Francis the Tow Pig - 1949 GMC 250 Dually

[OutlawDrifter]

Not much progress this weekend. Snuck out to the shop and painted the frame with my oldest son on Saturday morning. Trying to get him excited about something other than video games and youtube videos. Also had a chance to work on my SBC valve covers. I ordered a set like you would find on a mid 70s 350, which means 3 holes; pcv, oil fill, breather. I only need the oil fill and the breather, so I welded the pcv hole shut. Didn't spend a bunch of time doing "body work" afterwards. Slathered on some JB Kwik, sanded it "smooth" and painted that sucker. Also spent some time cleaning up the engine and trans for paint, which hopefully I will knock out this week.

[lower50's]

Frame looks good!! To bad about the poor parts and service.

[OutlawDrifter]

Originally Posted by lower50's

Frame looks good!! To bad about the poor parts and service.

Thanks lower!

[oldman3]

Frame looks good...Jim

[OutlawDrifter]

Thanks Jim!

[joedoh]

super clean work! you keep a clean shop, thats got to be nice to work in

[OutlawDrifter]

Originally Posted by joedoh

super clean work! you keep a clean shop, thats got to be nice to work in

Thanks joedoh! The shop is a mess right now. I started on the '49 before I had everything sorted and in order. I still have 2 walls to wire and a bunch of stuff in the other garage that needs to come in.

The shop I grew up working in made me a little OCD with this one. My grandpa would leave buckets of tools laying wherever he finished, along with the used parts tossed out of the way. When we cleaned the shop out earlier this spring for the farm sale, we hauled 15+ trailer loads to the dump...out of a 48x48 shed.

When I finish for the day, everything gets picked up, wiped off, and I sweep, makes it nice to come in to the next time.

[lower50's]

That's a great way to do things keeps it from getting out of hand. I clean up after every part of a project.

[BlueJeep]

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

Thanks joedoh! The shop is a mess right now. I started on the '49 before I had everything sorted and in order. I still have 2 walls to wire and a bunch of stuff in the other garage that needs to come in.

I do that every time, move in a project before my space is done!!! I'm trying to make a conscious effort in my current garage to NOT do that.

[OutlawDrifter]

Shop time last night produced some good results. I pulled the pan and removed the broken dipstick tube, replaced with a good used one I had in my stash. Then set to buttoning things back up, cleaning, and taping. I was able to get the block and heads, engine/tranny mounts all painted, and cleaned up the PS/Alt bracket and water pump to spray black.

I installed the new LS6 valley cover with built in PCV and sealed up the knock sensor wiring harness.

I need to spend some time buttoning up the rear brakes, brake lines, and fuel lines so I can set the engine/trans back on the frame and move on to the cab.

[gigamanx]

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

Shop time last night produced some good results. I pulled the pan and removed the broken dipstick tube, replaced with a good used one I had in my stash. Then set to buttoning things back up, cleaning, and taping. I was able to get the block and heads, engine/tranny mounts all painted, and cleaned up the PS/Alt bracket and water pump to spray black.

I gotta ask how did you get that frame so squeaky clean before paint? I'm having a heck of a time with engine cleaner, wire brush, and brake cleaner. Can't seem to get it to a point I'd want to lay paint down on top. I'm definitely borrowing your radiator support mount idea. That looks great! Did you just weld it or bolt through the bottom of the frame too?

[OutlawDrifter]

Originally Posted by gigamanx

I gotta ask how did you get that frame so squeaky clean before paint? I'm having a heck of a time with engine cleaner, wire brush, and brake cleaner. Can't seem to get it to a point I'd want to lay paint down on top. I'm definitely borrowing your radiator support mount idea. That looks great! Did you just weld it or bolt through the bottom of the frame too?

Wire cup on my angle grinder, then hit it with some Metal Blast. It wasn't 100% rust free, but good enough to hit with Rustoleum oil based. The radiator support is borrowed from Hussey's build, and mine is just welded, no bolts. Thanks for the compliments!

[OutlawDrifter]

Last night I set out to accomplish something, wasn't sure what, but something.

Installed the flex hoses from the front calipers to the frame mounts. Ran brake lines from the rear axle and passenger front. Closed up the engine oil cooler ports with a cover. After I run most of the fuel line, I think I'm ready to drop the engine/trans back in.

The brake lines aren't the straightest, but they are done. I'm not building a "Concours" street rod. Just a driver with some added touches.

[lower50's]

Looks really nice!! Watching you put it together is making me want to build another.

