project 39
 

here is the current truck project I am working on. I bought this truck when I was 11 back in the 70's. I have done some bad things to it before I had a clue to what I should be doing. I have chopped the top 2" and lengthened the cab 6" to gain some interior room. Some of you guys have seen my 40 in the other thread. I love that truck but it couyld use some extra leg room. I also wanted to do something different for a box as you can see. This is some of what have been doing but I have a couple of projects going at the same time so this one may take a while. Let me know what you think.

Re: project 39
 

Here is some more shots of the truck. The engine is a 1963 Buick 401 with a 200-4R trans. The tail lights are 1955-56 dodge

Re: project 39
 

The nailhead was a great choice. Very unique, and not the usual SBC

Re: project 39
 

Wow, that is a lot of serious metalwork and I like it. Kudos for using the Nailhead and I will be tagging along for the rest of the build.

Re: project 39
 

I decided a while ago that i was not going to use sbc any more in my own projects. I still put them in customers cars that want them.
I grew up with pontiacs and buicks. The 401 in this project actually came out of a 225 convertable that my grandpa had on the farm. He made me pay for it but i lucked out and found a guy that wanted the rest of the car for about what i had in the whole thing. I ended up with another 401 that the guy wanted the car off of his property so i got the engine and the junk guy paid me for the rest of the car.
I also have some 326 pontiac engines that i am waiting for the right project to put them in.
Any body else have some good ideas on engines that are different to use in projects?

Re: project 39
 

Acutally what you are seeing is the 2nd attempt for the box. Which isn't the final outcome i ended up cutting a lot of the 2nd try back off and re doing it because i couldn't get it to stay straight when i was welding it together.
i will post the revised version soon. I have more hours in the box then i have in most of the rest of the build. But i wanted something really different for a box.
Wait until you guys see what i have planned for a 3rd brake light on the box.

Re: project 39
 

I look forward to seeing the revision CSHADES.

As for your comment about different engines, Diceman is adding a supercharger to his 235 that also has TBI. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=653268

Various Cadillac engines are always interesting for a build or a Buick 455 too.

Re: project 39
 

I agree.

I bought a running 77 Caddy for the motor/trans to put into my 45.

Re: project 39
 

Just to give you guys a peek at what I think I am going to use as a third brake light. I have to figure out how to make it work. The bottom of it is a lantern that is supposed to swing and light up when you hit the brakes. The problem is the swinging part uses a vacuum motor to do that. I have no idea how to rebuild or find someone to rebuild the motor on it. Anybody have any ideas?

Re: project 39
 

cshades
that is sooooooo cool --- have you thought about a small motor rebuild shop ?
i had my heater blower motor rebuilt by small motor place here and it workd fine ,
also have you taken it apart carefully to see if you can at least clean it and maybe get it workin?
or maybe find a junkyard that has vacuum controlled headlight lamps --i;e older riviera or charger to use the vacuum unit to power it ---just sayin
once cleaned up i bet that is a awsome lookin piece!
good luck ---keep us informed !

Re: project 39
 

I have taken it apart just far enough to see that the leather inside that makes up the paddle is worn and dried out. If you look at the picture the light is the top half and the vacuum motor is the bottom half. The motor isn't round it is half round so subbing a electric motor isn't really an option. I have never tried rebuilding a vacuum motor so I don't really know how to find the special parts like the rivets they used or how to take the valving apart and get it back together without destroying it.

Re: project 39
 

Might be a long shot....perhaps this gentleman can help. http://www.wiperman.com

He rebuilds vacuum operated wiper motors.

Re: project 39
 

I have used the wiper man for vacuum wiper motors before but he isnt interested in other vac motors. I tore this light apart so i will post some pics to show what the motor itself looks like soon.

Re: project 39
 

i was thinkin if there is a shop that rebuilds small motors --- not replacing it with something else ------ it looks like......i think a bit of a cool challenge to try and get this workin . i guess since its a small motor you will need patience to work on it ---dont give up !
i am sure you can fab up some leather and other parts or somethin to make it all work.
i am pullin for you sir !!!

Re: project 39
 

what name is on that sweet looking light?

Re: project 39
 

It is a DUO-SAF light. I found it on ebay and over paid to get it. I have never seen another one for sale.

