Freddy's '52

[1952ssr]

"REDNECK ENGINEERING" at it's finest. Me have welder....me can make anything. LOL


A CNC'nd bracket would be SWWWWEEEEEEEEET.

[1952ssr]

Let me tell you guys a funny story. Monday night I was going to attempt the test fit of my radiator in "Fred". Well when I picked it up and started to put it into the truck it sounded like balls rolling around inside it. So I started shaking it with the hose openings downward then out comes an acorn then another and another. My shop is nothing more than a tin shack with a concrete floor, so I guess I found the critters stash for the winter. LOL

[RootBeer 6117]

Yep SSR, I walked into my shed this last weekend and saw the mice scatter their getting ready for winter. I will have to post some pictures of the muffler off the 49 it is packed full and running out, the 49 was a mouse state it had its own zip code they had every nook and cranny packed.

I was thinkin about you this week we slid the LT1 back and it looks like I can use the roadmaster drive shaft but the lower a/c bracket is close you can see day light but I might have to do a little notching.BTW I did some back bracket mods to get it that far.

[1952ssr]

I'm totally feeling the pain, I really would like to move mine back as well. Using the Z28 radiator and fan set up is taking up ALL of the compartment in front of the engine, I'm considering moving my whole cab/doghouse forward 1-2 inches. I had planned off work last Thursday and Friday.....spent Thursday at Quickcare half the day and the rest of time stuck in the house sick with strep throwt, so no progress. Two full wonderful days shot, I did get all my Powerblock recordings watched.

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice progress! One quick question I have for you guys. Are you both using wiring harnesses from donor cars? I am considering installing an LT1 from a 95 Firebird into my 40 ford and want to do it as clean as possible on the cheap. Am I better off to use the firebird's wire harness and every bit off of it I can? Thanks Ryan.

[RootBeer 6117]

Diesel I am I had a complete roadmaster and got all the wires from it. I cant spend the money on a new harness, I have all the wire diagrams I need and can eliminate what I don't need.(Which I can help out with most 82 or newer cars).I will probably get the PCM flashed at some point once i get figure ratios and tire sizes.
One other thing is the bracket mounting on a LT1 can be a pain but I ain't going to let that stop me
SSR I spent weekend before last very close to a bathroom just in case.this last weekend Freezing my A#$ off at a MU game and cooking 6 turkeys for my daughters youth group. Im gald I can go to work and work on my truck.

[1952ssr]

I too am using the Z's harness, I wasn't going to spend the extra money UNLESS I couldn't figure out the harness. LT1 swap.com really has some great things for doing a LT job. For a job like yours and as both myself and rootbeer have found the accessories aren't mounted friendly but here's an idea for your 40. This set up is sweet I think it's made by march.

[RootBeer 6117]

Man something else I will have to add to my "when I win the lottery" list.

[56ClassicTruck]

Nice bracket ssr, i got my lt in and i had to shortened my roadmaster drive shaft.
Posted via Mobile Device

[1952ssr]

Originally Posted by 56ClassicTruck

Nice bracket ssr, i got my lt in and i had to shortened my roadmaster drive shaft.
Posted via Mobile Device

Thanks,56. Glad to hear of progress.

[RootBeer 6117]

Hey SSR I had to show you this, this fan set up was on my LT1 when I got it. it has it own tensioner and a pulley bolted to the harmonic balancer,maybe some day I can come up with a A/C set up from it.
Also I mentioned the mouse nest the muffler and pipe are packed full.

[1952ssr]

Thanks for those pictures RB, that's an interesting setup. I have seen pictures but never knew what exactly it was. That would probably work good if there was room on our trucks. I'm in a pickle with mine and am just frustrated!! The Z28 radiator is to tall to work and with the fans are real close to the motor. I don't want to spend the money for a new radiator but it looks like I have no other choice cause I can't find a junkyard one. Gotta love the mices.

[RootBeer 6117]

Originally Posted by 1952ssr

Thanks for those pictures RB, that's an interesting setup. I have seen pictures but never knew what exactly it was. That would probably work good if there was room on our trucks. I'm in a pickle with mine and am just frustrated!! The Z28 radiator is to tall to work and with the fans are real close to the motor. I don't want to spend the money for a new radiator but it looks like I have no other choice cause I can't find a junkyard one. Gotta love the mices.

I feel your pain. Scrap prices are up around here, we cleaned up a bunch of old parts i.e. separated aluminium from metal and plastic, and did pretty good.

[Dieselwrencher]

Thanks for the info guys! Man those brackets are nice, we'll have to see how the bank account looks then.

[1952ssr]

Well after having the thought my truck is just a rat rod and knowing it will never be the emaculant show truck I decided to cut my grill. And last night I did it and the radiator is gonna work. I had to notch out each side on the back grill fins and cut the braces off. I got my bottom mount welded the frame so tomorrow I'll work on finishing how it will be held in the truck.

[Kabwe]

It's all coming together nicely. Keep up the good work.

[RootBeer 6117]

SSR I was thinking the same thing last week I wondered "IF". Either way I am going to have to buy a radiator

[1952ssr]

Here's my progress from Saturday. I got the radiator mounts finished, it has to come out from the bottom(same as it did in the z orginally). I tried to make it simple and functional. I'll take some pictures of what mods I had to do to the grill next.

[RootBeer 6117]

Wow! I'm staying tuned

[1952ssr]

A little more progress over my vacation, between the cold and spending time with my son I didn't get much done. But, I made my wife SOOOOOOOOOOO happy, I got the wiring harness off the dining room table after two years. Attached are the pictures of it and some from the grill mods.

[56ClassicTruck]

Congrats on your wiring Joey, I bet that feels good. I haven't started on mine I am scared lol.
Posted via Mobile Device

[OrrieG]

Two years!!!??? My wife would have moved it to my man cave or the garage after two weekends. Looking good, I am getting close to starting that part of mine.

[youngrodder]

I cheated and bought an aftermarket harness. I didn't trust myself that the motor would run right after I hacked up the original harness up. That is even with having a copy of the factory wiring schematic. Ha ha

Nice work.
Marc

[1952ssr]

Originally Posted by youngrodder

I cheated and bought an aftermarket harness. I didn't trust myself that the motor would run right after I hacked up the original harness up. That is even with having a copy of the factory wiring schematic. Ha ha

Nice work.
Marc

Thanks, I understand totally. All those wires are intimidating, I know it did me. I couldn't read a schematic at first for anything, but I said to myself...self you can do this to save 500 bucks. I have looked at the schematics for 2 years and have went through things over and over. After Brendon of LT1swap .com updated his website with all the info of what to delete I knew I could finish what I started. I have to send him my PCM to program so I'm believing it will run, hopefully to see that by the end of the month.

[bensimmons_05]

I like that your doing the wiring yourself. I may be weird but I get some kind of odd enjoyment out of playing with wiring... Its like a puzzle! The truck is looking great, I love what you did with the gauges, I look at them everyday in my Trans am and never would have guessed that the vital gauges would fit in two round holes, WELL DONE!