Not Another Rebuild Thread....

[McMurphy]

Originally Posted by clemdaddy

hey murph, pan back for me please sir... i get hung-up with the detail stuff on your build ( which i really dig) but i'm kinda losing sight of the big picture.

time to see the truck as a whole vehicle again. as complete as it is...one perfect picture of where you are on the build. taken from that stool in the corner. you know... that stool we all have.

I will see what I can do for you Clem.

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

Awesome Vid... glad I got to watch finally! Stay warm and keep building, between you and Bomp, it keeps me drudging through this move and anxiously awaiting the return to my build.

Yeah sadly the original song was the theme from Mortal Kombat, and each time the "Mortal Kombat!!" was called in the song is when the T-shirts would pop up.
I thought it was quite clever, I guess EMI disagrees....

Originally Posted by matt_l

Love the video. Nothing like a little friendly competition.
Posted via Mobile Device

Not sure if we are competing per`se, but corroborating on finding entertaining ways of sharing our builds with you guys.

Originally Posted by Jmorales3181

Nice video, you guys crack me up! Hope you are staying warm. We got hit hit with like 2 feet of snow Friday into sat. I have had enough lol. Don't know how you do it buddy. Must have the heat cranking in there!
Posted via Mobile Device

Yeah I keep pretty warm....creature comforts are pretty high on my list when it comes to getting work done !!

Originally Posted by piratexpress1369a

thanks it worked that time

You are welcome, hope you liked it !!

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So I bit the bullet and got the exhaust manifolds that I was swooning over.

Monday night I tossed them in the oven and after it reached the 500 degree setting, I cooked them for an extra 20 min.
Kinda smoked up the kitchen a bit in the doing, but....

Then one by one I hustled them down to the garage to a spindle I had set up and shot them with the 500-1300 VHT paint. I did this with my Tempest and have been very pleased with the results.

Then last night, while I was waiting for paint to dry on other projects (I usually have 2-3 or 4 in the works at a time due to dry times, and limited "play" times during the week) I figured I could slap these one the motor and check that box.....

The p-side went on without a hitch other than the realization that I would have to reroute my heater hose which came out of the block just above the oil pan, between the starter and the fuel pump.
No biggie there, I actually think I am going to like this hose set up better anyways.

The d-side on the other hand was a nightmare.
A 5 minute job ended up consuming most of my "play time" yesterday after work with a mod that I did not anticipate having to make in order to accomodate this particular exhaust.

The problem ended up being the header flange conflicted with the motor mount to the point where it would not bolt up to the engine.

Here is the cut to the motor mount I had to make. I left the edges shiny for the photos so you could see better. Just for good measure I notched my frame mount as well.
I dont want the muffler guy cussing me later.


A bit of a close up for you to see just how far back I had to cut this sucker !!


Hopefully I notched the frame mount good enough as well....


Here it is finally all bolted up, with about 1/16" of clearance between the header flange and the mount.
Not much I know, but I didnt want to cut this in the first place....


And here it is from the underside.
I gotta tell you this was a bit of a frustrating chore, but I got it done and in the end I am sure I will be happy with what I have done here.... well .... until I twist my engine off its mounts of course !!

[McMurphy]

Just for contrast, here is the p-side all mounted up, sitting pretty !!


So then some of you may be asking.....well that is nice McMurphy, but what about those fancy schmancy guages you got?
Well to answer that, I have to admit, that they have been one of those 2-3 or 4 other side projects I have had going on.

Instead of listening to my boring voice in your head narrating this, how about I just let the photos tell the story??

[clemdaddy]

way to go murph... nice on the exhaust manifolds, i was hoping you would get 'em. also if i'm seeing it right, the cluster you're crafting is going to be cool.
don't think twice about the photo request, looks like you got your hands full with current project list.

[Ta2Don]

Gotta agree with Clem, your Exhaust Manifolds are very nice, and the Gauge Pod is gonna be sweet, knowing what skills you possess as I watch your build! And as a teaser, Gonna PM you a surprise soon...

[Captainfab]

I read your post on Dino's build thread about the manifolds. Dino is using the original style '63-'66 motor mounts in his current build. Those accomodate the center dump exhaust manifolds, whereas the '73 and up style not so much. Hence the need to cut and trim the motor mount on the drivers side.

You've been making some nice progress. I'm interested to see your gauge panel.