Re: project 39
 

So now that the workstation and the trunk are finished I decided it was time to get back to this project. I worked on mounting the gas tank last weekend(will post pics soon). I had installed the running boards, brackets and fenders for a trail run a while back. Something did not look right when I stood back, the running boards didn't fit the way they should at the rear of the cab and the front wheels didn't look to be in the same place as the 40's are. I had pulled the rear fenders and box off when I did the gas tank, so I put the box back on so I had my hoist usable again. I raised the truck up and measured the board brackets to make sure I had picked correct ones out of the pile when I put them on. Everything looked good that way. I decided to start at the beginning like I should have, so using the cab as the starting point I put the grille shell on and grabbed a couple of v-bars out of the pile. I went to put the hood on and it doesn't line up. I realized the bar was to long so I went back to the pile and found the correct length one installed it. The grille shell was tipped back to far at this point and I am saying to myself WTF. So I grab a tape measure and start measuring front end parts on the 39 and comparing them to the 40. Then it hit me the frame I used was a 41 but it looked the same. Did a bit of research and the wheel base is 1 1/2" longer on a 41 than a 39-40, so where did they add the 1 1/2"?

Re: project 39
 

So after doing some measuring it appears that the added 1 1/2" is between the firewall and the front frame crossmember. So to make this thing correct I am going to cut the 1 1/2 inches out of the frame and hopefully get everything to line up.

Re: project 39
 

I can attest to your finding, I have a 39 cowl support rod and its too short for my 41.

Re: project 39
 

here is some pics of the gas tank install. I pulled the sheetmetal back off and pulled the engine and trans. Shortened the frame to the correct length. So I am back to where I started.

Re: project 39
 

Been working on checking sheetmetal fit and started building one of the doors for the added length

Re: project 39
 

After thinking about it I decided the front fenders that I have sitting on the truck should go back on the truck they belong to, which is my 40.I put glass fenders on that truck because at the time I didn't have the metal working skill or tools that I have now and I also was in a hurry to get the truck on the road. I want to replace the glass fenders with the steel after they are fixed. So I dragged another set out of my storage area and started on them. I bought these fenders at the Frog Follies swap meet back in 2010. I was driving my coupe and had no way of getting them home. My friend Dave from KC was there along with some of his buddies and one of them was nice enough to haul them from the swap meet back to KC and then Dave brought them to WI when he came to visit a couple of months later. They are kind of ugly with a nasty welded up tear on the passenger fender. I mounted them on the truck so they weren't moving around. I made a curved piece of rod and bent a patch to replace the ugly part and welded it in. Both fenders have some other tears and damage that needs to be addressed but the worst part is fixed. I am just glad I was able to buy these as you don't see them for sale very often.

Re: project 39
 

One of the guys in the shop have been working on a plan to make this light swing the way it is supposed to. What he ended up doing was using a small servo like they use in a RC car. He got it mounted in the top of the light fixture and I took it home over the weekend and figured out the connection from the servo to the paddle inside that was part of the original vacuum motor. I also had to get a bulb and socket to fit in the same area. It was a bit like fitting n10lbs of s#$t in a 5lb bag. It uses a programed controller to do the swing and stops in the center when you remove the signal wire power(brake switch input). I am grateful this guy has the knowledge to get all this to work the way it should. So now I just need to do the mount on the front of the box and then disassemble it for chrome.

Re: project 39
 

here is few more in progress pics. I know it isn't very old school with the electronics but after it is all together I don't think anyone is going to know the difference.

Re: project 39
 

old school nothing, I bet it barely worked on the vacuum setup when it was new. super great fix, especially the fender. I have one more 41 in the back and its fenders are in horrid shape, thanks for the detail on the repair!

Re: project 39
 

joedoh I used a piece of 3/8" rod and bent it to match the curve of the fender, tack welded it to my patch and then hammered the sheetmetal over the rod to get the rolled edge. Then cut the tacks off of the rod and finished the roll.

