1957 Chevy truck re-rebuild

[Stepside Jim]

Thanks Blue57.

Kim57, the cut is made by a plasma cutter. It's not as fine a cut as I'd like, meaning it has a burnt edge that does require some manual labor getting it clean looking as in the pictures. Especially stainless seems to have the dirtiest edges vs cutting aluminum or regular steel. But it does get you close enough to build stuff like these emblems.

I keep using the term Torchmate, for an idea of what the Torchmate does, for those not familiar, it is a computer controlled unit that replaces your hand and guides the plasma cutter by a design you program into a lap top computer.

For me, someone who knew nothing about computer aided design, it took months of determination to figure out how to design something like this emblem. Once I got it figured out, I use it very frequently now. Most everything I built starts with a shape made from construction paper, then to the scanner to the computer, then to the cutting table. Or as with the emblem, I had had to use individual design features and create the numbers and shapes then assemble them all on the computer as one cut design.

There are other cnc cutters like the Torchmate now, the choices have grown in the last couple years. Still the same idea of a computer controlled plasma wand.

For an idea of mine, you can see the hand held wand clamped to a fixture that is operated by a couple electric moters that operate the movement of the fixture. The computer operates the movement and it controls the turning on and off of the cutter also.


Me, the programmer decide the path, the speed of the cut to match the thickness of the material and which cut will be made when. For instance, you wouldn't want to cut the outer diameter of this plate in the next picture first, then the inner cuts. Always cut the inners first, otherwise the outer piece cut could fall away before making the inner cuts.

Kim, you probably are familiar with most of this, I just wanted to cover it for those who may not be familiar with these units.

[Chevette]

Looks good. I saw a Torchmate demonstration about 3 months ago at a local tool store. It was the 2'X2' unit and it worked well. Problem is they wanted $6000.00 for it up here. It looks like you're running it with a Miller plasma cutter. If so, what model? I have a 675 extreme and if I ever have a weak moment I may just buy a Torchmate. I was thinking maybe I could earn some extra cash making custom parts for people to offset the cost a bit.

[Kim57]

That's pretty cool. Wish I had one in my garage.
Kim

[Indian113]

All I can say is "WOW" your attetion to detail is #1
it's the little things that stand out and will need to be pointed out to the unknowing!

[Stepside Jim]

Chevette, I'm impressed you can tell it's a Miller just by the picture, it's a Spectrum 2050.

Yes they are expensive, no I am not rich by no means. The Torchmate came to me by means that I didn't have to pay for it. As a matter of fact, it was technology I was afraid of, I accually denied accepting it for a while.

What I have learned over the last couple years is God will put you in a uncomfortable situation to grow you and improve you. Once I accepted the uncomfort of having to learn how to use this equipment my abilities grew at the same time. Once my abilities grew, then my desire to always do my best grew.

Indian113, you hit it on the head. I have a couple of items to post yet. It is a great pleasure to create items that you have to convince people that it's an original piece made at home.

[hotrod1]

Originally Posted by Stepside Jim

Chevette, I'm impressed you can tell it's a Miller just by the picture, it's a Spectrum 2050.

Yes they are expensive, no I am not rich by no means. The Torchmate came to me by means that I didn't have to pay for it. As a matter of fact, it was technology I was afraid of, I accually denied accepting it for a while.

What I have learned over the last couple years is God will put you in a uncomfortable situation to grow you and improve you. Once I accepted the uncomfort of having to learn how to use this equipment my abilities grew at the same time. Once my abilities grew, then my desire to always do my best grew.

Indian113, you hit it on the head. I have a couple of items to post yet. It is a great pleasure to create items that you have to convince people that it's an original piece made at home.

I wish God would put me in that same uncomfortable position that he did with you (getting a torchmate and cad program).

By the way GOD, I am not wishing for ANYTHING different.

You have to make sure that you are specific when u ask for something as you might get something else.

[Chevette]

Originally Posted by hotrod1

I wish God would put me in that same uncomfortable position that he did with you (getting a torchmate and cad program).

By the way GOD, I am not wishing for ANYTHING different.

You have to make sure that you are specific when u ask for something as you might get something else.

Ha ha ha ha............... you mean like a lightning bolt?

[Stepside Jim]

No, no, those of us who like to work on vehicles shouldn't get lightning bolts, we should be getting Grade 8 bolts. yeah, I like that....

[Kim57]

O.K. now you're just showing off.
Looks real nice.
Kim

[Chevette]

Originally Posted by Kim57

O.K. now you're just showing off.
Looks real nice.
Kim

I agree. Next thing you know he'll be makin' a Kleenex dispenser with a magnet that holds it to the dash.

[Stepside Jim]

Getting to the end of the plug wire holders....

