The Stovebolt Site Forums Welcome! Welcome Centre Do It Yourself (DITY) Gallery 1946 Hot Rod truck

I bought this a few months ago and have started motor work on the 327 that was in it and will start recording in this thread my DIY work on the Lil Red truck, I will start a new photo bucket folder for pics to link to, I enjoy reading all the stories here and felt maybe my Lil truck could be entertaining for others as well.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Skip


Pix in Photobucket

Thanks for sharing Skip. Looks like your already having fun.

Yep, that's cool! Looking forward to reading about your adventures.

Thanks Guys!
My rings, bearings and gaskets came in but no cam kit yet.

John I like how the rear tires stuff the wheel wells full on your tuck in the link to the gallery

Welcome Skip.
I'll be following your build, so thanks for sharing.
I'm working on my 1 ton now, but my 41 3/4 ton is next in line.
What are your plans for yours?

Planning on a streetrod but still use it as a truck and a driver with very little frills but a nice engine and a low dollar paint job but one that can still look good as I buzz around town and if all goes right maybe add air conditioning for summer driving but for the most part low key budget watching build that may turn out a nice driver.

Some one already did the heidts front end kit, 327 V8 700r4 trans with lokar shifter, stripped it and primed it and put a 55 chev car rear end (so they say) in it and stopped there then sold it to a guy I know that decided he had to many sticks in the fire and sold it to me and I am jonesing to work on it as money allows

Parts came in so started the engine build, balanced 327 small block Lunati Voodoo 280 cam kit ported heads with matching valve springs.

http://s10.photobucket.com/user/Ski...mend_zps34b32e2b.jpg.html?sort=3&o=3
http://s10.photobucket.com/user/Ski...ings_zps0912b765.jpg.html?sort=3&o=1
http://s10.photobucket.com/user/Ski...ings_zps3ba474a8.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

Long block is now ready for intake, rocker arms and valve covers, Took 2 days but sure feels good that it's done.
http://s10.photobucket.com/user/Ski...lock_zpse2ef7309.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

Looking good Skip. you'll be glad you took your time when you fire that puppy up. Do it once...do it right. I can see the smile on your face from S.C.

put 3 days of work into the motor and should be ready to drop in soon, A few parts still have to come in that I ordered and need to wire the truck up but hope to hear it run soon :)Had a big smile last night Alvin, Feels good to be this far in a few days.

http://s10.photobucket.com/user/Ski...ock2_zps09ef4245.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

Sweet project, have fun with it!

Gman NICE truck you have! May have some questions for you as I do mine like what drive shaft did you go with since we have similar drivetrains, The one that came with mine is about 5 inches to long.

Skip

Long block done and oil system primed so just about ready to drop it back in after some firewall work, I had gotten a lot of parts to get into this and I'm glad I did before I got the news they shut down my wifes office 2 Fridays ago, cant buy anymore parts till we get back on track but what I already bought should keep the project rolling for awhile yet with just labor on my part of getting some things done.

roller rocker pic

http://s10.photobucket.com/user/Ski...kers_zpstomjhvll.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

Wiring harness, 21 circuit 15 fuse

http://s10.photobucket.com/user/Ski...ness_zpshdijzmhs.jpg.html?sort=3&o=1

Lots of fun. Working on a 41 with a 327 at this time as well.
Rolling chassis is done and now it is body work.

It is in the gallery and photobucket as well.

Looking good man! Should have pics of mine back in the truck soon

Do you have a fan on that tranny cooler? What drive shaft did you use?

Skip

Took all day but managed to get the motor and trans back in after a little fire wall work, Now to get everything bolted to it today and run some exhaust and so on.

http://s10.photobucket.com/user/Ski...20in_zpsyzknflu1.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

Spent the second day of engine install putting everything back on the motor and starting my gauge cluster project, hoping today to finish and install gauges and build the exhaust system.

http://s10.photobucket.com/user/Ski...20in_zpsm78hzksa.jpg.html?sort=3&o=1

http://s10.photobucket.com/user/Ski...anel_zpssngyhkpr.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

I had to fab up patches and weld them in to fill holes in the fire wall and figured what the heck I have to paint it and wanted a flat black and semi gloss black checker on it so I did it today, This picture is before I finished off the top.

http://s10.photobucket.com/user/Ski...kers_zpss7ud45oj.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

Gauges put back in the dash that's about it for this week, back to the work force till Sunday.

http://s10.photobucket.com/user/Ski...lled_zpsc6fa5dw9.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

The exhaust is all welded in and looks like it will clear the steering rod that will go through there...

http://s10.photobucket.com/user/Ski...aust_zpsehiogtkn.jpg.html?sort=3&o=1

http://s10.photobucket.com/user/Ski...rod1_zpsayorfy2i.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

.....close works for me lots of times! Skip, you keep pecking away at it then one day Wow, you'll be riding and smiling
Thanks for the update.

