Barn raising

[hgs_notes]

Thats a lot of work, lets see it.

[litew8]

Swear I seen these mounted on a truck in town.
It's been a while but remember reading you can buy used Nascar tires.
It must have been these - and I was mistaken about them being discontinued.

[Barn Owl]

Sure but your tires will only last 20 laps
We had a 3/8 mile paved paved oval track here in town and there were some guys I knew that ran the track tires on the street but it got old real quick because the soft composition on the rubber made it not very practical.

[Mike Bradbury]

That is so weird, I am Barn Owl on multiple forums, some are car/truck related some are not but I keep my user name the same. This was the first forum I ever joined and I had not come up with the name Barn Owl yet. I tried to change my user name but it is too much trouble here because this forum is bigger than most and it would be a logistical nightmare for the admin staff if they made it easy. My sister in law was down for a couple of days and slept in the office and the computer got turned off so I had to re log into this forum, I must have been tired and typed in the wrong user name and it took it, huh? said the last time I logged in was back in '09. I guess everybody already knows me as Mike, so I guess I will just keep it that way. Just for further clarification this is why my build is called Barn Raising.

[litew8]

Originally Posted by Barn Owl

Sure but your tires will only last 20 laps
We had a 3/8 mile paved paved oval track here in town and there were some guys I knew that ran the track tires on the street but it got old real quick because the soft composition on the rubber made it not very practical.

Would be cool if just driving to a show on nice days.
Otherwise, if DD, you're going to have to pull into the pit often.

[mcbassin]

What's up Barn Owl? That's funny right there.

[Mike Bradbury]

Yeah, funny, an alter ego.

[Mike Bradbury]

Here is a look at the freshly painted engine. I just have the water pump and pullies mocked up to get a picture of it. I used the eastwood ceramic engine paint, flowed pretty thick through the gun so rather than reducing it I just up the PSI and it sprayed fine. Came out really good and is good to 650*.

[67cheby]

Looks great
Posted via Mobile Device

[Mike Bradbury]

Not sure if you can tell from the picture but I sprayed the intake manifold the Eastwood aluminum engine color also. I had thought about powder coating it and had also contemplated ceramic coating, but in the end powder was not recommended and ceramic was $120- $150 depending on which shop I took it to. It was $34 for the engine paint and I already had it. We will see how it performs, but for now it looks great, and the ceramic paint glossed up like any other urethane single stage car paint.

[mcbassin]

Your new engine looks great. I be you're pumped about driving this beast again! You will be soon.

[Mike Bradbury]

It's the little details that are killing me right now, All the hardware that has to be buffed or painted or bought new... I cant believe how many times I have had to go back to the parts store because I need one more bolt to finish, then I discover I need another one. I had all the bolts from the disassembly in there respective zip loc bags but a lot are not making it back onto the motor because they just are beyond restoring. Today was especially frustrating because being New Years Eve every bodies closing early.

[oldblue1968chevy]

Id get an edelbrock fuel pump, or make sure it doesnt exceed 6psi it will drip on your intake manifold with too much pressure and id hate to see iciy on a new motor lol

[FrankieD]

Nice looking engine like the detail you put in it. Question on the first page what are the size of tires from your dads 29, I like the way they look.

[Mike Bradbury]

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

Id get an edelbrock fuel pump, or make sure it doesnt exceed 6psi it will drip on your intake manifold with too much pressure and id hate to see iciy on a new motor lol

How much psi does the OEM put out? I have seen dial type regulators from speed way that you can dial the psi you want. They look pretty slick and I was contemplating getting one, but then thought that the OEM pump probably did not put out all that much but the new aluminum manifold did look pretty ugly after not too much time at all.

Originally Posted by FrankieD

Nice looking engine like the detail you put in it. Question on the first page what are the size of tires from your dads 29, I like the way they look.

His tires are 285/70R15. They are BFG's with a nice moon cap. Those are just his drive to the show tires, his show tires are more of the bias type old school fifties rod style with the parallel ribs for tread.

[FrankieD]

His tires are 285/70R15. They are BFG's with a nice moon cap. Those are just his drive to the show tires, his show tires are more of the bias type old school fifties rod style with the parallel ribs for tread.[/QUOTE]

I'm old 64 so I like old school!!!

[Mike Bradbury]

My dad is going to be 80 next year and he is still working full time at a physical job and he comes home every night and starts wrenching on the rod, I want to be as healthy as him when I am his age.

[FrankieD]

Originally Posted by Mike Bradbury

My dad is going to be 80 next year and he is still working full time at a physical job and he comes home every night and starts wrenching on the rod, I want to be as healthy as him when I am his age.

Me to, I hope to get his age

[fakerwade]

Engine looks great mike!! Most old gm mechanical fuel pumps were rated 5 to 7 psi. I tend to stay in the 6 to 7 psi range because you can over pressure the needle and seat and over-fill the float bowl.

[Project1970]

Where is the steering shaft going to run for your setup?

[Mike Bradbury]

The steering shaft is going right in front of the driver side motor mount but right behind the power steering pump. here I have used my 3/8 drive ratchet extension to mock up the location but it will be relatively the same place when it is the real deal.



You can see here that I have moved it back as far as it will go but if I was to keep the power steering bracket the same I would have to change the cross member.

[fakerwade]

Pretty sweet Mike!

[Project1970]

Beautiful, and it looks like you could get that there without even clearancing the framerail.

You suuuuure you don't want to sell those brackets?

e: I might run into alternator clearance issues there, wonder if I can easily mount it on the passenger side since my A/C is up top instead.

[buckshot_86]

Awesome truck! Now I'm kicking myself for selling my '69, even though it was a wreck! I love what you have done, from the conversion to half ton, the tires, shop logo, spoiler on the endgate, the upholstery on the F-350 seat, and the engine mounts! Great job, I am tuned in and eagerly waiting your future work on the truck!

[hemi jim]

Mike, having trouble with personal replies. So I had to send it on the California forum, Sorry.....