Finally took a shakedown cruise. I only wanted to go a mile or 2 on back roads to get a good feel for whats working and whats not and to see what it is I traded for. The drivetrain was working so well I expanded a few more miles and made a stop at a carwash. With a yr or so of garage grime washed off I headed to a stretch of 2 lane thats really straight so I could open it up a little. For about 3 miles or so the 350 w/the TH350 purred. Oil pressure was at about 35 and temp around 180. Thoughts of interstate running started popping in my head but unfortunately it started acting like it was running out of gas and finally died. My aftermarket gas gauge said there was alittle over 1/4 tank and I could hear gas sloushing around in the tank when I shook the truck but when I pulled the line off of the carb it was dry and there was no squirt of fuel when I tested the accel pump. So I made the fateful call and had some gas delivered. The 5 gals put it over 1/2 tank and it started and I headed home. About half way home it stuttered and died again. I let it set a couple minutes, started it back up and it made it home. But another problem cropped up on this home stretch run, the front brakes.... When I went to brake at a stop sign it practically threw the truck into the left lane. It was violent! And when I took off I could tell that one or both of the front brakes were dragging/grabbing. I slowed and could see smoke from the right front and I could smell the tell tale smell of hot brake pads. VERY HOT brake pads.
I nursed it home and when I was trying to back it into it's stall the right front brake just locked up and still won't turn. Had to use a jack to manuver it back.
So, I'm looking at replacing the fuel pump, fuel filter (under the tank), both front calipers, both soft lines, turn the rotors, adjust the tie rod alittle to fine tune the alignment, setup an appointment to get to exhaust how I want it to sound (those Smithy's are too loud) and plug all those firewall and toe board holes....
It rides rougher than the stock 49 Chevy but it did clear the railroad tracks and handled the road fairly well. I can see adding the stock 50's tube shock setup and power steering. Those danged 14" tires mounted on those old school Cragers are hardly worn so I'm going to leave it's profile as is, that low rider stance is kinda growing on me, I'm thinking about keeping it.
Fini
Dave
