Thread: Everybody that is currently building a car...

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Really looking great Don - now with your summer job - now that wont keep you away from working on the car.

And we aren't in competition to finish - really

Not sure what the paint color is, but it's similar to what I had on a couple of cars in the past. It's by far my favorite, but just needed a change

A suggestion - that upper radiator hose - those convoluted fitz-em-all's have a poor life expectancy. A different, vertical outlet thermostat housing and a molded hose, tho a PITA to find the right one, will survive longer.

Thanks all, sadly I know of a few boo boos in the paint including some gas-out holes from the fiberglass even though the body was stored outdoors for almost a year after delivery. Still I have a written agreement from the paint shop to touch it up when I get it on the road. As I keep saying, a show judge would see lots of little things that are just beyond my skill level but I am trying to keep it looking good from ten feet away. IC2, this summer I hope to do some work in the afternoons since I will be working only in the mornings but if the garage gets really hot that may slow things down although I have a good fan. I already have a collection of manifold "water spouts" including a "straight-up" version, what you see is the third version due to interference from the 14" diameter air filter. I plan to replace that hose eventually but I want to get it together to maybe start the motor soon. I cut the holes in the firewall for the heater hoses and finally covered up the hole edges with some nice rubber grommets but I still have to figure out how to support the hoses on the side of the engine away from the hot headers. Next the The main challenge will be the wiring. I have made a bracket for the fuse box on the inside of the firewall but need to get a small battery charger to test the connections and there is still a lot of detail work under and on the hood. So far I really cannot see in my mind's eye how to route the wires but I thought if I install all the parts I can see where the wires need to go.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

Originally Posted by Don Shillady

........................................................................................ I plan to replace that hose eventually but I want to get it together to maybe start the motor soon. I cut the holes in the firewall for the heater hoses and finally covered up the hole edges with some nice rubber grommets but I still have to figure out how to support the hoses on the side of the engine away from the hot headers. Next the The main challenge will be the wiring. I have made a bracket for the fuse box on the inside of the firewall but need to get a small battery charger to test the connections and there is still a lot of detail work under and on the hood. So far I really cannot see in my mind's eye how to route the wires but I thought if I install all the parts I can see where the wires need to go.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

Don,
I'm calling my paint job a 20-20. At 20 mph and from 20 feet away, you will never see a flaw - and there are many. I suspect that yours is better then my amateur effort

I'm in the process of doing my final wiring and plumbing - so can agree with your frustrations. I have my wiring module behind the passenger seat and in a separate compartment that the upholsterer built for most of the electrical components except the battery. Some wires may be too short - so will be improving my soldering skills.

With my Ford engine, I ended up using a chrome plated copper Coolflex hose after trying several molded hoses to get around some of my brackets and adjusters. It looks OK, but I'm not in 'love' with it.

You can probably use a "Battery Tender" which is a very low amperage charger for your power source. I found one for about $20-25 on the internet, though Wally World has a version as well.

Now - off to my wires

Progress on the 27 stock T which I needed to replace the front cam bearing.

The use of my uncle's 1 1/8" wrench.

Gear puller on cam gear.

Don't have a picture of my home maded "jury rig" a puller for the cam shaft out of a exhaust pipe three hole flange (I'll try to remember to get a picture of it).

The cam out and setting on the fender.

Me de-carbonizing the top of block.

Taking off the water in-let/fan pully off of the head - the nice pretty chrome 5/8" wrench wouldn't fit, had to use my 81 year old Model T.

The close pins hold the valve lifters up so cam would come out, if they drop I'll have to pull the inspection pan off - don't want to do that.... yet.

Well, here's the lights and the cutout thingys to clear the cannons I put on the end of the tailpipes....and a pic of the pickemup itself!

Really trying to get the pickup done and sold so I can make room for Tom's coupe!

Also, need the $$$$ from selling the pickup to start buying goodies for the Ranchero and get the 'maro together.....

Dave bed is shaping up nice . Like the tail lights moved low and are they going to be twins on each side .

Originally Posted by bluestang67

Dave bed is shaping up nice . Like the tail lights moved low and are they going to be twins on each side .

\yup, little oval ones....

At the rate that my latest project will be worthy to display - we may all be in thge new ice age!

I am slow but I screw things up a lot too. So it all evens out!

Gulf don't know how some work all day and still put in all that time on projects . Been trying to finish one here hit it hard then the house and family need tending so i get pulled off then i work some overtime and a little tired to get into garage . But i'm still thinking about it very hard .

Originally Posted by GulfCoastGasser

At the rate that my latest project will be worthy to diplay - we make all in thge new ice age!

I am slow but I screw things up a lot too. So it all evens out!

Ain't no big deal.....I've had that '71 Ford pickemup for 17 years, still have never got it finished and drove it....This year looks good for it though!!!!

There's no time limit on a build, take your time, enjoy it, do it right the first time.... makes it all a whole lot more worthwhile when complete....

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Ain't no big deal.....I've had that '71 Ford pickemup for 17 years, still have never got it finished and drove it....This year looks good for it though!!!!

There's no time limit on a build, take your time, enjoy it, do it right the first time.... makes it all a whole lot more worthwhile when complete....

Kudos for perseverance, Dave. The truck really looks good. I saved a picture of your oil pan console a while back; that blew me away! You should get a nice $$ for it, people appreciate good craftsmanship.

Originally Posted by falconvan

Kudos for perseverance, Dave. The truck really looks good. I saved a picture of your oil pan console a while back; that blew me away! You should get a nice $$ for it, people appreciate good craftsmanship.

Thanks! It better bring good $$$$, it's money for the Ranchero!!!!!

Always used it as a fill in at the shop, when things would get slow I'd roll it in and work on it for awhile. Then when I'd get busy the pickup would go back to the warehouse.... Over the years I've sold two of the engines that I'd built for it, then sold all the 3/4 ton suspension and converted it to F-100 suspension, then just got crazy and started changing a zillion different little things on the truck.......and now it's (finally) almost done.... So now unless someone shows up with their car and a great big check to build it, I might actually finish the dang thing!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

... So now unless someone shows up with their car and a great big check to build it, I might actually finish the dang thing!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dave,
Those checks may be getting harder and harder for folks to justify on a vehicle - with 4+ dollar gas, $5+ diesel and the fact that the high costs are finally carrying over to the grocery stores and even to Wally World's crap. Finish it, sell it and move on to the Ranchero before there isn't anyone with money left. I saw a real downturn at York in the number of cars, and my swap meet $$ may have paid my gas bill - but for dam' sure not much else(of course, my stock of goodies was down too, but everyone else had the same complaint, including their regular vendors)

I hope you get a bundle for it, Dave. It's definately something unique compared to what most people are building. I'm going to go ahead and start trying to sell my rat truck, too. I hate that damn word but how else do you descibe a heap put together with a bunch of leftovers? Same reasons; need space to do a couple small summer projects for other people and $$$ for the Plymouth when I'm done with those. Wish me luck.

I'd love to see the oil pan dash! Sounds cool. Also great words of wisdom on taking your time Dave. A coworker asked if I regretted buying the truck, and I said absolutely not, it's therapy to me. Another said I bet you cuss up a storm working on it, and I thought about that for a few minutes and thought, no not really, if it starts to get me frustrated, I just walk away for a few days, think about where I'm at, and how to do it differently, and then come at it from another angle. The deeper I get in to it, the more I want it to be cherry when it's done, so inevitably the slower I go! No time limits on these things. Nice work, I like the tail light changes.