49 AD Build - Bed and Running gear Swap plus...

[Hampshire]

...so Monday morning we got a lot of stuff sorted out fast & get the nose on. An unscheduled tow (another customer's car) arrives - so we grab the guy as we are having a minor fubar with the trailer thing.

...and now it's guess where for what?

[pvienneau]

Wow stuff does happen. It could have been worse.

[Hampshire]

So close...yet...

First road trial went well enough. Nice 60's muscle car sound, smooth, hydr clutch is good, nice shifting Tremec TKO and so on.

...but this is no assembly line care so it needs some more time to be sorted out.

- running too lean & goes to temp too fast, so troublesome center carb (tri-power) was sent back to the builder today.

- 65 amp std GM alternator that was fine for 2 years is now so hot you can't touch it.

- Derale adjustable controller for the 16" Spal fan went "pop" - now switching to an on off toggle with a light,

But all in all, I'm happy and these are typical sorting out problems. My guy has decades experience with this stuff and nothing goes out of the ship without a high degree of confidence...I agree completely. I'll play with my bikes in the meantime...

[Advanced Design]

Looks great! Hopefully the small issues will be sorted out soon.

[Hampshire]

Got on the road this week. Most stuff is sorted out. Having a lot of fun just taking it everywhere.

My first ride to the next town over I encountered a "relative" - a good sign.

Last night went to my favorite cruise & got a trophy.

I posted a bunch of update pics here:http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...postcount=2528

[Katrina/10]

It really looks great!

[Advanced Design]

Looks good!

[Hampshire]

Need a better credits list:

- Mike Dicola of Valley Vintage Cars - The "main guy". Mike knows American, British and German as well as any expert out there. Well known for his work on Allards, Arnholt-Bristols, interesting exotics and unusual hot rods - to name just a few - I can't keep track of the scope of his work! A fun guy to work with who can solve any mechanical mystery.
- Dave of Dusty's Garage in Baldwin, WI http://www.dustysgarage.com/ One of the best all around knowledgeable builders I've ever met
- Gayle Bridges of Hot Springs, Arkansas http://www.gaylebridgesco.com/ Suspension expert and pioneer in Mustange II IFS
- Ron Kellogg of http://www.chevytripower.com/index.shtml Ron is the man for Rochester tripower - bar none.
- Mike Forte of Fortes Parts. www.fortesparts.com My Tremec & hydraulic clutch guy.
- Greggs Autobody. http://gregsautobodyshop.com/ My paint/body shop for years & years....luckily, I just needed the paint. (he does all my insurance work, too)
- Many, many forum members. Both help and inspiration...

...& others I've forgot to mention.

[pvienneau]

Best sleeper I've seen, but I'm only 50 years old. Nice job.

[lower50's]

Cool build. Did you make it to the show?

[Hampshire]

Cool build. Did you make it to the show?

...I did - three shows, in fact & a bunch of cruise nights. Great reception on the truck. Had a couple builders test it & they loved it.

Recent fall ride:http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=685369

Put about 1500 miles on it since just before labor day. The usual sorting out in a new build:

- had the exhaust system (except mufflers) completely re-done. Went to Midas originally in desperation to get on the road. Found a top notch shop that bent pipe the old school way just down the road fro me (never knew).

- replaced the 2.5 turn rack with a 3 turn and finally dialed in the FE alignment.

- Last visit before the winter sets in will deal with the leaking valve covers and replacing the steering column with a plain Ididit (no tilt) and a 54 steering wheel. Vintage look with modern engineering (& self-canceling turn signals).

For spring....Mulling over the gauge thing...speedo needs work (only goes to 40) and two of the gauges (oil & water temp) weren't accurate, so currently have SWs under the dash. Looked at several alternatives & focused on New Vintage & classic instruments - have to say, though - not super enthusiastic about anything I've seen for now...

Will be redoing the seat and new/different padding - kinda lumpy now.

That's it - only bummer is the up coming winter...(nice day today, but got hit with a honey-do list)...

[spartakus]

Hey Hampshire - great truck, super job! It sits just right - I think anyway. Stance can be so subconscious.

Can you tell me what your paint color is? I mean the original color and what you guys used to paint the new bed sides to match up? It looks like what I think my truck came with originally.

Thanks and good luck.

[Hampshire]

- I believe it's GM Seacrest green.

Thanks for the comments on the stance. In general, most people at shows, that I meet on the road really like it - here not so much...

[joedoh]

man what a great looking truck! that color, everything I find is that more common dark green, must have been post war surplus.

