The Stovebolt Site Forums Project Journals Archived Journals 1954 Chevy 3100

Finally got the carriage in and the side gears. But now the ring gear won’t rotate to get the spider gears in. Just another problem to solve.

Happy days. Figured out how to get the adjustment rings on today.
Ring gear was still locked up so pulled the transmission cover to check out my theory about the forks. Sure enough neither fork was in their slots. They were just floating loose. Got the forks lined up and put the lid back on and put in neutral. Went back under the rear and voila. The ring gear turns smoothly now. Danced a quick jig around the truck.

Next is to get the spider gears installed (later after it cools off). Of course I’ve. Put off cleaning the pumpkin cover so that need’s doing. Then I have to find the gasket. It’s somewhere in one of these boxes. Lol

But I am getting closer to being able to pull it out of the garage one day soon.

Whoop whoop!!😎

Another step closer to first drive. Got the spider gears installed this morning.
But of course I don’t have a gasket for the cover so ordered it and will have to wait for it to get here to close it up. Also had to order a new filler plug. The old one was glued into place.

Next step is get the tranny lid back on. Then wait on parts.

Got tranny gasket on and permatex’d it. Lid is on and tightened down. Now waiting on UPS.

Now I’m thinking I need to get started on the seats. The used frames are in but I don’t have a lot of room to work. So I’m going to clear a table and move it out some to use for a work area. Now need to order the kits. Ugh.

Just got a tube of Gear Marking compound in the mail.. I'm working my shop today but tomorrow we give the ring gear alienment a shot.. If that gets done then the pumkin can be closed up..

Tonight when I get home if its not too hot I plan to clear that table and get one of the seats on it.. the seat cover and stuffing is supposed to deliver today.. Won't know until I get home.. another new project..

Extremely hot here in Alabama the last couple days and it looks like it continues until next week. It’s limited work time some.

But got fluid back in the tranny last night. This morning I got the rear closed up and filled with fluid. Put fill plug in so that’s all ready. Didn’t know it but the fill plug comes with a leather washer.

Now I find out the seat track holes don’t line up on drivers side. After lunch I’ll get the torch out and do a little repair work. Then a shower. It’s 100 degrees outside without the heat index so I’ll call it a day.

Working on figuring out the turn signal wiring also. Redoing the chart and posting it in electrical to get input from some wiser veterans later this afternoon. Inside with AC of course.

Fixed seat track problem last night..
Was going to try and move the truck for the first time this morning and found I had no brakes.. checked master and it was dry.. so have a thread up on what type of fluid to use then I'll have to figure out how to bleed them.. then I can pull it out of the garage then right back in after cleaning the garage up and maybe washing some of the truck off..

But on hold for the moment pending info on brake fluid..

Once you get brake fluid and bleeding complete your next task will be determing where the brake fluid went. I am working on a truck project (not as vintage) for my grandson and finally got the rebuild engine installed and running but like you no brakes. At least two brake lines (one front and one rear) had failed so inprocess of replacing them and then hopefully getting to actually test drive it.

I have brakes now and will look for any leaks. I checked around and didn’t see anything obvious so will keep checking daily for a bit.

But. I did move the truck about six feet back then forward in the garage and brakes work fine. No sponginess at all.

Now need to take another shot at getting the electrical straightened out as relates to the turn signals and brake lights. Then I can install the seat track and frame.

Then the fun begins. Starting the upholstery of the seat and back. Since it’s cooled off to just the 90s now it’s not so hot at night. Low to mid 70s all next week so plan on getting as much done as possible before it heats up again.

Thanks to Bill and Bartamos help I have the electrical fixed.. almost.. turns out the brake switch must be bad.. I shorted it with a screwdriver and brakes came on.. sooo going to order a brake switch but that won't hold up getting started on putting the rest of the interior in.. seat tracks and frame.. then unpack the used seat and back I got from another bolter and then try my hand at upholstery..
More as I go.

In the meantime got the other turn signal feed to the dash feed spliced in so get an indicator for both turns.

Got the heater reinstalled but won’t connect it until later in the fall. Have to order a switch for it too.

Tried to install the driver side seat track but discovered the dip in the flange made the slide lever jam on the side of the riser. So after lunch I’ll get the torch out and my big crowbar and see if I can lift it enough so it clears the riser.

The fun never ends.

Got it sorted with the torch. Seat tracks and frame are in and bolted down. Now to break out the seat and back.

Almost forgot next is removing the brake switch and testing it.

Got the brake switch out. Was rusted solid. New one ordered today. Now to unpack seats. J

Ended up using some 3/16 coated cable with a turnbuckle to adjust it for the seat adjustment. Works fine

Got the back rest stripped down. Other than a couple springs to reattach it looks good. Now off to hardware store to get a small wire wheel for the drill to finish cleaning it up then paint it.
Then on to the seat to let paint cure.

Progress made on the upholstery front. Seat back is done and in the truck. Yea

May not be perfect but it’s done. Last picture is second layer of cotton going on.

Looking at seat the only thing that needs replacement is the foam. The rest of the padding looks fine. Got it on the table so after a break I’ll see if I get that one finished today.

Next problem. Seat frame is bent at one end. Torch and crowbar should fix it as long as I don’t set it on fire.

Decided to strip off the foam and cotton and put new cotton down.. Had it in the kit and might as well use it.. Pics coming.

