Francis the Tow Pig - 1949 GMC 250 Dually

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

Made some good progress tonight. Parts delivered in time for me to come home and install them! Got the rear diff cover back on with the LubeLocker gasket, if you're not using these for your differentials, I highly recommend them! Filled with Amsoil Severe Gear 75w90.

Moved on to the Hellwig anti-wrap springs. They come with good reviews from the S10 crowd in controlling wheel hop. I'll be putting them to the test for sure, been a day or two since I've treated the tires like a rented mule.

Some of the AC stuff will start rolling in this week, and my ICT Billet "cut to fit" plug wires should be in tomorrow or Thursday.

those half springs should help a lot

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

The guy doing the transmission service spilled fluid after he thought the pan was completely drained....and will remain unnamed.

fire that guy!

[OutlawDrifter]

Originally Posted by joedoh

those half springs should help a lot




fire that guy!

Let's hope so on the springs...they were definitely "affordable".


As to firing the dude who will remain unnamed...he signs the checks and orders the parts, I better keep him around until this project is "done"...haha

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

Let's hope so on the springs...they were definitely "affordable".


As to firing the dude who will remain unnamed...he signs the checks and orders the parts, I better keep him around until this project is "done"...haha

well fire him and give him a couple days off, anyway sounds like the boss is a pushover, and will hire him back

[lower50's]

The carpet turned out nice

[OutlawDrifter]

Originally Posted by lower50's

The carpet turned out nice

Thanks lower50s!

[OutlawDrifter]

Interior less AC is done. I'm very pleased with how the seat turned out, the colors and pattern are exactly what I wanted. Door panels are so-so, I should have made some out of hardboard and had them cover that...oh well.

Everything is in, I just need someone to come by with a spare set of hands to help me tighten the seat down. I can only do so much by myself!!

Had some satin paint that matched the seat pretty well, used that on the plastics. I think it's about ready for a drive!

[joedoh]

very very classy!

[OutlawDrifter]

Thanks Russ!

[Rusti]

Hallo.
Grate interior work! Looks verry clean and comfortable. By the way what type of steering wheel are you useing?
So long Arnd

[OutlawDrifter]

Originally Posted by Rusti

Hallo.
Grate interior work! Looks verry clean and comfortable. By the way what type of steering wheel are you useing?
So long Arnd

Thank you!

It is a 1940 Ford Deluxe steering wheel.

[8man]

That interior really looks good!

[OutlawDrifter]

Originally Posted by 8man

That interior really looks good!

Thanks Robert!

[OutlawDrifter]

Half springs work great! No more wheel hop, just tire smoke and noise.

I moved my coils off the firewall, put them under/behind the air cleaner. Gives it just a touch more SBC flavor.



I've been unhappy with the brakes since I put the truck together. Finally decided to take the one size fits all proportioning valve off. Without a good bleed on the brakes, they are better for sure. I don't know if I got a bad valve, or it just didn't work with my setup. I did put an inline proportioning valve on the back brakes. This valve will also close all the way off and let me destroy back tires without worrying about the brakes. Probably need to find some cheap tires to put on the stock S10 steelies I have.

Cab weatherstripping, window channels, and carpet have made a huge difference in the cab noise. Driver's door is still sprung, so I still get some noise towards the upper part of the door near the back of the cab, overall a huge improvement.

Hope everyone is staying home and healthy!

[joedoh]

squeakin gets the greasin, glad you are driving and fixing! looks great marc!

[Richard2112]

Wow! Nice project

[OutlawDrifter]

Time for an update.

I daily drove the truck for a couple of months, before the weather got too hot. Totally enjoyed it, and it performed flawlessly.

AC is still not done, that got put on the back burner with all the 'rona. I just need the under dash unit, a line set, and the bracket for the compressor, and I can finish it...maybe this Winter when I'm bored. ICT Billet just released a new tight fit compressor 7176 compressor bracket that might clean up my install.

One Saturday I had the Camaro out and noticed it had a puff of smoke when rev'd up. Decided the rings needed some attention, so I threw a can of Kreen in it and all is well, decided the '49 could stand for a cleaning as well. This product amazes me how well it scrubs the inside of an engine! Anyways, back to the story...I was changing the oil in the '49 this weekend and had it back up in the air idling, looking for leaks. Well it was profusely leaking fuel down the back passenger side of the block! Turns out the hose end AN fitting on the fuel rail crossover had sprung a leak. I'm glad it happened on the lift and not going down the road!!! New chunk of hose, and all is well with the world again.

[joedoh]

wow that was a lucky find!

thanks for the update, I was wondering how things have been going with francis! thanks for the heads up on kreen too, I have a ticky lifter on the 2500hd, otherwise no problem. dads old truck so he used shell (dealer) oil in it for a long time.

[OutlawDrifter]

Originally Posted by joedoh

wow that was a lucky find!

thanks for the update, I was wondering how things have been going with francis!

No joke, Russ! Fire is cool and all, just not when its engulfing my vehicles...

Since getting rid of my late model F150(Picked up a GMT400 K2500 454 Suburban as a replacement, cause you know...that's practical), I have been without a pickup bed other than Francis, so I've been shuttling gas cans and other assorted pickup bed duties with the 'ol truck.

[joedoh]

GMT400 K2500 454 Suburban

I bet that gas gauge swings like a vacuum gauge.

[OutlawDrifter]

Originally Posted by joedoh

I bet that gas gauge swings like a vacuum gauge.

Haha, 44gal tank, you don't feel the pain until you put in 27gal when it registers a 1/2 tank.

1999 with the Vortec 7.4l...I have seen 13+mpg all interstate....usually around 11.2-11.5 back and forth to work. Its the smiles per gallon that matter though...right?!

[joedoh]

i had a 99 suburban, 2wd though, with a 350 vortec. it actually got in the 20s on the highway! victory red!

never should have GIVEN IT AWAY. I saw it a few years ago, trashed of course as all gifts end up.

[Nchristi]

Truck looks awesome man. I’m about to finally get my butt in gear and start working on mine again. I’ve got a 53 gmc I’m putting on an s10 frame with 2” drop spindles and 3” rear blocks. I’ve got a 6.0 and 4l80 I’ll be putting in it. I’ll be using skymangs cab mount design. What type of motor mounts did you use? I’m trying to figure out the correct ones that won’t interfere with the steering column. Also what type of headers are you running?

[OutlawDrifter]

Originally Posted by Nchristi

Truck looks awesome man. I’m about to finally get my butt in gear and start working on mine again. I’ve got a 53 gmc I’m putting on an s10 frame with 2” drop spindles and 3” rear blocks. I’ve got a 6.0 and 4l80 I’ll be putting in it. I’ll be using skymangs cab mount design. What type of motor mounts did you use? I’m trying to figure out the correct ones that won’t interfere with the steering column. Also what type of headers are you running?

Thanks!

I used Speed Engineering build your own mounts. Welded them in. I'm running modified factory truck manifolds.

[lower50's]

Sounds like you had an enjoyable summer driving the truck, glad its working out for you.
Who really cares about fuel mileage driving there cool old vehicle. If it bothers you, go get in your new 4 cylinder appliance and drive to walmart. LOL

[OutlawDrifter]

Originally Posted by lower50's

Sounds like you had an enjoyable summer driving the truck, glad its working out for you.
Who really cares about fuel mileage driving there cool old vehicle. If it bothers you, go get in your new 4 cylinder appliance and drive to walmart. LOL

Thanks lower50s!

I don't bother myself with trivial things like fuel economy.

I like to drive vehicles that you have to turn and look at as you're walking away