Get ready, King Of Trucks is coming...

Joe, I'll keep my eyes peeled for an extra one for you too. Thanks!

 

I went to see my guy at Dixie Truckworks today. He had one good headlight switch so I got it. Wish he had another, sorry Joe. It looks kind of rough but it works. I could send you my old factory switch but you wouldn't have ANY dash lights at all.

I also picked up a couple of cool old headlights to replace the burnt out one while I was there. One is a GE with like a bowtie on the lens and the other is just a Guide T3, but both definately cooler than just some new run of the mill Sylvania. $12 for the switch and both lights.

I'm on the lookout now for a good used factory standard heater switch or a good used factory Deluxe heater switch so I can run the heater 333HalfEvil is gonna send me. I'd rather have a Deluxe switch, but they can be pricey even used. We'll see what I can dig up (or you guys).

 

I have a nice deluxe switch, and was thinking of ditching it for the standard one... let me know what you find!

 

I've got a real nice one, light switch that is, I'm using it for my build on my 64.

 

terd,
you know if the Dixie Truckworks has any 57-60 ford stuff? i need several things among which a chrome grille would be nice. but a less beat right fender is higher on the list i guess hahaha...ken....

 

Dixie didn't have any used heater switches, Standard or Deluxe. He's got the defrost vents I'm going to need. All I'll need is a switch. I definately don't want to use that aftermarket universal switch like the catalogs sell. And I don't want to use any more repop factory switches (or really any other repop parts for anything remotely important). The quality is just not there.

I kinda want the Deluxe panel, I think it looks cooler. That empty panel looks out of place without something there. Plus it's shiny and I like shiny stuff. I think the Deluxe panel will control the standard heater, it's just turning it on and off. Let me know if you decide to get rid of yours. If you can't find any other small stuff you need (used factory stuff) let me know and I can check with him.

There you go Joe!

Nope. Just '47-'87 Chevy truck stuff. He has some used stuff for '50-'66. And all the catalog repop stuff for '47-'87.

 

One question... Isn't the heater different on the Deluxe setup?

- Joe

 

Yes it is different. The standard heater has two outlets. One is tubular and goes to defrost vents. The other blows out of the heater box into the cab. You control the outlet with a manual lever on the box. The Standard heater box uses a rheostat type switch that works like the dimmer function on your dash lights. As you twist the knob, the fan goes faster.

But I'm pretty sure I can use the Deluxe panel to control the Standard heater. I would only be using the fan control part of the Deluxe panel. All I need it to do is turn the fan on and off. All the other knobs and cables would not be used. In fact, I wouldn't even need to have the cables, just wire up the fan control to the Standard heater.

 

It's been slow here at "The Kickass FactoryTM", been waiting on parts. But yesterday, the split exhaust manifold got here and today the heater arrived. The next week is going to be a flurry of activity getting the heater installed and wired along with installing the dual carb setup and split exhaust. I've been gathering all the little things I need while I've been waiting like fuel lines, gaskets, hardware, etc.. The only thing I'm missing to get all that done is a heater switch for the dash. I was hoping to find a factory Deluxe switch, but don't have one yet.


As for the exhaust, I'm going to run a couple of short lengths of straight pipe while I decide how I'm going to do the exhaust. I'm still kicking around two or three ideas for the design as far as routing/aesthetics go (out the back?, out the sides?, or another cool idea still secret for now).

I want to send my thanks to 333HalfEvil for the heater and MistGreen50 for the split manifold. I can't wait to be warm and sound good too!

 

Here's what's keeping the sport coupe project on hold.

 

Is that one of those repop doors? How do you like it? Would you buy them again, are they worth the $500 each?

 

It's my 75 yr old playmate's truck. He got the repop doors and front fenders from a California vendor, I'll have to get the name. Fit is excellent, we were able to get a constant gap all around.
RB

 

Yeah - I wanna know too!

- Joe

 

That's awesome Terd!! Can't wait to see this thing roll up to the shop soon.