I fired it up for a few seconds at 1500 rpm yesterday so now i know it will fire up for the brake in of the cam and everything is ok to do it, Just have to get the radiator and fan hooked up and i can get the break in over with and be good to go

Break in done on the cam and she runs GOOD!

Skips , although I am sure there will be disagreement here , I believe that outside of the V-8 Flatty in the older trucks the 327 is the only legit period motor to put in these old trucks ..I kills me to see 350's etc. in these things . Did you do a powerglide also ?
Dan

Wow, how did I miss this? Lookin good, keep it up man.

Skip, we can all see you smiling. Your a happy man no doubt and congrats on your hard work. Relish the moment, drive on down and take me for a ride.

THANKS!

When I bought this project it had a 700r4 in it and I didn't have the money to change it so I put it back in, Still a long road with steering, wiring harness, driveshaft, fuel cell and full brakes to do but I will keep posting as I go along, need funds again but can still work with what I already have to get more done

Skips, I was reading that a first gen Camaro fuel tank fits nicely between the frame rails. The filler tube extends out the rear of truck and a fold up license plate bracket can be attached to high the filler neck.

My wife has a 68 Camaro, so I'm going to take some measurements once it gets above 32!

Vic that would be great! I appreciate the info and whenever you get the measurements I will check them in my frame, Sounds like a good way to go with it!

I've been on "information overload" so trying to step back, but I found where I read about it. rusty1 on the HAMB site

fuel tank

I will not be able to use it because my truck is a 3/4 ton...width at the rear cross member is 10" less than the 1/2 ton.

Skip, whats wrong with the 700R4?? Man I love mine in the 37 so much I put one in my panel.
Thanks for keeping us posted. You ARE making some good speed.

I hope nothings wrong with it haven't got it all hooked up yet but a non overdrive trans may have fit this setup better, We will see once I get everything hooked up

see if this video works,

http://s10.photobucket.com/user/Ski...0run_zpsumd9si1r.mp4.html?sort=3&o=0

Sounds good

John

Thanks guys!

VEW I am looking into that first gen Camaro tank setup, Ebay has some on there and I like the rear fill idea where I can pull in on any side of the gas station and reach the fill neck

I got the steering column custom fitted and routed the rod past the headers, Then went on to the brake setup, The truck came with the parts for this but it was an under cab frame setup and I didn't want that so I spent a few hours cutting fabricating and welding and made it a firewall power brake set up and then to top it off with a picture I put in my truck warming gift from a friend at work... My kick [censored] shrunken head

http://s10.photobucket.com/user/Ski...0rod_zpsuy2af7a7.jpg.html?sort=3&o=2

http://s10.photobucket.com/user/Ski...nder_zpsbp9l6857.jpg.html?sort=3&o=1

http://s10.photobucket.com/user/Ski...20in_zps45gff6ly.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

Today I finished up getting things assembled and in place, no paint work or cleaning yet that will come later but the steering is in and complete, the shifter is in and complete, the seats from my old van are in and mounted (tight fit but comfy) I have the floor panels in but not permanently, driveshaft shortening is complete and the placement of the master cylinder assembly and brake pedal are complete, So at this point to drive it with no unforeseen crap popping up.... plumb the brake system with all new lines and bleed it, plumb the transmission cooling lines, Install wiring harness, Install whatever fuel cell I may use, So at this point I have a little to go but not what I faced Sunday morning, I told Wendy to come down and sit in it and she loved the seats then I said ok stay there hold on, I went out to the motor and hooked it up then fired it up and she smiled, I revved it 4 times and her eyes got big then I jumped in it to and we sat in it running and man this thing is loud and mean, She said again "wow This things a beast and it is going to be fun to run the rod shows with"

http://s10.photobucket.com/user/Ski...ened_zpsfxvmpnmr.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

http://s10.photobucket.com/user/Ski...20in_zps8bgoqcqa.jpg.html?sort=3&o=1

http://s10.photobucket.com/user/Ski...0in2_zpsxzfjxj5z.jpg.html?sort=3&o=2

Got the gas tank set up done (still going to look into first gen Camaro tank set up) now for the tranny cooling lines, Electric fans, brakes and wiring

http://s10.photobucket.com/user/Ski...red1_zpsuruow7bv.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

After pushing hard on my past 5 days off I finally drove it in the cul-de-sac Monday, no wiring in it yet so no brake lights or key switch to kill it if there was a problem, so I didn't take it any further than that, It has a small brake line leak from the master to the proportioning valve so I need a new line there but it feels pretty spunky when you tap the gas pedal So now for the wiring job and then a scotch brite pad washing and no frills black paint job over the red primer then tag it and do a shake down run.

http://s10.photobucket.com/user/Ski...ide2_zpslzjjb3ez.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

I started my black paint job and while paint was drying started doing the wiring harness

http://s10.photobucket.com/user/Ski...aint_zpstojgsktg.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0