Super Duper Haggis Hauler II - The Resurrection

[MacQuigley]

I had been hoping to be able to fire up the 454 this weekend "under its own power" ie with all the internal electrics done rather than via the spaghetti junction of wires Id run everywhere, but sadly it wasnt to be!

However the reason that didnt happen wasnt down to an electrical issue but a mechanical one.

So I got the important electrical systems all working. The lights work just fine, indicators (well front as Ive no rear lights yet). The starter motor spins but is not engaging the flywheel. Its likely because I turned the starter so the solenoid points downward making connection easier. I hope its just a case of shimming it but I think I will need to turn it again. Thats not the end of the world but its so much easier this way. Fuel pumps are working. Gauges are working.






I didnt try to sort the starter yesterday as frankly it was far too cold to start crawling under the truck, so I will do that sometime this week if the weather gets a little better.

For me this is an important step forward as there electrics were completely shot when I brought the truck home so this is the first time Ive had things like working lights, indicators or even a spinning motor!

So as well as the electrics I also connected the brake pedal to the booster (though Im not happy with my work so I will re do it, but for now it will at least let me bleed the brakes just to make sure Ive no leaks in the system), fitted the Lokar clutch and brake pads as well as installing the Lokar gas pedal.



I need to sit down today/this week and update my to do list but I really can see light at the end of the tunnel now. Im still waiting for my propshaft to come back from the machine shop but once I fit that, fit the clutch slave cylinder, bleed both it and the brakes and hook up the throttle cable I may actually be able to run the truck up and down my drive. Now that would be a step forward!

[MacQuigley]

Success! Starter motor re-clocked and working just fine.

Water pump working though just temporarily, will need to run a permanent supply to it.

Oh and now the alternator is on and the serpentine belt fitted I also have power steering.

So who can spot the difference between the pictures;







Working gauges (well mostly) Woo Hoo!

[MacQuigley]

Time for a weekly (well almost) update.

So this weekend, I fitted the Lokar throttle cable bracket and cable, attached the clutch cable, moved the gas tank back 2 inches so I can better access the sender and breathers, connected up the sender then fitted an earth after it wouldnt work. That was Saturday taken care of. Yesterday I got the headlight buckets modified, fitted and the lights wired up.





Thats another few bits off the bench and onto the truck!

[MacQuigley]

So I need to decide where Im going to put the gas filler.

This is it mocked up, mostly to confirm I bought the right holesaw!





Ive 3 options:

On top of the fender



On the side of the fender



On the rear of the fender



Personally I like it on the rear but its not flat there and the lights may interfere. Anyone got any other suggestions? (BTW its going on the drivers side fender. These pics are for indication only

Could possibly put a reflector on it if Im putting it on the rear, that way its not so obvious and i meet our MOT rules!

[mjh1965]

I think I prefer it on the rear . As far as an MOT you don’t need one as I am sure you know.

[mjh1965]

Is there room to install a flap and hide it Bill

[MacQuigley]

Originally Posted by mjh1965

As far as an MOT you don’t need one as I am sure you know.

I know, but strictly speaking it must be able to be MOT'd. Besides a couple of reflectors are likely a good idea.

Anyway, something dawned on me this evening and thats the fact I still have a rusty old fender I bought before I decided just to go for it and buy new parts.

So I decided to use it as the dummy. This is what it looks like with the filler in the rear.











I think this is the way to go, though I may have to rethink my rear lights and its going to be tight to "plumb" in but its doable.

[MacQuigley]

Well there aint not no going back now!



First the fuel neck is welded in place



Now its ready for some filling and painting (my favourite jobs!!)





Its not quite a flush fit but its not far from it. Quite happy with it.

[MacQuigley]

Thanks to family commitments I didnt get much done over the weekend but I eventually got the new shifter installed.





Fitting those levers was a real pain and the bars that fit to the box were too tight and took a bit of fitting. But it was worth it because the shift is as smooth as anything. Beginnig to thing it would be nice nice in the Vette but only if I can find a way to get it high enough to fit it from below.

Unfortunately its still a little short but because of the way its made I can alter it to suit perfectly (I hope!)

I also mocked up the rear bumper for the first time now that I have the correct brackets.



New rear lights arrived this week as well so start to look at a way to mount them this week.



Sadly Im away this weekend so wont see much getting done but there are a couple of holiday weekends fast approaching that should see some progress.