Have you seen Rough Stock's Merc truck equipped with the PORTER mufflers?? That thing sounds fucking great!! Might want to get a couple of those and have Boobie's buddie Josh run the rest of the exhaust. That thing is going to be killer!!!!!

As far as running the exhaust design wise, I would just run it where ever your padre ran his. After all, his truck was the real "King Of Trucks"!!!! I wouldn't mind seeing it ran up the back of the cab and along the bedsides.

Keep going!!!!

Also First Saturday of every month we are having breakfast at Concord Family restaurant. Trying to think of something catchy to call it though. Be there with that truck next time!!!

 

Running the exhaust along the bedsides was my "secret" idea. It's either that, or out the back, or out the sides in front of the rear tires. As for mufflers, I think I'm pretty sure I'm gonna go without them. I like it on the loud side. Dad's exhaust was just factory, nothing really exciting there.

Cool idea with the breakfast meet! Concord needs some more car activities. Call it "Donuts and Doughnuts" or "Green Eggs & Hamb" or "Breakfast With Elvis" for that sweet Elvis painting with the single tear.

 

The doors and front fenders came from"Truck Shop" in Callifornia.
RB

 

Thanks for checking! That doesn't really surprise me, The Truck and Car Shop seems to sell the better quality repop pieces from what I've seen. The gaps look really great on that door.

The Truck and Car Shop has them now for $479 each. The inner and outer lower door patch panels are over $100 each side. So say, $379 per side for doors that look that good or a whole bunch of time fixing the ones that are on there. Maybe sell the old doors for $100 each and it's $279 per side. That's starting to not sound so bad!

 

Mmmmm - Concord Family Restaurant - real home fries just like a real Greek joint "up north". Unfortunately, the ham and cheese omlet is off my menu since my 5 stents! What time Sat. am? In the back room, I presume. vic

 

More pics less words... its an A.D.D. thing.

 

Try Christo's if you want a good Greek restaurant in Concord. Their wings are killer! All their salad dressings are made from scratch.

Ok, but it's still not very exciting.



Here's the new heater...





And here's the heater switch...





I'm trying to figure out now about the heater's blower motor. Apparantly, it's got a replacement motor with four wires instead of just one in the factory blower motor. My theory is that each of the four wires is for a different fan speed (the factory switch has a rheostat like your dash lights dimmer function that controls the fan speed). I'm going to hook each wire to power and see what happens. If it works like I think it should, I'll hook the switch up to the highest speed wire and go.

 

So, when we left off last, I was trying to get some heat. I hooked both heater cores (the old aftermarket one that came in the truck and the "new" factory one I just got) up to the engine and they both leaked. I sure am glad I hooked the hoses up to test them before I went to all the trouble of installing them all the way. So I still have no heat. But, the good news is another hamber buddy is sending me a good factory heater core! All is not yet lost! If that one leaks, I can get one of the three repaired for about $65. I did get the heater switch wiring figured out and as soon as I have a good core I'll be able to get it going right away.

I'm pretty much ready to install the two carb intake and split exhaust set up. I just need to get some hardware (nuts and bolts). Last night, a hamber buddy, JeremyJames, helped me weld up some simple dump tubes so I can be riding right away after the swap and until I build an entire exhaust system.

I got a couple of short lengths of 2" exhaust tubing and a couple of flanges and got to work. I consider myself an expert welder, with over one hour of welding experience. But I let Jeremy help me anyway. All joking aside, he's a really really good welder. I've learned a lot from him and I appreciate the help.

Here's the first dump tube. I let him do this one, he said it was a sort of difficult weld due to reasons I didn't understand, lol. Something about thickness differences, gaps, and some other jibber jabber.





And here's my hack job...





I got the intake, carbs, exhaust manifold, and dump tubes all mocked up to see what hardware I still need.








Now as I said, once I get this installed and tuned and running right, I'll start on the real exhaust. I plan on using 1 3/4" piping with no mufflers or glasspacks. I like 'em loud. And don't start in on me with the "you'll get tired of the noise" bit. I had straight open pipes on my '63 and I love it. I just make sure to have a radio that's louder than the exhaust for when I want to hear something else.

