Project "49 No Buck$"

[kustombrad]

Haven't been on in awhile and realized I left you guys hangin'! Got a bunch done on the AC, just need to finish up the lines/hoses. The "secret" project... lol! Yeah, at the time I couldn't say anything about it but I guess now it's OK. My friend Dennis and myself did the the flames, airbrush work and striping on the truck Optimus Prime for the new Tranformers movie! Was a pretty cool gig to get the phone call for! We ended up doing 2 trucks that were identical and these things were crazy over the top hot rods built like crazy over the top hot rods! Been helping Alex a bit on his '64 and we finally got the motor and trans in it, so that's getting a bit closer! My latest project is the most over the top thing I've taken on ever! I decided to take a break from cars and do something I've wanted to really do my whole life and since I turned 50 I decided to make it happen... I'm building a streamliner and going racing at Bonneville! My brain has been going a million miles an hour on this endeavour and I'm really excited! I'll post some pics up soon to show whats going on.
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[69CST-V]

Bonneville with a Streamliner sounds awesome. Keep us posted on how it all comes together.

[solidaxel]

Originally Posted by kustombrad

Haven't been on in awhile and realized I left you guys hangin'! building a streamliner and going racing at Bonneville! My brain has been going a million miles an hour on this endeavour and I'm really excited! I'll post some pics up soon to show whats going on.
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Maybe stick to ...........................200MPH. I think the million MPH is just a bit unattainable.

Back some time ago you mentioned a shock for our trucks, who was it?

Thanks for keeping us updated Good luck!

[Low Elco]

Woo hoo stoked for ya! What you building? Class, motor? Damn that sounds fun!
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[kustombrad]

For you landspeed guys I'll be running J/BFS & J/BGS. For everyone else that means twin turboed 750cc of getting with it horsepower! It's 4 wheels just incase you were wondering. The record in the class is 266mph and is owned at the moment by Jack Costella and Rick Yacoucci who absolutely dominate at both El Mirage and Bonneville!
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[Low Elco]

You're gonna go heads up against Nebulous Theorem? Nothing like a challenge! Best of luck on your noble quest, Sir!
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[Palf70Step]

Love your truck. Really enjoyed reading your build thread.

[OrrieG]

Start a build thread (unless the design is top secret). Are you going old school belly tank or modern streamliner?

[kustombrad]

Yes Low, I'm going after "Theorum"! The car I'm building is a fairly cutting edge streamliner and I do believe that Jack and Rick can be beaten! The record in that class is 266 and 269mph and I think it is very much beatable. I've been wanting to do this my whole life and I decided once I turned 50 it needed to happen! I did some kart stuff with my daughter when she was younger and we did very well and had a blast! Anyone who knows me knows that I absolutely love cars and trucks but my real passion is RACING! I'd like to think I've had some pretty good ideas when it comes to truck stuff and show how I can do things just a bit different than most people, but the racing deal is even crazier than that! I'll stop rambling now! I've pondered about doing a build thread and show a little of what goes on in my head without giving too much away, but I want to get a little farther along. I'll give you some dimensions to think about in the meantime... 28' long, 26" wide and 27" tall
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[vht]

I want to see the A/C deal you done. If it's anything like everything else you've done, it's got to be low budget awesome. Pics and info please.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Any new news on the truck OR the streamliner?

Was searching "gas tanks" for my TF and somehow(?) ended up back on this thread for a couple hours. Re-read the entire thing. Just inspiring!

[kustombrad]

Hey Dan and everyone else who wants to know whats going on! I obviously dropped the ball on finishing the AC. Everything was mocked up and put in place, I just needed to finish the hoses and dial it in and then this race deal took over every bit of my brain! Call me ADD cuz that's pretty much how it is. Been working on the race car every chance I get and the pile of tubing actually resembles a chassis now, which is pretty cool. I'll put some pics up when it looks a little better. It's definitely a challenge designing and building a car out of a pile of stuff and having nothing more to go off than just a bunch of drawings you've sketched up! Be patient guys and I'll have some pics up soon!

[draggin53chevy]

Okay I must ask. Im new to the forum but have read your whole build. If you dont mind me asking as far as dollar amount lut into the build what do you have in it? Im just curious to know! I have a 53 3600 that my father and I will be doing together over a peroid of time. I love your build and your work. Thanks for taking the time to post your info etc. Do you ever get to Florida area at all Daytona Beach specifically? Just wondering once we get our truck done id like to have you pin stripe my truck. Thanks for being a huge inspiration

[99 to Life]

draggin53' figured I throw this at you. To do a proper frame off build with a clip or s10 chassis, with all new suspension, rebuilt engine, decent interior and engine bay, decent driveline and some tires your going to be around 7-10k atleast. You can def build them cheaper if you have the means and can easily get yourself into the 12-15k +range. Going with original frame I'd factor about 1500 extra to be safe, if you do an IFS. There are soo many variables with how far you want to go, what deals you find, what corners you cut or don't cut. Last note, not having to paint the truck will save a boat load of time and money, thats why I think the patina trucks are so versatile. They are very distinctive and unique and save alot of time getting on the road and you don't gotta sweat every little bug hitting your paint. Your asking a hard question cause there is no direct answer, more like a an average number.