[gigamanx]

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

Wire cup on my angle grinder, then hit it with some Metal Blast. It wasn't 100% rust free, but good enough to hit with Rustoleum oil based. The radiator support is borrowed from Hussey's build, and mine is just welded, no bolts. Thanks for the compliments!

Got the wire cup out tonight. Bit wild with it kicking back when it grabs the corner of something but it does seem to do a sweet job cleaning up the last of the rust. I'll check it in daylight but thanks for the tip!

[OutlawDrifter]

Originally Posted by lower50's

Looks really nice!! Watching you put it together is making me want to build another.

Thanks, I know what you mean about building another one. I'm already working the next project in my head!

Originally Posted by gigamanx

Got the wire cup out tonight. Bit wild with it kicking back when it grabs the corner of something but it does seem to do a sweet job cleaning up the last of the rust. I'll check it in daylight but thanks for the tip!

Anytime, that's why we share here.

[OutlawDrifter]

Feeling accomplished today. Last night I jumped the gun a bit and set the engine and trans in. I wanted to tighten up the lower A-arms first...but I forgot, oh well!

I played with the engine angle a little by shimming under the tranny mount, it's close but not exact.

Pulled out a can of satin black and put a coat on the alternator/PS bracket.

Then I moved on to the fuel system. Trimmed and installed the pump module, trimmed and installed the sender, and then I started building fuel lines.

A note for those with the Koul Tools -AN hose tool. It DOES NOT work with the Summit Racing brand fittings. Not a huge deal, especially with the braided nylon hose(also Summit brand), but definitely makes life easier. I've got all the lines ran up to the front, I'll have to wait on my my completed harness to finish up...my tuner has the intake and rails to help route the harness.

[OutlawDrifter]

How about something other than frame and engine pics!

Finally installed the back brakes (calipers/pads/rotors). No pictures of that, you know what they look like.

Started working on the cab. Spent all day Sunday trying to get things done. Finished the seat mount brackets, including paint. I was able to get a "hump" welded in to clear the tranny tail shaft. Just cut out the center, flipped it over, and stepped on it a little to get the "wings" to lay out further. Painted the floor, back wall, inner firewall, and kick panel area with Rust Bullet. That stuff gives off some pretty wild fumes. At this point I started cleaning up the garage and had planned to be done for the day. Then I started removing indicator lights and such from the dash...then I did some taping...and all of sudden I was spraying some paint. Ran out of paint pretty fast, but I like how the color is turning out. It's called "Champagne Mist".

Before I walked out, I screwed in my new AN fittings for the tranny.

Pretty productive day.

[OutlawDrifter]

The lettering on the dash insert was worse for the wear, so I borrowed a paint brush my son uses for models and some Testors black.

[oldman3]

Looking good...Jim

[joedoh]

looks really pretty! that is going to be a really nice interior.

[lower50's]

I like the color.

[iowaboynca]

I really like that color! I want to do something similar! Keep it up!

[OutlawDrifter]

I appreciate the comments guys! Thanks for following along on this journey.

I did get a little work done the last couple of nights, but no pictures for the efforts. Yesterday I was finally able to get our local HVAC company over for a quote on a heat pump setup for the shop. Originally I had planned on doing a mini-split, but he was confident(and I trust his opinion), the full size unit would perform better in the space. I was also told they could mount the inside unit, up on the wall to keep floor space open. Price came in more than I had budgeted, so it may set me back on a lift purchase for a while...but, I've survived this long without one, right?

Also had the overhead door guy show up last night to get my door issues squared away. He went the full mile, reset all the tracks, rewound the springs, and checked everything over. Great guy to work with.



Back to Francis. I did make some progress on the cab, everything has been taped and has at least 1 coat of Champagne Mist. My boys were in the shop last night, so I didn't want to do any painting, so I started putting down the FatMat RattleTrap Xtreme sound/heat deadener I had left over from the Z28 build. About the time I was done with the back of the cab, the overhead door guy showed up, so that brought progress to a screeching halt.

My other interior panels and stuff should be arriving today. I fully expect to have the exhaust built over the axle, cab interior partially assembled, cab back on the frame, brake lines finished, and time for a few beers this weekend.

[OutlawDrifter]

Cab interior is painted. 12v wiper motor installed. Steering wheel painted, valve cover decals installed. 50% of the sound deadener is in. Last but not least, the upper seat belt mounts are burned in.

The door panels I purchased were a color called Pearl Beige, I rolled the dice on the color and ended up with tan, haha. I'm going to paint them satin nickel and the trim rings black to offset the rest of the interior. The headliner will be blue...just because. I'm thoroughly elated on how the valve covers turned out, can't wait to get the air cleaner purchased and stickered up.

Have a safe holiday weekend everybody!