Stovebolt.com Forums The Parking Lot Welcome Centre The DITY Gallery Tango's '46 Shorty Bus

More minor stuff --- After several frustrating months, I finally managed to get all the parts I need to mount a real, mechanical park brake on the back end of my Allison 2200. Went round & round just trying to get make/model/year info, then went thru the usual "we gotta have a VIN number" crap with a dozen different parts houses. Finally got one Chevy counterman who could actually look up the parts without said VIN. Hallelujah! Dropped off some cash and they should be "on the truck" shortly.

And...just in case anyone else is looking for a mechanical driveline park brake to fit an Allison 1000 or 2200...they can be found on...

2008/2009 GM Medium Truck Kodiak C4500 & C5500

NOTE: The same unit is also on other trucks, I just stopped hunting when I found these.

Just determined that now I need to cut out the main frame crossmember in order to mount the park brake. Dropped off plans for a bolt in replacement at my local metal shop as I can't make precision bends in the 2" schedule 40 pipe I spec'd.

Also building a new firewall where the old dash was with a small doghouse to enclose the rear of the engine. Next big challenges are putting together a steering column & box as well as the pedals, booster and master for the brakes. More fun to follow.

As usual...latest pix are in my Flickr album.

Still following you Tango. Keep up the good work. You will git-r-done!

Thanks Chip...I'll just keep "Chipping" at it.

Picked up the steel for a rear deck today and will be playing with that until my crossmember, firewall & doghouse come back from the laundry.

Been a while but yes...I am still at it.
Had to machine a flange for the exhaust side of the turbo but now have a stainless downpipe fabbed , ceramic coated, wrapped and mounted. Also had to machine a bung so that I can run my turbo return line directly into the oil pan. Have the drain line hooked up to the turbo but still need to drop the pan and weld in the bung.

Managed to cut & paste a less rusty/damaged section of louvers into one of my inner fenders. Next came the steering system. I now have the gearbox & column from an '03 Isuzu NPR mounted. Next is connecting the two and working out the drag link and such.

Lots more little stuff with plenty of update pix in my Flickr Album. Just gotta' keep movin'.

Well...it was nearly a month and a half since I last saw this old gal but I am back in town and back to work on it. Just dropped some pieces off at my local machine shop. Need them to make a splined shaft so I can hook my steering column up to the Isuzu gearbox. Turns out cutting custom splines is tricky...and expensive. Will get some pix when it comes back. Plenty of other "little stuff" to keep me busy. Just gotta keep moving.

Still pokin' it with a stick --- now have a battery box for my "house" batteries as well as a new drop down spare tire holder. Most of the remaining custom made steering parts will be picked up tomorrow (hopefully) but there is still plenty to do before this old gal is road ready. I am also just now ready to try and mount a replacement main frame crossmember. It is necessary in order to make room for the driveline park brake that mounts on the back of the Allison tranny.

New pix of bits and pieces are in my Flickr album for anyone interested.

WOOOOW, This is too cool! I'm definitely going to follow along for the rest of the ride on this one Incredible work so far, keep it up!

Stunning work Tango , that's an awesome project , thanks for all the updates.

Thanks for the kind words guys --- The steering system has really been a bear so far and I'm still working on it. Mating the original '46 axle components to an '03 Isuzu NPR gearbox and column calls of fabbing a bunch of bits and pieces. Tried twice to order a steering column support bearing from one of the big, online hot rod suppliers and both were crap. Wouldn't swivel and did not fit the advertised OD size.

Just mounted by spare tire carrier (most of it) and the new box for my house batteries.
There are some fairly fresh pix in the Flickr Album below.

Meanwhile...

ONWARD!