Wow I am at a loss for words I can't wait to see it with the cab mounted. The Bulldog (My 56) is in a new shop that I rent but haven't done anything with her for a wile. I need to have an electrician come and hard wire my compressor and welders in. At least she is safe and under cover! Keep up the great work Grigg it is always a pleaser to see your progress.
Hey Grigg long time no hear. How is it coming???? I found a guy to build me the steering arm for the 56 it is just about done. This will be the first bit of progress I have maid in a long while. He came over the other day with what he has so far to confirm bolt sizes and thread pitch for the final machine work. He may be done with it as I am writing this.
Made a new drive pulley for the air compressor, it slips over the camshaft balance pulley and is held snug by 8 set screws in the first V-belt grove on the cam pulley. The set screws are slightly off center and have a matching 19* angle so they clamp the new aluminum pulley tight to the front of the old one. Also has a removable cover in the center so the whole assembly can be removed without separating the pulleys.
Because this is a Silver engine I had to use the proper balance pulleys to go with the cross-head pistons, and there is no special pulley with a bolt pattern on front for adding an extra pulley like there is for the normal 4-53T as found in GM trucks. So this was necessary to be able to run the air compressor with the brackets I have. Brackets are available to use the crank pulley, but I needed room up front and the crank drives the AC compressor as it is now.
It's in the cab some, but for the most part no deeper than the original indentation is, which I'll reuse just wider. A few places will need more room, and I'll make a removable cover for governor access. http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2308454690080251109cvnESH
Looks great Grigg, My mind has been wandering back to our Diesel swap conversation at the reunion all week... Must stay on track to the projects already in the works!!! We clearance the firewall in my 53 half ton similarly for the 3X2 Setup, but just on one side. I'll have to find the pictures for you on how it turned out. As wide as that looks have you considered going the wheelbarrow route? Might not hurt to build it up with a flange and make it removable, kinda like the old Vans were? I also like your Forktruck Boom, I've got a brochure that has a factory option boom for my Towmotor I've been considering copying. Mongo
I knew from the start it would take countless hours, and decided up front not to even try to keep track of them...
So far I think I'm happy to reuse the corners of the original firewall dent, I expect I can make it pretty seamless and appear factory at least in style. I was not expecting to cut it out all the way down to the floor, but if I ever want to remove the transmission without lifting the cab I need to make the removable transmission cover run up the sloped part of the firewall about 2 inches. I too considered a large removable cover, but all I really need is a small access cover for the governor and the slightly stretched transmission cover.
There are a number of commercial made forklift boom attachments available, and I've been looking for a deal one one for some time now. In the meantime adapting the boom from the tractor will do.
Grigg, you/we can see your hard work beginning to pay off. It looks good and besides, most puzzles are fun to piece together. You should be proud. Nice work and that engine looks like it really belonged there in the first place!!
Looks good Grig as always very inpressed with the quality of your work. If we lived close I am sure I would have to work very hard not to become a pest LOL.
I am amazed at your vehicle so far. Where did you get your engine and tranny? If I cannot get my 216 straitened out and running right I may be looking for a transplant of my own! I checked out your video with sound and while I am not really a Detroit fan (like them big straight 6 Cats) this thing is a screamer! By the way I am an aerospace machinist (26 years) and thats some fine workmanship on the pulley! Keep it up cause it gives countless others inspiration especially me to keep working on their rigs.
JMH, The engine came from Texas, I'm a couple owners into it but looks like it was military surplus. It was new in 85 a supposedly had less than 40 hours on it from new when I got it, and after having it mostly apart and looking at it I agree with that.
The transmission I found on ebay in California, had it shipped.
Are those air tanks on top of the frame? They look like they're off of a big truck. Since you don't have air brakes, I assume your using them for the air ride. They should supply a train horn if you want to use one.
'65 C-10, 65 L-60, 65 C-80, 72 C-60 & and a bunch of old Chevy cars. Never time to do it right, always time to do it over.
I think we should have a contest of some sort to see who gets the honor this time of being the co-pilot/turn signal in the video
John
~ John
"We are not now that strength which in old days Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are"
1948 International Farmall Super A 1949 Chevrolet 3804 In the Legacy Gallery | In the Gallery Forum 1973 IH 1310 Dump 2001 International/AmTran RE3000 "Skoolie" 2014 Ford E-350 4x4 (Quigley)
How about a best Winchester YT video contest? (with a sidebar on proper uploading of said vids....)
Great job Grigg. Love the cab hoist.
Billy
~ Billy Old Dominion Stovebolt Society: Exotic Animal Division 1946 Chevrolet Cab Over Engine | In the Gallery | Video | More pictures 1959 GMC 860 | Pictures 1950 GMC 450 FlatbedW/W, Air Brake equipt (25% Owner) | Pictures 1950 Chevrolet 3800 | Pictures I've got a trailer and I'm not afraid to use it!
I think we should have a contest of some sort to see who gets the honor this time of being the co-pilot/turn signal in the video John
Now the cab's on,at least you don't have to pick bugs out your teeth!
