbed and installed, radiator fan clipped on there too. Considering installing the original visor that I've still got...thinking it might help it look more "contrary" At the moment my list of to do's is as follows:

-throttle linkage install
-run brake lines
-run basic electrical (got a Rebel kit...but I might look into something basic to get it running before then....hey, those kits are daunting for a first timer!!)

I've got a whole host of other "little" this and thats....but if I were to put them all down, the list would look unecessarily huge Anyway....photos:

 

Hey mate if you put a line between your photoshop links it works a treat

Love following this build.

 

Be careful with the grille. It can look good in cars like ours, and it can look terrible. From this thread so far- it appears that you've got your head screwed on fairly straight. Just be warned that they can look awful if not done correctly.

 

I miss my 49 now....good progress.

 

Only *fairly* straight I wish I had the skills of most people on this board...most of what I do is a shot in the dark.

Yeah, I do have concerns about integrating the grill/grill cavity...which is why I'm using Bass's sedan as the holy grail reference.....and getting a pro to do the fab/welding:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=235486

 

Yo congrats on getting it this far. I just watched your 'first fire' vid. What a great feeling. Looks like it won't be long before you're cruisin.

 

Thanks Hopefully it'll be going before the end of summer, maybe sooner. Still looking at the daunting process of running new brake lines and wiring it

 

Cool project there, I'm doind a 50 Styline Deluxe myself. Great cars and a lot of fun. I've been at a snails pace with mine for the last 4 weeks cause of an epic Vegas trip and other assorted bullshit. I started a build log on here but haven't updated it in a few. Your journal has inspired me to get my ass in gear and get movin. Thanks.

 

Difference is that yours is in EPIC better condition than mine....I've got to replace the from floor boards and the bottom 6" from the rockers back

Time to learn MIG.

Glad I could help with the motivation....I try and do one little thing every day, even if it's just removing a frozen bolt and retapping the hole.

 

When your head's right, the skills are inevitable. Your head will keep putting your ass into places to hone existing skills and acquire new ones. You've got nothing to worry about

 

Right on brochacho, keep us updated and I'm looking forward to following your build!

 

Killer!
Subscribed.

 

I'm so impressed with what you have accomplished on your car, and all in your driveway! I agree with what many have said here, to do what is needed to get it (safely) on the road and drive it. Then you can continue to refine the project. Have you bled the brakes yet, and do the rear calipers have provisions for the e-brake?

Looking forward to more updates!

Shoebox

 

Cool car. Mines a '52 4 door styleline. This almost gave me the will to work on it. My car was almost rust free when i got it about 2 years except for the rockers and floor boards. I havent touched it in a year. Just went and checked it out yesterday and i see alot more rust popping out. I really need to work on it.

 

wow! nice work!

 

Thanks!

I haven't even run the new brake lines yet...that and the electrical are the most daunting To make things easier (less tube bending) up around the master cylinder, I was wondering if it's possible to use some braided hose to go from it to the firewall where I would just have the two lines coming up from under the car? If I *can* do that, I was going to have the two residual pressure valves (one 2lb valve per line) at the end of the hard lines coming from under the car. Since I changed my plans from a disc front/drum rear to disc/disc, I no longer need a proportioning valve, do I?

The rear calipers are indeed e-brake ready. I saved the new e-brake cables that i was going to use on the original Huck brake rear and figure I could modify them somehow to work with the calipers. I haven't gotten as far as how that would go down, what I could cannibalize for a e-brake lever, where it would mount, etc etc. ANY ideas are appreciated!!!

 

Congrats on your build! Looks good! I picked up a 51 Styleline De luxe last June. Finally got her back on the road a couple of months ago. There were times I wanted to push it out of the garage and down the hill but.....
Keep on gooing and the reward is great! As for the brakes. The cost of putting together the -3 lines for the master to the hard lines will probably sway you into more bending! Hard lines right to the master will also take away a couple more "failure" points (leaks etc.) The first time I drove mine more than a mile hit the brakes and NOTHING. That was fun...to say the least. What Prop valve are you using? An adjustable will let you dial in the braking system to the car. Making it stop is one thing making it stop straight is another.