Francis the Tow Pig - 1949 GMC 250 Dually

[joedoh]

beautiful!

not to be a debbie downer, but you should test your wiper system while the cab is mostly empty. I used a newport system and it was pretty clear the right wiper linkage was an inch too long to work properly. and by clear I mean it would wipe, bind, then the e clip would fling itself off to foreign lands. other guys have had the same problem and bent the arm to compensate (like the newport instructions say) but it was easy to see the problem and super simple to just take an inch out of the linkage arm, doesnt hit the glovebox that way either.

[lower50's]

You will have a beautiful truck.

[OutlawDrifter]

I'll have to look into that joedoh. Thanks for the heads up.

Thanks lower!

[OutlawDrifter]

Busy weekend at Aces High Speed Shop.

I was able to get the exhaust fab'd up over the axle (probably the easiest part of the weekend!). Knocked out the door panels. Mounted the proportioning valve. Did some more painting, inner fenders, firewall, assorted parts. Set the cab back on the frame(hopefully for the last time). Installed Lokar shifter linkage (least enjoyable project of the weekend!). And last but not least, started working on the chassis harness.

A few snafu's, first was my Cal-Van 165 inline flaring tool...ended up destroying the 3/16" insert on the first flare of the day, so the brakes didn't get done. Second was a wrong temperature sender in my kit...we'll blame this on Summit, not Classic Instruments. Third, my box full of firewall plugs and grommets did not have an 1 1/4" grommet...so that brought running wires to a screeching halt.

All-in-all I made some decent progress, albeit, not as much as I wanted, but we are getting there!

In other notes, Classic Instruments has AWESOME customer service.

On to the pictures.

[lower50's]

What was the worst part about the shifter linkage? That is some nice straight exhaust should have a wicked sound.

[joedoh]

very very nice! should be a real looker and I use smithys too so it should sound good

[OutlawDrifter]

Originally Posted by lower50's

What was the worst part about the shifter linkage? That is some nice straight exhaust should have a wicked sound.

Thanks, I'm hoping for deep and menacing. Just getting every thing set so it doesn't bind, is close to the indicator on the column, and reaches all gears. It's dance between 2 different aftermarket manufacturers and a factory trans. It's not perfect, but good enough for me(has no bind and reaches all gears)!

Originally Posted by joedoh

very very nice! should be a real looker and I use smithys too so it should sound good

Thanks! I want an era correct sound...and I've never heard an LS with them.

[OutlawDrifter]

What a whirlwind of a weekend. Oldest daughter was a queen candidate for Homecoming, so that kept us busy Friday night and Saturday evening. Both of my girls had volleyball tournaments in different towns on Saturday. I still managed some shop time.

Finished the seat belt install, knocked out the DBW gas pedal with original pedal used. Pulled some wire through the firewall, installed the alternator and power steering pump. Before putting the PS pump in, I tapped the second return hose with some 5/16" fine threads and installed a bolt coated in aviation gasket maker and blue lock tight. Made the brackets to hold the radiator in, installed exhaust manifold studs, and last but not least, "test fit" the new air cleaner.

Gas pedal fought me like the shifter linkage, what seems like a simple job took a lot of extra effort. My replacement 3/16" brake flare die was supposed to be in the mail on Saturday...it didn't show up, so I'm still not finished with my brakes. Ordered some more AN fittings to fix up my power steering pressure line, and some longer bolts for the cab mounts.

Hopefully my engine/trans harness will be done soon so I can get focused on wiring. Need to lean on my guy to get the wrecker bed done. I'm starting to question whether its going to happen on time or not, may have to just rock a quicky flatbed for the time being.

[LCA1971]

That thing is looking great!!!

[OutlawDrifter]

Originally Posted by LCA1971

That thing is looking great!!!

Thanks

[OutlawDrifter]

Yesterday was a freebie day in the shop. The company I work for gives you the day off for your birthday. Win/Win.

I didn't really have a direction in mind, but needed to keep pushing forward. So, I finished up the brake lines, hung the front sheet metal, mounted the radiator, mounted the fan, and fab'd up a bracket to attach the tranny cooler.

The guy that is going to build my wrecker bed, hasn't even started on the CAD drawing yet, so I'm going to go out on a limb and plan on building a custom flat bed myself. Not happy about this, but I also want to get this truck completed.

Hopefully my engine/trans harness will be completed soon, then I will get started on knocking out all of the wiring.

My new body mount bolts showed up, along with the fittings to build the power steering pressure hose, so I should have that part of the job wrapped up tonight.

There is 6" from the ground to the rear part of the front fender, lower than I expected!









The view I was rewarded with after a long day!

[iowaboynca]

Happy B-day!

Looks like you got a lot done!

[lower50's]

Happy Birthday!!! Day in the shop is always fun. 6" off the ground is a nice height tho.

[joedoh]

just outstanding!

happy bird day!

[OutlawDrifter]

Originally Posted by iowaboynca

Happy B-day!

Looks like you got a lot done!

Originally Posted by lower50's

Happy Birthday!!! Day in the shop is always fun. 6" off the ground is a nice height tho.

Originally Posted by joedoh

just outstanding!

happy bird day!

Thanks fellas!

[gigamanx]

ha, you just reminded me I better figure out a transmission cooler mount while I'm doing my core support

[OutlawDrifter]

No pictures today. Put together a power steering pressure hose with some AN fittings and a chunk of SS braided line I had leftover from another project. Started working on the cover/tunnel for the transmission. Ended up tightening up all my AN fittings in the fuel system, so I don't forget when I hit the key.