Keep up the good work Grigg,you're an inspiration to us all.
1950 Chevy Advance Design 3100 in Scotland In the Stovebolt Gallery More pix on Flickr. I've definately got this truck thing in my blood ... my DNA sequence has torque settings "Of all the small nations of this earth,perhaps only the ancient Greeks surpass the Scots in their contribution to mankind" Winston Churchill.
Here are some pictures of the front air helper springs, brackets, and shock mounts I made. The leaf springs were pretty well squished with the weight of the engine and cab, and the tie rod had been rubbing on the oil pan slightly. The air helper springs are necessary to bring the front of the truck up to ride height, and they are also the bump stops that keep the tie rod out of the oil pan. http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2018358210080251109bIPxwl
Yep, that looks like it George. Interesting they used different colored glass for the arrows and the stop and tail, where mine is all one color.
That one wouldn't happen to be available would it? So far I've not had much luck finding a replacement glass. Do plan to have mine glued back together some how, I'll take it to the local stained glass restoration guy, I'm sure he'll have a plan.
I don't know how to get in touch with the guy who owns the '41. The truck is in a fenced in area with no contact info around. When I went to see the truck last year, I called him at the number on his classified ad and he met me there. I haven't seen it advertised in awhile and I don't have his number anymore. I'll see what I can dig up. As for the color difference in the lenses, is it possible that the sun faded the original colors?
Removed the wood and it does a nice job of keeping the shop warm! The bed is now standing on end in the garage waiting for time to work on it, might be a while yet, but at least it's inside mostly out of the way and not deteriorating any more. http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2079659250080251109wdqzIH
Straightened the frame extension last week, it has been bent sense before I got the truck, and only noticed it after powdercoating... Used some slings and a 3 ton chain come-along anchored to the railroad track at either side of my garage door, they're sunk in about 3-4' of concrete. http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2573223880080251109WFlUfY
I never even noticed it was crooked when I looked at it. Usually crooked things jump out at me. Old rails are very useful at times. Its about the only thing I have never bent.
Ken, without the air cleaner there to distract you the right frame rail was clearly bent, but as I said I didn't see it at first, even when it was a bare frame, and I usually spot that sort of thing too.
Dave, I'm still interested in making or having made an aluminum flat bed with an original look, but in the meantime I need something functional, so the old steel bed will suffice. Also looked like it was going to cost a whole lot of money for an aluminum one and I'm not ready to spend that kind of money, nor do I have it An aluminum bed is still on my mind though.
Made a little progress last week. With some expert help I had the air tanks and straps painted and managed to reinstall them, been meaning to do that for a couple years now.... Permanently installed the air dryer purge tank behind the running board a few months ago.
Yesterday I took it for a ride a couple miles down the road to a show. It seems to drive and handle just fine other than it could use some shocks but I already knew that.. It is gear bound with the 4.56 gears, didn't have a speedometer or tachometer but felt a little slow on a 55 mph road, certainly usable but wouldn't like the highway. I was planning on the rear axle gear swap close to the end of the process but may move it up the list a little now.
Boy does time fly when you've got other things to do, and a mortgage to cover....
Making some progress on the cab for the first time in about 2 years! Previously I had removed the hump in the center of the firewall to let it fit over the engine. The original plan was to simply widen this hump about 6" and put it back in, so that's what I've started to do. Bent up a piece of 16 ga cold rolled 6" wide to match the contour of the firewall. http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2442856940080251109WGTPJB http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2631508230080251109GCacnQ
Now the tricky part is figuring out how to remake the lower portion so it clears. Here's a test with a piece of cardboard, just trim and fold until it looks OK. The two things it needs is a large enough transmission cover so the bellhousing can slide straight back for transmission removal and about an inch more room for the flywheel housing. http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2675067210080251109yeRrGo
Next steps are to finish welding the 6" extension then fit the panel back in the firewall, scribing and trimming so it can be but welded as if it were never removed. With that in for good I'll scratch my head some more and figure out the lower part of the firewall and how to blend it into the existing firewall and look mostly factory. Then I'll make a new transmission cover and it needs a slight hump to clear the bellhousing, nothing fancy.
If anyone's good with creating/forming curvy sheet metal pieces and wants to swing by some evening/weekend I'd be glad to have the help!
little more progress.. Some more welding on the firewall piece.
Lots of cleaning of the welding table http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2383766860080251109XwYTFQ I got it several years ago and it was quite rusty from sitting out and I never made time to clean it. It's abouut 7' X 4.5' I think, 1/2" thick armor plate... It's made up of 3 layers of steel rolled together, the center one is exceptionally hard, I've yet to find a drill that'll cut, carbide included. Now finally with some good sheet metal work to do I couldn't put off cleaning it up any longer, I needed a clean rust free smooth table top. It took all of Sunday afternoon to grind, sand, wire brush, scrub, degrease, and wash with a rust converter.
When I find more time I'll continue on the firewall and pull the cab to fit it.
An aluminum bed is still on my mind though.