I have to holes drilled for mounting, and the rubber grommets fit into their slots.


I bought some wire separaters to keep the wires in order but I would like to attach the separaters to the stainless covers.


I drilled the cover and mounted the wires directly to them but it wasn't what I was looking for.


After a while I had a plan. I decided the wires had to be held obove the covers. I designed risers that gave a depth to the appearance.


A bonus by doing the risers is the extra refection. I haven't decided to paint the risers black or have them chromed.


A view from the front.


And view from a distance.


Kleenex dispenser..... can I have it electrically eject each kleenex?

[Madd Doc]

Originally Posted by Stepside Jim

Getting to the end of the plug wire holders....

I have to holes drilled for mounting, and the rubber grommets fit into their slots.


I bought some wire separaters to keep the wires in order but I would like to attach the separaters to the stainless covers.


I drilled the cover and mounted the wires directly to them but it wasn't what I was looking for.


After a while I had a plan. I decided the wires had to be held obove the covers. I designed risers that gave a depth to the appearance.


A bonus by doing the risers is the extra refection. I haven't decided to paint the risers black or have them chromed.


A view from the front.


And view from a distance.


Kleenex dispenser..... can I have it electrically eject each kleenex?

If you want to send those risers to me I'll powder coat them for you.

[Kim57]

There's a house up the street from me for sale. I think you should buy it and move there with all your tools so you can make stuff for my build.
Looks real nice.
Kim

[Hogsophist]

Great work
Posted via Mobile Device

[Stepside Jim]

Kim57, what a great idea. Can you imagine the stuff you'd be thinking of building. Your talents of suspension and frame work and my kleenex box building, the sky is the limit, or as Tom Petty said.. the future's wide open.

Now that the engine is running and all the accessories such as the exhaust, belt pulleys ect, I'm ready to get back to the body work. I'd rather take the engine back out to keep all the dust and over spray getting on it.

Since it's on the engine stand I figured it would be good to get it painted. I know my choice of color isn't right for everybody but it feels good getting having a painted engine.

Using some old valve covers and beginning the taping off of ports and other places I don't want painted.


After primer and paint. Now I feel this project is starting to move forward.

[Madd Doc]

Wow I think that engine looks awesome!

[ol'blazer]

that air cleaner is amazing!

[Kim57]

The engine looks great. I love the color.
Kim

[Stepside Jim]

Madd Doc, thanks for the offer. The more I look at them, the more I'm leaning towards having them chromed. With the black bolts, black wires and the black wire holders, I think the chrome would stand out.

By the way....... you can probably tell this about me already but, I totally agree with your quote of building your own stuff vs buying.

Thanks Kim, it makes a nice color base for just about any accents.

ol'blazer, I'm glad you like it. I went through catalogs and web sites looking for an air filter housing that didn't expose the filter element. I understand the open element helps air flow, but I decided looking at the element gets old.

I drew out a couple ideas on cardboard and came up with this.

Here's a look inside.


Still working on the kleenex holder .............

[Stepside Jim]

Although I like the idea of moving the gas tank out of the cab, for now I want to run the truck with the tank in the original place, in the cab.

One issue I have is the size of the fuel line use in the original sending unit. It is a 5/16" fuel line, along with this size line there are a couple very tight bends and a brass fitting attached that brings it's inside diameter down to a 1/4". I'm sure this is not enough flow to support the needs of the engine.

There are a couple ways to do this fix and being me, I'd chose the more time consuming way of doing it, so here goes.

Here's an idea of the original sitting along side of most of the pieces used to make the new one.


Once finished I had a new 30 ohm sending unit and a 3/8" fuel line with no down sized fittings along the way. I could install a 90 degree fitting as the line leaves the tank but since there is nothing in the way above the tank, I'll leave the line with a smooth bend.


Once the unit was finished I used a 12 battery to test the guage and sending unit together.


From empty to full............

[redux2redux]

Is that instrument cluster your own creation?

[fat56]

The lead holder looks great. Wouldn't mind attempting one myself.

[Stepside Jim]

Originally Posted by redux2redux

Is that instrument cluster your own creation?

No, it's a cluster I saw in an advertisement from Brothers. The timing couldn't have been better. I didn't have any issues with using the original guages but the oil pressure was only up to 60 pounds, my engine idles at 60 pounds. I also wanted a voltmeter vs the ampmeter. I was just starting to make measurments to make my own cluster, then I opened the mailbox and Brothers sent me a ad special, a couple pages in was a bunch of clusters on sale.

I threw away the tape measure, grabbed the computer and ordered this cluster. It is everything I wanted in a cluster plus the turn signal indicators.

[Kim57]

Nice fix on the fuel delivery.
Kim

[_Ogre]

wow. nice fab work