Wrecker bed is supposedly back on, hopefully have it home by Tuesday. Put in an order for some more steel to finish things out on the wrecker bed, and for running board mounts. Still no word on the engine/trans harness, hoping its done soon as well. Need to get this thing wired!

[OutlawDrifter]

My roll of 3/8" hard line came in so I could get the tranny cooler lines finished up, worked on that Monday night. Turns out, my flare tool does not like to flare this line. Ended up having to start the flare with a whack from a hammer, then finishing it off with the tool itself.

Some pictures of the other progress achieved this weekend also. Need to go check on the wrecker bed and pick up some steel I ordered last Friday.

[gigamanx]

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

My roll of 3/8" hard line came in so I could get the tranny cooler lines finished up, worked on that Monday night. Turns out, my flare tool does not like to flare this line. Ended up having to start the flare with a whack from a hammer, then finishing it off with the tool itself.

Some pictures of the other progress achieved this weekend also. Need to go check on the wrecker bed and pick up some steel I ordered last Friday.

I didn't even think of trying to use the stock transmission plate to create the outer edge of a removable trans cover. I was just going to weld it right onto the bed. Very cool. Any thoughts on how you're going to figure out the angle to cut the curved portion, or are you going to box it in with square lines instead of a bend over the transmission?

What tool are you using so I don't buy it haha. I will need to do transmission lines at some point. I'm thinking of mounting my cooler under the cab though somewhere close. I didn't want to take up the space in front of the radiator just in case I want to install A/C in the future. Pretty sure that's where the AC cooler would go.

[joedoh]

I want to see the flatbed, I have a 01 2500HD flatbed and I use that stupid thing all the time!

[OutlawDrifter]

Originally Posted by gigamanx

I didn't even think of trying to use the stock transmission plate to create the outer edge of a removable trans cover. I was just going to weld it right onto the bed. Very cool. Any thoughts on how you're going to figure out the angle to cut the curved portion, or are you going to box it in with square lines instead of a bend over the transmission?

What tool are you using so I don't buy it haha. I will need to do transmission lines at some point. I'm thinking of mounting my cooler under the cab though somewhere close. I didn't want to take up the space in front of the radiator just in case I want to install A/C in the future. Pretty sure that's where the AC cooler would go.

I'm going to box it in. Not as pretty, but more functional as a flat surface.

Cal-Van 165, great tool, but the 3/8" tubing I'm using is pretty thick walled. It worked fine for the 3/16" brake lines I did which were copper/nickel lines.

If you're going under the cab, I wouldn't worry too much about hard lines. Should be plenty of room up front for an AC condenser and the tranny cooler, however.

[steve aleve]

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

What a whirlwind of a weekend. Oldest daughter was a queen candidate for Homecoming, so that kept us busy Friday night and Saturday evening. Both of my girls had volleyball tournaments in different towns on Saturday. I still managed some shop time.

Finished the seat belt install, knocked out the DBW gas pedal with original pedal used. Pulled some wire through the firewall, installed the alternator and power steering pump. Before putting the PS pump in, I tapped the second return hose with some 5/16" fine threads and installed a bolt coated in aviation gasket maker and blue lock tight. Made the brackets to hold the radiator in, installed exhaust manifold studs, and last but not least, "test fit" the new air cleaner.

Gas pedal fought me like the shifter linkage, what seems like a simple job took a lot of extra effort. My replacement 3/16" brake flare die was supposed to be in the mail on Saturday...it didn't show up, so I'm still not finished with my brakes. Ordered some more AN fittings to fix up my power steering pressure line, and some longer bolts for the cab mounts.

Hopefully my engine/trans harness will be done soon so I can get focused on wiring. Need to lean on my guy to get the wrecker bed done. I'm starting to question whether its going to happen on time or not, may have to just rock a quicky flatbed for the time being.

Love the truck and the build!! I wanted to ask where you got those three point seat belts? I have an identical set in two point and would love to upgrade. Thanks!

[lower50's]

Originally Posted by gigamanx;

I'm thinking of mounting my cooler under the cab though somewhere close. I didn't want to take up the space in front of the radiator just in case I want to install A/C in the future. Pretty sure that's where the AC cooler would go.

Be careful mounting it under the cab, you need to make sure it gets cool air. Remember heat will flow back from the rad.

[OutlawDrifter]

Originally Posted by steve aleve

Love the truck and the build!! I wanted to ask where you got those three point seat belts? I have an identical set in two point and would love to upgrade. Thanks!

Thanks for the kind words, they are from classicparts.com out of KC.

[OutlawDrifter]

Brakes are bled, fuse block is mounted, and a few more wiring items are taken care of. The temp sender, oil pressure sender, and fuel sender are wired. Grounds for the fuel pump and sender are in place. Relocated the pins/wires on the steering column harness to the connector that came with the speedway kit.

Yesterday I changed the oil in my 2500HD, thought I would knock out the oil on Francis while I was doing it. I keep a case of Wix 57060 filters because I have 3 vehicles already that use them. I was pretty sure the LQ4 used the same filter...wah wah wah, same size filter housing, different threads. It takes a 51042, oh well.

At this point, I'm ready to fill with oil, change tranny filter and fill with fluid, and put in distilled water/coolant. Planning to have some "more cowbell" for you later this week in the form of pictures, these you won't want to miss! Engine/trans harness should be done this week also! We are down to crunch time. Truck needs to be rolling under its own power soon!