What did you do with your truck today, Part 3

[carbuff382]

Originally Posted by DransportGarage

I haven't checked in since my driver's door wiped the paint off the edge of the fender. That caused me to quit working on the beast for about 3 months.

Here's what happened: I installed the interior door panel, but there was a bow just below the door window. I took a couple of channel locks, bent that part of the door in slightly, reinstalled the interior panel and...PERFECT. Unfortunately, it upset the door overall. I closed the door and wiped out the paint on the rear edge of the fender.

Anyway, I've been back at it for a few weeks. The electricals pretty much check out now, steering is in and the interior is complete except for the tach installation. I'm trying to bust into the schedule of my buddy that has the machine shop so I can make a spiffy bracket.

Here are some interior pics. (I do plan to change out the horn button to a '67 vette item that has only the crossed flags.)

Nice looking truck! What color did you use on the exterior?

[DransportGarage]

Originally Posted by carbuff382

Nice looking truck! What color did you use on the exterior?

It's 2003 Chrysler Prowler Orange.

[mick53]

I unmasked my water pump and transmission. Also changed all the hardware to ARP 12 point polished stainless bolts. The little stand offs worked well for being able to get paint under the heads. It let me replace and retorque the bolts one at a time. The ARP lube on the washers kept it from tearing the still kind of soft paint. I'm thinking this is good for about 22 HP. If I'm posting too many pictures please let me know. It's also hard to balance the water pump on those two wires and make the bolt stick to the cover.

[DransportGarage]

Originally Posted by mick53

I unmasked my water pump and transmission. Also changed all the hardware to ARP 12 point polished stainless bolts. The little stand offs worked well for being able to get paint under the heads. It let me replace and retorque the bolts one at a time. The ARP lube on the washers kept it from tearing the still kind of soft paint. I'm thinking this is good for about 22 HP. If I'm posting too many pictures please let me know. It's also hard to balance the water pump on those two wires and make the bolt stick to the cover.

Lookin' great, Mick! Oh, and the bolts and wires? We figured that along with all the other miracles you're performing, you figured out how to repeal the Law of Gravity!

[mick53]

Originally Posted by DransportGarage

Lookin' great, Mick! Oh, and the bolts and wires? We figured that along with all the other miracles you're performing, you figured out how to repeal the Law of Gravity!

The key is not to defy gravity but to amplify it and point it up.

[57FleetsideC4]

Originally Posted by DransportGarage

I haven't checked in since my driver's door wiped the paint off the edge of the fender. That caused me to quit working on the beast for about 3 months.

Here's what happened: I installed the interior door panel, but there was a bow just below the door window. I took a couple of channel locks, bent that part of the door in slightly, reinstalled the interior panel and...PERFECT. Unfortunately, it upset the door overall. I closed the door and wiped out the paint on the rear edge of the fender.

Anyway, I've been back at it for a few weeks. The electricals pretty much check out now, steering is in and the interior is complete except for the tach installation. I'm trying to bust into the schedule of my buddy that has the machine shop so I can make a spiffy bracket.

Here are some interior pics. (I do plan to change out the horn button to a '67 vette item that has only the crossed flags.)

Beautiful truck you have there. Love the interior and where the speakers are located. Steve

[57FleetsideC4]

Originally Posted by mick53

I unmasked my water pump and transmission. Also changed all the hardware to ARP 12 point polished stainless bolts. The little stand offs worked well for being able to get paint under the heads. It let me replace and retorque the bolts one at a time. The ARP lube on the washers kept it from tearing the still kind of soft paint. I'm thinking this is good for about 22 HP. If I'm posting too many pictures please let me know. It's also hard to balance the water pump on those two wires and make the bolt stick to the cover.

It's the things like this that make a nice truck even nicer. Good work. Lots of detail. Steve

[DransportGarage]

Originally Posted by 57FleetsideC4

Beautiful truck you have there. Love the interior and where the speakers are located. Steve

Thanks, Steve. I need the drive from your comments to finish the beast.

