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

I have a '36 Chevy PU - same cab (altho wood frame) and frame, with swing pedals on the stock firewall. I say that to presage my comment that you need to reinforce the stock firewall against the swing pedal forces. You said that you aren't using a hydraulic clutch linkage so your problem is half as much, but still...

 

Thanks @GuyW, I did do that. I put an 1/8” plate behind the pedals that extends out to strengthen the area. I’m also going to put some 3/8” rod from the pedal box to the dash when I get to the pedal setup. Just waiting on a few parts to show up so I can get the engine ready to kick and move on to the rest.

 

eric looking at the pics of your garage ,wondering how did you manage in the old house best chris

 

Haha…sometimes I miss that garage, just because you really had to think how to get something done. Plus, it was so small, it made it look like I had a lot of cool stuff! Then I snap back to reality and thank the stars I have some space to work.

 

So, I’ve reached the point in the build where all the parts I thought I had, don’t seem to work together. The nickel and dime stage. I’ve had a pretty non stop stream of deliveries over the last couple months of stupid things like bolts, adel clamps, and small petty stuff. I’m actually at a standstill on my cardboard list while some of it comes in. Haven’t really gotten much done this week besides making sure everything is tight and has proper clearance. Grabbed the transmission out from under the bench as well and started cleaning that up. It definitely needs a rear seal, but that is all it’s getting. I just don’t feel like tearing in to something else. If it’s good and moves the truck, excellent, I win. If it grenades, oh well, guess it needed a rebuild. It’s a trans, not that hard to get it and out to work on.

 

Been a long strange trip this month. Haven’t updated much, but I’ve kept busy. Finally got it fired up, but it wasnt as easy as the video makes it look. Figuring out the flamethrower ignition was interesting to say the least. But, here we are. First time this thing has made any noise of its own since the ‘60s.

 

Love it, it'll take a bit to get it sorted but that's part of the fun. How much initial timing did you give it ?

 

It’s at about nine degrees right now, but fires right up and isn’t popping like it was earlier. Fine tuning the timing is a bear though, because you can’t change it while it’s running, you have to move the cam inside the distributor. At least that’s what I know about it at this point. The good news is no leaks (didn’t start that way) and no catastrophes at this point!

 

When I had that same tunnel ram I had 11-13 initial and 21 or 23 mechanical for 34 all in and it did really well. I've got MSD setups in 2 different cars, one has 21 mechanical and the other is 23 but I forget which one is in what without looking at my notes.
I did use the same exact settings when I swapped to big block, seems to be doing OK in it as well.

 

Not what I expected…

But not the end of the world either. Intake didn’t seat properly and there was a razor blade width gap at the number 7 intake runner and cylinder head port. I ordered up some thicker intake gaskets and should have it back together soon.

 

Rut roh
That should help with idle quality, I used the right stuff in between the two halves to get rid of that weeping, more for piece of mind than anything.

 

Yeah I thought it was running a little weird and then I found that little gap and explains a lot. Trying to run this old manifold with these modern ports is kind of a challenge the manifold is a little thin at the top for the gasket.
Question, did you run The gasket with the right stuff for the two pieces of the manifold or did you just use the right stuff?

 

I think this time around I’m going to gasgacinch the gasket to the manifold and then put it onto the motor with the gaskets on it instead of the opposite way

 

Well that was an epic fail. The extra thick gaskets are too thick and the bolts won’t thread in properly. So, now I will order the same gaskets I had before, but I guess I will have to pay better attention to how they fit instead of being a moron.

 

I was using these white fiber material gaskets, in the end I used just "the right stuff" no gasket and thread locker on those bolts



On the intake I used a Felpro gasket that matched the Edelbrock rpm heads

 

What application are those headers for ?

 

Cool, thanks man. Edelbrock still makes the gaskets for in between, but they obviously are not up to the task. I took it back apart and smeared some ultra grey on there with the gaskets. I did forget the thread locker though, thanks for the reminder, I’ll throw some on tomorrow.
The headers are Schoenfeld and they are for 60s-80s Chevy trucks in pulling applications.

 

She’s back together. Want to let everything cure up good before I fire it off again on Monday or Tuesday. Excuse my cobbled wiring and mechanical gauges, I promise I’ll make it right later.

 

I couldn’t wait any longer. Fired it up this afternoon. The videos don’t do this engine any justice, it’s f$&@in loud and rowdy. Now that the giant vacuum leak is fixed, I’m super happy. Good oil pressure, idles nice enough for now. Definitely needs tuning, but like @swade41 said, that’s the fun part.

 

Glad ya got it up and running right

 

Welp…I went missing again, but this time there’s a good reason. On April 21st I lost my old man. He quite literally was my best friend and everything I have valued in my life is because of him. I’ve been working on the truck all this time, but, life feels emptier, so posting just wasn’t something I felt like doing. Last weekend was his send off party, and I took him (his cardboard cutout anyway) for his last ride. No words can describe how much I’ll miss him.

 

Sad to hear this. All of us in the lifestyle have to confront it, especially us younger guys who have fathers in their 70s and 80s. My sincere condolences.

 

Thank you. Knew it was going to happen sooner or later, but was hoping it would be later.

 

Sorry to hear, my sincere condolences, I'm sure he would've liked that send off.

 

Thanks Swade, after that ride she didn’t want to go in gear anymore. I can hear him sayin’ “ya little asshole”, but he’d be smirking because he would have wanted to go out like that

 

sorry for the loss of your dad eric big blow for any man.

 

Thank you Chris. It’s a big blow, but I also know it’s part of life, and he wouldn’t want me to dwell too long it or give up. Just keep plugging and enjoy the rest of what life has to offer.

 

Made this happen:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_gv3EcKdLxw

 

fair play you have come a long way.

 

Wow…it’s surprisingly easy to embed media. I’ve been doing it all wrong. Well, in case you missed it, she moves under her own power now. All I have left is to get the brakes working. I have some photos of what I’m doing to post, just haven’t yet. Once they work, my fab work is pretty much done and I’ll tear it apart to paint it and make it pretty.