JalopyJesus here. Been checkin' out the H.A.M.B for awhile and decided to jump in at last. I am currently working on a 1950 Chevrolet Styline Special that I sooo regretfully fu*ked up. Started out a pretty nice daily driver that I gave a grand for and has now felt the wrath of the JalopyJesus. I drove this beast every day for 2 years w/o any problems when suddenly it decided that it's radiator would be a lot nicer if it were leaking. Repair was out of the question and no one could present me a fix for less than $400.00. This is when the big mistake happened. I said, "Oh well, it would be cheaper and better to rip this good ol' 1956 235 out and drop in a 350/350. Take me a couple of weeks." Now, two more years and $1000.00 dollars later, it is still not back on the road. I got a 1976 chevy p/u for $300.00 and took the engine from it. Got a fresh trans for $75.00 from a pal of mine. Walton crossmember, it's a snap wiring harness, Obsolete Chevy RADIATOR FOR $250.00 BRAND NEW (after my poor ol' 235 was already gone, should have shopped a little harder in the first place and this could have been avoided) 79 firebird rear, and countless other things. So now all I lack is putting the trans in, a little wiring, having a driveshaft cut to fit, and plumbing the brakes. Won't be long and this beast will be back on the road. I just wish I had known what a great engine I already had and maybe I would not have tore so much sh*t up trying to "fix" a $250.00 problem. But oh well. I learned so much about this car and what my abilities really are from all of this that I would have never known otherwise and now plan on getting a 1954 Styline when I finish this project of doom. So that's my story. Now I'm off to reading and educating myself further VIA this wonderful forum!
Sounds like good lessons learned. Dont' feel bad, you're not the only one. I once had a 4" stroke Merc flathead with three 97's on it, headers, done up, that started burning oil so I pulled it and sold it off as a builder. Now I'm pretty sure that the oil burning was due to some improperly torqed bolts (gasket leaking) but what the hell did I know. Live and learn Where the hell did you get the name Jalopy Jesus?
HAHA. You like that? I was just a little intoxed one night and thinkin' about how this car managed to be alive and well for 50 years before it met me and I come along and changed it's life for the worse. Kind of what happened with God and a girl I once knew. That's about as I far as I had better go with that.......
A couple years ago I had a NICE '47 IHC KB-1 with a SBF, C-4...All it needed was a little wiring help and it was road-worthy. BUT I didn't have a ***le...rather than seach for one, or buy one, I sold it for, get this, $400.00! (This is the part where you kick my ***...).....
The Jesus is in Norman. Jesus' Jalopy is in OKC in several pieces while awaiting a tow truck/truck and trailer or whatever to bring it back home to norman for some brake plumbing. I really don't want to plumb those brakes 20 miles from a parts/hardware store.
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