Thread: 1929 Essex Highboy

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Here is what greeted me when we got back from Thanksgiving week at our Daughter's in Connecticutt. UGH. Big wind storm split my roof into many pieces. Long blue strings hanging from all the trees around, looks like Christmas! And from inside, look at all the pretty stars at night. And before I could get another tarp 40 ft. x 60 ft. and get it on, we had snow, of course. Good old Murphy! Luckily I had most things (of importance) covered up inside. REAL DEPRESSING! Got a cheapie tarp ($72.00) from local discount store and put it on, before the week was out, this one was abraded at the top where it rubs on the steel bows of the greenhouse structure! So--------gonna have to buy another, and another day of removing all the laths and pull on another cover, staple and put laths back on! Sometimes the stress catches up with ya, don'tchaknow?

So here's most of the story on the drive train. The motor is from a '69 camaro, a 230 ci inline 6. It had a 2 speed powerglide behind it in that application. Here is a pic of the flex plate that came on it. I wanted a Borg Warner T-5 from a Chevy S-10, so..........needed to find; 13 inch flywheel, matching pressure plate, clutch disc to fit pressure plate [B]AND[B] the 14 tooth shaft of the T-5. What a process! I read every thread on every forum I could find about T-5's. WHEW. I finally found a bell housing from an older small block chevy, came cracked as I mentioned before, but OK. A friend had a 13 inch flywheel and pressure plate from a '72 Chevy pickup truck that he sold me (the clutch disc was NOT a 14 tooth though. Then I read more and could not come up with the right clutch disc. I was near ready to use the 8 inch disc from the S-10 when I found an ebay ad for Fort Wayne Clutch and Driveline in Indiana. I emailed them and right away got a reply that they had it. So a few days and 40 odd bucks and I had it. Nice job. Thanks Ft. Wayne Folks. Nice to do business with. Photos of parts! Also of input shaft of T-5 and throw-out bearing retainer, both of which had to be cut 9/16 of an inch.

More pics of drive train parts. Enjoy!

Upon learning of all the diffugalties involving the clutch et al, I figured what the heck, I'll use the stuff from the S-10 engine, which was a 2.8 V6. No dice. Flywheel was an 11 inch, so would not fit my 13 inch bell housing nor would my starter engage it. So after finding the 13 inch flywheel and no clutch disc, I figured I'd use the 8 inch clutch from the S-10. No dice! heeheee. Bolt holes in pressure plate wouldn't fit holes in Flywheel. In the end (almost) I was gonna use the 8 inch S-10 disc with the 10 1/2" pressure plate (that fit the flywheel) but then found the good folks at Fort Wayne Clutch. Hooorrraaaaay! This Hot Rodding thing is sure a challenge.

Perley, I have totally been missing this build, but I just went through and read all of it and have to say I am very impressed. Nice work and it is going to make a really nice hot rod............and sure different. Different is good.

My life for the past four months has consisted of work, eat, sleep........work, eat, sleep........etc. I breeze through here for a few minutes before bed, so I have not been catching all the threads.

Please keep this one going, you have all the right ingredients........a cool build, a couple of dogs and cats thrown in, and you are explaining each step in a fun, clear manner. I enjoyed it a lot and now have something new to check in on each night. Sometimes people enjoy a thread without having anything to add, so don't think we aren't loving every update.

Don

Like the combo of old and new. Keep the pictures coming.
BradC

Yeah i like the tech on trying to see if things work together. This is what puts the sceince in building and takes the guess work out of it for some one else . Your build from the scratch bottom up is great so keep em coming. I still read it every time even though i don't post a reply .

Hey BobbyD. I thought of you when I posted that shot that has the roll around chair in it----------"Sometimes I sits and I thinks..Other times I just SITS" Love it. LOTSA times I just SITS! haahaaaahaaaa

Hey Don (Itoldyouso). Thanks for the kind words. Love your reply on the steering box Perley

BradC. Thanks for following along. I am a poor followup to the great builders and fabricators on this site, but as others have pointed out---and as I have found myself, it's great for those who are looking for inspiration and ideas. Last winter I spent countless hours reading and enjoying the builds of (Itoldyouso), J.Robinson, and a bunch of others. It got me through the COLD, DREARY, DISAGREEABLE, Maine Winter! And..............I gained a LOT of confidence in my own ability to put something together, IDEAS!

Thanks everyone following along for the support. God Bless and Happy Holidays.

Perley very good words to live by i also have the chairs to ponder on what i am doing . With the fridge near by for when i am done doing it also .

Amen Perley!

Hey BobbyD. Nice looking shop, and the lounge area looks inviting. I don't have a fridge, but then up here one doesn't need one for most of the year. My water bottles freeze solid if I forget to bring one back in!

Yes indeed Steve, AMEN. Bless Us All. In our busy lifestyles (in general) we sometimes forget to be Thankful and to appreciate our Blessings!

Perley

Well, started on the radiator mounts and such. As I mentioned, got a '65-'66 Mustang Radiator from an ebay buy. Looks in good condition and fits very well. I welded two flat pieces of metal to the ends of 1 x 1 tubing, found some reinforced flat rubber, cut two small pieces to go under the flat plates and two smaller ones to go on top of the flat plates. Then bolted all down to the front crossmember in the holes for the original 'A' radiator. Then put small rubber grommets in the holes in the side frames of the radiator, bored holes through the 1 x 1 uprights, then bolted through the uprights, the grommets and the radiator frame. This gives a small amount of vibration isolation through the mounting set-up. I then cut a piece of 1 x 1 and welded it across between the 2 uprights just under the top tank. That makes everything rather solid. Eventually I will bolt the grille shell into the uprights, and I am going to put 3/4 square tubing from those uprights back to the firewall, one each side. These will keep the front assembly secure and give me something to hook the hood top to when the time comes. Pics attached. Enjoy. Perley

Perley best post I have seen adapting a stang radiator to a A surround . Just think i have a A/C car and this could ba a alternative to a high dollar Walker . Looks like there may be plenty room for both then a rock guard on front to hide them a bit .

Just finished reading this from the beginning and enjoyed it a lot. You have one heck of a car and look forward to your next post.

Well folks, two bad happenings here this weekend! One was a bad snowstorm came thru during the day and night Friday and into Saturday morning. Had about 17 or 18 inches of snow here, depending on which weather man you listen to. I'll be awhile getting back into my garage. I plow with a small John Deere lawn tractor fitted with a plow. Snow like that pretty much shuts her down. Plow broke couple of times, had to repair and weld some. Then Monday I turned 65! Set me back worsen the snow!
I'll get some photos on tomorrow I hope. Meanwhile, wishing everyone Health and Happiness and Prosperity for the new year. Perley