I originally made a thread on this project, titled "My father and son build", but so much has changed since the project went on hiatus (well, not so much in the project itself) that i decided to start all over again. So, a quick recap for those who did not follow the original thread: My father and I started this project all the way back in 2011, without really having a clear vision of what we wanted (now i'd say it falls in the "traditionally inspired" category). after about 2013 though, it has been on and off, but now that it's close to 10 years of working on it i really want to get it finished, or at least have it running and driving by the end of this year. The Truck consists of early 50's Ford FK cab (German truck) channeled over a 1928 Chevy frame (extended 15"). Power comes from a 261 Chevy backed by a 3 speed, other major things are the 1953 Dodge bed, 1934 Chevy grill, and High Clearance wheels. This is how it was the last time i updated the other thread, some 3 years ago Back then i said i was going to leave it with the patina, but i have since decided to paint it. I asked on the photoshop thread and themoose made this: Washington Blue with Cream wheels is the combination i'm going for now Ok, so onto the progress i made, starting with some parts i got: A set of 1938 Chevy hubcaps (never mind this old tire, this wheel is a spare i keep as decoration) GMC 6 valve cover. As you can see, the cover is bigger than the 261 one, so i need to make an adapter. thankfully the engine is recessed a lot into the firewall, so it won't be very visible ( i could cut it to size too, but i don't want to loose the cover in case something goes wrong) And now into the current progress, this is all stuff i made over the last week, since i started working on this again. First job was finishing the log intake i began some 4 years ago... As of now, it is basically finished, but to avoid vacuum leaks (which i know i have) i will take it to have all the joints brazed. Second step is the headers. I knew buying a set would be a waste, as they wouldn't fit, and i wanted to try making some tuned headers, so i bought some 2" pipe and 90° bends for the primaries, and a 2 1/2" pipe for the short secondaries, so far i only got Cyl.1 done, and began working on the 2-3 siamese pipe. Before anyone asks- new 2" pipe at the store is a minimum of 6m (20ft) long, and i can't exactly carry that on a Ford Focus, so i went to the junkyard and picked up some 1m pieces of pipe, they are in great shape except for the fact someone covered them in newspaper and it bonded with the paint on the pipes, so until i sand it all down it will look ugly like that. (oh, and the oil filter needs to be relocated) Pipe 1 done: After adding the first collector, and if you look under it, you will see the beginning of the 2nd pipe That's all for now, next up i will take the cab out to finish stuff on the frame, and to remake some stuff i was never happy with, like the engine mounts.
Quick update Finished tacking the second pipe, now i have to finish the welds and grind them, and the first half of the headers will be done. Also note that i took five minutes and cleaned the newspaper wrap... Sent from my ASUS_X00DDA using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Yeah, the ideia was to leave it unpainted to set it apart from the street rods common here in Brazil, but then the Rodent mania made it's way here and i decided I didn't really wanted to be associated with them... Sent from my ASUS_X00DDA using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
This weekend i was researching into brakes, as that's one of the few things stopping the truck from being driveable (i can survive a test drive with temporary, ugly but well made engine mounts, or no shocks, but no brakes is a big no no) The front axle currently has a set of late 30's Chevy brakes, which means i can't get parts for them in Brazil. I thought about adapting Willys 11" brakes on it, as i have a complete spare set of those, but then i remembered we had 3100 Chevys here, which use the same spindles as the earlier stuff, i looked into them and apparently they use the same parts as the Willys stuff, so i only need to hunt for a pair of backing plates, and re-drill my drums from 5x5.5" to 6x5.5". On the other hand, the rear axle is a way simpler problem. I am using the rear axle from a Chevy Opala (ot Brazilian car), with adapters to 6x5.5" pattern (basically a 10 bolt Chevy axle). those are easy to find parts for, but the brakes are only 9" with 7/8" cylinders. I could convert it to match the fronts (or rather, to match the rear brakes that form the set with the fronts i'm using), but i don't know if it's necessary... what are your thoughts on the subject?
