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

Mounted the regulator and fuel pressure isolator (had to make a quick bracket for it). Ran most of the fuel lines up top, but need a fitting for the isolator hose.

 

Now I’m working on modernizing my old Sun tach parts. Using TechnoVersions TachMatch inside the EB9A box. It will allow the Flamethrower, which needs a 4 cylinder tach reading, to send the proper signal to the Sun 10K tach. Just need to solder the connections and button it back up.

 

Working on gauge placement.

 

Looks great!

 

Thats a cool idea

 

Thanks man! Can’t take credit for it though, got the idea right from TechnoVersions website.

 

Today was my birthday, and it was awesome. I took the day off just to work in the garage. Got some stuff done, and the engine guy called and told me everything is ready to go! To top it all off, my daughter also came out and worked with me. She actually welded up the dash panel. Some pics from today (put the cab back on the frame last weekend):

 

For a full range of stupidity, check out my thread “oil galley plug conundrum”. I’m forgetting it ever happened and moving on. Cleaned the block last night…the cylinders came out squeaky clean, but I think the block needs more, so after finally getting the last plug out, I’ll do it again tonight.

And while working on removing that pesky galley plug today…I took a few breaks to part putting some paint on the short block parts. The pics don’t really show the color, but it is Caterpillar yellow. Backstory…I’m a big fan of semi trucks having grown up in them and really wanted to pay some homage to that interest. I originally wanted to paint the engine Detroit Diesel Alpine Green, but couldn’t bring myself to do it. Sometime back in the 90’s, my father started painting all the engines he built yellow. It’s kind of a family tradition, so the engine had to be yellow. So putting those two together, I arrived a Cat yellow. I really like it. Can’t wait to paint the interior the color of B model Mack interior!

 

Block is cleaned and painted. Ready to assemble.

 

Been doing preassembly and have the bottom end in for good. Ran into a few problems. My original cam button was too short for the timing cover I have. Ordered the BBC nylon button, waited for it to arrive, fit it, and got the cam all installed and good to go. Put the finned moon timing cover on and got that all buttoned up. Went to install the dampener and it hits the timing cover WAAAYYY before it’s seated. Turns out the moon cover with the removable cam plate is just way too thick. Sucks. Bought the Cloyes cover with built in cam button which means everything has to come back apart. Cover showed up today, hope to have short block complete by tomorrow night.
Pics are after I removed the cam plate. It still was not able to fully seat, but was very close.

 

Some more assembly pics

 

WISECO PISTONS !whats the compression ratio with these slugs eric

 

Compression ratio is a healthy 10.9:1. Should be fun.

 

Got the timing cover issue fixed. Moon cover was just way too thick in so many ways. Got the short block wrapped up and will have the heads on tonight.

 

What size cheaters on the back?

 

29” x 9” Towel City Cheaters

 

Thanks , looks good.

 

Intake not installed yet, but couldn’t resist dressing it up tonight.

 

bright yellow accent stripe around the midpoint of those velo stacks!

 

I dig that. My striping skills are awful though.

 

have a lathe/ drillpress around?

 

I do. I’ll have to monkey around with it. Need this thing to run first though!

 

exactly running and driving first, cosmetics later.

 

Was about to stab the engine in and found a slight hiccup. In all my measuring for the engine (years ago), I never accounted for the bottom pulley. Duh. Welp, I had to slice up the front crossmember and because, why not, we’ll have to redo the front brake lines too. Now, I just need to weld the boxing gussets in and it will be all set for the engine to go in. Although, I am now thinking I should set up the bellhousing, clutch and trans and then put it in.

 

Valve train

 

Got her welded up and used the grinder to make look like I’m a good welder. Painted it up, now she’s good to go. Waiting on some bits to show up to get the clutch and bell on before the engine goes in for good.

 

More progress last night. Replaced the bellhousing dowels with extra long ones. I know I may need offset ones later, but I can’t get everything together with standard dowels, so I just went ahead and put these in, it’s not that hard.

Then I got the roller skates bolted up and dropped the engine onto the floor so I can work on the backend. Flywheel went on and was torqued down, which is great, until I realized…



So, back off the flywheel came. I then proceeded to put everything on in the correct order and got the bell snugged up. At that point I was wiped out, so I’ll index it next time I’m in the garage.