"Geronimo" 54' 3100 LS built in PA

[mongocanfly]

Couldn't get your video to play..may just be me..

[iowaboynca]

Mongo I put a link below maybe that will help.

99...sounds good. I got chills when you revved it.

https://youtu.be/KGVcp6re-OM

[mongocanfly]

Yep that works...sounds great..

[99 to Life]

iowa, yah those weren't even full refs. I luv the throttle response, wish I had some good exhaust and a decent camera. My video cam IMO has some soft sound quality. My phone is always too full to record much with.

[Advanced Design]

Congrat's on the start 99. Always good getting them to this point.

[99 to Life]

1-20

here is a little better video https://youtu.be/M0gpKPppxls


also somehow managed to yank 5speed out and toss the actual 4l60e in there for moch up. working on the trans cover and firewall next.

[99 to Life]

1-23 monday, got trans tunnel almost done. nothing fancy and this is my first radius style hump. I usually like doing square ones. no tools used here, just my knee and some metal objects as anvils. I made a frame that followed the stock opening in the floor, then came up to the firewall. I then used 1 piece of 18g to make the top hump and then another to make the one big area. So its technically all double flanged for extra durability. It also bolts on. I got 5hrs in this thing believe it or not. was scrapping the last of my metal together. it will fit tight when I get all the bolts in. I'll try and find some gasket of sort to put under it also.

[joedoh]

good looking tunnel! engine sounds good too

[oldman3]

Looking good there 99...Jim

[99 to Life]

1-25

thanks guys. so today I started cleaning up the firewall. These areas here I recessed a bit just to give the engine a little more cushion. I cut the area out, shaped up a piece and welded it back in.

[youngrodder]

The trans cover turned out great. Much better than a squared off one.

Marc

[99 to Life]

thanks, I like the square ones but wanted to try a radius one. I'll build a custom cup holder for it.

[99 to Life]

1-30 nothing too exciting. filled about 30 holes or so in firewall, some big some small. fixed the two sides on firewall where they always seem to rot since chevy lap jointed that area for some weird reason. Not that lapjoints are entirely bad but just seems like it didn't need to be there and its prone to the elements. I plan to paint the firewall and engine bay with a tan gloss paint. I think it will compliment the blue and touch of red on engine. I got about 9hrs in the firewall so far. That includes the recessed areas I made for the engine.

[99 to Life]

last pic is my self built english wheel that is almost done. still need to finish up the bottom nest and a few other things and final weld. big thanks to shannonpanel or 48chevypanel he use to post on here alot. He sent me the HF dies he had laying around. I'll use these till I get good enough to need some hoosier profile dies which are expensive. I literally have $20 or so in this. Its super low buck with material I had laying around. I got about 6hrs in it so far and coulda been faster had I had some better material to use for the bottom adjuster. Hopefully this threaded rod works and I won't need acme thread.

I made it a point to finally build buy or whatever I gotta do with stepping up my tools. I have very little tools and when it comes to shaping metal I want some better tools to try and push my skill level. I know I can do it, I just don't have simple things like a shrinker/stretcher. So next on the list is the HF bead roller that I'll be making electric. I want to keep my tools as diverse as I can. I don't want all HF stuff so I'll make what I can and hopefully find some old tools to fill in if I possible. I want to support usa made stuff, but I simply can't afford most stuff. I honestly still work out of a portable craftsman mechanics tool set, don't even own a real tool box!!

[iowaboynca]

No shame being 'portable'. A socket doesn't care if its in a tool chest or a bag. And you can never have too many tools!

[oldman3]

99, I think, you making your own tools is great, Shannon has done well with his improved home grown tools. It's what you put out (great rides) that shows you know how to use what you have...Jim

[lower50's]

Oh Ya that motor sounds nice. Not having many tools is not a bad thing. Some people can do amazing work with very little, then there are some people that do crappy work and have every tool made. Keep up the good work!

[99 to Life]

thanks guys. I hope to possibly put up a 20x30 maybe 35' steel garage this year. I can get the frame off my neighbor for 500 bucks, then I can start piecing the roof and walls together. maybe get a floor in this year too. We'll see, money is tight. If I had that garage, I can finally just have all my tools in there, nice clean and organized. That and some good tools I'm striving for this year, and getting this truck done!

[MIKESAD50]

Nice work and great job on building english wheel

[Advanced Design]

Nice work on the firewall 99. That wheel will be handy...and when you are ready Joe makes very nice anvils.

[youngrodder]

The firewall cleaned up nicely...Good progress...


Marc

[STOCKISH]

Firewall looks great!

[joedoh]

that english wheel is a behemoth! need to pull one of your spare frames from your collection and make it roll

firewall looks great too

[99 to Life]

thanks guys, still finishing up the Ewheel. Had to put a steel plate on the back side of the longest leg. Working on the lower anvil nest. Hoping to to try it out this weekend. Im finally making it a point to build or buy as many sheet metal tools as possible this year.
Just caught sail to actually bag my 51' this year, rework interior and some other stuff. So this year should be extremely packed. can't wait to finish up Geronimo.

On a tool note, sounds lame but I never had good drill bits and it made me hate drilling holes. So I got some from drillhog on ebay. and so far I'm happy. I really like affordable usa made products and one with a warranty. So if any of you need some cobalt bits, check them out. these were 40$ to my door.

[lower50's]

Oh good drill bits and taps are so nice to use.