I made Some major progress this week, unfortunately I didn't have time to post it sooner. Last week, I bought a can of POR tie-coat primer (the gray stuff in the pictures), and my grandma helped me brush it onto all of the chassis parts. On Friday, I applied the first round of the topcoat. Through some oversight, I had forgotten to get any reducer for the paint. My grandpa had off of work that day and was going to help me, so rather than take an hour out of the day to pick some up, we brushed that on as well. On Tuesday, the rain held off for a day, and I was able to spray the last coat, since I had by then picked up some reducer. It took me a while to get a feel for the gun, but after I got used to it, things went very smoothly. At first, I had one of the valves way too far open, and I went through 1 cup of paint in about two minutes! I was suprised how quickly the gun was using paint, so next time I mixed a triple batch, and started having doubts about there being enough paint to finish. The triple batch turned out to be more than I needed, but once I mixed it I had to use it or loose it, so everything is VERY thoroughly coated now.
I am going over tomorrow to begin assembling the chassis.
I was able to go to the Stovebolt Homecoming a few weeks ago, I didn't bring my truck, but I had a great time anyway. I learned a lot through Jerry "Hotrod Lincoln"s cylinder boring demo and starter motor tear down, and Grigg's brake line bending and flaring demonstration. I was talking with "Lugnutz" while I was there, and he was telling me about the overdrive that he has in his truck. I am completely sold on those things now! I did some research on them, and found out that the standard 3-speed in the 60-66 trucks is a Muncie SM318. If a customer wanted overdrive, the tailshaft was replaced with a Borg-Warner R-10 overdrive unit, and this was called an SM319. Armed with this knowledge, I have begun a search for a GM Borg-Warner R-10 planetary overdrive. I think this will save me a lot of money on gas and wear and tear on the engine, especially if I end up driving the truck out to school in Kansas.
Speaking of School in Kansas, the fast-approaching move-in date has caused me to change my strategy slightly. I would really like to take the truck with me when I go, but I don't think I will be able to complete the full restoration in time. I have decided to leave a few things undone, and finish them at school. It will be a great way to practice what I learn there (If I haven't already said, I am going to attend McPherson college, the only college in the nation that offers a degree in automotive restoration). One of the things I plan on leaving are the seat, since it's serviceable for the moment, and McPherson teaches is upholstery. I also think I'll leave the engine alone, except for cleaning it up, rewiring it, and installing a new exhaust system. I was told that I could replace some of the oil with diesel or kerosene, run the engine at low RPMs to clean out the crud under the valve cover, so I might do that as well. As I get closer to having to leave I'll get a better feel for whether this will be enough to allow me to bring the truck, if not I will re-evaluate leaving it behind and finishing it next summer.
I know this has been short, but hopefully it was enjoyable/informative. Hopefully I will be able to get a lot of the suspension assembled tomorrow, I'll try to do another post if I do.
