Ben Jammin's 1955 Chevy/GMC Project

[bensimmons_05]

Another one of Ben's duh moments.

I didn't really consider that the pictures showed nothing if the problem areas when I asked everyone about the placement, so that one is my own fault.

Next I believe I am going to weld in the c-notch in the rear and disassemble to take the frame to be blasted and coat it with POR15.

[nuke1]

Come on Ben, lets see some updates, pictures please. lol

[bensimmons_05]

There was one more i wanted to put up. Nuke, there are some on the previous page of the engine moved more forward.



Today I had to spend some time on my poor neglected car. I put the front brakes and on I have had for over a year and chased down a cooant leak (think I fixed it but not sure) and tomorrow Ive got to finish up replacing the spark plugs and wires. If any of you have never done that on an LT1..... BE HAPPY. Its more crammed than a compact and there are twice as many wires and plugs!!

[BluTooth]

My truck has the original motor mounts on front, which motot mounts did you use to allow you to move the engine forward, I have the same problem with tall valve covers.

[72hotrodder]

wow that motor mount does'nt look strong enuff to me?

[nuke1]

nice car, Ben, i use to have a 94 trans am, LT1 and a 6 speed, yellow in color. I miss it. but currently looking at a 87 IROC with no motor or trans, but the body is mint, came from the states.

[bensimmons_05]

Originally Posted by BluTooth

My truck has the original motor mounts on front, which motot mounts did you use to allow you to move the engine forward, I have the same problem with tall valve covers.

That is a tubular crossmember similar to the one CPP sells with the old style GM motor mounts. I got the energy suspension ones at Autozone.

"wow that motor mount does'nt look strong enuff to me?"

As far as I know it was made for a chevy V8 for this type of application, I think it will be alright. I'm only going to be pushing stock TBI 305 kinda horsepower (like 200 ... MAYBE) .

This is the one CPP sells now for this application
VVV

[bensimmons_05]

Originally Posted by nuke1

nice car, Ben, i use to have a 94 trans am, LT1 and a 6 speed, yellow in color. I miss it. but currently looking at a 87 IROC with no motor or trans, but the body is mint, came from the states.

Thanks Nuke,
That leak I mentioned... well I didn't sniff it out on the first try. Turns out it is the ever popular LT1 weep hole leek. So I have to save up some $$ to get a new water pump and optispark cap and rotor while I'm at it. Did your LT1 leak oil as bad as mine does?? It is ridiculous!!

[blackdiesel]

Originally Posted by bensimmons_05

As far as I know it was made for a chevy V8 for this type of application, I think it will be alright. I'm only going to be pushing stock TBI 305 kinda horsepower (like 250) .

wow, 250 eh. the 305 tbi i have is only rated at 170 measely hp.

[bensimmons_05]

hahah, Well that is probably the right number then... I am adding little helpers like exhaust upgraded ingition components and ditching the smog system but it won't make it too much better. I just threw a number out there.

[bensimmons_05]

I have been dormant for a while. I'm busy helping plan my wedding coming up in May. DON'T WORRY !! We already had the " I really enjoy working on trucks and cars" talk and it went very well. She has been with me through this whole truck so far.

Other than that my daily driver (the one your only suppose to do little work on from time to time) has what I think to be either a blown head gasket or a cracked head. So it has taken up a bunch of my time lately.

I go through and read you guys' build threads and go back through my own and it makes me want to get busy again!!

[watahyahknow]

watch out she doesnt change her mind once the band is around the finger ......... maibe have her sighn a marital agreement :P

[blackdiesel]

OK, heres what you do. All those gifts you get from the wedding showers you and your wife have. Take them back and put that $$ in the truck. Well at least your half. let me know how this works out for you.

[bensimmons_05]

Originally Posted by watahyahknow

watch out she doesnt change her mind once the band is around the finger ......... maibe have her sighn a marital agreement :P

EXCELLENT Idea. I'll come up with something.

[bensimmons_05]

Originally Posted by blackdiesel

OK, heres what you do. All those gifts you get from the wedding showers you and your wife have. Take them back and put that $$ in the truck. Well at least your half. let me know how this works out for you.

I like your style.

[watahyahknow]

Originally Posted by blackdiesel

OK, heres what you do. All those gifts you get from the wedding showers you and your wife have. Take them back and put that $$ in the truck. Well at least your half. let me know how this works out for you.

you know this may be evil but i think its worth it :
have everyone give you parts for the truck (and have them keep the real pressents in the car ) and watch her face go cloudier and cloudier during the unwrap
she eventually will forgive you but wat a hoot it will be to see the weddingvideo time and time again

this is a funny clip from the netherlands from our local comedian where the bride and broom getting pepper and salt shakers from every visitor and vriend at the wedding

YouTube- Andre van Duin - Peper en Zoutstel

i think its made in english too but couldnt find it

[nuke1]

Ben, with my T/A The optispark went out at 90000kms. or roughly 56miles. hated that thing with a passion, that is the stupidest design GM ever did. And yes mine leaked but not bad, do not feel bad, it yours has not gone out it will, they all do! Later.

[bensimmons_05]

Well once again my poor neglected vehicles steal the spotlight from my true love.



Apart from a wedding coming up very quick and school and work I had to pay some much needed attention to my daily driver.



My 94 dakota blew a head gasket and cracked a cylinder head.



So I got a new cylinder head and head gasket set and put it on.



I cleaned everything up and rebuilt the throttle body while it was off. New timing belt and tensioner while I was in there also.



It is running good again.

If you guys have never heard of Alabama Cylinder Head you need to check them out (don't worry they deal worldwide). I got a brand new cylinder head (camshaft included in this one) for HUNDREDS less than I could get a Reman. at a parts store.

www.alabamacylinderhead.com

Meanwhile my 55 sits out in the rain.

[richlandborn]

The motor mounts you have listed above I just bought from brothers for my 58' for 95bucks came with the transmission mount also. Great investment i think and way too easy to install

[nuke1]

Go figure LIFE!!! everything else first before ,the actual things you want to do.

[bensimmons_05]

Well Nuke had it all right. LIFE!!! I hafe finally gotten back to the point where I can work on my one true love!!! Over the past 7 months a great deal has gone on to keep me from my truck.

I had a lot of engine work to do on the car, I became a single man, and I worked a lot on my house.

Luckily, I have some updates with the truck. I have a week off of work this week and I have spent a lot of that time getting some mini-projects completed.

The first thing I tackled was the C-notch for the rear end.

[bensimmons_05]

It has been a very long time since I have welded, so I was very happy to get back into it!!

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[bensimmons_05]

I bought some suspension parts from Autozone a long time ago. I saved a good bit of money compared to LMC at the time. If anyone wants the part #s for the spring bolts and bushings just let me know.

I also made a tool that goes onto a slide hammer to remove the spring bolts and bushings at the same time. It worked pretty well for me actually.





I can give you the part numbers to all the tools needed to do this also. It just so happens that a blind hole puller tool has the exact same thread pattern as the spring bolt itself, and they are all rent-a-tools!

[bensimmons_05]

Today I took the cab apart and removed it with some help from my family and friends. I was going to take the frame down to my Uncles and sand blast it, but I am considering the wire brush method.I will use POR15 or equivalent to coat the whole frame, then most likely some semi gloss black.

[bjcaldwe]

I am glad to see you are back at it. Nice bit of progress.