Barn raising

[Mike Bradbury]

Originally Posted by Project1970

Beautiful, and it looks like you could get that there without even clearancing the framerail.

You suuuuure you don't want to sell those brackets?

e: I might run into alternator clearance issues there, wonder if I can easily mount it on the passenger side since my A/C is up top instead.

Ha! Yeah Im sure, Still tweaking them to make them fit perfectly. I have them powder coated now and they really pop!

They make a low mount passenger side alternator bracket but you have to move the fuel pump and go electric.

Originally Posted by buckshot_86

Awesome truck! Now I'm kicking myself for selling my '69, even though it was a wreck! I love what you have done, from the conversion to half ton, the tires, shop logo, spoiler on the endgate, the upholstery on the F-350 seat, and the engine mounts! Great job, I am tuned in and eagerly waiting your future work on the truck!

Thanks! there is much more to come.

[Project1970]

Originally Posted by Mike Bradbury

Ha! Yeah Im sure, Still tweaking them to make them fit perfectly. I have them powder coated now and they really pop!

They make a low mount passenger side alternator bracket but you have to move the fuel pump and go electric.

I'm running a LS1 with fuel injection, no block pump to worry about Looks like there is a kit I could get that would put the alt up high next to the power steering pump, wonder if that would work with my aftermarket high-mount compressor on the passenger.

[68Mike]

Looking good Mike. Can't wait to see it at the Brother's show this year.
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[Mike Bradbury]

Originally Posted by 68Mike

Looking good Mike. Can't wait to see it at the Brother's show this year.
Posted via Mobile Device

I've been following your progress on your painting, you have spent so much time blocking out the surface, I can't wait to see the final product in person. I painted the underneath side of my hood and quickly realized that I don't have the patience to be a body man. in between the epoxy primer coat and the enamel, some how little flecks of dirt landed on the surface and got all in the final coat. Now I have to decide if I want to sand it all back down or just live with it, after all it is just the underneath side of the hood. Firewall and fenders came out great though.

[hgs_notes]

There is a new kit available for bolt in rack and pinion for those that are interested.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...441047&page=14

[54Caddy]

hey mike been a while since i checked your build, not on the 67-72 side much but i think we will see you at the cpp show this year?? l ooking good man cant wait to hear it run

[Mike Bradbury]

Thanks man, I will be at the Brothers show if I have to push it there, but I had not heard where or when the CPP show was this year.

[Mike Bradbury]

O.K. I figured out my alternator bracket geometry. The corvette one I was intending to use would not work because I had to lift the power steering pump to clear the rack and pinion steering, so the vette bracket would hit the top of the pump but also the alt belt would rub on the housing of the P.S. pump. I came up with this design that raises the alt up high enough to clear the pump but also uses a unique tensioning system that looks good and is really solid, it uncluttered the system. These are intermediate photos, finish photos tomorrow when it is day light. I buffed the S.S. strap and powder coated the bracket gloss black.





I still need to find a S.S. bolt with a button head like a carriage bolt but stronger, the hex head is too close to the belt.




It was easier to just buy a S.S. bolt and cut it up, vs. buying a foot of the stock and the local metal yard.


It clears the pump nicely

[OLDIRON69]

That is slick as snot!

[hgs_notes]

Nice set up you created. The tensioner is something I might copy.

[Mike Bradbury]

Originally Posted by hgs_notes

Nice set up you created. The tensioner is something I might copy.

Cool, I got the idea from my dads pool filter strap. The sometimes have as much as 100 psi on them and are rated for much more. It holds it really strong and is a snap to adjust. I did not want to have use the old screwdriver method of tensioning the alternator, this is much easier.

[Mike Bradbury]

Except for the button head atlternator bolt it is finished.

[67cheby]

very clean looking !

[litew8]

nice mod

let me know if you're looking to get rid of the vette brackets

[Mike Bradbury]

I never got one. Once I saw that the P.S. pump was as high as it was I never pursued the vette bracket further because I could tell that there was no way it was going to work. My version is close to the dimensions of the vette bracket but I slotted the holes so that it could bolt to the top two holes in the head or the top right and bottom left. The way I mounted it it sits parallel to the ground.

[litew8]

Ah, roger that. You got dimensions for the vette brackets?

My alternator is still stationary. Hasn't moved, don't really expect it to.
Still keeping the option open though.

[Mike Bradbury]

Originally Posted by litew8

Ah, roger that. You got dimensions for the vette brackets?

My alternator is still stationary. Hasn't moved, don't really expect it to.
Still keeping the option open though.

No not the actual dimensions, I just moved it out 1.5" and up 1.0" to where it would clear the tall valve cover, then I noticed that the P.S. pump housing was right in the wrong place, I figured from the pics I have seen of the vette bracket that it was close to what I fabricated.

[mcbassin]

Very nice work as always Mike! I hope you are using just a touch of anti seize on your SS hardware that you may have to take back off at some time. I hate it when the get gauled up and ruin the threads. Especially if it's SS inside SS. Keep up the great work.
Bunch of innovative ideas to steal here.

[Mike Bradbury]

Have any and all ideas you want!

I don't have the anti seize on yet because I expect it to be dis assembled again when over the button head bolt for the alternator. But when it is installed for good I will put it on.
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[crakarjax]

dude

[Captainfab]

I really like the work you have been doing on your truck.

I don't like to buy something when I can fabricate it myself either. I'm anxious to hear your engine when you get it running.

[Mike Bradbury]

Thanks for the encouragement, I often find it therapeutic to fab my own stuff, even if I can afford it, it is much more fun to make it as I am sure you have experienced. Much more to come but life has gotten busy recently.

[Mike Bradbury]

Over the past several months I have been developing a set of hood hinges that utilize the same bracketry from the original hood hinges but are dressed up for the new century. Here is a progress image of the hinge so far.
It is not done yet, and the main frame of the hinge still needs to be powder coated.
All of the joints have replaceable bronze bushings in them so he aluminum does not get eaten away.
This has been a fun project but not too hard if you would like to attempt it. Aluminum is soft and easy to work with. it takes some doing to get it to a shine like this but a mat finish doesn't look bad either.

I re worked the stops on the hinge and some of the geometry so that it will open about 8 inches further than stock.

Really what it came down to is cost, I could not afford to buy these even if I wanted to but I liked the way it dresses up the engine bay. I'm having some issues with the gas strut being strong enough to hold the hood up so I might have to change some things to accomodate a stronger strut.



Here it is next to the OEM version. You can see how much further it will open.

[fakerwade]

Dang dude, that's pretty sweet!! (I want some,,,)

[Mike Bradbury]

Seems like forever since I have been able to work on the truck, it has been rainy on the weekends and I have had house projects to complete. I am going a bit crazy with all of the money i have put into the project and it is still not running, I don't need to spend much more to get there but the parts are all in the bed waiting to be installed.
My dad is in the middle of a frame off custom '29 Ford and I have spent several days over at his house welding on the frame getting it ready for powder coat. I just need the sun to stand still for a couple of days.