Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

I went to a estate auction saturday. Bought what I think is a 1988 chevy 1500 with 4 wheel drive. The engine has the heads and intake taken off. It all there all the parts complete truck. 100% rust free. a few dents. I towed it home with my 1982 3/4 tom wrecker. They couldnt find the title So I dont know if I want to spent money on a bonded title and fix it or just part it out?

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

That looks way cooler to me.

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

Getting my seat ready for upholstery, thought I would pull the cover off. Found an original part tag still on it. Found the part number in my manual, not sure if the 54 on the end was the year it was built but it’s in my 55.2 truck.

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

Damn I can't wait to get back to my truck, I am close!

Brian

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

I swapped out the 80s vintage K10 front sway bar I installed in my '20s for an OE bar I picked up a few years ago. I still have to get one clamp for the sway bar bushing but it's pretty close...

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

I actually got something done on my truck! WHOOOO HOOOO! It was a screw up mistake that I had done but it's corrected, been bugging the crap out of me.

The door now fits!

Brian

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

OEM front bar installation continues. Cleaned up the last bracket and installed the bar into the clamps using modified '67 Camaro rear bar bushings. The OE end links are junk so I straightened a set of 94 Wrangler links. Today I took some time to modify aftermarket shock studs so they would fit into the bar. Tomorrow I need to come up with a bushing so the top link can attach to the frame properly.

As a side note the front bar from a 94 ish YJ Wrangler could be a good match for our trucks. If this small OE bar doesn't work out I'm looking at switching to the Wrangler part.

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

I don't know if this counts but I got my new lathe set up. I have been working the last few weeks on building shelves and moving stuff to storage. I also have raised the elevation on my scrap pile. I have been working on parts for over 2 years and am very close to starting on the girl. I have never run a lathe but that never stopped me before.

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

Thanks. I'm going to have to improvise some bars myself.

Today I hooked up a vacuum line to my OEM windshield wiper motor. I was really reluctant to drill a hole in my firewall on which I spent so much time filling holes. The studs go back-and-forth nicely, but we'll see how the 70-year-old motor does with actual blades installed. Still waiting for those via mail order.

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

Very Nice, If its first time may I suggest the book "how to run a lathe" Been using a lathe for decades and still refer to it. Also check level both ways after its been used a couple times you may be surprised,

https://www.amazon.com/How-Run-Lathe.../dp/1614274746

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

so a few weeks ago my fuel gage quit working - it all ways showed full. after running multiple tests I found there was a damaged wire in the harness going to the rear mounted tank. so time to fix it. made a new harness to fix the problem. got it hooked into the dash tonight & run back to the rear end. so more work tomorrow. hopefully will have it finished by this weekend.

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

Thanks, I have that book and a couple more. I have friends that are machinist and they are willing to help. I used a machinist level to set it. I wont be doing space shuttle stuff. I just get tired of waiting 3 weeks and paying a hundred dollars for a spacer.

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

I finally got the front bumper all lined up and mounted. I didn't have the front horns at the right angle on the 77 Nova front clip, so it has been interesting!

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

Looks sharp, great color on that truck.:metal:
What did you decide on the emblems?

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

That's a nice lathe, and that milling machine isn't bad either. I'm feeling a little power tool envy creeping in, LOL.

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

I now have WWW - working windshield wipers.

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

I decided not to put them on right now, it was a very hard choice.

I would like to thank everyone for your input on the emblems!

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

I'm making a cover plate out of 1/8" 5052 aluminum for my Tremec TKO 600. Primarily this is to solve a housekeeping problem. It's all sealed up but I figure a polished plate will have much better aerodynamics. My etch-a-sketch skills aren't what they used to be.