[ibrown50]

The pop up filler works really well and the shifter is just awesome
I have been looking at those exact same lights for my truck, sadly I’m a fair way off needing rear lights at the moment

[MacQuigley]

I wasnt sure if they would be bright enough and I was thinking I could add a 2nd set, maybe just additional break and rear light but when I tested them last night they looked to be OK.

May make a start at a couple of brackets tonight and who knows maybe fit them before the end of the week!

How long till you think your back on the road Ian? Im hoping this year. Im hoping to have her driving before the end of April if only up and down my drive.

[ibrown50]

Originally Posted by MacQuigley

How long till you think your back on the road Ian? Im hoping this year. Im hoping to have her driving before the end of April if only up and down my drive.

Hi Bill, My truck will be on the road by April for sure.......I just don't know which April

[MacQuigley]

Originally Posted by ibrown50

Hi Bill, My truck will be on the road by April for sure.......I just don't know which April

Aye, I said by Christmas just didnt say which year!

[MacQuigley]

Been a slow week or 2 thanks to other things getting in the way but some progress has been made.

What you cant see is all the lights now working as they should and the clutch slave fitted, fluid in and air bled. So I now have a working clutch.

So the rear bumper and 2nd rear fender are now painted and the bumper fitted. I'll get the fender fitted later this week. Glad I put the gas filler where I did. I think that was the right call.

[Grizz1963]

Continue to enjoy your work,and progress Bill.

Really like that painted bumper.

[MacQuigley]

Cheers Rian. I can sense the end now. I just want to keep at it so I can finally drive it for the first time!

I thought of going chrome first but decided its easier to repaint than re-chrome if it gets scratched. Got to admit it looks better than Id originally imagined. Thought all that blue might have been too much but so far so good. The little chrome in the headlight surrounds, the chrome of the rear lights, the door handles and the chrome wing mirrors (when I fit them) Oh and the chrome "custom" panels behind the doors should be enough to break it all up.

[MacQuigley]

Its actually beginning to look like a truck again!





Only concern I have is those tyres are really tight in the fender wells. The passenger side is the tightest and there is some scope to bring the axle over to the drivers side a little, plus the bed will raise the fenders 1/2-3/4 inch which will help but ultimately I may have to raise the bed height an inch or so by changing the 3" drop springs to maybe 2". That would be a shame as I like the stance exactly as it is.

[ibrown50]

Bill your truck looks better each post. Is your tyre clearance issue inside against the bed or the outside against the fender?

[MacQuigley]

The issue is on the outside edge of the tyre against the inside edge of the fender (if that makes sense). Largely due to wider 12 bolt and 265 tyres (just as well I didnt go for t he 275's I wanted). Worst comes to the worst I could chop the axle but the axle still needs to be centred as does the bed and the wood will raise the height of the fender a little. Oh and the seal between the fender and bed side will gain me a couple of mm.

[ibrown50]

A good fiend of mine had the same issue with his ‘56 t-bird. To fix it he had some material machined off the mounting face of the wheel, effectively moving the wheel inboard by 1/4” or 3/8” ( I can’t recall the exact amount) it would obviously be subject to you having sufficient stock on the wheel in the first place but he did this 5 or 6 years ago and had not had any trouble

[MacQuigley]

Its an idea but Im not sure I could get it in enough to make much difference. There is a good gap currently on the drivers side. The bed does need to be centred as does the axle so I may just make it.

[mjh1965]

I know it’s a bit late , as you have painted the arches . Did you roll the edge of the arch up to give you a bit more room as that usually helps . There is always the option of a little spacer between the bed and arch as well every little helps as the say

[MacQuigley]

I did Martin. Bought a rolling tool and it was as much use as a chocolate tea pot. However I cut the inner lip, folded it in on itself and welded it back up to get as much room as possible. I reckon there may just be enough room.

Always new this may come back and bite me. Never measured up wheels before and I knew it was going to be tight. This is but a minor problem. I can always change the tyres for 255's, though Id rather not in fact Id rather have 275's.

[MacQuigley]

I may have a problem.

Started to strip the intake off tonight to repaint it over the weekend and found signs of water inside one of the valve covers.



Emulsified oil and water!!!!

I couldnt get the engine to start on Sunday when I last tried and in truth its not been running that well the last couple of weekends. Cant help but think head gasket.

[Captainfab]

Uh OH!