[cgnjrpilot]

If you go back three years to post #1623 on page 65 of pic thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...107362&page=65
you'll see me trailering her home from family friends pole barn. Slow and steady work on brakes, gas tank, fuel lines, and disassembly. Motor back from machine shop and reassembled and starting paint and prep. Truck will be back from paint and body end of the month. Pretty excited since I was five when Dad brought her home from the dealer and i drove her in high school and college. 66 C10, 283, 3 speed on column. Pics for your amusement (ps I know orange and black was not standard on truck engines--personal preference reigns for my daily driver)

[cgnjrpilot]

Apologies for thread derail...just read back and realize this thread is concentrating on McMurphy's build...great job by the way.

[Bomp]

See, everybody likes hangin' out in Murphs Frozen Garage.

Trying to get a peek at the gauge cluster configuration and he ain't tellin'.

[matt_l]

Awesome work on the dash. I really like the look of the rings for the gauges. Did you cut the rings from tubing or did you roll them from flat sheet? Keep up the great work!

[Ta2Don]

Glad you liked the sketch, one day I had the Frozen Garage thought stuck in my head, so I had to put it on paper... You are more than welcome Murph!
Posted via Mobile Device

[McMurphy]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

I'm still available to take a look for you, if the seller is willing to make the trip. My work load has only gotten worse, so still no chance for a trip for me.

thank you sir, I appreciate it!
I have a whole list of CL listings to follow up on when we get into town this year. Luckily it is a Bloomsday year for us, so we will be there the last week in April, thru the month of May.
Kinda hoping that some of these rigs that did not sell over the winter can be had cheaper for cash in the Spring....

Originally Posted by matt_l

Awesome work on the dash. I really like the look of the rings for the gauges. Did you cut the rings from tubing or did you roll them from flat sheet? Keep up the great work!

Thanks Matt, I used 2" exhaust extension I got from the parts store.
I determined the angle, loaded them up in the vise at that angle, scored the cut with a cutting disc, then cut them all around. After that I used the bench grinder to fine tune them. They seem to be working perfectly for what I have in mind.
Obviously I wanted a 3D dash for my guages, I was afraid that if I did not do something eye catching with the guage panel, then people may over look the guages themselves....

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

Glad you liked the sketch, one day I had the Frozen Garage thought stuck in my head, so I had to put it on paper... You are more than welcome Murph!
Posted via Mobile Device

I totally know how that goes man!!
Although I dislike poetry, there are times when the words just start lining up in my head and I have to get them out onto paper. It is often like that with my art too, I get an image in my mind and it wont let go until I put it on paper as well....

[piratexpress1369a]

that is a cool pic he made for you ..think it would look great on t-shirt ..gage set up is going to look great too

[flips72]

cant wait to see the instrument cluster finished,nice work.

[McMurphy]

Originally Posted by piratexpress1369a

that is a cool pic he made for you ..think it would look great on t-shirt ..gage set up is going to look great too

I think so too Pirate!

Originally Posted by flips72

cant wait to see the instrument cluster finished,nice work.

Well Flips, here it is !!
Congrats on the TOTM nomination! That is going to be a heck of a voting this month!!

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Here is the cluster panel mocked up for a test fit in the dash.
I wanted to make sure everything would have room, and fit in the intended space before I unboxed the actual guages.


Yep some assembly required!!


all hooked up, ready for some testing!


I SEE THE LIGHT !!!!


Until I get the steering column re-installed, all I could test was the high beam indicator light, the L and R turn signals will have to wait a bit, but I am pretty sure they are going to work just fine.


There you go guys, another crazy idea from me, put into practice.....

[Ta2Don]

Originally Posted by piratexpress1369a

that is a cool pic he made for you ..think it would look great on t-shirt ..gage set up is going to look great too

Gauge set up is Super Sweet Murph, and if you need that artwork cleaned up for a t-shirt just let me know...
Posted via Mobile Device

[Bomp]

That is trick!
Dig it
Posted via Mobile Device

[likaroc13]

nice work! those gauges look really cool, especially all lit up

[flips72]

swweeeetttttman thats awesome terrific work, you need to make sure the manufactures of your gauges see it, heck they might start making it and selling it, and thanks on the totm, pretty sure i dont have a chance but it was a honor just to get nominated.stay warm.

[piratexpress1369a]

i like that they turn out awesome

[clemdaddy]

very nice on the cluster man... yep, very cool

[Low Elco]

Looks killer! All Camaro-ish! Great work, that drawing needs to get colored up into a t- shirt!
Posted via Mobile Device

[CRGRS 66]

Craigerrr likes too

[KroAutomotiveInc]

wow man that looks really custom looks like a pro did it keep up the good work buddy!

[Modges'66]

Wow man, the cluster looks pretty sweet!!!

....Still whatchin!

[markeb01]

That instrument cluster is so cool! The depth and spacers really set it apart, and the night lighting is fantastic!