Project "Rock-a-Billy".....Saga Continues.....

[hotrodhomi]

shop done? updates?

[ChiefRocka]

Yeap...actually came out pretty nice. The firewall was completed, as well as the electrical a coupe of weeks ago.

I forgot all about pictures....Got my 220 working again to my welders and car lift.

Currently have a 78 Lowrider Monte Carlo (Looks like the "Training Day" monte, only silver) getting some rear suspension mods.

The Chief is currently undergoing a dirt/dust collection test....Soon as I get a chance, gonna pull the half installed 700R4 and install a M22....

Currently got my place on the market...time to buy something bigger...

Busy fixing this and that getting ready to sell.

Later....

[hotrodhomi]

Originally Posted by ChiefRocka

The Chief is currently undergoing a dirt/dust collection test....

[switchblades66]

Hey chiefrocka,

Just want 2 say you got a good looking truck going there. You really did a good job of cleaning her up. Anyways got a ? for ya i was reading and it said that the guy who owned the truck before you heated the coils to drop her down. Now what i would like to know is there any bad cons about doing that or cutting the coils to lower it. Caise i want to lower my truck but i am kind of on a budget, i would like to put bags on it but i know that could get pricy. Plus i heard that if u use a bag set-up it is not a good idea to drive it alot cause it could mess things up????? Like tie rods, ball joints ect. And i like to drive my truck as much as possible, cause lets face it whats the point of having it if you are not going to get her out on the road. Basically i am looking to drop it enough to get good ground clearance, and i don't want to mess anything up front like to where the wheels sit like the lowriders. You know like this / \. And i would also like to where if i got to turn the wheels i don't want to be hitting the wheel wells same for the rear if i hit i bump. Sorry for all of the writing but if u can help me put in anyway it would be great!!!! Also do you got an e-mail address or myspace page so i could send you some pics of my truck to give you a better idea. Anyways thanks alot again!!! And if u need my e-mail address it is rockabillyfink13@yahoo.com


take care and keep up the good work!!!

[ChiefRocka]

Originally Posted by switchblades66

Hey chiefrocka,

Just want 2 say you got a good looking truck going there. You really did a good job of cleaning her up. Anyways got a ? for ya i was reading and it said that the guy who owned the truck before you heated the coils to drop her down. Now what i would like to know is there any bad cons about doing that or cutting the coils to lower it. Caise i want to lower my truck but i am kind of on a budget, i would like to put bags on it but i know that could get pricy. Plus i heard that if u use a bag set-up it is not a good idea to drive it alot cause it could mess things up????? Like tie rods, ball joints ect. And i like to drive my truck as much as possible, cause lets face it whats the point of having it if you are not going to get her out on the road. Basically i am looking to drop it enough to get good ground clearance, and i don't want to mess anything up front like to where the wheels sit like the lowriders. You know like this / \. And i would also like to where if i got to turn the wheels i don't want to be hitting the wheel wells same for the rear if i hit i bump. Sorry for all of the writing but if u can help me put in anyway it would be great!!!! Also do you got an e-mail address or myspace page so i could send you some pics of my truck to give you a better idea. Anyways thanks alot again!!! And if u need my e-mail address it is rockabillyfink13@yahoo.com


take care and keep up the good work!!!

Thanks...

Now, regarding the drop.

As I mentioned the previous owner heated the springs, which is definately kind of a 'ghetto' way of doing it...however very cost efficient.

I have lowered many vehicles in the past this way, with great results...

However, I am not saying this is the way to go, but it CAN be safely if done correctly...(heating springs corrrectly?)

Anytime you lower a vehicle, you will change the position of the suspension, there by creating and "negative camber" situation or " / \ " of your front wheels....

This can be corrected by an alignment, 'stretching' of the upper a-arms, or a combo of both.

When I lower a spring by 'heating', I start at the very last coil sitting in the a-arm, and apply heat so the coil just above drops and rest on the lowest one...continue on from the bottom up. This minimizes 'settling' as compared to heating them in the middle.

The rear can be done in the same fashion, heating till the coils rest on the trailing arms.

Again...I am not saying this is the way to go, but it's the cheapest.

Now on to bags:

As you drive down the road, the suspension travels up and down all day long, whether with coils or bags. With bags you can change the position of the suspension with a switch. Bags will not affect the suspenion, unless you are running a very high psi set-up and are planning of "hopping" the truck.

This in time would affect the ball joints first, then start it's toll on the rest of the chassis.

In case of the lowriders...there vehicles are extensively modified (reinforced) to handle that kind of abuse. So running bags will not hurt the truck.
Hope this helps...

John

[ChiefRocka]

uuuhhhh.....


