My own build thread

[zippeay]

Thanks Don!
Drove it to work for the first time.
I also put my Chevyonly sticker on that Dino gave me!
Crappy pics but you get the idea.

[LoRollinLS]

This thing is lookin' great!!!! Kudos for a job well done. BTW, sorry if I missed it, but why are you still running hood-less?

[zippeay]

Thanks Sir!
I have to block out the hood some more and repaint it. It didn't turn out as well as we had hoped. Hopefully I can get it fixed up and repaint soon. I've just been enjoying not having to work on this a little. But I need to get back on it this week and try and finish up some loose ends.

[superflysteiny]

Originally Posted by zippeay

I GOT IT! For some dumb ass reason I decided to stick the stock mechanic fan blade on and it works great. I just drove for about 45 mins and it didn't get above 160-170. Stupid Champion electric fan is junk!
I almost went postal a couple times, I've spent so much time trying to figure this out but I never thought this was the solution. I don't even have a shroud on... I don't know if that fan isn't working right but the stock fan pulls 100x more air... I'm pissed that the fan sucks but I'm so happy that I get to drive it now I almost don't care... Lol
Thank you all for all the comments and suggestions, I still have a lot to finish but this was a very cool step.

I have been there so many times working on these old trucks and motors. Some times there is a point in a project that you ask yourself why the hell am I doing this. I am glad you got it figured out the truck is awesome

[Lowl!f3]

That pic with no hood is nice. What is that blanket called you have on your seat? I want one as well. However I dont know what its called to look for it.

[79azc10]

They are Mexican blankets or serapes but sometimes serapes have a hole in the middle

[zippeay]

Ya the blankets are Mexican blankets. I do upholstery and I'm going to do this seat I just have to take a breather for bit. If you order one make sure it's a large blanket because they make different sizes and the smaller ones won't fit.
If you live in Texas if shouldn't be too hard to find some nice ones and they usually have tons of different colors.
Thanks Superfly and everyone else!
I haven't done anything on my truck really, I've been spending time with the family and relaxing a bit. I have to get back on it and finish things up.

[zippeay]

I did a few things finally. A friend gave me this plastic fan shroud. He said it was for this truck but I don't think it was because it was probably 8-10 inches wider than the radiator. I ended up cutting it apart and plastic welding it together. I originally made plastic tabs to mount it to the radiator but they broke off... So I ended up using/modifying the stock pieces that mount on either side of the radiator.
Surprisingly they worked out pretty well!
I also go tired of the cheap air gauges I had because they rarely worked and installed these Gauges. They work great and look a lot better.

[McMurphy]

Those guages are sweet illuminated !!

Your truck is looking great, any new video?

[zippeay]

Thanks! Ya these look/work a lot better than he old ones. The old ones stopped working about a week After I installed them... Chinese junk...

[Ta2Don]

Driving with a Dino Sticker...

[BRASSHEAD]

This is one of my all time favorite trucks! Everything looks good.

[zippeay]

Thank you!
I blew up the trans a few weeks ago, I have a rebuilt TH350 now I just have to put it back in. Just trying to find another torque converter right now.

[zippeay]

Update, put the new trans in. Everything went good with that other than it took me almost 2 weeks to find a torque converter? I would have never thought it would have been that hard to find a TH350 TC... I guess they are getting hard to come by.
I've just been driving it and going to a few car shows, I definitely need to change out the rear gears though. Doing 60-65 at about 3500 RPM's is not fun!
I probably should have put a 700r4 in it but since I have the tripower setup just the brackets for the TV cable were going to cost $270 bucks plus I'd have to shorten the driveshaft, make a new crossmember, new shift linkage etc... I thought this would be cheaper and easier but maybe I was wrong? What done is done I guess...
My plan right now is to hopefully try and finish painting the hood finally and finish painting a few other pieces as well in the next few weeks. Once that is done I'll work on reupholstering the seat. I need to get this all done so I can try and get my wife's 54 Buick on the road again.

[KJSR]

I saved some $ too and kept my 4 speed. Future upgrade will be a 700r4.......

[zippeay]

Here are some updated pics. Got the hood painted and started buffing it out yesterday. Once I get the hood put on Im going to pull the seat out and start doing the upholstery for it. I figured since it started snowing now is a good time for that.
If I get some time I'm going to start making the wood for the bed as well.
Here are the pics.
This hood was rough to start with. I patch both rear corners and the whole top was pushed in from someone standing on it I think. This has honestly been the most difficult thing I've done body work on in my life. There are so many different angles and contours it took forever trying to get it straight. I am very happy with it now.









Here is the last one, I started buffing it. Wow, this thing shines! So good to see what your hard work pays off on in the end.

[KJSR]

Damn man that looks good. Can't wait to see it on.

[Ta2Don]

Looks like that paint will run right off!!!

Very Nice!!!

[CRGRS 66]

Incredibly nice job, well done sir

[Bomp]

Mirror finish. Top quality job.

[Modges'66]

Looks awesome!
If you look back on my thread, I had a similar problem with the hood.
By far the most intensive body work spent on the entire truck!!!
I think that somebody jumped on mine. Seriously!!!
Great accomplishment!

[Popcorn W]

Originally Posted by zippeay

Got the steering completed. I thought I was going to have to use a hime joint but after putting everything together it turns really well with no problems



Posted via Mobile Device

So, now that you've driven it, does the ho-heim shaft work okay?
You may have saved me some work here. I'm in the process of doing a Z and I ordered two weld-in joints and a heim. Maybe I won't need the heim though.

[cheessee]

Nice build for sure!!

[Jeff La]

Hood and truck looks great

[zippeay]

Originally Posted by Popcorn W

So, now that you've driven it, does the ho-heim shaft work okay?
You may have saved me some work here. I'm in the process of doing a Z and I ordered two weld-in joints and a heim. Maybe I won't need the heim though.

The steering works great, I've never had any problems with it.
Thanks everyone for the positivity.
The hood got messed up, when we were trying to put it on, the bolts got mixed up. One of the bolts was too long and pushed up into the hood "almost went through the top of the hood" when we tried to put the hinges on..
. Yeah it made me so sick I haven't touched it for months because of it. I'll get back on it I just needed some time to relax.
I did order the material for the seat snd I've been waiting for the material to come in for over a month. Hopefully it gets here soon.
Good times!