[draggin53chevy]

I appreciate the advice 99tolife. I myself think its a neat idea to keep the patina look. as you stated its a money and time saver. Im fortunate enough to be capable to do all the work to the truck its just time. I figure over the course of a couple years or so my dad and myself financially can possibly get it done. Its just time for me traveling and getting the time off work. I appreciate any and all advice. thanks

[ChuckDriver]

Check out page 73 in the January issue of Classic Trucks! Congrats Brad!!!

[STOCKISH]

^^Just saw your truck in CCT. Awesome!!

[chevyrestoguy]

I have been around this truck since the day we went down to Yucaipa, California to go get it. We had borrowed the scariest car trailer (wired from front to back with extension cord amongst other things) and we were towing it with Brad's slammed S-10 Blazer. I don't think I relaxed until we pulled into the driveway.

I can attest that this truck was truly built low-buck. Money was spent in the right places, like some of the suspension parts, the stereo, and the wiring, but a lot of the stuff on the truck was done using parts he already had, some parts I had, and parts that he traded with other people. He did a ton of research, and when we hit the wrecking yards looking for parts, he already knew what to look for.

To truly appreciate this truck, you have to see it in person. You'll do a bunch of laps around the truck checking it out, and you still won't see everything. A lot of clever, creative things were done that are so subtle you'll miss it if he doesn't point it out to you.

On the road, this truck rides awesome and is a great long-distance road tripper, as evidenced by the two California to Oregon to Washington and Back road trips it has done. If you like loud, nasty sounding trucks, this thing is definitely that, as I can hear him from inside my house a quarter mile away when he pulls on to my street.

I'm finally glad to see that he finally got it into a magazine. They should really do a feature. Unfortunately, it doesn't fit the current trend of large diameter wheels and air-ride that all the magazine go nuts over, and that's too bad.

[99 to Life]

I haven't seen the mag yet, congrats. But yeah mags are cool but for sure miss alot of very worthy stuff out there. There are alot of politics involved with magazines. They have advertisers that basically pay to keep the mag running. It's a very sketchy market these days and I'm surprised there are as many mags still around. I'v been in alot of major skateboard mags and its the same thing, politics. However most the major skate mags are cutting back pages, going to 6 issues a year and some went digital. So if the car world ran everything that the purists wanted or the real deal stuff, they'd be out of biz probably. So they gotta find the balance of what the masses want, what the advertisers want and what they want.

[kustombrad]

Alex brought a copy of the magazine over today (thanks again dude!) and was cool seeing the truck in there! Yep 99, you are very much right about all of that... oh well!

[rusty76]

kool beans

[eldogg]

Not sure how I missed this build. All I can say is WOW.

[Roadkill58]

Originally Posted by chevyrestoguy

I'm finally glad to see that he finally got it into a magazine. They should really do a feature. Unfortunately, it doesn't fit the current trend of large diameter wheels and air-ride that all the magazine go nuts over, and that's too bad.

Your truck and Brad's truck is the we built cars when we were kids. Parts from wherever we could get them. Spend money when we had to. Try to keep everything as clean as possible.

They may not be "show" trucks, but they are "go" trucks!

[ChickenCityHotRods]

Eldogg turned me onto your build thread and man you have a killer truck! I love all the low buck tricks you've come up with.

[kustombrad]

Thanks for the kind words guys! Here's something I figured I'd share with you. I was striping some guitar stuff for Chip Foose a while back and took my truck since he hadn't seen it yet. When he was looking at the engine, he noticed the air cleaner wing nut wasn't quite right and I told him it pulled the threads out. He asked why I didn't put an insert in and I told him I didn't want it exploding in my hands while I did it. He proceded to take it off and said he was going to do it, I told him to watch his fingers. Here it is after he fixed it after he went out to put it on I asked if he squared up the air cleaner so it wouldn't leak. After explaining the goofyness of the cleaner design and how it will leak and telling him what I was going to do fix it (in my spare time lol) he grabbed it and said he wanted to fix it! Fine, but don't you have something, anything more important?... "Nope", OK then, have fun! Lol So he cut out an aluminum plate that filled in the the top area. and then he went out and installed it What a great guy!