Project "Sweet 16"

[Homebuilt Hotrods]

Originally Posted by skymangs

thanks all. Put about 40 miles on her. Only issue is that the fuel gauge doesn't seem to be reading. I should have the cluster back in this evening, then I'll take it to work tomorrow (50 mile round trip).

sweet....

[Luther Grimace]

Y'all did great work and fast! I really like the steering wheel, stance, and budget!

[skymangs]

thanks guys. 250 miles on her and counting. Picked up the carpet last week (cut pile). After this weekends BBQ we'll pull the seat back out and get to installing some jute pad and carpet. I do have a couple things I need to address. The used Edelbrock seems to be running a little rich (like maybe 2 stages). The PO must have actually pulled it apart and calibrated it for his built 351? I'll be pulling it and re-setting to factory jets/metering rods in the next week or so. Also, the 4x4 rear end that came with our frame is a 4.10 gear... WAY to many rpms at 60mph. We'll be looking for a more milage friendly gear ratio before Power Tour.

The final build cost, including carpet, new crank kit, and AC components is $4805. Little higher than I'd originally planned, but still not too shabby for a reliable and roadworthy 48Chev pickup with a 350 and Air!

[99 to Life]

thats good news. you running a fuel reg? If not I'd advise one. good luck on the power tour. I'm running 3.42 and I'm at about 2100 at 65mpg if I remember.
But I'm running a 5 speed and different tires I'm sure.

[sparkydog]

Congratulations! I have been enjoying your build and admire your budget minded creativity. Keep up the good work and start another one so I can stay entertained!

PS Binder trucks are just high-geared tractors without the 3 point hitch.

[skymangs]

99, no fuel regulator. I'm running an inline 4-5.5 PSI pump. I replaced the in tank pump with a piece of 3/8" fuel line for a pick-up.

Thanks Sparkydog. I have designs on a next project already. Buddy of mine has a 49 KB international that he wants on a S10 frame.

[JTRACEY]

Great news! Hopefully by the mid-end of summer I will have my truck on the road. I will have to make a cruise down to the Burg to check out your truck in person.

[skymangs]

Sweet. JT, I'm pretty sure we'll have ours up that way at some point too

[LEEVON]

You are an animal! When you're at Brad's this weekend, go ahead and pick up my '50. You should be able to finish it in a couple of weeks, right?

[skymangs]

Originally Posted by LEEVON

You are an animal! When you're at Brad's this weekend, go ahead and pick up my '50. You should be able to finish it in a couple of weeks, right?

he, he... one at a time brother!

If I do them quick, I can save more of em!

I'm headed over friday to scope out a for sale forlorne 50 project 3 miles away from my house. It's a 3100 5 window, complete (but in pieces) with tons of extra parts. Might save me a bunch of teardown time?

I also have a 51 5 window 3/4 ton up in Iowa. It was a parts truck (that I never actually took any parts off of), and the old man is checking into a COE 49 that can (allegedly) be had for scrap iron price local to him (I've always had a hankerin for a COE tow rig).

I'm just noticing that the more I drive the kids truck, the more I keep thinking "I should get me one of these too". It's an addiction!

[xpickup]

skymangs, oh, don't say it. You have a problem. My name is Shannon, I have a problem, I am addicted to AD trucks!


Shannon

[rockasilly]

I just read your entire build thread. Great job!

[skymangs]

Thanks rockasilly, Sorry no pics for awhile. Truck made it to Springfield and back with absolutely no issues (300mi). Right now I have the carb apart on the bench waiting for new jets and metering rods. We decided to run 1.5 stages leaner on primaries and 1 stage leaner on secondaries. should help with the milage, I'm sure it was running too rich.

Truck averaged 15.3mpg all the way to springfield and back, that was cruizing 60-65mph with 3.73 gears and no bed. If i can get a shorter rear gear and lean the carb a bit, that number should go up.

[skymangs]

Sorry no updates for awhile. Been busy! I took the carb apart and re-calibrated it. .095 primarys with recommended metering rods (1.5 stages lean) and .092 secondarys (1 stage lean). It seems to like it, much more responsive, and no stumbling off of idle.

Here's the pics of the motor work from a couple weekends ago.

