1949 Chevy 3600 into a daily driver

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by focusedontheprize

Truck is looking great.

Thanks!!

[Coach529]

Still plugging away a little at a time. Life is soo busy right now we projects and work........but the end is near for Henry!!

Picked up a seat cover and seat rebuild kit from LMC. The cover is nice. Wish it was 2 pieces so I could removed the bottom. I bought a seat rebuild kit. Not overly impressed with that. Basically just some foam, a chunk of carpet and some hog rings. And only enough to cover either the back or bottom, not both. Live and learn.

Anyway, got the bottom part of the seat cover done and installed.



Bolted on the taillights that I got from Wood1 last night. Still need to wire them. I found some awesome old 3/8" rusty galvanized flex I am going to use to cover the wires.



Still need to get the fenders bolted up solid and bolted to the running boards. The bolt the bed down.

Install rear bumper.

Stereo is ordered......will be here Tuesday!!

Itchin to drive this old dawg!!

I had a little help last night.

Colton, age 1.



Colton and my oldest, Kennedy.

[Stickman]

Cool truck, nice looking family and great photography.
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[Coach529]

Had a marathon late night session last night and got the brake leaks fixed and the brakes bled.

Also tightened up the steering box.

This morning I finished up the rear tail lights and put the rest of the cover on the seat and we set out for a test drive.

Put about 20 miles on around town and came back to the house. Ran great, except ran a bit warm IMO.

Check all the fluids, the anitifreeze was a bit low. Rest was good.

Set out again for a little tool around the neighborhood.

After stopping at a couple places around town it left us stranded. Seemed like no spark. Called a buddy and we pulled it home. Further inspection found no point gap at all. Adjusted the gap and started right up. Replaced the rotor and cap for good measure since they were shot.

Went out for another 45 minute cruise tonight. Temp got up over 200 (gauge showed 212 which is maxed). Stopped and took some pictures and let it cool.

Drive home and the longer I drove the more it crept up.

Got home and the coolant level is fine.

Should I flush the cooling system? Any advice?

[mknittle]

Ahh points, keep an extra set in the glove box. I had a 68 that would get oil on the points from time to time.

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by mknittle

Ahh points, keep an extra set in the glove box. I had a 68 that would get oil on the points from time to time.

I plan on converting it over to HEI real soon!

[_Ogre]

do you have a fan shroud?

not sure if your motor uses the same dist as the 194 that i had in my 63 chevy II
we found a mid 80s distributor that slid right in for hei
there's also pertronics, i can vouch for those being reliable

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

do you have a fan shroud?

not sure if your motor uses the same dist as the 194 that i had in my 63 chevy II
we found a mid 80s distributor that slid right in for hei
there's also pertronics, i can vouch for those being reliable

No fan shroud.
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[NEWFISHER]

Originally Posted by Coach529

No fan shroud.
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Me either. I have never had one with an inliner. V8, I have always needed one.
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[NEWFISHER]

Pull the tsat and boil it to verify its working, if so take upper rad hose off rad siide and point down. Pull rad cap and install garden hose. Start truck and verify water pump is working. Flush system. Shut off eengine and fill radiator. Remove lower hose and verify radiator flows is good. If cooling system checks out good, check engine timing. If timing good, pull radiator and have it professionaly cleaned. You could also watch rad for combustion gas bubbles after tstat is open, but rarely have I heard of an inliner headgasket pushing combustion gas. Good job on the test drive. Shift boot is on its way
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[Coach529]

Originally Posted by NEWFISHER

Pull the tsat and boil it to verify its working, if so take upper rad hose off rad siide and point down. Pull rad cap and install garden hose. Start truck and verify water pump is working. Flush system. Shut off eengine and fill radiator. Remove lower hose and verify radiator flows is good. If cooling system checks out good, check engine timing. If timing good, pull radiator and have it professionaly cleaned. You could also watch rad for combustion gas bubbles after tstat is open, but rarely have I heard of an inliner headgasket pushing combustion gas. Good job on the test drive. Shift boot is on its way
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Thanks for the info....... I will check it out.
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[focusedontheprize]

Do you think it's possible he has an air pocket in it? The reason I ask is Coach was mentioning his motor not really getting that warm and now it is getting too warm. Just trying to figure out what else it could be.

Congrats on the maiden voyage. I don't think people mind you stopping to let that beast cool so they could grab some shots of it.

[Coach529]

OK.......so a little playing and working on the truck the past weekend.

Last night my son and I flushed the cooling system with water and replaced the old thermostat. Topped it off and let it warm up. Comes up to temp perfect now.

Went for a spin around the block and the temp rose again. Came home and checked coolant and it was a little low. I am guessing I had an air bubble. No problem. Topped it off again and went for a longer spin and it stayed right at 190 the whole time. I am holding out hope the cooling system problems are fixed.

It runs great and the more I drive it the better it gets. Getting a ton of looks, and thumbs up around town. What a hoot.

Last night after a 20 minute cruise the brakes seemed to be dragging. I am wondering if I have the pedal set a little tight and it is building up pressure.

I still need to align the truck but it drives straight and so far is a delight. Obviously it is not a fan of rough roads.

[Low Elco]

congrats on it being a runner! Great job on the whole thing, I know the debug process is a major PITA.

[Dodger]

Love the truck Coach. Have been following and enjoying your thread.

Great to see another 3600 back on the track and looking a treat!

Well done.
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[Coach529]

Sorry for no updates.....not a lot to report I guess.

Last week I installed the floor mat and shift boot Newfisher sent me.

Today I installed a stereo and some speakers, along with an amp and sub for the box I had built below the seat.

Still have a couple speakers to install, but at least I have some tunes now!!

After flushing the cooling system multiple times it seems to be cured. Solid 190 all the time once warmed up!!

I have been driving it daily if possible. Mostly short trips around town, but tonight I took a 15 mile cruise at highway speed. Took him all the way up to 70mph without issue. Plenty of pedal left, but no idea of the RPM's I was turning. Tracks down the road great......no shakes or wobbles.

I can hear a distinct vibration at anything over 50mph. Some sort of drivetrain vibration I would guess. I do not feel it in the steering wheel.

Not sure if it is a driveshaft issue? Transmission makes a lot of gear noise all the time, IMO any way. I really have nothing to compare it to.

I need to get it over to my father in laws place and put it on the hoist to change all the fluids in the next week or so.

Doing work!!



Poppin wheelies



Bath time

[NEWFISHER]

Great job on a great truck! Drive the snot out of it.
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[Coach529]

Originally Posted by NEWFISHER

Great job on a great truck! Drive the snot out of it.
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I have been volunteering for EVERY errand my wife needs done, just so I can drive it!!

[Russell Ashley]

I have enjoyed your build. that last pic is great, the truck sits just right.

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by Russell Ashley

I have enjoyed your build. that last pic is great, the truck sits just right.

Thank you!!

[Chris.]

Looks great! Congratulations on getting it on the road! How do you like the braking with the new master cylinder? I'm thin
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[Chris.]

Thinking of using the same one
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[OrrieG]

Great stance, great patina, I really like it nice job.

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by Chris.

Looks great! Congratulations on getting it on the road! How do you like the braking with the new master cylinder? I'm thin
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Love it. Braking requires a little more boot, but will slow the big old truck down just fine!!

[Coach529]

Good work truck!!