Re: Uncle Howard's 1946 Chevy Truck
 

Last update tonight! After looking for a 88-93 Camaro T5 V8 World Class 5 speed forever unsuccessfully and reading too many T5 forums to count, I found a brand new / rebuilt S10 World Class T5. I believe it was installed but never driven / oil never added. The thing looks brand new, and it was too good of a price to pass up for the forward mounted shifter. I’m still considering what to do next. My 1st choice was to find a T56, but after spending $1200-$1800 on a 6 speed transmission, $400-$500 for a custom bell housing for the early non-LS engine, another $400-$500 on the custom flywheel, I just can’t afford one at this time. Maybe one day down the road I’ll run into a LS / T56 combo and swap the whole thing. That appears to be the most affordable way to run a 6 speed. But I really want a manual transmission in my toy, so I will keep my eye out for a V8 T5 for now and keep reading forums. I understand if I locate a early 90’s 4.3 V6 flywheel, I can run this entire S10 tranny with a spacer as long as I don’t get too rough with it – and I’m not a crazy teenage boy anymore. I still have time before deciding.

Re: Uncle Howard's 1946 Chevy Truck
 

Someone asked some questions about the old rear end. If I understand correctly, it was a mid-70's 3/4 ton Blazer 12 bolt rear end that my dad welded the original enclosed driveshaft style rear end brackets onto. It worked very well with no trouble. These are old pictures if any was interested in them for reference.

Re: Uncle Howard's 1946 Chevy Truck
 

After working on everything else and finally catching up on the "honey do" list, I made it a priority to get back to my own toy. I must admit, it is amazing how it helps me be more creative over-all in life and help with stress. I was finally able to start to assemble some of those parts I've been collecting. The clutch master bracket is installed and buttoned up. I also finished most of the access plates by welding weld-nuts in, and drilling the hole a little bigger for ease of assembly once painted. I believe it turned out very well.

Re: Uncle Howard's 1946 Chevy Truck
 

The Tanks Incorporated fuel pump for the TPI turned out very good. I will be able to use this pump for both the current TPI, or if I ever upgrade to an LS1 engine. It was more work cleaning out all the welding shavings than actually installing the pump. The trick stainless braided lines topped everything off like icing on the cake!

Re: Uncle Howard's 1946 Chevy Truck
 

The latch assemblies also turned out well for securing the tilt bed. I took 2 of the bear claw latches, but they where too wide, so I cut them apart and modified them as the pictures show to make them narrow enough to fit between the frame rails, and then used the power door lock motor to actuate the latch. A piece of thin wall square tubing cut in half made a perfect bracket to install the mechanism together, then welded 2 5/16 weld nuts to secure the assembly to the frame.

Re: Uncle Howard's 1946 Chevy Truck
 

These pictures show how the latch assemblies are secured within the frame.

Re: Uncle Howard's 1946 Chevy Truck
 

I was able to order a flywheel and clutch for an Astro van from Advance Auto. The Astor uses a larger diameter clutch with the correct spline size. I haven't mocked anything up yet, but I understand that instead of running a spacer, the input shaft can simply be cut down a bit making it a bolt in swap.

Re: Uncle Howard's 1946 Chevy Truck
 

Looking pretty great man KEEP it UP !!

Re: Uncle Howard's 1946 Chevy Truck
 

You have done a lot of very nice modifications on your truck. The first time you take it out you will be all smiles. Keep it up.

Re: Uncle Howard's 1946 Chevy Truck
 

My crazy season of church camps and non-stop activities is nearly over. Updates soon!

Re: Uncle Howard's 1946 Chevy Truck
 

Your truck is looking great, I really love the vette suspension and plan to use it in my next build. Keep up the great work
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Re: Uncle Howard's 1946 Chevy Truck
 

Fantastic build! Great pics! I have a 46 that my dad bought 44 years ago with the intention of leaving to me....well he did. He tore it apart ,every nut and rusty bolt, then gave it to me and moved to Fl. I'm sloooowly building it as $$ and my body permits (I'm disabled, 14 messed up discs) so working on it is a slow process. I know mine won't come out nearly as nice as yours, but it's great to see the pics so I can kinda get an idea of how it's supposed to go back together. Fantastic job, thanks for the pics, once I get a little more accomplished I may do a similar thread but the other end of the spectrum, a 46 on a low$ budget.

