My 50 roadster pickup build

[8man]

Nice work Jim. And Merry Christmas to you too.

[youngrodder]

Looking really good Jim. You will be like a kid waiting for Christmas except you will be waiting for a shifter.

Marc

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

Merry Christmas Jim, looks good!

Originally Posted by 8man

Nice work Jim. And Merry Christmas to you too.

Originally Posted by youngrodder

Looking really good Jim. You will be like a kid waiting for Christmas except you will be waiting for a shifter.

Marc

Thanks guys,appreciate it...Jim

[joedoh]

wow wow wow!

[lower50's]

You are going to need white cotton gloves to do any work on this thing. Merry Christmas Jim!!

Bob

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by joedoh

wow wow wow!

Originally Posted by lower50's

You are going to need white cotton gloves to do any work on this thing. Merry Christmas Jim!!

Bob

Thanks Russ and Bob...Jim

[oldman3]

Not much to show today, Mark crimped all the ac lines today, I installed all new "O" rings and tighten everything. Will wait for summer to charge the system.

Now it's just a wait and see...Jim

[Indian113]

So tell me Jim, What have you got planned to change next on what I always thought was as near to perfect Truck? Atleast in my Opinion! I sure can't see any faults in it.

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by Indian113

So tell me Jim, What have you got planned to change next on what I always thought was as near to perfect Truck? Atleast in my Opinion! I sure can't see any faults in it.

Thanks Ray, long ways from perfect. Since you ask, thinking about changing the interior. It's 18 years old and showing it's age on the material part, leather is good. So maybe change the door and kick panels only, will see...Jim

[oldman3]

Hey everyone, little update on the pickup. Talked with Lokar first week in January, told I might get the shifter Mar 11, 2022. I was pissed, so Mark checked around and found the same shifter at Classic Industries. Ordered the shifter, in came in today. Will cancel the other order, wanted this one in hand before I did. Got shifter around 11:00 today, it is in, adjusted, tested. Then we installed the interior back in place. Here's some pics...Jim

[oldman3]

Have to apologize, thought I took pics while doing the work, guess I didn't. Back on page 77 it shows when it was apart and the old shifter on the trans. New one is mounted to the floor, needed that to align with the hole in the console. On yeah, Mark did most of the work, I just helped when needed. It is suppose to be 55 tomorrow and all snow should be gone, if so I will take out for a short shake down run...Jim

[OutlawDrifter]

Looks good Jim! Glad you got it sorted out!

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

Looks good Jim! Glad you got it sorted out!

Thanks, so am I...Jim

[lower50's]

Shifter looks good there! Umm how do you keep your white leather so clean?

[8man]

Congrats on Mark finding another supplier, that was a stroke of good luck.

And like Lower50 said, how? That interior is just beautiful!

[youngrodder]

Now your cooking with gas...Looks good Jim. I lucked out once on a steering rack from Amazon when everywhere else was out of stock.

Good luck on the shake down.

Marc

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by lower50's

Shifter looks good there! Umm how do you keep your white leather so clean?

Originally Posted by 8man

Congrats on Mark finding another supplier, that was a stroke of good luck.

And like Lower50 said, how? That interior is just beautiful!

Thanks fellows, it looks white, but it's a super light tan color. I have home made mats for the floor, and seat covers, remove for events. Leather still looks great, but the tweed is showing it's age, will have to make some changes.

Originally Posted by youngrodder

Now your cooking with gas...Looks good Jim. I lucked out once on a steering rack from Amazon when everywhere else was out of stock.

Good luck on the shake down.

Marc

Thanks Marc, hopefully later today...Jim

[Indian113]

I can hardly wait until you kick that Chevy in the BUTT! Looking Good Jim.

[joedoh]

love it! I dont know how you get passed up for TOTM so consistently, you have one of the most detailed and beautiful trucks on here. I think i will make you an award myself.

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by Indian113

I can hardly wait until you kick that Chevy in the BUTT! Looking Good Jim.

Thanks Ray, did a little today...Jim

Originally Posted by joedoh

love it! I dont know how you get passed up for TOTM so consistently, you have one of the most detailed and beautiful trucks on here. I think i will make you an award myself.

Thanks Russ, sometimes I think people assume I win stuff all the time, but I don't. Maybe I might get lucky in 10 yrs or so. I have always liked the trucks you've built, the stance, wheels, etc. fit so great...Jim

[oldman3]

Well did my shake-down run today, or tried too. Pulled out on the road, gave it gas it went to 4,000 rpm and no shift, stayed in first gear. Came back, checked fluid, added a little and tried again, same thing. Mark and I checked everthing, even re-adjusted the shift linkage, no change. Then we called Brendon and talked to him, he said it sounded like a bad speed sensor. Mark pulled one from customers trans, removed mine and installed his. That took care of the problem, new speed sensor and it is either no good, or could be to short. Will get another one to replace customers unit.

After that I took it out for a short ride, big difference, because everything is new, you hear different sounds, so I'll have to check everything. I did get on it a little, went to 4500 rpm in first it shifted to 2nd and broke the tires loose. I want to get more use to it, before I really test it out. Plus Brendon still needs to come over and hook his laptop and tune it for me. Will let you know it comes out...Jim

[lower50's]

Glad to hear the shifting problem was an easy fix.

[oldman3]

Have a question for guys running the LS engine with power steering and a mustang rack&pinion. My old small block I had a Heidt's valve for setting how the power steering felt. With this set-up I installed a new valve in the PS unit, it went from 3gph to 2 gph, which was suppose to make it better. From what little I have driven it, it is to sensitive to me. Is there anything else that can be done to improve this. Thanks Jim

[OutlawDrifter]

Jim, while I don't run a rack & pinion, we used a pressure reducing kit on my buddy's Fairmont swap project. The LS pump needs to be turned down so it doesn't blow the seals out. I'm not familiar with the valve you mentioned. Something like this:

https://www.scramspeed.com/products/...ction-kit.html

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by oldman3

Have a question for guys running the LS engine with power steering and a mustang rack&pinion. My old small block I had a Heidt's valve for setting how the power steering felt. With this set-up I installed a new valve in the PS unit, it went from 3gph to 2 gph, which was suppose to make it better. From what little I have driven it, it is to sensitive to me. Is there anything else that can be done to improve this. Thanks Jim

Glad you had an easy first drive other than the shifting set back.

I used a Borgeson pressure reducer in mine.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/b...SABEgJ5IvD_BwE

With this power steering reducer, it contains 5 different shim/washers each one reducing the power.

No Shims 1350PSI
1 Shim 1200PSI
2 Shims 1100PSI
3 Shims 1000PSI
4 Shims 850PSI
5 Shims 700PSI

I'm thinking you could fine tune it to your liking. I forget how many shims I used. Thinking 3 or 4 but its been a minute since I added it. At only $16 bucks and some of your time it might be worth a try.

Marc