Ethel: The Legend Continues...

[Delmo]

Good call. Great truck.

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Drive the wheels off ethel dooo it....

[jasonhall]

Good luck!!!

[oldblue1968chevy]

ttt

[Alvin]

Up in the air, with the garage straightened up a little bit.

[VA72C10]

That's about stock ride height

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

That's about stock ride height

you're right!

Needless to say, we're approaching a busy time of year. We're still finishing up our bathroom remodel (employment challenges delayed that project), and have several trips out of town over the holidays. So it's going to seem like I'm doing things backward for a little while; I'll be working on some of the smaller details and interior stuff before getting her running.

For example, finally finishing my dash, installing my 3-point belts, getting all the wiring in place, and maybe for Christmas I can get a battery to see what works and what doesn't. Then I need to button up the fuel system and try my hand at rebuilding a carb.

I'll admit that I've felt overwhelmed by the amount of work I still have to do... actually it's the main reason I haven't done anything for almost a year now. I stare at the list and just wonder where to start. I doubt myself and the work I've done so far. I look at the variety of parts available now and wonder why I'm bothering to finish a truck that's already outdated.

But enough is enough.

[67cheby]

dont get discouraged , it is going to be KILLER !, at least you havent been working on yours for 8 year now !!

[MattA]

The way you are building the truck, it will never be outdated. Classic wheels and a good stance will always work.

[SOON2BLAZE]

It's easy to get discouraged with these builds, But dont! If it were easy everybody would be doing it. That is a sweet truck your building. Making mine a DD has helped motivate me to attack the to do list that hangs in my garage. When they just sit in the garage it makes em easier to walk by or stack **** on them . You know how to eat an elephant? Keep at it you have a great build going!

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by 67cheby

dont get discouraged , it is going to be KILLER !, at least you havent been working on yours for 8 year now !!

Originally Posted by MattA

The way you are building the truck, it will never be outdated. Classic wheels and a good stance will always work.

Originally Posted by SOON2BLAZE

It's easy to get discouraged with these builds, But dont! If it were easy everybody would be doing it. That is a sweet truck your building. Making mine a DD has helped motivate me to attack the to do list that hangs in my garage. When they just sit in the garage it makes em easier to walk by or stack **** on them . You know how to eat an elephant? Keep at it you have a great build going!

with all of this. Take it one small project at a time and you'll be driving sooner than you realize. If you have family or friends who know how to do certain things let them help too

[Alvin]

Thanks guys, that is all stuff I know but with how friendships have changed over the years, I don't really have anybody reminding me like that.

Okay, it's been a really rough week. I've been fighting a ridiculous ear infection. I did start looking at getting the seat belts installed and received some of the parts that I need to fix the coolant leak on my BMW.

So while I'm not making progress on anything the way I'd like to, right now I'm just glad to be able to sit here without my head killing me.

[Hollywood Knight]

I would love a truck like this .

[Alvin]

Update time!

GREAT NEWS: The BMW sold on Friday.

So I'm trying to get a game plan together for this old girl. Extra funds are still difficult to come by, so I've been considering my options.

1.) Get her on the road ASAP by whatever means necessary

2.) Continue to take my sweet time and maybe get her on the road in 2015

After such a long time, I'm beginning to lean towards option 1 right now. This would involve selling off all the air ride stuff except the rear bags. Putting drop springs in the front and running the rear bags off of schrader valves. The $$ from the air ride stuff would go towards drive shaft, exhaust, carb rebuild, etc. In addition, the labor will be cut dramatically without needing to mount, wire, plumb, and leak check the entire air ride system. Could return to air ride at any point in the future.

HOWEVER, I've looked at static-dropped trucks and it just doesn't look low enough... which is why there is option 2. I'm just afraid going with this option will give me a truck that's low, but it wont' have a drive shaft or exhaust

So what are your thoughts? Do I sacrifice the air ride to get her on the road?

[67cheby]

i think that is a good idea, you can always go back to the air ride when you have a little more cash later, start driving her !!

[Palf70Step]

[jasonhall]

x3

[VA72C10]

Congrats on selling the BMW

What about running shcrader valves front and rear with bags in the front as well? Just set ride height and forget about it. (And you could still drop a bit at shows if you had a friend with a compressor...)

Put the drop spindles on and bags with cups and keep the rest of the air ride stuff for later when you get the time to work on it again or want to....

[kart34]

What parts do you need for the air ride? [I] have some parts that are very reasonably priced.

[Alvin]

Thanks for the input guys! I'm definitely considering running all the bags. It would probably be tough to break even swapping them for springs anyways.

I actually don't need any parts for the air ride; I've got everything from the bags to the valves, compressors, tanks, relays, switches, fittings, and digital gauge. BUT, the only stuff installed right now are the bags, plumbed to schrader valves.

Essentially, I am trying to make Ethel as self-funding as possible. The air ride system is one thing I know will provide decent funds. Over the years I've also bought a lot of parts for "someday" projects, like vortec heads and intake, rear disc brakes, etc. so these are more things I don't need to get her on the road.

Again, all opinions are appreciated!

[thor]

I say do what you can to get it running now, then pick away at the optional upgrades later, doing projects that can be completed during a weekend, so you can drive and enjoy your truck.

[heymoe]

TTT

Any updates?

[Alvin]

Umm. my wife has had an interesting time since switching jobs a couple months ago. Supposed to be full time child care work and it's turned out to be more of a super part time deal. So not much fundage available.

Also found out mid-March that we'll be expecting our first child about mid-November, so now things are really kinda kicked into overdrive. I gotta get it mobile this summer.

So hoping to have a driveshaft in by the end of next week.

[Alvin]

Drive shaft is in.

Radiator hoses are on.

Battery is in.

Still a lot to do.

Ordering more parts this week.

[stealthy '69]

Congrats on the up coming baby and the truck updates. I know the feeling of doing things with no money. Keep up the work and It'll be done in no time.