Re: project 39
 

I got all the brake line, underhood vacuum and fuel lines done. So I thought I would wire the engine temporally to start it. I got it running after a bit of messing with the dist. It runs like total garbage, so I do a compression test and have 3 cylinders with 0 psi readings. Pull the valve cover off the passenger side and see there are 2 exhaust valves hanging open. I assume they had been bent in the past, I pulled the heads off to see if I could replace the valves with some used ones from another set of heads I had laying around. When I pulled the head off the drivers side I discover a bolt lodged in an intake valve that screwed up the seat pretty bad. I also discovered a fair amount of silver goo up on top in the heads which I assume is worn bearing material. At this point I have to make a decision on my next step. I decided even though I had planned on rebuilding the engine during the building of the truck I was not really ready to do that at this point. So I dug out the other nailhead that I had tucked away right after I got the one that I had put in the truck. This one had come from a friend of my brothers that had some property that this car was left on and wanted the car gone. I went and retrieved it for free, pulled the engine and a bunch of smalls off it. The junk guy gave me $200 for it when I was done. So I dug it out the other day and removed all of the unwanted parts off it and degreased it to put it in the truck. The first pic is the one I pulled out and the next 2 are going in. My goal at this point is to get it running and make the truck movable under its own power. I hate pushing projects around by hand.

Re: project 39
 

I know the definition of optimism is to try the same thing again and hope for a different result but I hope your second unknown condition engine runs better than the first unknown condition engine :lol:

nailheads have such a great look in hot rods.

Re: project 39
 

I approached the second engine a bit different, I pulled the rocker arm covers off and made sure everything was moving correctly. I removed the spark plugs, 2 squirts oil per cylinder and then cranked it by hand and made sure I had compression on all cylinders. All I need it to do is run decent enough to move it smoothly. I am going to rebuild the first engine, just didn't want it to be now while I still have major items to purchase(wheels, radiator, gauges)

Re: project 39
 

no offense intended, I was just turning a phrase, a little levity.

I always drive my donors home, and around the neighborhood a bit, so I know they work. its easier to start up a project you know ran the last turn of the key! and besides, the last truck I took on a flatbed enjoyed it so much it insisted on one every time.

Re: project 39
 

No offence taken. I bought the donor car (1963 buick convert) from my grandfather about 15 years ago. It hadn't been run since the late 70s before I bought it in like 2003 I think. I had it running before I drove it into the shop and pulled the motor, I know it didn't run great but I didn't think it ran that bad. the bent valves I believe were already in place, the bolt that was stuck in the intake valve/seat was inflicted by me accidently. you should always cover the openings in engines when they sit around. The 2nd engine I had running before I removed it also, the problem with that was the exhaust was all gone off the car except the y pipe and the floorpans were all rotten. When I got it running the carpet was hanging down and the exhaust shooting out of the y pipe was blowing on the carpet. The carpet started on fire and I ahd to put it out. I had enough fun for the day so I just pulled the motor and called it good.

Re: project 39
 

got the second nailhead in place. I have run it a few different times being I have no cooling system in place yet. The more it runs the better it sounds, had a bit of lifter tic when first started but that is pretty much gone at this point.

Re: project 39
 

looks great! glad to hear it runs good

Re: project 39
 

I drove the 39 for the first time since I bought him back in 1974. Wasn't much of a trip since there is no cooling system in place yet, just down the driveway and back. the GF heard it and ran out and took some pics. Sorry about the sideways pics don't know how to change.

Re: project 39
 

outstanding! bet that felt good :metal: I bet that nailhead sounded even better too.


here are your rotated pics!

Re: project 39
 

Thanks Joedoh. It sounded great.

Re: project 39
 

What are you using for the gas tank that has the side fill? Any idea how many gallons? Thanks

Re: project 39
 

The gas tank is out of a late 70s chevy Monza from down south. I have the same tank in my 40. The problem with the tank is they don't repop them. At least not that I have found.

Re: project 39
 

Thanks, I like your extended cab. It will be nice to have some more leg room.

Re: project 39
 

Have been working on the inside box panels and the cover for the bed. I also got the wig wag light mounting figured out. Had to make a new mounting tube for the light to clear the cover. Now I can take the light apart for rechroming. The hinges were an interesting project, they are for a 49-51 ford car trunk. The problem was that the base of them are angled to match the curve of the cars trunk and I needed them to be straight and flat. I was going to have my uncle cut some aluminum wedges to make the sit correctly but he actually was able to mill them flat.