Project "Sweet 16"

[LEEVON]

You are an animal! When you're at Brad's this weekend, go ahead and pick up my '50. You should be able to finish it in a couple of weeks, right?

[skymangs]

Originally Posted by LEEVON

You are an animal! When you're at Brad's this weekend, go ahead and pick up my '50. You should be able to finish it in a couple of weeks, right?

he, he... one at a time brother!

If I do them quick, I can save more of em!

I'm headed over friday to scope out a for sale forlorne 50 project 3 miles away from my house. It's a 3100 5 window, complete (but in pieces) with tons of extra parts. Might save me a bunch of teardown time?

I also have a 51 5 window 3/4 ton up in Iowa. It was a parts truck (that I never actually took any parts off of), and the old man is checking into a COE 49 that can (allegedly) be had for scrap iron price local to him (I've always had a hankerin for a COE tow rig).

I'm just noticing that the more I drive the kids truck, the more I keep thinking "I should get me one of these too". It's an addiction!

[xpickup]

skymangs, oh, don't say it. You have a problem. My name is Shannon, I have a problem, I am addicted to AD trucks!


Shannon

[rockasilly]

I just read your entire build thread. Great job!

[skymangs]

Thanks rockasilly, Sorry no pics for awhile. Truck made it to Springfield and back with absolutely no issues (300mi). Right now I have the carb apart on the bench waiting for new jets and metering rods. We decided to run 1.5 stages leaner on primaries and 1 stage leaner on secondaries. should help with the milage, I'm sure it was running too rich.

Truck averaged 15.3mpg all the way to springfield and back, that was cruizing 60-65mph with 3.73 gears and no bed. If i can get a shorter rear gear and lean the carb a bit, that number should go up.

[skymangs]

Sorry no updates for awhile. Been busy! I took the carb apart and re-calibrated it. .095 primarys with recommended metering rods (1.5 stages lean) and .092 secondarys (1 stage lean). It seems to like it, much more responsive, and no stumbling off of idle.

Here's the pics of the motor work from a couple weekends ago.

[skymangs]

After the BBQ, the goal was carpet. I ordered 2 linear yards (80" wide) of cut pile to cover the floors. Here's some shots of install.

[skymangs]

Here's the finished carpet, I made my own "transition strips" out of 18ga. sheet metal (for where the floor meets the toe board). Tomorrow we are going to tackle mounting the front bumper...

[skymangs]

I almost forgot... When I picked up my headliner from Classic parts, the guy mistakenly gave me 2 front pieces. They immediately corrected the issue when I called, but I wound up with 2 extra front halves of a headliner... Guess what I'm gonna make kick panels out of? I love it when a plan comes together!

[JRANGER]

Looking good!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hey Jealousy lol

[99 to Life]

looks great. Are you running an elec choke? I like to run an air/fuel gauge and a vacuum gauge really helps to see what the engine is doing. I'v had to clean my idle ports out several times with the edelbrock. It would lean the carb way out and it took me a bit to figure out why. I'm going to get a quickfuel carb this year I think.

[skymangs]

yeah, electric choke. I've never really had any problems with Edelbrocks on street cars. I was planning on hooking up the old vaccum gauge next time I take it out.

[skymangs]

Oh, and Shannon... I know I have a problem, I've decided that the first step to solving it is to keep busy, on lots of projects!

Today's progress... Bumper is on, I borrowed a splash guard from a buddy here locally to get fitment the way I want it, have to return in monday
We're on the lookout for a decent splash guard still. I'm not sure where it was supposed to be mounted exactly, but I like what we did with it. We flipped the brackets (side for side) to tuck it up under the grill, and sucked it in a little closer to the grill than some I've seen.

We also made the "headliner" kick panels today and made a small panel for where the steering column meets the carpet. Seat will go back in tonight, and I'm about to pronounce the interior "finished".

[mknittle]

Originally Posted by skymangs

Oh, and Shannon... I know I have a problem, I've decided that the first step to solving it is to keep busy, on lots of projects!

Today's progress... Bumper is on, I borrowed a splash guard from a buddy here locally to get fitment the way I want it, have to return in monday
We're on the lookout for a decent splash guard still. I'm not sure where it was supposed to be mounted exactly, but I like what we did with it. We flipped the brackets (side for side) to tuck it up under the grill, and sucked it in a little closer to the grill than some I've seen.

We also made the "headliner" kick panels today and made a small panel for where the steering column meets the carpet. Seat will go back in tonight, and I'm about to pronounce the interior "finished".

Getting better all the time. keep up the good work!

