Thread: Project 29 rpu is underway!!

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I saw pics of your car at the show Bill, was the trip uneventful? That hemi looks great sitting in there.

J.Robinson wrote:

OK, guys. There's something fishy going on here. I was at Billetproof, I was all over the place at least 3 times, and I was in the "garage sale", but I never saw Don. I saw Bill (Gastrick) and his coupe with the Hemi (NICE!), but no Don. I think he must have grown a mustache and worn a toupe to become incognito... or maybe he's avoiding some of us... Hmmmm?

Funny that's the same conclusion I came to at Daytona this year.
Found the blue T and the T with the bronze wheels, but no Don and son. Traveled 1000 miles to meet my hero and my hero went shopping.
Oh what he hell, met some other neat people. Going to give Don one more chance when I venture down to Ft. Myers area in June.

Don wrote:

I will document the installation of the Chevy transmission to the early Olds motor in case anyone here might be interested in doing the same thing.

Yes, please do that. I have been considering swapping out my hydro in my 57 for a more modern tranny and would love to see your efforts.

Yeah, sorry Bob, as soon as we park our cars we head for the swap meet area...........might be something we can't live without.

Bob, if you go to Bendtsens website and go down to a section with Thunderods or something similar, there is an article on swapping this transmission into an early Olds. It is pretty informative. I got tracking info on my swap kit, it should be here next week. My plan is to pull the Olds engine and clean it up and paint it at last. It's all done as far as rebuilding it, just needs some red paint put on it, and the carbs sent off to American Carburator for rebuilding and dying.

I'll post up lots of pictures of how the adapter works and all.

Don

Continuing my never ending quest to rescue the American economy one car part at a time I received the Bendtsens transmission adapter and the turbo 350 from Jackson's Racing Transmissions also showed up today.

I am really impressed with the Bendtsen kit. I always thought the $ 995.00 price tag was a little high, but after seeing the workmanship I can see where it was worth it. The problem is that the 394 Olds engines have a very long bellhousing, so if you simply bolt up a regular adapter plate to them the torque converter is still about 4 inches from the crankshaft and flexplate. This kit puts the flexplate in the regular place (but they give you a new, special flexplate) and a long coupler that moves a triangular plate back to where it will mate up with the 350 torque converter. Pretty well thought out piece, actually.

It comes complete with flywheel, crank adapter, adaper/spacer, triangular plate, and all ARP bolts needed to install it. There are pretty good instructions, but it looks pretty straightforward to me.

I got a few upgrades with the TH350, but it is pretty much the same one I got for my 23T. That one has been flawless. So far this transmission makes number 4 we have bought from Luke Jackson, and we have been very pleased with his service and all that stuff so far.

I don't want to dig into installing this kit just yet because I have to pull the body back off the RPU and modify the engine and transmission mounts. To start on it right now would take time away from me helping Dan get his rod running, and that is priority number one for now. I feel really good that I made the leap and bought this setup that will allow me to use the TH350. I could have had my cast iron Dual Path Olds 4 speed automatic rebuilt for maybe the same money, but I would have had a 1959 transmission that never was a killer when new, and if it went out far from home I would be out of luck. TH350 stuff is available everywhere, so it should be much easier to fix and keep alive.

Here are some pictures of the transmission and the adapter setup. As promised, when we do put this all together I'll do a detailed post in case anyone else is thinking about doing the same thing.

Don

Don--Looks like it will be fun.---Brian

Yeah Brian, I think it will be a fun build. It will be nice to not have to worry about stainless brake lines, or scratching new paint bolting stuff on. Just pure hot rodding like we did when we were a lot younger.

Mike, I missed your question. No , the rear is a 3 bar setup from Suicide Doors, and it is sometimes used with air bag rear suspension, but I am using it with coilovers. I needed something short, and this one filled the bill and is very compact.

Don

Don i did not make it this year, but i talked to jay when he was there. i was trying to figure out a way for him to catch up with you cause i knew you were bringing that part for him.

Maybe i can talk him into a road trip soon. Could be fun.

Congrats on the trophy Bill!!!

It is still in the back of Dan's truck, John. I should have hooked up with Jake via email before BP so I could know what he drove and all. It is one heavy baby and I'm not sure what UPS or Greyhound would want to ship it. If he is in no real hurry Turkey Run is only about 8 months away, and we all know how that time flies. I think he mentioned this is a long term project, so maybe that isn't out of line. Have him PM me.

BTW, is that maroon Chevy II gasser his? If so, it is very cool. I looked at it and didn't know whose it was until Bill told me he thought that was Jakes car. We drove to the other motel looking for it ,but he was already gone it seems.

Don

Yes that is Jay`s gasser. He`ll have to tell you the history on that car sometime, it`s a pretty cool story. Im hoping both of us will have our new projects driving by TRR! I better get to work though, cause i have alot of panels to make.

You've just reminded me I have to go out to Dan's truck and get the spring out of the bed. He's driving to Tallahassee tomorrow am and I'd hate to see someone steal it for scrap or something.

Don

Ok, it's safely tucked in the house..........that's one heavy spring!

That looks really good Don. Wish I could get "cast offs" like your RPU. Tell Dan to hang in there. I, like many others, are pulling for him. His trk. is going to be a very nice and detailed P/U.
What's that stuff on your back tires? Are your going Concours De Eligance on us?

Earl

I was so anxious to mock up the car I didn't even unwrap the rear tires. Stuck a hubcap in there and instant hot rod. Lots of vice grips and wooden blocks at this stage.

Don

Hey Don how is your new project going? How about Don Jr. and Dan's as well? We are entertaining and traveling so unfortunately no time for my truck, but wondered how goes it with you guys?

Strange you should ask Steve. I haven't done anything major, but I have been pecking away at little stuff that needed to be done. For one thing I had Wheel Vintiques make me some rear wheels for it a while back, and I took them to the powder coater last week. They called Friday and said they were ready, so I picked them up and today I had the Coker L78 x 15 tires mounted on them. The red powder coating is slightly off from the red I painted previously on the front wheels, but since I am running hubcaps it is barely noticeable........besides, this car is meant to be a little rough around the edges.

I found some new old stock Dietz headlights on Ebay that I bought because I wanted a smaller light than I am running on my other cars. They were never previously mounted and only have some shelf rash, so all I have to do is paint them again.........and that will be marginal because I want the body work on this one a little on the crude side. I got the headlights mounted too, then snapped on all four of my 56 Olds hubcaps and sat in my pondering chair for a while. I like it! I also raised the front of my engine up a little to level the carbs, and that looks better too I think.

Next step is to take some more parts like the front end to the powder coater and also to have Dan finish the little bit of welding I have left on the frame, then it can also be powder coated. I haven't sat in the car making motor noises yet because I suspect Dan and Don are just looking for any reason to commit me and I don't want to give them any ammunition.

Here are some shots of my new wheels and tires and headlights. For all practical purposes it is now officially a roller.

Don