[Donnie Lee]

Hello Hampshire, reading thru your build again, which power steering pump did you use, and 3 turn power r&p?

Thanks again for the ifs clarifications, I received Gayle's quote Saturday. I'm going thru it & making a list of questions to ask him.

[Hampshire]

I used a a reduced pressure GM pump assemble/modified by Borgeson:

https://www.borgeson.com/xcart/produ...&cat=83&page=1

...its set up for the lower pressure needs of a Ford rack. Borgeson sells the kit separately so you can modify your own pump.

83-88 Ford T-bird racks (also use o other models into the 90's) are available as 2.5 turn or 3 turn. Whatever you get, you want the one piece Ford rack - not the two piece or the TRW. You will need special hoses and adapters to attach the GM 6AN hose fittings to the Ford rack. Most of these today are coming through as fractional (at the rack) vs metric.

Getting a 3 turn rack can be a chore. Gayle gets them now & then, so I would check with him. I searched for two months. Most chain parts stores say they can get you one, but when you test (at the store) 3 out of 4 times it will be a 2.5 turn - not three turn.

[Donnie Lee]

Thanks Hampshire, i'll check with Gayle for the rack.

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by Hampshire

I used a a reduced pressure GM pump assemble/modified by Borgeson:

https://www.borgeson.com/xcart/produ...&cat=83&page=1

...its set up for the lower pressure needs of a Ford rack. Borgeson sells the kit separately so you can modify your own pump.

83-88 Ford T-bird racks (also use o other models into the 90's) are available as 2.5 turn or 3 turn. Whatever you get, you want the one piece Ford rack - not the two piece or the TRW. You will need special hoses and adapters to attach the GM 6AN hose fittings to the Ford rack. Most of these today are coming through as fractional (at the rack) vs metric.

Getting a 3 turn rack can be a chore. Gayle gets them now & then, so I would check with him. I searched for two months. Most chain parts stores say they can get you one, but when you test (at the store) 3 out of 4 times it will be a 2.5 turn - not three turn.

Great info thanks!!

[Hampshire]

Just got the truck back from having some upgrades and a "problem" fixed.

First, the problem...The ridiculous nylon cam button that Comp Cams puts in their roller cam kit lost about a 1/32" on the end where it meets the timing cover. The result is that the cam shifts just a little (no, nothing else was damaged) so that the double row chain hits the oiler boss on the block. It sounded like a blown rod bearing - scary. We had ground this down, but not enough to prevent the chain from hitting if the cam button went south. A proper metal bearing/button for $11.00 (why is this not in the $$$ kit?), a new $30.00 reinforced timing cover and some gaskets and labor and it was fixed.

...was going into the shop anyway to get rid of a noisy (knocking) steering column, replace the speedo and get some decent turn signals. For a column, I got a straight 1-3/4" hotrod column from an Ididit dealer who modified it for a 54-55 steering wheel I got from Jim Carter. That wheel matches the hub. I also got self cancelling turns signals - an option on 54's. My body shop painted the wheel and column in the4 same colors I had. When taking the old speedo out, my guy drilled two little holes in the new one and put in small green LEDs for the indicators.

I,m really happy with the results - we changed to a vibration reducer DD joint from Borgenson and the steering is beautiful and no noise or rattles when I'm on a rough road.

Next project - Altman EZ latches in the spring...

[lower50's]

Looks very nice.

[Advanced Design]

Looks really good. I shut a door on a 48 truck a couple weeks ago and could tell right away something was different due to how nicely it closed. Yep, Altman latches.

[Hampshire]

I shut a door on a 48 truck a couple weeks ago and could tell right away something was different due to how nicely it closed. Yep, Altman latche

...yeah - at this point, with the truck basically dialed in, not have decent door latches makes it feel incomplete - not to mention it kind of freaks out my wife....

[pvienneau]

Turned out perfect. Nice Sleeper.

[mr48chev]

For some reason I don't get over here on the build thread section too often but that is one of the cleanest and no nonsense builds I have seen in a long time.

Folks there is a lesson here that says that a well planned out well detailed truck that has a lot of thought put into it trumps quick and nasty frame swaps, added fru fru and gaudy wheels every time.

[Hampshire]

...Thanks, mr48chev...it's an absolute joy to drive down the road in all respects and gets lots of grins. Not too much left to do - Just cured an oil leak, so for the future work, I'm down to comfort & convenience: EZ latches, have the seat re-done with padding - maybe a radio?

It's been so warm in the northeast this year and with no snow on the road, I pushed back my date to put it up for the winter - went out twice last weekend.