[skymangs]

Thanks Rickerwill, I am very aware that this is a dying talent (being able to wrench on your own junk). I can only hope that my boys will be as "hopelessly addicted" as I am.

Mknittle, I aprechiate it.

updates. We've been driving the wheels off it with no major issues. Had a rocker arm back off a bit, had to re-adjust the lash, but other than that it's been real solid. And I finally got the carb tuned "just right".

Here's my updated pics. I'm about to pronouce it finished, only a few things left. Brad_72 hooked me up with some barn wood for the bed, but I'm still in need of a couple more pieces. I just recieved my first order of "built by" decals to adorn all my vehicles with (I hope to do affordable rods as a business after I retire in 2 years). We still need to do the shop signs on the doors, but I have my vinyl stencils already.

Oh, and we found a really cool old gas station with pumps still there to take pictures in front of. Hopefully it will be nice later this week.

Getting back injections again on Tuesday, so I'll be a little slow this week (Good time to paint door signs!).

[rickerwill]

I just read through your entire thread, Skyman. Once I got started, I just kept "turning pages!" I envy your ability to get the boys out to the shop and teach them such good, basic values. Cherish every moment of it and know you are giving them a superb example for when they are dads, too. I made a hopelessly addicted car guy out of my son, too, and he is enjoying a career in automotive work at age 24. Don't tell him I said so, but he is a much better mechanic than his dad now.
You have given me a bunch of really good ideas for the '50 5-window he and I are building. Thanks for the good photos and documenting of progress for us all.

[kev2809]

Very cool build! I hope to do something like this with my step son after my suburban is done.

Was just flipping around build sections and came across this one, glad i did!
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[xpickup]

skymangs, Truck looks great. I love the business idea, and the affordable bit to boot. I can not wait to see the next pictures with the old gas pumps. Good luck on the back injections.


Shannon

[skymangs]

Thanks Kev and Xpickup. My Business plan has been in developement for at least 10 years, one of those things that I have always dreamed of that looks like it just might be a reality soon.

Injection went great, much better than the last one. I was even able to get out to the garage for a bit of sign painting!

First pic is of my "poor guys" sign painting kit. I didn't want to spend the kinda scratch that 1 shot thinks thier paint is worth, so I went the old reliable rustolium oil based route.

Second pic is of the various stencils I had made (3 pieces per side) for our shop signs. Total cost for stencils was $42, and painting crap was about $30.

Just so everyone knows, the vinyl stencils are a PITA! I used soapy water behind them so I could re-position them if nessesary. But I had the damndest timepeeling off the transparent film on the front, even with heat applied.

[skymangs]

next few are of the first stencil, paint and aging. Using a 1" brush, I brushed the entire star area. Then went over it with a brush and some mineral spirits to thin the paint out some more. Final step was to cut the whole thing down in 500gr sandpaper to soften the edges a little bit.

Important note if you plan to use vinyl stencils on 65y/o paint.... NEVER LET THE STENCIL DRY OVERNIGHT! On the stars I gave the stencil about 2hrs drying time and then painted. 1 hour later I peeled the stencil off, it was still moist undernieth and peeled off very easily. I struggled with the wrench stencil because of all the fine lines and letters, so I decided to let it dry overnight, so i would get nice crisp lines... This morning when I peeled it off, it took a nice rectangle of 65y/o paint off with it

I am still working with coloring and sanding to replace the missing paint, but needless to say, I wasn't happy. I called the lady that gauranteed me these stencils wouldn't remove any paint and gave her a solid piece of my mind!

[cAlvis165]

Looks awesome! Can't wait to see the finished lettering.

Also, best of luck with the business venture.

Chad

[skymangs]

next was the wrench stencil. First the outline with black, next I filled in the wrench with med grey (smoke grey mixed with some white to save buying an extra pint of paint), and finally the smoke grey on the lettering. So far I have probably 30 hours into these damned things.

Now I let it dry for a solid 24 hours and hit it with some 500gr to thin it out and hopefully make it look old. Tomorrow afternoon I'll work on the Ole Sarge lettering. I'm hoping to have it finished up so I can drive it to work on Friday with the new signage!

[skymangs]

Thanks xpickup, I think I've figured out how to salvage the paint where the stupid decal removed it. Hopefully it will come out looking decent enough

[BC Toy chest]

Well done.

[skymangs]

Thanks BC.

Door signs are finally DONE! We're very pleased with how they came out. First pic is boy and his truck... I'm the very JEALOUS cameraman... LoL

There's a car show Saturday in Sedalia, Youngun says he wants to show his truck off. guess we'll be there.