Project truck dream 65"

[BOXER957]

Truck is looking sweet, why didn't you keep the original latch as the safety?

[lenguini]

Originally Posted by BOXER957

Truck is looking sweet, why didn't you keep the original latch as the safety?

Making one out of aluminum and milling out the center.A much better look,fit and function.

[lenguini]

I got the door panels back from Elgin today....,wrapped in the same color and grain as the seats.I was thinking earlier of painting them,glad I went this route.

I'm really happy that all the contours in the panels show up so well under the wrap,thats what I was hoping for

[McMurphy]

Oh hell yeah..... this is coming along REAL nice!
I am totally on board with the clean look you have going on here; nicely done

[lenguini]

Originally Posted by McMurphy

Oh hell yeah..... this is coming along REAL nice!
I am totally on board with the clean look you have going on here; nicely done

Thanks my friend,Its nice to finally have things rolling along at a fast pace now !

[BOXER957]

Love the wrap, was going to do the same on mine but couldn't find leather seats. I'm down with the stainless buttonheads too, I get them by the box from a wholesaler right up the street. Looking great!

[lenguini]

Originally Posted by BOXER957

Love the wrap, was going to do the same on mine but couldn't find leather seats. I'm down with the stainless buttonheads too, I get them by the box from a wholesaler right up the street. Looking great!

Thanks for the good words. The fastners are actually the factory phillips head repainted.

[lenguini]

I spent a couple hours in the shop today and I think I have the template for the rad cover roughed out to where I'm happy with it.
Going to make it out of stainless rather than aluminum as it will take a little more abuse.

[lenguini]

Here my heads are getting prepped for screw in studs.With more lift this is an absolute necessity ,not to keen on the idea of pinning.

The trans crossmember arrived today.I have reason to believe a trip to the machine shop may be in order as these are close but may require a 1" to 2" block to make all level.Ill know for sure once I move my motor mounts ahead to allow for the tall valve covers and HEI distributor with integral coil.

I have done my research and to date have decided with the Petronix flame thrower distrib.Performance wise,it looks to be the best choice and still made in the USA unlike most others.

[Jeff La]

Good clean build, waiting for it to all come together, it'll be awesome.

[zippeay]

I had a pertronix in my 36 chevy, I had a chevy 348 in it and that was the best thing I ever did for that motor. It fired almost ever time on 1 turn unless it sat for a bit and didn't have fuel in the carb. They are well worth the money and the cool thing is no knows unless you tell them!

Looking very nice though. I thought I was detail oriented... You have me beat hands down! Some very smart quality work, good job!

[lenguini]

Originally Posted by zippeay

I had a pertronix in my 36 chevy, I had a chevy 348 in it and that was the best thing I ever did for that motor. It fired almost ever time on 1 turn unless it sat for a bit and didn't have fuel in the carb. They are well worth the money and the cool thing is no knows unless you tell them!

Looking very nice though. I thought I was detail oriented... You have me beat hands down! Some very smart quality work, good job!

Glad to hear it ! Nice to have some feedback on the Pertronix product.Its soon on order so I'm looking forward to bolting it in and running my wires.

[lenguini]

Originally Posted by zippeay

I had a pertronix in my 36 chevy, I had a chevy 348 in it and that was the best thing I ever did for that motor. It fired almost ever time on 1 turn unless it sat for a bit and didn't have fuel in the carb. They are well worth the money and the cool thing is no knows unless you tell them!

Looking very nice though. I thought I was detail oriented... You have me beat hands down! Some very smart quality work, good job!

Glad to hear it ! Nice to have some feedback on the Pertronix product.Its soon on order so I'm looking forward to bolting it in and running my wires.

The detail thing went a little beyond what I ever thought...funny how things change once you get underway.This was supposed to be a 1 year build,at 3 plus years now.

Thanks for the good words.

[McMurphy]

Originally Posted by lenguini

Glad to hear it ! Nice to have some feedback on the Pertronix product.Its soon on order so I'm looking forward to bolting it in and running my wires.

The detail thing went a little beyond what I ever thought...funny how things change once you get underway.This was supposed to be a 1 year build,at 3 plus years now.

Thanks for the good words.

I have the pertronix on my 66 Tempest OHC-6 230ci which was rebuilt as a Sprint, so should be pushing 215 horse (I really need to Dyno it...) and I can say I love it. It seems to work perfectly for the older engines and of course getting rid of the point helps too.

The detail thing...
yeah mine was supposed to be an engine swap, tranny install, and some rattle can paint.

Only thing left of that plan (2 years later) is the rattle can paint.....

But the end is in sight, somewhat.

