My 1958 Fleetside project

[Kabwe]

That truck looks amazing. Great job. I guess I will be seeing you at the Brothers Show right?

[fabguy]

Thank you gentlemen for the compliments.

I am trying really hard to have it done for Brothers, I might just have to drive the burban if this isnt finished yet. My buddy with the red panel is going also, as well as a few others so it will be a great show.

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by fabguy

Thank you gentlemen for the compliments.

I am trying really hard to have it done for Brothers, I might just have to drive the burban if this isnt finished yet. My buddy with the red panel is going also, as well as a few others so it will be a great show.

Man it does not matter to me if the truck comes or not, you just get there it would be nice to finally meet you in person.

[fabguy]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

Man it does not matter to me if the truck comes or not, you just get there it would be nice to finally meet you in person.

Cool, see what I can do

[fabguy]

I wired the yesterday all except the ign. Switch, light switch. Since I was under truck running all my engine wiring I though I would hook up my new vacuum booster S/S line to save the effort since I was already down there and low behold as I pushed the #&$%3+ plug into the vacuum booster, the rubber seal that holds it in falls INSIDE THE BOOSTER. I guess now I am going to have to drop the master cylinder and booster and hopefully I can fish it out of there. It really feels like someone doesn't want me to drive this truck

Well, thats my 2 steps forward and 1 back for the week. My lesson learned was " I need to slow down'' and be patient. __________________

_---------------------------------------

Today I was allowed to go to the shop to work on my truck, my 10yr old daughter told my wife that WE need to get the truck done because we will miss car shows if we don't have it finished soon. She washed away all the over splatter from the buffing and polishing compounds. She cleaned 90% of the truck, meanwhile I finished the light switch and Ign switch wiring as well as starting gluing down the carpet and cutting holes for brake pedal etc. Then we went to lunch and Barnes & Noble cause she wanted a custom classic truck magazine.... a great kid I tell you.

[xpickup]

fabguy, I feel your pain. It sometimes seems like it never fails that something is going to bite you in the aZZ when you rush. Then it puts you in a bad mood quick. It happened to me when I tried making it to the street rod nats east last year with the panel. Missed it by 2 weeks but least it is drivable now. It is funny how kids motivate you to get it done. Mine would go to the car shows and always ask when we are going to take ours. Keep up the great work.

Shannon

[fabguy]

this all VERY true, and it excites me too see the excitement in their eyes when I tell them it's almost done.
I think the funniest thing was when she grabbed a micro fiber cloth and starting walking around the truck and wiping the dust off of it.

[fabguy]

Well,... Major setback AGAIN today. I got everything filled with fluids and started her up and she was pissing fluid from the trans front seal (new), power steering front seal. I guess someone REALLY does not want this truck on the road.
I guess I know what I will be doing for the time being.


Posted via Mobile Device

[sqrlnts]

That sucks man, same thing happened on my transmission install, I must have gotten a little too rough trying to get it to seat. Keep on keeping on, you will be all smiles cruising down the road in no time.

[fabguy]

I think I found another 700r4..... Although it is in my wife's 55 suburban. Hehehehehe I wonder if she will notice ?
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[_Ogre]

we all have choices in life,
i would choose not to scavenge the wife's vehicle
she holds all the cards to make your life miserable

to quote clint eastwood... do you feel lucky punk?

[fabguy]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

we all have choices in life,
i would choose not to scavenge the wife's vehicle
she holds all the cards to make your life miserable

to quote clint eastwood... do you feel lucky punk?

I spoke to the wife and she said it was OK to use her trans if I needed it, so long as she gets the re built trans for hers. I just didnt want to take the suburban down yet, at least not until I had gotten a stock frame for it, and ready to put the body on.
I havent touched the truck as I have been busy and dis appointed in the all the spills on start up. Will get back on it this coming weekend.

[76er]

Hey fabguy, was thet c10 subframe job you did easier than a camaro subframe job, are the frame rails the same width as the 58 frame?
76er

[fabguy]

76er, the C10 frame width and frame rail height are almost indentical and mate up great.
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[fabguy]

well, We are back from Colorado. Man was it HOT out there during last week. Found a couple future projects and ? ( i guess in time you'll see it)
Well, I will be starting on the truck this week, I have my buddy trying to find me a 700r4 trans for the truck. He is actually looking for a running camaro that I can CUT it out of LOL, The wife said it was OK to use her trans but I want to drive both vehicles with her to at least a couple cruise nights before I rip the burban apart.

