What did you do with your truck today, Part 3

[63 & 64 Bowties]

Part 1 & 2 were pretty overloaded, so let's get going on a new one.

[iowaboynca]

Alright!
Up to 3!!! Oh yeah i tried to cook an egg on my truck w/the 106 F heat...not so much luck...

[my56chevytruck]

phew, I started mine, made a rum and coke and listened to it purr. Then went back in the house to the AC.

[MiraclePieCo]

I removed my stock non-functioning gas gauge. It used to work, now it stopped. Not sure how to test it, but for $57 (Classic Parts) I'll just buy a new 12-volt unit.

[ChuckDriver]

Here are a couple of videos to compare the sound difference between my Flowmaster Super 40s and the newly installed Black Widow Exhaust Venoms.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrjKKxVke1Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpDibidhYsA

[my56chevytruck]

I sure llike those Black Widow venoms.

[MiraclePieCo]

Last week I got my gas gauge functioning - what a relief! Next I needed to address the heating issues I have at freeway speed (indicating an airflow deficiency).

I removed the old Chevy Cavalier 14" electric fan that was in my truck when I bought it (4-cylinder fan - pathetic!) and installed a Spal 16" high-performance unit. I've used this model before - they pull about four times the air of a cheapo fan. Ha ha, I should be able to throw my truck in neutral and the fan will pull me down the road like an airplane propeller!

I also removed the fan shroud that was in the truck. The shroud actually blocks much of the radiator, restricting airflow at speed by forcing all the air through the relatively small fan opening (see illustration below in case I haven't clarified this). Now I have unobstructed airflow front and rear through the radiator!

It's going to be in the mid-90's all week, a good time to test it out.

[b-mac]

I'll be interested to see which way works better with your radiator. I used to try to run an electric on my "Hot Rod" 2.2 S10. It wouldn't keep it cool without a shroud. Ended up modifying my stock shroud and mounting the electric fan a few inches from the radiator.

[MiraclePieCo]

Ongoing improvements to my '50. Today, door weatherstripping - Frost King self-adhesive from my local home improvement store. 10-minute installation. I'm hoping it will make a big reduction in wind noise.

[MiraclePieCo]

Originally Posted by b-mac

I'll be interested to see which way works better with your radiator. I used to try to run an electric on my "Hot Rod" 2.2 S10. It wouldn't keep it cool without a shroud. Ended up modifying my stock shroud and mounting the electric fan a few inches from the radiator.

Underhood airflow dynamics can be weird. I've seen some guys install flaps in their shrouds that open at speed to allow airflow, then suck closed when the fan activates.

I'll be driving the truck this weekend. It's supposed to be 102* and I have three 6% mountain passes to climb, so I'll report back on how it does.

[cyclonewade]

Do tires count?

[MiraclePieCo]

Originally Posted by cyclonewade

Do tires count?

Yep - nice!

[tsmith8]

Originally Posted by MiraclePieCo

Ongoing improvements to my '50. Today, door weatherstripping - Frost King self-adhesive from my local home improvement store. 10-minute installation. I'm hoping it will make a big reduction in wind noise.

did it make a difference?

[cyclonewade]

First drive.

https://youtu.be/lFdxR-IfFmw

[my56chevytruck]

Aside for going for a cruise, I put a new lokar shifter in the truck, along with the boot and chrome ring.

[my56chevytruck]

Originally Posted by cyclonewade

First drive.

https://youtu.be/lFdxR-IfFmw

that's great, nice looking ride as well.

[MiraclePieCo]

Originally Posted by tsmith8

did it make a difference?

Finally took the truck for a test drive after all the stuff I've fixed lately. It all worked better than I'd hoped!

Door weatherstripping: The Frost King self-adhesive weatherstrip significantly reduced wind noise and door rattles, while still allowing the doors to shut more easily than they ever have. Success!

Gas gauge: What a relief to have a working gas gauge! New sender, new gauge, finally I was able to get it functioning by removing a weird inline resistor wire on the hot wire. Success!

Freeway overheating. I suspected that my fan shroud was actually restricting airflow at highway speed. I removed it and sure enough, I can now go over 6% mountain passes at 100* outside temperature and the gauge climbs only to about 190. After that my new bigass Spal fan takes over. Success!

Details of all the above can be found in previous installments of this thread. Here's a pic of what I got to enjoy today, a working gas gauge and a centered temp gauge (please pardon the '54 gauges in a '50 dash). And just listen to how quiet it is ;-)

[MiraclePieCo]

Originally Posted by cyclonewade

First drive.

https://youtu.be/lFdxR-IfFmw

Congratulations - looks great! Don't loose those fenders out the back with no tailgate!

[nvrdone]

if you have a 6 volt gage on a 12 volt system you need that in line resistor. its a voltage drop.

[MiraclePieCo]

Originally Posted by nvrdone

if you have a 6 volt gage on a 12 volt system you need that in line resistor. its a voltage drop.

Cool - thanks! Never seen one like it before.

[dirty dish]

finally got tires mounted and put on had to mount them by hand wouldn't fit on tire machine

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by nvrdone

if you have a 6 volt gage on a 12 volt system you need that in line resistor. its a voltage drop.

stovebolts.com has a great tech article on converting from 6 to 12 volts. Can't link it on my phone.

[ChuckDriver]

Picked up my new door panel inserts!

[CATMdude45]

Interesting...... my gauges on my 52 are opposite, don't know if the PO messed it up.....what side is the speedo suppose to be on?

Originally Posted by MiraclePieCo

Finally took the truck for a test drive after all the stuff I've fixed lately. It all worked better than I'd hoped!

Door weatherstripping: The Frost King self-adhesive weatherstrip significantly reduced wind noise and door rattles, while still allowing the doors to shut more easily than they ever have. Success!

Gas gauge: What a relief to have a working gas gauge! New sender, new gauge, finally I was able to get it functioning by removing a weird inline resistor wire on the hot wire. Success!

Freeway overheating. I suspected that my fan shroud was actually restricting airflow at highway speed. I removed it and sure enough, I can now go over 6% mountain passes at 100* outside temperature and the gauge climbs only to about 190. After that my new bigass Spal fan takes over. Success!

Details of all the above can be found in previous installments of this thread. Here's a pic of what I got to enjoy today, a working gas gauge and a centered temp gauge (please pardon the '54 gauges in a '50 dash). And just listen to how quiet it is ;-)

[oldtrucks617]

I picked up my newly rebuilt LS1,came out of a 1999 SS salvage.Trying to make lemonaid out of LEMONS..Know what I mean ?? going into my 57 GMC..Cali truck..they don't last around here,RUST,THIEVES.....4L60E auto is my best option,and all i have..PCM it and i'm good to go....pics in a few weeks.