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

Well after moving 700 miles and flipping my world upside down I am back to my truck in my garage. I got the hood sectioned started (cab is sectioned 2.5 inches and chopped 3.5) just tacked back together, none of the real fine tuning or planish welding or anything like that. This was a year ago, it kicked my butt getting it to this point. Tonight I spent literally a few hours looking at it planning my attack. I am not kidding, I have chopped many cars, some very complex. Did suicide doors before there were kits to do it. I chopped a VW Bug once in one day, from the first cut to primer, no kidding. And this wasn't rat rod stuff, we are talking show car stuff. I only say this, not to brag or say I know everything because that is the point, I DON'T. This hood sectioning is spinning my head! It makes chopping the top look like making a friggin peanut butter and jelly sandwich! Ok, I think I have it to move forward, wish me luck.

Brian

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

They can be useful!

Brian

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

I worked on my cover plate for a couple of hours. It's really hot here. I just need to polish it now. I also spent my normal couple of hours chasing parts. When I get this done I can paint the tranny and turn the engine back upright.

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

Well you will have until you punch it!!!

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

Well I guess it's official. Ryan Falconer Racing Engines is packing up my head for shipping. This is for my 292. It's an aluminum cross flow head with 24 valves and 24 ports. It's been quite a journey. I hope this counts as working on the truck. I don't have anyone to tell.

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

It's usually not a good situation when your head gets packed up, but in your case...CONGRATS!

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

Very cool, YES it counts, you "worked" on it ordering a part, that's working on it!


Brian

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

Got home and did a real five minute a day plan job, (well maybe 10) cleaned up and painted these front motormount pieces. The rod you see them hanging on I made Sunday. Welded tabs on the ends and painted it so I could put it up in my side yard and it wouldn't look trashie. I needed somewhere to hang things like this when painted and this worked out well.

This was yesterday, let's see what I can get done today! :metal:

Brian

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

I finished the cover plate for my transmission. I tapped the unused holes to bolt it in. I'm happy with it and certainly much more aerodynamic.

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

Very very nice looking truck. love the color!!

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

My "five minute a day plan" today. I got the bracket removed for the spring and screwed into place testing the fit. Looks right on, I will weld that bracket to the hood reinforcement right there a bit higher than it was originally. I will put another fixed nut in the firewall to lower the hinge down. I didn't want to have to modify the inner fender as I had them powder coated. So this looks good, I can sleep tonight. :D The hood brace is cut off a the bottom for the hood sectioning. I still need to weld it together as this was just a mock up you see.


Brian

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

I'm not real likely to punch it in the rain anyway. Last time I did that, the tires broke loose on the wet pavement, the back end came around, and I nearly put it in the ditch! :uhmk:

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

Hey Brian, is this High st in Oakland? My Great Grandparents lived at 2516 High st from 1910 to the late fifties.

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

Hey Brian, is that High St in Oakland? My great grandparents lived at 2516 High st from 1910 to the late 50’s

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

No, it's in Fremont.

Brian

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

I finished my engine stand. I bought the bottom part at an auction for $30 and altered it a little. The top part I made out of an old cherry picker leg. I only had to do it twice. My engine has been upside down on a wooden rack. I had to use the "I have no friends" method to turn it over. It was scary. The new rack is amazingly stable and a nice working height. I was afraid it was going to be top heavy. The stand weighs well over a hundred pounds.

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

My five minutes last night, I got the Left side spring bracket removed from the hood. And spent about 20 minutes going over my plan on the hood. I can't believe how complex this thing is!

Brian

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

I played with my lathe for the first time. My SFI damper is based on big block Chevy. This adapter goes from big block Chevy damper to standard blower pulley pattern. It also allows me to change the blower pulley without loosening the crank trigger. They don't make such a thing but they do make a V pulley with the right centers. This started it's life as that. I had a machinist cut the back of the pulley off but it still looked like half a V belt pulley. I made it a little smaller, squared up the flange and put a radius on the inside corner. It looks much better now. They sent me a slip fit mock up damper hub that is on there now.

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

Oakland, Fremont, Hayward...same thing...:lol:

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

That engine is one trick pony!

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

Can’t wait for a start up video of that beast.

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

Right on!

Brian:metal: