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17 December 2011
# 2930

	Owned by Paul Moffatt "moff1959" Bolter # 29505 Richmond, Virginia

1940 Chevrolet 3/4-Ton

"Project XJ-PU-V12"

More pictures of my old truck

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in the HiPo Forum

From Paul :

If Chevrolet and Jaguar teamed up to make a pickup truck, this is what it would look like. I call it: Project XJ-PU-V12

I am originally from Manchester, England, so I gravitate towards the British classics. Moffs Motors is my small business, and I also work for Classic Car Center of Fredericksburg (Virginia).  I specialize in electrical work, re-wires, and 6v to 12v conversions.  I have a fully restored a 1969 XKE -- I did everything including the paint.  

I restored a Jaguar XJS-C a few years back that had been on fire. I purchased a donor car for most of the parts I needed. After the restoration, I kept the drive train and crushed the body.

I have always liked the old style pickups, and I looked at a few before I found this 1940 Chevrolet 3/4-ton truck advertised on the local Craigslist.  It was perfect. No engine or trans, just a roller and a perfect candidate for the fantastic Jaguar V12 engine. 

I also have the front and rear suspension from a Jaguar XJS. I am looking forward to simplifying the wiring and vacuum systems and prove that the Jags can be reliable.

My first mock up answered some of my questions but left me with a dozen others. I did consider going mid-engined with this but I think I can fit it all in up front. The engine will need to go back six inches.  This should help everything all around. We will just have to wait and see.

I am working on the engine mounts and brackets. They will be bolted to the frame when finished, along with the front and rear suspension.  I just finished the rear axle assembly. I just need to figure out how to fix it to the truck's frame and make it look like it belongs there. 

I have the front axle stripped down and I am in the process of replacing bushings and ball joints. The carrier has been modified to fit the Chevy frame and should just bolt on when finished. I hope to get this into a roller on its new suspension by the new year. Then I can fit the engine and Turbo 400 trans (which are ready to go in) and work on the fixtures and fittings. I may even get to some body work!

I do enjoy classic cars and I am enjoying the Chevy pickup conversion so far. A lot of people have said I will never do it, but that will just drive me on to succeed and so far no major issues. I keep up dating the photo album at every opportunity. Wish me luck.

Cheers,

Paul

Wow, when I saw the title, I wasn't sure what to expect! Maybe something geared toward space-time travel (in a difference sense). You all will have to check his Flickr link. Some neat photos. This isn't your ordinary HiPo mod, I'd say! Good luck and keep us posted! ~ Editor

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