'63 GMC Project

[Mr Pops]

Originally Posted by creep

We actually made it out to the show yesterday. The temp gauge reads hot and the tranny hasn't been fully tested yet so we trailered it but I at least got to cruise it into the show under it's own power. The exhaust is loud and mean sounding so it got peoples attention as it rolled by. I actually had a small crowd of people around by the time I got out of the truck. The air ride fills and dumps extremely fast, not allowing much fine tuning for ride height so I am going to change to a slightly lower pressure switch and instal adjustable mufflers on the dump valves.

I couldn't find my camera so all I have is a cell phone pic.

That thing is sweet! Love the wheels and paint.

[creep]

Originally Posted by padresag

but why is the pulley then reflected at the edge. it does look off kilter for some reason, it is an illusion of some sort
ron

The alternator fan is a flat chome disc with fins on the back and the magical disappearing belt is a reflection. Here's a pic of the alternator without the belt...

[creep]

Originally Posted by Mr Pops

That thing is sweet! Love the wheels and paint.

Thanks, man!

[Dinos63]

slick kat nice work!!!

[creep]

Hey, thanks Dino!

[creep]

I took it out on the road yesterday for the first time and it wouldn't shift out of first. We never hooked up a vacuum line to the modulator. Got that taken care of today and took it out again and it was all good. It ran strong, smooth and straight. Just got to get the Porterbuilt hood hinges in and get the carb and timing dialed in and it should be ready to drive to a storage garage for the winter.

[daverod]

Love the truck. Are you running a 2 piece drive line? If so do you remember the driveline angles?

[creep]

Thanks!

Yeah, its a 2 piece shaft. My trans tailshaft points down about 5 degrees and the pinion angle was set at 0. I've only driven it on 2 short test drives up to about 60 mph but I didn't notice any vibration.

[Dinos63]

Nice work kat!!!

[creep]

Thanks Dino.

I'm waiting on a call from Nate regarding my hood hinges so I can get that going. I'm also waiting for a direct mount water temp gauge that I ordered so I can see if the engine is getting hot or if the new sender and stock gauge just aren't getting along.

[yawdie1]

I really like what you have done. It is exactly what I want to do. i have the opportunity to buy a 1964 from a friend of a friend. haven't seen it yet but i will be doing a full frame off like how you did. Good job!

[Laz]

Truck's lookin real good. Not a fan of LWB but can't deny hot trucks when I see 'em. Keep up the excellent work!

[creep]

Thanks guys!

I drove it to a small cruise-in on Tuesday and was pleasantly surprised by the reaction it got from the older hot rodders there. Just about the whole time we were there it had a small crowd of guys around it asking me and my friend questions about it.

[c.brown]

this truck came a long way looks great cant wait to im to this point

[creep]

Thanks!

I drove it around for about 20 mins. today and when I parked it I noticed tranny fluid sizzling on the pan. I think it got really hot and seaped out of the dipstick grommet. I don't think the small framerail trans cooler is gonna cut it.

The suspension was unbelievably smooth. I was expecting a decent ride but not Caddy smooth. The only problems I encountered was an air leak in one of the cheap fittings I bought and a very small air leak in one of the Dominator bags where the rubber meets the steel bottom. Niether of which are the fault of the suspension design or the installation.

...and man is that motor strong. it really pins you to the seat.

[Captainfab]

Yeah those frame rail tranny coolers usually don't cut it. You need to have your tranny cooler out front where it can get airflow. Unless you can put a good sized fan on the frame rail cooler.

[creep]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

Yeah those frame rail tranny coolers usually don't cut it. You need to have your tranny cooler out front where it can get airflow. Unless you can put a good sized fan on the frame rail cooler.

The cooler I have now is too small to put a fan on so I'm gonna make a trip to Summit Racing tomorrow and get a new, bigger cooler and an electric fan for the front of the rad to help with the engine temps.

[creep]

I put a bigger trans cooler in up front and also added an electric fan to the front of the radiator. Got the Porterbuit hinges in and the hood back on but the only pic I have is a crappy cell phone shot (I know, I'm slackin'), I'll get some more when I find my camera.

[Delmo]

Sweeeeeeeet.

[creep]

Thanks Delmo! I noticed there are 2 holes in the bottom of each of the Porterbuit hinge pockets, did you put bolts through those into the cowl? Seems like they would leak into the cab so I didn't.

Man, I really need to clean those white walls!

[Mr Pops]

I love this truck!

[Delmo]

Ya I put bolts through the bottom otherwise there seemed to be to much stress on the front. My hinge pockets don't move at all. If you are worried about moisture just dab some right stuff (or silicone) around the washers.
lovin the truck though man.

[creep]

I think I might try making some plates to go on the outside of the cowl that bolt on using the hinge pocket hardware and spreads the load across more of the cowl.

[creep]

Originally Posted by Mr Pops

I love this truck!

Thanks!

[sams60gmc]

Originally Posted by creep

I put a bigger trans cooler in up front and also added an electric fan to the front of the radiator. Got the Porterbuit hinges in and the hood back on but the only pic I have is a crappy cell phone shot (I know, I'm slackin'), I'll get some more when I find my camera.

That looks killer!!
Nice work.