[fabguy]

Well, another set back today. I noticed that the antifreeze level was low yesterday so I added a little more to it. I noticed today that it was low again with no wet spots on the ground so that got the better of me.
I went ahead and drained the oil pan and LOW and BEHOLD, there was about 1-1/2 gallons of anitfreeze. UGH, i tell you when it rains it pours. Next step is too pull the intake and see if it wasnt sealed right, if thats ok then I will pull the heads to see if that was leaking, if thats not the problem then it has too be the block right?
Either way this really really SUX!!!
It looks like we are tearing into the suburban faster than we thought. Worst case is I will use the engine / tranny from the suburban to get the truck on the road first, then rebuild both for the wife.
Wow, one step forward and 2 back sometimes.
Oh well, the bright side to it all is that I got to meet a great guy today from the site and seen his truck in person and it looks really really nice. Great job on the work buddy and if you need a spot to work on it, the offer is out there.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by fabguy

...Oh well, the bright side to it all is that I got to meet a great guy today from the site and seen his truck in person and it looks really really nice. Great job on the work buddy and if you need a spot to work on it, the offer is out there.

Thank you Mike! Not sure I rate the "great" (ok, I do )

I'll be over tomorrow with all my tools to spread out ALL over your space! But seriously, that is an extremely generous offer. You and Leonard and all the guys I met from "The Leftovers" club (great name!) were all nice guys.

As for your engine trouble? UGH! That truly sucks. First time I've ever "wished" a bad head gasket on someone - only cause the alternatives are bad and worse! I'm sure I'll see you again next week or the week after. Best and thanks again, Dan

[OrrieG]

Maybe the camaro donor will have an engine attached to the trans??? Bummer on the water in oil.

[Kim57]

That sucks about the water in the pan.
You can do a leak down test to see if two cylinders next to each other wont hold compression. That will give you an idea if it's a head gasket.
Kim

[fabguy]

Originally Posted by Kim57

That sucks about the water in the pan.
You can do a leak down test to see if two cylinders next to each other wont hold compression. That will give you an idea if it's a head gasket.
Kim

thats a great Idea! I was going to try to pull the intake tomorrow, then seal the water ports with duct tape then fill the radiator and see if it leaks down. At least that will tell me wether or not its the intake leaking. I am REALLY REALLY hoping I screwed up and missed some sealant somewhere. If that isnt it and it is the block, well I have another 4 bolt main 350 block in the shop I can use as a donor. anyone know where I can find the stats on CID and part sizes? as in what cylinder size for say 283,305,327, 350 383 and so on. and also describing rod length and stroke? I want to know what I can use to salvage these parts besides a 327 block as they seem to be VERY hard to find. I called a buddy today to ask him and he started laughing and said I would probably have better luck finding a 400sb chevy. We all know how hard those are to find

[fabguy]

I think I have narrowed down the leak to the intake manifold. I am going to try to pick up some thicker gaskets and see if that fixes it. In theory thicker gaskets should work, I say that because when I bolted the intake up awhile back, I remember that it shifted slightly to one side but I didn't pay attention to it at the time because I was in a hurry to get it going. Hopefully start working on it in a couple days and will update.
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[fabguy]

I am heading over to the shop to try to fix this intake issue (hope that all it is) as my .120 thick intake gaskets came in yesterday.

[fabguy]

Well, I should have pulled the intake 1st but instead I ordered a set of gaskets that I don't need. The issue is the intake manifold. I pulled it and started to investigate the problem against another intake with my buddy Joe who has restored numerous cars (55-59 corvettes, 65 or,66 mustang, 55/ 57 belairs) and spotted the issue as being a bad casting. Then a fellow shop owner by the name of Joey walked up and asked right away if we had an issue with either anti freeze or vacuum leak and I said both, he laughed and said it was because I had a "pro form" intake and that maybe 1 of 10 of their intakes would work ok. I had no idea who made the intake as there is no name anywhere on it with the exception of "made in china" embossed on the bottom.
I have since ordered a new weiand intake and all necessary gaskets from summit with their free shipping offer, woo hoo.
Well, when it shows up I will be installing it on my truck.
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[Kim57]

At least you don't have to pull the heads.
Kim

[fabguy]

Originally Posted by Kim57

At least you don't have to pull the heads.
Kim

lol, your not kidding Kim. I am happy about that for sure.

Another buddy of mine is supposed to stop by tomorrow to help me pull the trans out from the truck.

WOO HOO