1930 Chevy sedan build thread...trying for 3K.

[buckroseau]

Matt, car is really looking good. Nice look to it and great stance. I like it a lot, so I hope the comment I am about to make is taken in that light. I don't think I ever noticed before what you are using for rear radius rods, but when I saw the picture today I had to say something.

Those were never intended to be used as radius rods, they were originally used with Ford torque tube banjo rear ends, and the main thrust was absorbed by the torque tube. By themselves they are way too weak to do the job. There have been countless cases where they have broken or bent, even by the simple act of going over a RR track. Here is just one report:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...hlight=wrecked

I know the ones in the story above are split, but it doesn't make any difference. These things are notorious for breaking, and no amount of gusseting will make them safe enough to use. I apologize for bringing this up at this late date, but I really felt you should know about this. I would hate to see your beautiful little hot rod messed up or something happen to you or someone else. I hope you understand.

Don

Hi Don,

I had saw your post earlier in the thread about this subject. I wasn't ignoring you or anyone else...I guess I didn't want to get into a big debate about it either.

There are a couple older local hot rod guru's I glean a lot of info off of and they are the ones who recomended doing it like this..in fact one of them gave me the rods. I did mention your concern to him to see what he thought. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but he has built several hot rods and is currently running a 32 Ford with the same set up for the last 4 years. Like I said...not saying it's right or wrong...I just have a friend that has used, and is using this set up first hand and it works well.

I think if I had a motor that had been built up and I was going to be stomping on the thing I might change my mind. My motor is a clapped out 350 with a couple bolt on performance parts and a ho-chi-mien chrome kit. I might regret my decision...and I sure hope I don't, but for now I am going to stick with it. And I sure hope you don't think that I am just blowing you off? I sure appreciate the info you and others supply on a regular basis.

Thanks, Matt

[brianrupnow]

I just bought a set that are direct bolt in replacements for 7" sealed beam headlights from Hortons in Ontario Canada (905-876-2124)----Brian

[buckroseau]

Managed to get some work done on the chubby this week, mostly Friday and Saturday afternoon today.

I had my neighbor over Friday night giving me a hand with brake bleeding. I had to re-flare a couple ends because of a little leaking. Once we got that taken care off I finally got my brakes working. I had a few misc. little things to wrap up this morning, but later in the afternoon I managed to get it started. After some cam break in period and a little carb tuning it ran amazingly well, pops right off as soon as you hit the starter button. Did a triple check on the important stuff and decided to take it for a little spin. I live about 4 miles out of town, on the way into town on the highway I only got it up to about 40 mph. This rig seems like it's going to take some getting used to. It also didn't help that the tranny kept slipping out of 3rd gear and going into neutral. I could wiggle the shifter and get it to catch a gear again, but I'm begining to think I know why this truck had been parked in a shed the last 20 years. I stopped at a store and picked up a little transmission mechanic in a can and poured that in....took a pic while I was there out in the parking lot also . Drove around for a bit and headed for home. On the way home the tranny started to shift pretty well and stayed hooked up in all the gears. Might be a combination of the tranny getting used again and the trans-medic, but for now seems to be working....we'll see if it stays that way? But, for $200 bucks for a motor and tranny, can't expect much else?

Also took a pic of a quick tranny cover I made just for the center section for now. Just so I didn't put my hand into the driveshaft.

Hoping to get some more little stuff tomorrow done, I might also spend a good portion of the day cleaning my shop...it looks like a bomb went off in there

Matt

[stovens]

So Matt
The big K question. How close did you come to the 3k figure? I know this is personal, but I've followed this thread and have to say I'm very impressed with your thriftyness. The car came out great. Nice work. Steve.

[buckroseau]

Not a lot to report on the chubby, I did have a little set back last week.

I think I had mentioned in a post a couple weeks ago that my $200 drivetrain (specificly the tranny) was giving me a little trouble. Well, that little trouble became big trouble last Sunday when it had been working well for a week and a half and started slipping in every gear all of a sudden. I made the decision just to pull it out and have a buddy who is a local auto mechanic take a look at it. He pulled it apart and it wasn't good. The valve bodies were just full of sludge and junk, also the clutch disc were basiclly worn down to the steel. I ended up ordering a tranny rebuild kit for $122, new torque converter for $65 and my buddy really hooked me up and rebuilt it for $150 in labor. So, for $337 I got a fresh rebuilt tranny...nothing fancy in the guts of it, but fresh. I got it back on Friday night and bolted it back in this afternoon, took about an hour and a half. Took it out for a spin today and it worked great!!

Tranny wasn't in the plan of things to replace, but what's a guy to expect for buying an entire truck for $200

Matt

[buckroseau]

So Matt
The big K question. How close did you come to the 3k figure? I know this is personal, but I've followed this thread and have to say I'm very impressed with your thriftyness. The car came out great. Nice work. Steve.

Hi Steve,

Didn't mean to ignore you, I have just been driving my car for the last week

I haven't added up the reciepts, but I know I am over 3k. If I was to guess, close to 4k...but, I bet I didn't over that.

I just loaded up the back of my work truck with left over Chubby parts from this car...axles, engine, etc... I imagine I might get about a $100 bucks in scrap for it. I also am going to try sell the original frame off it...it actually is pretty neat, I think someone might want it. So, that might get me a little closer to the $3k mark.

I will try to get the reciepts added up shortly and let you know.

Thanks, Matt

[Itoldyouso]

Don't feel bad Matt, even new transmissions fail, like ours. Good to see your car on the road. BTW, I took some scrap to the yard several times last week. First day I got $ 11 per 100wt. Next day it was up to $ 13 per 100wt. I had about a 880 pounds of junk and got about $ 115 bucks.

Of course I also got a screw in my tire, which I get pretty often when taking stuff to the scrap yard, but that was easily fixed with a plug.

So that load you have in the truck looks like a bit of cash to me.

Don

[Wolfco]

Hey Matt,
Let's see a bit of smoke rolling off those tires! That new tranny and hot camshaft should be able to withstand a bit of hot rodding. Jeff