Seats are done and today I moved it for the first time. Just out of the garage and back. While I had it out i pressure washed underneath to get all the crude off it.

I also found the source of the klackity klack noise. Noticed by chance that the wiper base was rotating. The darn wiper had been on the whole time making me think I had an engine knock.

So was a good day today

Doug

Looking good!

You seat looks great. Nice job!

First drive today. Yea.

Went around the block twice. Every thing rattles and the clutch is slipping. Looking into how to adjust it now.

Still no gauges work. Not even the speedometer. Lol. Only one working is the oil pressure gauge which if I had a choice that is the one I’d want.

Since it is geared so low I don’t think I’ll worry about speeding. 😁

Doug

What a great feeling taking your first ride. Your story sounds just like my first ride, with all the shaking, rattling, only some of the gauges working and very little brakes, but it was still really exciting. It only improves from here.

Congrats and thanks for sharing!

Doug, since you took your "first drive", you are now likely 98% addicted and going cold turkey is not an option. Congratulations on the progress!

Drove Bart around the block again after adjusting the clutch and it was worse so I adjusted it the other way and will get a chance to drive it tomorrow to see it that was it... if not I'm going to see about a new clutch.. biggest problem will be finding someone that can work on it that I can trust..

Good new was on this last drive the heat gauge started working.. might have had a air pocket back where the sender is.. but its working now so one down and several to go.

Drove Bart around the block again today and clutch is still almost not there soooo.. looks like a heavy project coming up..
I did find a local machine shop that can resurface the flywheel so thats taken care of and was my biggest worry.. just don't have the machine shops around like they used to..

going to think about it but will likely start the clutch job myself.. not looking forward to the heavy weights but will enjoy fixing the problem... then I can move on..

The carb is leaking gas.. just a little but since I've decided to pull the back rest and shift the upholstery around it would be a good time to turn the gas off and fix the carb.. the foam has shifted in the backrest and I had put two layers of cotton in it.. feels like i'm on top of the steering wheel... so going to remove one layer of cotton and maybe move some of the springs around to even it up.. then put it back together and see how it feels.. by then I should have motivated my ambition to start the clutch R&R. Have to buy some new tools I guess..

Doug

Started on the long journey to get a new clutch and pressure plate in. First discovery was oil all over the flywheel cover. That is likely why the slipping.

Drained the transmission. Got the rear cover plate off the tranny to expose the u-joint and stopped. Don’t see how to get to it. I put up a thread in drive chain to get some guidance.

When I figure it out I’ll start again.

This issue is discussed in the Driveline forum here.

Progress. Got the flywheel cover off. Why they used screws is beyond me. Will go back with hex heads. Had to use vice grips to get four of the six screws out. Especially the two under the cross member.

Had surface oil on the cover but flywheel and pressure plate looked dry. We’ll see for sure when they come out.

Drained the trans and got the rear cover off last night. Got bell moved off the U-joint this afternoon and will continue in the morning.

Been working on getting the torque tube down since my last post. Couldn’t get the ujoint to clear the housing. You are supposed to be able to compress the ujoint back into the torque tube to get clearance. It likely hasn’t been moved in 70 years so was stuck. After many days of trying all kinds of suggestions I went back to square one. But first I sprayed blaster into the ujoint spline yesterday, last night and again this morning. Jacked up the rear and put stands on the axles. Using my big crowbar I got some movement first try. About an inch back. What a relief. Eased the jack down and it cleared the housing.

Now have to get the ujoint out of the torque tube then the bell cover off. I’ll jack the tube back up to the floor and have room to pull the trans.

Doug

Doug,

Great job being persistent with working on the 70 yr old drive connection.

Clearly making progress - kudos!

Dan

Got the rear ujoint disassembled with only having to beat on it a little. One side was stuck. Nothing a socket and ball peen hammer didn’t solve.

Got the slide hammer in today and spent about 20 minutes beating on it before I wore out. Used some blaster on it and will return to the fight in the morning.

Had a good day. Thanks to a suggestion from Hotrod I got the rear ujoint off the axle.

Got the tube secured up to the floor so now on to the transmission.

One more step forward.

Doug

Well the garage gods finally smiled on me.
Loosened the trans bolts this morning then had errands all day.
Got home and removed the bolts and the trans came out without a problem. Took about five minutes to get it on the floor.

Stopped there. I’ll roll it off to a small furniture dolly and clean it up tomorrow.

Great job Doug!

Don't forget to cover the big open top of the gear box. Wouldn't want any gremlins to find there way in there and cause havoc later.

Dan

Got the trans out from underneath the truck too heavy to lift for me. Will head to harbor freight and get a small lift to use for the installation.
Cleaned up the ujoint cup with my dremel.

Now to remove the clutch and pressure plate.

Doug

Yeah those tranmissions are really heavy. Best way I have heard to lift for install is using a cherry picker through the access hole in the cab floor.

Clutch and pressure plate are on the floor. Took a couple doses of blaster and they came out.

They didn’t look that bad but they weren’t working

Next to the Dremel the cordless torque wrench is my favorite tool now.
I’ll get to the flywheel next but it will be a couple days.
Anyone know how much the flywheel weighs.

Thanks for all the positive reinforcement along the way.

Doug

Found a 10" clutch kit at O'Reily's and picked it up this morning...It looks exactly like the one I took out... now to get the flywheel off so it can get machined..

Onward.

Doug