[idbeast]

I ordered a new trailer to be able to take the '56 with me when we take the motorhome out for trips!

[DransportGarage]

Originally Posted by idbeast

I ordered a new trailer to be able to take the '56 with me when we take the motorhome out for trips!

Some of us can only dream...

[mick53]

I put the water pump on and I am happy with it. I started mocking up the alternator. I just used a stock mount to get my bearings. For some unknown reason the pulleys don't line up. This is a really nice duel rectifier unit that Mechman custom made for me. They spent at least an hour on the phone with me and I recommend them if your into that sort of thing. Go America. Now I need to design a mount that is within my capabilities to make. I have plenty of aluminum to screw up. Hope your having a fun filled day.

[NorCalGal]

OMG!!!!!!

[mick53]

I played with making my alternator bracket today. I didn't have any 6061 square aluminum big enough but I do have some round. I buy mostly scrap for making little things. I pay between $2-$3 a pound delivered for it so if I screw something up it's no big deal. I put it in the lathe to get it round and square so I had a good starting surface. It goes against what I normally do but I'm trying something different. Nobody told the honeybee that aerodynamically it couldn't fly. We'll see how it works out. Thank you for your time.

[MiraclePieCo]

That's one badass alternator. But yeah, those pulleys are just a smidgeon off ;-) Just one more challenge to overcome...

[mick53]

I made clearance for my damper in the bracket today. The one that is on there is a slip fit for mock up that they made me. This is a one off SFI damper made for me by BHJ. It cost $1000 and took 5 months to get. I etch-a-sketched most of the material out with an end mill. Then I finished it out with a very unhappy boring bar and mill. I just keep removing everything that's not an alternator bracket. I don't know if this is going to work but I'm having fun. I hope you are having a fun filled day.

[mick53]

I spent some time time chasing glass patterns for my 53 to send to the people making acoustic glass for my truck. Jim Carter used to sell them but he said they can't get them anymore. He sent me to Bob's Classic Auto Glass in Oregon and he is going to send them to me completely free. What a great guy. I worked on my alternator bracket for a few hours. It's getting smaller so I must be doing something. It generally goes like stare at it for 30 minutes, set up for 30 minutes and machine for 5 minutes, repeat. Thank you for you time. Are you bored yet?

[nvrdone]

let it sit in a warm garage while i sat & watched it snow. 8.5" so far today.

[idbeast]

Originally Posted by nvrdone

let it sit in a warm garage while i sat & watched it snow. 8.5" so far today.

nvrdone 12" at my place south of Tumwater!

[mick53]

I kept whittling away at my bracket. I made a little jig (machinist look away) to do the outside radius. I kept working on it until I got what should be enough adjustment. I still have to pretty it up and make an adjuster thingy. It seems very strong. I hope it doesn't fall off at 165mph. Thank you for your time.

[mr48chev]

Slick, all I did was shovel snow today.

The roof of the 48 is under the snow behind the chain hoist and the wind drifted snow onto the 51 last night.

I had planned to get work done on the trailer in front of the garage this weekend but that won't happen for a while now. Not much chance of starting a fire right now though.

[Daze57]

last picture looks like a picture postcard........nice

[mick53]

I watched my neighbor (who doesn't like me) shovel his driveway for 3 hours yesterday. Then I got my bobcat out and did my whole yard in 15 minutes. He doesn't like my "old trucks".

[idbeast]

Originally Posted by mick53

i watched my neighbor (who doesn't like me) shovel his driveway for 3 hours yesterday. Then i got my bobcat out and did my whole yard in 15 minutes. He doesn't like my "old trucks".

lol

[nvrdone]

mick - did you dump the snow in front of his driveway ????

[mick53]

Originally Posted by nvrdone

mick - did you dump the snow in front of his driveway ????

No I loaded it up and dumped it out back. It looks like it didn't snow in my front yard. You can see green. I did clean the "old trucks" off for him to look at.