I got my hood hinges back from coating, after about 6 months of them sitting there on the shelf...done.


Hows that for progress ??

[Captainfab]

Now you know someone is going to be askin for pics.....

How's your Pops doin?

[ChiefRocka]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

Now you know someone is going to be askin for pics.....

How's your Pops doin?

I haven't even seen them yet...my father in law picked up some Vette parts along with them, and they are in the "back" room....thats how busy I am...

Thanks for asking about my pops...actually went to see him today. They moved him to a specialty re-hab pulmanary hospital...which is almost an hour away. He doing much better....day before last, he was breathing all day with out the machine, so he is improving.

Thanks

[Captainfab]

Glad to hear you're that busy and also that your pops is doing better.

[TwiggyTheDrummer]

Glad to hear it Chief. You better get yourself a few California Car Dusters in order to confirm and clean up from that test. Too bad there are no shops like yours around and that I don't have the money/experience to open one. This town needs a shop like that with your kind of knowledge.

[ChiefRocka]

Originally Posted by TwiggyTheDrummer

Glad to hear it Chief. You better get yourself a few California Car Dusters in order to confirm and clean up from that test. Too bad there are no shops like yours around and that I don't have the money/experience to open one. This town needs a shop like that with your kind of knowledge.

I hear you on the dust.....

Thanks for the comments on the shop. It's coming along, but still not perfect. Still need more stuff (tools, storage, organization) etc.

Mabey you and someone else could get together and open something up....

[TwiggyTheDrummer]

Originally Posted by ChiefRocka

I hear you on the dust.....

Thanks for the comments on the shop. It's coming along, but still not perfect. Still need more stuff (tools, storage, organization) etc.

Mabey you and someone else could get together and open something up....

Get a couple of "Pods". Plenty of storage. or a shipping container. My uncle owns a diesel shop and made a storage room for small parts in a big old tour bus that sits beside his shop. Stripped it out and made shelves. And as far as a partner for a shop goes, I've definitely thought about it.

[joe231]

glad to here your pops is getting better......









and did someone mention "PICS"

[rcrahn]

What is new with RockaBilly? M22 installed? Pics please......

[ChiefRocka]

No pics yet....I have the Muncie disassembled for a re-seal. The gears, bearings and syncros look great. Gasket/seal kit on its way !!

My wifes Honda ('05 Element) has been down for a month waiting on time for a clutch job....Just tore into it and got it down in like 4 hours. Intiminating at first, but extremely easy...you just have to diasssemble the WHOLE car !!

Turns out the disc failed...plenty of material left, the center carrier that holds the springs failed. Wife wants to go after Honda, but we will see.

So my truck is back on the rack waiting its turn.

Hopefully it'll be ready for Vacaville.....

[rcrahn]

Sorry to hear. She has just gotta stop doing burnouts in that honda!

[ChiefRocka]

I have to say...she is an excellent driver. I'm glad that when we purchased the car, she wanted a manual. Most women want an auto. She gives me a run for my money when I race her in the Super Duty.

Mabey it's all the 2nd and 3rd gear barks that did it ??

[scotts62]

Originally Posted by ChiefRocka

I have to say...she is an excellent driver. I'm glad that when we purchased the car, she wanted a manual. Most women want an auto. She gives me a run for my money when I race her in the Super Duty.

Mabey it's all the 2nd and 3rd gear barks that did it ??

Might as well change the brakes while you are working on it, you know how the women can be on a good set of brakes

[Imperial Kustom]

Hey chief, good to hear things are lookin' up for your pops man! These kind of things are never fun for anybody.

I know what you're sayin' about dust collecting. I am doing the same type of experiment with my '62, only it is sitting in a field collecting dust, weeds, animals and bird poo!

And Switchblade66, don't listen to whoever told you that air ride is hard on parts, they must fall down too much. It is completely reliable. I have more around 30,000 miles on mine and only removed anything when I took it out of my '62 Chevy and installed it into my '63 GMC!

[Hilandr451]

John,
I was a Honda mechanic at a dealership in Utah (way way back) and they have had a history of clutch disc problems going back to at least the '83 year model Civics & Accords which is when I first started replacing them on warranty. (man do I feel old now)

Did I happen to mention that my birthday is 2 days before the meet? - no gifts please, just money for paint.

[ChiefRocka]

Muncie going in....(see other thread)

[ChiefRocka]

Back up...for the hell of it !!

[joe231]

[ChiefRocka]

Originally Posted by joe231

[ChiefRocka]

Whatever happened to this truck ??

Anyone her anything from it, or its new owner ??

He was supposed to be here with it...made a post in the 'welcome area'...But nothing else...

Oh well....