[skymangs]

After the BBQ, the goal was carpet. I ordered 2 linear yards (80" wide) of cut pile to cover the floors. Here's some shots of install.

[skymangs]

Here's the finished carpet, I made my own "transition strips" out of 18ga. sheet metal (for where the floor meets the toe board). Tomorrow we are going to tackle mounting the front bumper...

[skymangs]

I almost forgot... When I picked up my headliner from Classic parts, the guy mistakenly gave me 2 front pieces. They immediately corrected the issue when I called, but I wound up with 2 extra front halves of a headliner... Guess what I'm gonna make kick panels out of? I love it when a plan comes together!

[JRANGER]

Looking good!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hey Jealousy lol

[99 to Life]

looks great. Are you running an elec choke? I like to run an air/fuel gauge and a vacuum gauge really helps to see what the engine is doing. I'v had to clean my idle ports out several times with the edelbrock. It would lean the carb way out and it took me a bit to figure out why. I'm going to get a quickfuel carb this year I think.

[skymangs]

yeah, electric choke. I've never really had any problems with Edelbrocks on street cars. I was planning on hooking up the old vaccum gauge next time I take it out.

[skymangs]

Oh, and Shannon... I know I have a problem, I've decided that the first step to solving it is to keep busy, on lots of projects!

Today's progress... Bumper is on, I borrowed a splash guard from a buddy here locally to get fitment the way I want it, have to return in monday
We're on the lookout for a decent splash guard still. I'm not sure where it was supposed to be mounted exactly, but I like what we did with it. We flipped the brackets (side for side) to tuck it up under the grill, and sucked it in a little closer to the grill than some I've seen.

We also made the "headliner" kick panels today and made a small panel for where the steering column meets the carpet. Seat will go back in tonight, and I'm about to pronounce the interior "finished".

[rickerwill]

I just read through your entire thread, Skyman. Once I got started, I just kept "turning pages!" I envy your ability to get the boys out to the shop and teach them such good, basic values. Cherish every moment of it and know you are giving them a superb example for when they are dads, too. I made a hopelessly addicted car guy out of my son, too, and he is enjoying a career in automotive work at age 24. Don't tell him I said so, but he is a much better mechanic than his dad now.
You have given me a bunch of really good ideas for the '50 5-window he and I are building. Thanks for the good photos and documenting of progress for us all.

[mknittle]

Originally Posted by skymangs

Oh, and Shannon... I know I have a problem, I've decided that the first step to solving it is to keep busy, on lots of projects!

Today's progress... Bumper is on, I borrowed a splash guard from a buddy here locally to get fitment the way I want it, have to return in monday
We're on the lookout for a decent splash guard still. I'm not sure where it was supposed to be mounted exactly, but I like what we did with it. We flipped the brackets (side for side) to tuck it up under the grill, and sucked it in a little closer to the grill than some I've seen.

We also made the "headliner" kick panels today and made a small panel for where the steering column meets the carpet. Seat will go back in tonight, and I'm about to pronounce the interior "finished".

Getting better all the time. keep up the good work!

[skymangs]

Thanks Rickerwill, I am very aware that this is a dying talent (being able to wrench on your own junk). I can only hope that my boys will be as "hopelessly addicted" as I am.

Mknittle, I aprechiate it.

updates. We've been driving the wheels off it with no major issues. Had a rocker arm back off a bit, had to re-adjust the lash, but other than that it's been real solid. And I finally got the carb tuned "just right".

Here's my updated pics. I'm about to pronouce it finished, only a few things left. Brad_72 hooked me up with some barn wood for the bed, but I'm still in need of a couple more pieces. I just recieved my first order of "built by" decals to adorn all my vehicles with (I hope to do affordable rods as a business after I retire in 2 years). We still need to do the shop signs on the doors, but I have my vinyl stencils already.

Oh, and we found a really cool old gas station with pumps still there to take pictures in front of. Hopefully it will be nice later this week.

Getting back injections again on Tuesday, so I'll be a little slow this week (Good time to paint door signs!).

[kev2809]

Very cool build! I hope to do something like this with my step son after my suburban is done.

Was just flipping around build sections and came across this one, glad i did!
Posted via Mobile Device