Project "Sweet 16"

[99 to Life]

looking good. wish I had a 5 window split windshield. I have a 55.1 with a 5 window, but still keeping my eye out. a bed and running boards will make this thing look so proper. keep it up.

[skymangs]

Thanks 99. There's quite a few split window 5 window cab trucks out here. Be glad to help you find one if you decide you are gonna want one.

[99 to Life]

skymangs, in the past 3 years and 6 AD's later I'v come across one in PA where I'm at. truck was beat but I should have snagged it. I'm in no huge hurry as I got plenty of stuff to finish. I have GMC parts that I'd really like to use with that 5 window split combo. Think I'll just save them for that when I come across one. Thanks.

[Low Elco]

Cool Project! I gotta see how this turns out!

[skymangs]

FINALLY, we are now back on track with the kids 47! Grades are up, work commences.

Update, It looks like we're ready to fire the motor for the first time. Grandpa (my Dad) will be visiting this weekend, so my son wants to hold off on first fire till he's here. Everythings ready for it.

Spent some time today buiilding an exhaust system (back to the muffler anyway). wound up going 2.5" ID with a fully welded 1 into 2 muffler. Here's some pics.

Total cost to date: $1945

[99 to Life]

looking good, nice and simple. So its your dad a rodder too? be cool to have 3 generations of rodders in one garage. Unfortunately no one in my family was much into anything mechanical and passed any knowledge down.

[JRANGER]

Very nice

[arturo7]

I'm jealous of your ability to stick to a budget. I keep coming up with excuses to spend a little more here and a bit more there...

[Kabwe]

Very cool build and even cooler that you are doing this build with your son.

[skymangs]

Thanks all, this project has been in the planning for 22 years now! Arturo7, it isn't as though I am not tempted to spend extra, I have to keep telling myself that it is my son's project, not my own!

99, my dad isn't a "Rodder", he's a restoration guy. He owns like 140 cars, most of them are Packards, Stude's, Caddys, and Buicks. He been dragging Packards out of fields since his return from Vietnam. He's a purest, but apprechiates the modified cars I build. It will be a real treat to spend some shop time with 3 generations!

[99 to Life]

hey man, a restorer is just as good to me. I do love originals too. That is soo cool your son will be around some old tin at such a young age and for the years to come. Gotta pass the knowledge, tradition and art down to the youth.

[skymangs]

IT LIVES!

Successful initial start up, sounds real healthy. See attached video.

Disregaurd the smoke from the crappy header paint, it went away later! http://s689.beta.photobucket.com/use...tml?sort=3&o=0

[xpickup]

skymangs, That is always a great milestone when it runs. Keep up the great work.

Shannon

[JRANGER]

Whats up with the ear muffs? He not like the purr of the engine? lol

[skymangs]

Yeah Shannon, I've always viewed initial start up as "Hump day". Everything else is just a downhill slide.

JRanger... He wears those stupid hear muffs every time he crosses the threashhold of the garage, He thinks they are cool I guess?

[99 to Life]

sounds good man, engine breakins are a great feeling of accomplishment. keep it up.

[skymangs]

So, slow progress... boy had a few missing assignments at school. Looks like it's on hold again. At least I know it's important to him, he just about breaks down in tears when the truck gets put on hold.

Found a driveshaft at Pick-n-pull for $29. Back half of a extended cab short bed 4x4 mated to the front half of the 2wd longbed shaft proved to be the perfect length! Great score, and saved us $120!

Also picked up a 97 Blazer rear wiper motor for $12.99 mocked up a steel version of that fancy aluminum bracket I saw on this board. Pics attached, Just got everything tac welded for now. I stupidly didn't get the wiper switch from that truck. Have to go back to KC in the near future to get it.
It looks like it will work pretty well though.

[skymangs]

Here's some pics of it installed.

Also picked up a 600cfm Edelbrock with an electric choke to replace the Q-jet for $50. The Q-jet numbers said it was an 800cfm version from a 77 Caddy. Seemed a bit much (fuel consumption) for the basically stock 350.

The B&M shift bracketry came in, and the cable is installed. I modified the steering column shift bracket to re-locate it behind the dvr. side valve cover (it was almost touching it previously). Now I just need to build a bracket to hold the cable (at the column), and it should be shifting on the column just fine.

Assuming the kid keeps his grades up, We hope to have it moving under it's own power by Christmas! If not, then it will continue as his grades improve.

[99 to Life]

wiper looks good, hopefully it works out well for you. hope the boy realized that discipline is a good thing. The youths these days seem very lazy and I'm only 28 and I can see the generation under me just having little motivation. I think its great to have a newly driver buy their own wheels and better yet build one. Can't wait to see her down the road.

[Russell Ashley]

I'm enjoying this build for two reasons: seeing some good fab work, and also it reminds me of the two builds I did with my two boys, now 41 and 45.

We did a 69 Road Runner for my oldest son, and a 69 C10 for my youngest.

[skymangs]

Thanks for the kind words guys. I know my fab isn't "first rate", but it'll work, and doesn't look tooooo shabby (my other love is building Rock Crawlers, so function goes over form 99% of the time).

I see some of the guys on this forum put together bead rolled sheetmetal, water jet cut aluminum, rolling thier own sheetmetal, and mill stuff on thier lathes. Just amazing to watch. I doubt I'll ever reach that level, but till then, I can do mine on the cheap and drive the wheels off of them!

I'm trying to teach my boys that there is no such thing as too much personal responisibility, sprinkled with lots of discipline. Hopefully it works!

[mknittle]

It looks good to me. good score on the drive shaft!

[skymangs]

Sorry it's been so long since the last update. We had to take another "grades" break. As it worked out, he managed to catch up and squeak by with passing grades at the last minute. Cold weather and lack of funds has slowed us a little the last several weeks. Been working on little stuff (power steering, Steering shaft angles, transmission cooler, etc.). However, I am proud to report that today we took if for a drive! She runs real nice, but a bit squirrly when you hit the gas

Here's a link...
http://s689.beta.photobucket.com/use...bc03f.mp4.html

I ordered an EZ harness last Friday that should be here sometime this week, then on to heat, wipers, and interior stuff!

[skymangs]

Here's some pics of the business end. got the trans cooler mounted up, built some power steering pump brackets, got the column re-aligned, and shifter cable setup ironed out. Oh, and it also has good breaks now!

[skymangs]

got the heater box figured out finally. I used a heavy duty blower motor for a 75 chevy pickup. Built a small shroud on the back to compensate for the difference in depth of the motor and keep the original fan cage in the same spot.