I still haven't decided if I want it to go out the back, exit in front of the rear wheels, or run along the top of the bedsides. I'm leaning towards the last idea, but I don't know. It would have to be stainless to look right and that could drive the cost up considerably. I'm not saying it's cost prohibitive, but it may take a little longer to get it built while I save up, lol.

So after a trip to the hardware store tomorrow, I'm going to get started with the intake/exhaust swap. If it's like everything else I do, it'll take at least two weeks. But I'll post a video of how it sounds when I'm done! Thanks to everyone that has helped me so far along the way. I appreciate all you guys!

 

Man, that is pretty.

Can't wait to hear it!

- Joe

 

Give that intake to Del and have him polish that fucker!!! Can't wait to see it....ahem hear it next Wednesday! If you want I can teach you how to polish it also but be prepared to dump a whole week into just the polishing. Then keeping it shiny is a whole other job but damn they look nice!

 

Oh and let's clear the air....Jeremy James did not weld that whole thing up. Some of that was you my good man!

It's going to sound awesome!

 

I would love to polish it but I think I might be too lazy for the upkeep. But seriously, I should probably polish it. Delton's looks so good all shiny! And judging by how it usually goes with my stuff, what should take 4 hours ends up taking 11 days. So maybe Wednesday after next? But probably the one after that, lol.

I am so looking forward to hearing this thing make noise! I've done a bunch of work so far, but it doesn't really feel like it. I'll really feel like I've finally accomplished something when it's sounding right and sitting right.

 

Thanks Joe, me neither!

 

The Standard control sucks ass and damn near burned my '55 down with my dad in it. The truck came new without a heater at all, Dad shitcanned the whole Standard setup for a complete Deluxe heater - he's got a restorer friend who goes a little nuts buyin' stuff for his own projects and didn't need 2 heaters for his Cameo. Problem is, the heater core broke somehow upon installation and the truck's been without heat since 1988. Here she is about a year and a half ago, sittin' next to my girl's late '62 Pontiac. Workin' on a Caddy mill for her, too. '57 365.

 

looking good!! i have the same split manifold and need to fab my pipes as well... did you use a donut on the stock outlet and a regular type gasket on the added outlet? did you reduce the 2" pipe at the additional outlet, as it is somewhat smaller than the stock outlet?... also, i've always liked the sound of the split six pipes out the back, but i don't think i've ever heard them to the sides... curious to find out what you decide...

 

You are definately right about the heater switch getting hot. I hooked it up momentarily when I was testing the motors and it got VERY hot! And it was only running for a minute or so. I think I have that taken care of though. More on that soon...

Get that Cameo going! I love the caddy engine in the truck idea. It was something I thought about, but I've already got a good runner. Maybe when it's time for another engine? My idea was a caddy engine, some '57 caddy caps, and the '60 caddy steering wheel. Kind of like an old hot rodded version of today's caddy trucks. I still hate the caddy wheel I got a while back would'nt go on without serious mods. But besides that, it had a deep dish that put the wheel way up in the air, requiring even more work. I could've made it work, but didn't want to go through that much trouble of changing and shortening the column to do it.

I did use a donut on the stock outlet and a regular gasket on the added outlet. I did not reduce the 2" pipe on the added outlet. The real exhaust will be 1 3/4", so I think that wil be a much better fit on the smaller added outlet.

Running the pipes along the bedsides should sound similar to running them out the back. I'm not sure how they'll sound out the sides. I was thinking of running both outlets out the driver side following the contours of the step (out and then back) with a turnout. Sort of similar to Kopper Kart, but different (kind of like the two short pipes, not the longer lake pipe). The sound is more important than looks to me though. That's why I'm leaning towards running them along the top of the bedsides. It'll have a radical look and still keep the good sound.

 

cool, thanks... i like the look of the high pipes along the bed, but i would never do it- i'd be burnin' the shit out of myself... both pipes out the same side before the wheel would definitely be the loudest (cheapest and easiest too) and you could always extend them later... i hadn't considered that before, but i think i might try it, though i will likely be running smithy's mufflers