Moving on with the exhaust, i started making the 3rd pipe, and well... ...The place i want it to pass through is taken by the fender support... Since i have no fenders, i decided to take them off on both sides. This seemed a simple job at first, but it took a good part of my morning, as each side has 24 spot welds and 2 beads... an example of German over-engineering i guess... Meanwhile, i started looking for a new transmission cover. I'm using a Clark 260t, a licensed Borg Warner T85, which is actually what came stock with my engine. The thing is: every vehicle with this trans down here in Brazil is a column shifter, and i guess morons here don't know shifters exist, (even though a lot of 4 speed cars have them) so they do this instead: This as actually one of the "nicer" examples, mine is Fubar... My plan is to do it the right way, but first, as i said, i need an unmolested cover. For the shifter i'll use one just like this one, found in 4 speed Opalas. The shifter has a reverse lockout, so i can still use it on the 3 speed trans without putting it in neutral by accident , and i'll cut out the tab that operates reverse.
Finally finished the headers yesterday, and i'm now in the process of smoothing them out (didn't take pictures of that). I already tried to run the engine and yeah, i figured i'd have about a dozen of vacuum leaks, and i do have about that much... The carburetors are also not set up properly, so it runs a little rough. My friend was recording, and for some reason his phone cut the video short, but well, at least i have a video... (and before anyone asks, i had ran the engine before recording, i'm not dumb to rev an engine that high while it still being cold)
Today i removed the manifold and headers; I I'll take the intake to a machinist so he can get rid of my vacuum leaks, and on the headers I'll finish cleaning up the welds. With that out of the way, i started working on the floor structure, for 2 reasons: •i need to actually see what space i have for my pedals, so i can start working on mounts for them. The structure also will serve as a guide for the X member i will build •i couldn't use the truck today, so I'd have a hard time carrying home the pieces of C channel i need to do the X mentioned above I only got one side done, but it looks promising. If my X member follows the shape of the floor, i will have the space i need to fit the battery on the passenger side and the brake master cylinder and pedal shaft on the driver's side. Sent from my ASUS_X00DDA using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Today i made the X member, and contrary to what i thought, i didn't need to remove the cab to do so (but i will have to, to finish up the welds) Driver's side done (note the hole for the clutch fork/linkage): The passenger side, made as a mirror to the other: And finally, both sides finished: To connect both sides behind the transmission, i decided to take the original transmission mount from my very frame, and modify it to fit. For those unfamiliar with '28 Chevys, this piece goes between the bellhousing and transmission. (not pictured is the cut i made, removing that "bridge" between the two holes) I still have some things to do, but it is already tacked in place. I will probably sandblast the frame to do the final welding, as i couldn't clean the frame up properly with the grinder, and i will certainly add reinforcement gussets where it meets the frame (for example, in the front, where it's clearly visible only one edge is welded to the frame) The battery is just dropped in there, but that is most likely it's final place (lower than that, of course). You can also see the floor structure, which i made only half of. Next up is the transmission and engine mounts.
I ended up not taking many pics of the transmission mounts, so today's update is a little shorter... I started up by adding the mounts for the cushions to both sides of the X member Next up, i made a mount going to the bottom 2 bolts of the transmission rear cover. I ended up not taking pictures of that one... Lastly, i made the shifter mount, as that was the last piece that needed to be crammed up between the X, fot that one i used the top 2 bolts of the trans rear cover. The ergonomics are actually not bad at all for a cab channeled as deep as this one, one of the pros of working on a cab with weird proportions... (the pedal space on the other hand will be pretty cramped). The seat is only used as a placeholder for us to set everything else, but the final one will be of similar size (otherwise it would be pointless to use this one for testing). Next up, i'll finish the floor and firewall. I would leave that for later, but i need to plan up my pedals, so i need to close up the cab to know how much space i actually have (one thing is for sure: i will need to go with a hanging pedal setup)
There's one in town, but car stuff is not really their speciality (that being said, i bought a few parts, including the engine I'm using, from them), usually i go to some friends who are parts dealers or the internet. Luckily my late grandfather left us a huge stash of parts, so getting them isn't that big of a problem. Sent from my ASUS_X00DDA using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
well that sounds good. even the yard that is not really car stuff is good shopping for other stuff, i like those places, but sadly most here are disappearing, or wont sell, they just scrap the metals
I have to add, personally, i am always thrilled when i see that we have members here from all over the world. I think i speak for most of us who have done some international travel, you dont meet the car guys when you fly into the tourist junket shit, so i am always thrilled to see whats happening in other country's. please keep up the photos, and if possible your local car events, or even you're area you live in. best wishes, skip
Hot Rods are all about passion, creativity, innovation, and just using what you got in your shed or lot. So much of this is being swept under the rug of history because people want to take the quick and easy way out in these modern times. Stay the course, and create .... there are No-Rules in a real Hot Rod mind. Your doing great.
The Jalopy Journal