[zippeay]

Don't feel bad, I've been working on mine for about 2 years. I'm actually fairly close to getting mine on the road. I was hoping to finish before the snow comes but that isn't looking too good right now. You'll get there man, and you'll have a really nice ride when it's finished! The pertronix is easy to install too. I ran mine for over 2 years and never had any problems with it.

[lenguini]

Originally Posted by zippeay

Don't feel bad, I've been working on mine for about 2 years. I'm actually fairly close to getting mine on the road. I was hoping to finish before the snow comes but that isn't looking too good right now. You'll get there man, and you'll have a really nice ride when it's finished! The pertronix is easy to install too. I ran mine for over 2 years and never had any problems with it.

I was just looking over your build thread...nice work ! I can see your big on the details as well.That's where the time slips away.

I have to give credit to the builders on this site for keeping the motivation levels high,don't know I'd be as far along as I am without it !

[zippeay]

Originally Posted by lenguini

I was just looking over your build thread...nice work ! I can see your big on the details as well.That's where the time slips away.

I have to give credit to the builders on this site for keeping the motivation levels high,don't know I'd be as far along as I am without it !

Thank you for the kind words. I've learned so much from this forum, my truck wouldn't be half as nice without it. Everyone needs motivation especially when this isn't your only job. It's hard working all day and going home and working half the night but when your truck/car is done and everyone asked who built it and you tell them that you did. There are few things in life that give you that sense of accomplishment. Hang in there man, you're not that far away.

[lenguini]

Last week I had the holes in the center hood braces welded up.Had no time to clean them up on the backside before heading to Vancouver this past weekend,fortunately my bud had a shop and grinder so we both took a crack at it and got them done in time to drop at the Chrome shop early that afternoon !

[lenguini]

I stopped at the machine shop after work today to get some pic's of my 383.What you see in the pic's is bought and paid for ! It sure feels good to be at this stage,started this back in late January this past year.
Now I could have went with a crate unit but I wanted true American iron here which is the only way to go to get the quality and peace of mind.All aftemarket components in this engine are all made in the U.S.A.
No corners cut here,all the goodies I have always wanted over the years,but never took the leap.

The next step is to shoot this in epoxy primer,then finish in Endura gloss black.

Now I have been told Endura is the most durable and long lasting finish out there,so any opinions of those who feel otherwise will be appreciated here.

[65Gregg]

This is one of my favorite builds, outstanding work! I do have a question, I noticed your Vortec heads have guide plates, can those be used with the self aligning rockers used on those heads?

[lenguini]

Originally Posted by 65Gregg

This is one of my favorite builds, outstanding work! I do have a question, I noticed your Vortec heads have guide plates, can those be used with the self aligning rockers used on those heads?

Thanks,I'm glad your enjoying my build,its been a'lot of time,work and money and its not over yet ! As far as the guideplate question...,I wouldn't recommend it as they tend to work against each other.Should run one or the other

[Dinos63]

very cool!

[lenguini]

Not many updates in the last week as I had to step away for sanity reasons !

Darcy had finished the latch and return spring assembly and 1 week ago we attempted the install it.All was going well until I gave an extra squeeze on the makeshift combo I used for setting the rivet nut.


We didnt have the 3/8 pin to set the nut so I used a 5/16 pin and threaded a nut on the end to compensate.I ran a tap throught the nut before hand to make sure it would not bind on the threads of the pin once pressure was applied to set the nut.Not to mention cutting a groove around the nut for the wire that I fished through my front hood brace which was an hour long process.

First pic is the start,good times !


.Second pic was stupidity.


3rd pic was the oh ...t........,the wire fell off the nut and cant get the pin out and yes....,the nut siezed on the pin pic




I tried for 2 hours to get this apart...,now I'm really .....d off,so no more work or pics for a week.

Second week after some serious meditation I took the hood up to Tylers shop to fix my mess and cut the @#*@#*! ing rivet nut out and weld in a hex nut which should have been done in the first place,Darcy and I went at the install again.

Hood saftey latch a success,a few minor mods and its good to go.

I'm soon going to have Darcy fab up a stainless hood pin/sleeve with a countersunk allenbolt to match.

A special thanks to Darcy and Tyler.

[lenguini]

The Rad cover came back from the fab shop yesterday.Its precise with the fit..., Im pretty happy with it.I could have had it back alot sooner but I told them to take their time if it would save me a few dollars.

I had to do some fine tuning as the holes were slightly off due to the thickness of the stainless.I like the hood release bracket in behind the cover opposed to in front which was the original plan...any thoughts ?

Sure wanted to take the protective coating off but thought better of it until later to avoid scratching.

[TJ's Chevy]

Looking good! Keep it up! Thanks for the updates!