Newbie with a new build thread

[BACKYARD88]

1/4"

[68chevy68]

I can handle that. I just picked up a new project. Its a 1951 chevy two door coupe. Needs lots and lots of work. Its for later though. I have to finish this one first.

[BACKYARD88]

Right, then you have another truck in the garage don't you?

[68chevy68]

LOL, I have two more trucks in my garage. There are just not enough hours in the day for me. The problem is that I like too many different vehicles. I have a 48 five window truck and a 61 short fleet in my shop along with my chevelle. The 61 is the one I bought in california while in the marine corps and drove it home. I didn't want to start on that truck due to the lack of skills I have. Didn't want to mess it up so I started on the free truck which is the 68 and so here we are today. I really love the 67-72 trucks though. I guess thats why I am putting so much into this truck. Most of the items on this truck were never on my parts list. lol.

[68chevy68]

I finally got all the MSD wiring finished and fired it up for the first time over the weekend!! The shelf I built turned out really nice and is mounted solid. Only a few things left and I will be able to drive it!!

[Bob 68327]

Sweet !! More pics please !!

[68chevy68]

I will try and get some updated pictures posted this weekend. It's been to hecktick lately for me to get anything done. I just had a new baby girl and just have not had the time needed to work on the truck. Not much has changed though. I worked on the dash a little and also have some pictures of the shelf I made to mount the msd box under the dash.

[BACKYARD88]

I want some pics of it pulling out of the driveway

[nicolas72gmc]

I want to do one too!! I wish I had time to tinker like that. It is really looking good.

[chevy_mike]

Congrats on the new baby girl!

Build is looking good so far. A lot of work. I noticed the positive battery cable just ran though the frame. I assume this is temp but if not, get a grommet or wire loom over it so it doesn't rub thru and become an arc welder.

[68chevy68]

Yeah, that battery cable was just to keep it out of the way for now. I still have to put the inner fenders in after I cut the crap outa them. lol. I should have taken up basket weaving or something.....

[68chevy68]

Well its taken me long enough to get some pictures on here so here is what I have been doing. Not much has been done since the arival of baby Riley. I made a shelf for the ignition to mount under the dash. The dash has been trimmed a little more to fit better to the truck. I finally trimmed the inner fenders down and installed them. I cut way too much off, but they will look ok. You can see the rest in the pictures. Enjoy.

[68chevy68]

[68chevy68]

The sides of the dash are no where near complete in these pictures, I always like to show the ugly pictures as well as the good ones to kind of show how I got to where I am. I am having a little trouble imagining what the transition from the dash to the door will look like when finished. Mostly the door. I have a pretty good idea, but until its done, who knows.... Let me know what you think I should do.

[68chevy68]

Several items were marked off my list today. My transmission cooler and lines are installed. The last few hose clamps for the fuel lines were put on along with lower radiator hose clamps. I also finaly put the flex plate bolts in. I have been putting that off for some time now. I had to get under the truck anyways for the tranny cooler lines so I knocked that out too. A few more brake lines and some fluids and I can drive this thing, at least around the yard.

[BACKYARD88]

It's looking good!

[68chevy68]

Thanks. I can't wait to drive this thing. There is always something else that pops up when you least expect it. I was working on putting the electric fans in (or at least thinking of how best to do it and have it look good) when the truck kept rolling on me so I attempted to put it in gear and no matter what gear it was in, it would still roll. I dont think the bracket I made lets it go all the way in gear. I just need to crawl under it and check that its in park. I hope thats all it is. I don't have the funds to replace the tranny at the moment. I should really change the name of this build thread the extra slow long build...

[68chevy68]

A little more progress tonight. Worked on mounting my fans. I didn't want to use the zip tie style mounting kits to mount my fans. I made a bracket that utilizes the existing holes on the core support. The bottom is the only one I have done so far. The top ones are going to be a little different than the bottom one. The top one will be seen not that the bottom one looks bad. Well let me know what you think. I still have all the wiring on them to do and some sensors to purchase.












I also did not like the look of the old vette steering wheel so I will either get a classic billet one or use the stock truck one. So far it does not look bad in there. It would of course have to be painted and the cracks fixed.

[68chevy68]

I forgot to post a picture of my new baby girl Riley born July 13th weighing in at 6 lbs 9 Oz and 19 inches long.

[BACKYARD88]

I don't see anything wrong with that at all, looks nice. Pretty baby too How are you liking the suicide doors? Are they pretty easy to get in and out of?

[68 short step]

congrates, also i think the mounting bracket looks great, as does the dash..

[68chevy68]

[QUOTE=BACKYARD88;2903898] How are you liking the suicide doors? Are they pretty easy to get in and out of?[/QUOTE

Actually, all I installed were the bearclaw latches. I don't currently have suicide doors. I would love to, but I am not going that far on this one. I have done too much as it is. My original plan was just to get it running and all stock with no z'd frame or any of the other stuff I did. lol,,, its easy to get carried away...

[68chevy68]

Thanks, I had a ton of different ways I was going to mount the fans and this just came to me when I was about to get started on another idea. As for the dash, I am diggin it. A little overwhelmed on the amount of work left to be done, but I think it will be worth it.

[68chevy68]

Tried to start the truck the other day and something is binding up somewhere. I think its has something to do with the flywheel and torque comvertor. It worked before I bolted the torque convertor up. I am hoping thats it and nothing in the engine.

[68chevy68]

ITS ALIVE!!!!!!!, I just had it 180 out.... It sounds awsome! I have a little bit bigger cam in it this time. I can actually here the loap in it. I need to finish up the brakes and wire up the electric fans and put some springs in the rear and I can take it around the block!! My neighbor came over and helped me out a bit. Books can only get me so far. I will have some pictures of the rest of the fan mounts later too...stay tuned....