Quick update. I finally got around to pulling the chassis off the table (hopefully for the last time) and put the truck back together. With the suspension loaded up, it looks just about perfect up front. Now that the ride height is dialed in, I can design the radiator and get it ordered from Brassworks. And while I wait for a radiator it's time to start roughing in the plumbing and electrical
Yesterday I decided that it was time to figure out the radiator for the truck. The grill shell is finally in a position I like and the motor is where it needs to be. I also can't position the headlights, panhard bar, shocks, or finish the ends of the frame until the radiator/grill is in place. I have been talking with Lee at Brassworks about building a radiator for the truck for the past year and through that process we came to the conclusion that a mock up was in order. Knowing that the core would be 3.50", I set to work first by tracing the shape of the grill. Next I cut out some templates in 1/4" plywood and mounted them to a wood frame to get a 3.50" thick model. First few test fits were a no go because the front of the grill shell slants down quite a bit. After making a few adjustment to the height, width, and finally sloping the top tank I had the mock up fit just about right. With the size and shape of the radiator figured out it was time to head down to the auto parts store to look for radiator hoses. After a little searching I found a couple that looked just about right. Once back at the shop I made a couple of cuts and had all the hoses sitting in the proper positions. I really like the jog in the upper hoses as it adds a nice look to the front end. The only other issue for the radiator was how to incorporate the oem cap. Lee once again came up with a great solution. The cap will sit in a bayonet attached to the grill shell and then underneath that will be a fill bung. It a little bit more difficult to add coolant but will keep the nose of the truck neat and tidy. There will be an expansion tank with a pressure cap down on the passenger side frame rail or a pressure relief valve on the radiator and an over flow tank. That part is still undecided. Here are a few picture of the process so far.
I had a little time today to fit the fan and pulley for any clearance issues. Other than trimming the blades a little bit everything looks good.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/distance-between-fan-and-radiator.710394/.a bit close maybe???
Glad I stumbled across this thread! this is a super cool truck and amazing craftsmanship, very inspiring work! been a few years, Any updates?
Wow, I just looked at my last post and realized that it has been 4 years since I gave an update. The 34 made the trip across country a couple years ago in my enclosed trailer and has been resting peacefully since then. I have a dehumidifier in the trailer and managed to keep the rust at bay so far. I have been collecting parts and finally got my radiator from Lee at Brassworks. Hopefully I can get back to work on the truck soon. In the meantime, here's a picture of truck.
Amazing work! not exactly traditional but definitely a hot rod....had to scan back to find the US Mail connection...too bad you removed that 75 yr old paint! I would've at least looked around for another passenger door and hung that one on the wall or used it as a sign at car shows to show the connection
Thanks for posting. Your project is very impressive, exciting and motivating. I can't wait to follow the rest of the adventure. Let's go!
You know decades ago I might have agreed on it being “not exactly traditional” but now after going threw hundreds of books and photo collections of photos from the 40’s, 50’s a s 60’s I’m not exactly sure what’s not traditional. mega common? Maybe not but common enough that I’ve seen several that would fit the description. This particular combination maybe not. but they hot rodded trucks, they had all these particular details, heck some of them were channeled and Z’d to pretty insane levels, lots of them were cobbled together messes that we all pretend weren’t but there also were a ton of very nicely finished cars. now I don’t see any examples of a finished car having no paint but this truck isn’t finished so that doesn’t really hold water. -edit looks like he has a modern transmission so it’s not 100% period correct in the parts department but it’s still a manual transmission not something crazy. And even then if you took a survivor from 1948 and swapped a t5 no one would be saying it’s no longer a traditional hot rod. Kind of semantics either way but I felt like rambling I guess
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