Re: Uncle Howard's 1946 Chevy Truck
 

I have much to update, so will have to do over a few posts. Here are a few pictures that I will go back and explain. These are the Camara V8 T5 transmission with the S10 Tail Shaft housing.

Re: Uncle Howard's 1946 Chevy Truck
 

I have modified the transmission crossmember, and it turned out good, but I guess I don't have any pictures of it yet.

Re: Uncle Howard's 1946 Chevy Truck
 

I fill in the details soon, but had time to post a few pictures before teaching tonight.

Re: Uncle Howard's 1946 Chevy Truck
 

To those who may have been following this build, I apologize for not updating more regularly. I get tired at night sooner that I use to! I have been working pretty solid on things when able to (been doing lots of side work too, to pay bills), but I don't have pictures of everything. I'll do my best to fill in details. If I missed anything or skipped anything you need to know, just ask.

I finished welding up and installing the master cylinder access plate in the floor under the seat. I don't think I have all the pictures necessary, but I will post more soon. Very pleased how it turned out. Also, I had fought finding correct adapter fittings for the C5 master cylinder / AN fitting, so I figured something else out that worked well. I tapped the hole for NPT, then purchased a second tap, cut the end off, then tapped clean to the end where the NPT threads are large enough that the fitting could enter the full way into the whole, rather than sticking out. I used a heavy duty lock tight style thread sealer. I hope I never have to pull it out, but it will be permanently sealed.

I have also finished modifying / grinding / working on the several of the parts, including the engine brackets in the front.

Re: Uncle Howard's 1946 Chevy Truck
 

After LOOOOTS of reading, I went with making an X Pipe. I made my own X pipe. The difference / ideas / arguments against using an X pipe or and H pipe are enormous. After reading both side of the arguments, I was most impressed with the guys who endorsed the X pipe with the smaller relief passage between them. They seemed to have the math equations, knowledge, and real-life engineering info - after reading TONS of different forums, I think many of these guys actually engineer them? Maybe I'm wrong, but what they said was that the benefits do not come from the "flow" (like with the fully open chamber X pipes), but serves 2 factors: 1) on a Chevy V8 engine the 2 center cylinders fire right next to each other, and causes extra pressure to back up. The relief "dumps" the extra pressure and helps flow. Additionally, I learned the reason the Ford / Chevy / Dodge V8s all sound so different is because the firing order between the different manufactures change when the 2 adjacent cylinders fire. 2) The noise waves from the banks cancel each other out, helping driver compartment noise considerably, and the X pipe causes the exhaust sound to be "similar to the modern higher revving engines." Maybe I made a mistake, maybe I didn't? I'll find out in a few months (or years?) when I finally get to start it. In all honesty, I don't really plan on making enough power to really matter too much anyway! I just think it looks cool, and i want that sound. I won't have the heart to drive this thing too hard anyway!

Re: Uncle Howard's 1946 Chevy Truck
 

I went with the Speedway 2 1/2" exhaust kit. It comes with 4 U, 4 90*, 4 45*, and 4 4' straight pipes. I'd love to replace it with stainless someday, but I didn't have the extra money (3-4X more) and didn't have the welding set-up or experience to do it at this time - maybe I'll move up to that step down the road and sell what I have. For now I will have this coated with that really hard exhaust coating I read about all the time. This has been a breeze to work with this material. I'd go as far as to say it has been "fun"!

Re: Uncle Howard's 1946 Chevy Truck
 

I wanted to set the exhaust as far up as possible, so I made slots in my transmissions cross member. I'm sure there would have been room to go underneath, but I think this turned out PERFECT. I am really pleased with the ways things are turning out.

Re: Uncle Howard's 1946 Chevy Truck
 

It took many hours of bolting up, tack welding, checking, adjusting, re-tack welding - but I turned out just the way it was needed. It looks like the clearances are perfect, and things have been done right.

Re: Uncle Howard's 1946 Chevy Truck
 

Last post for the night. I ordered 2 of the Borla Pro XS 2.5 Center In / Center Out mufflers to cork on the backside of these two pipes. I plan to run the pipes down the middle of the C4 rear member center, then out to the back with 4 exhaust outlets like the Corvettes typically have. So far so good!

Re: Uncle Howard's 1946 Chevy Truck
 

Looks great! Good to see some updates, I always look forward to seeing what you've done with the truck. Keep up the great work :)

Re: Uncle Howard's 1946 Chevy Truck
 

almost been 3 years, any updates