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"Measure twice...cut three times?"

Makin' big ol' holes in expensive metal can make a strong man cringe.

Got the rear duct for the A/C finished up today except for paint (still a long ways off). Modeled it after a rear engine duct on a '30's era transit bus I saw years ago. Just liked the Art Deco, industrial look of it. Was a royal pain to put together but I like the way it turned out. New pix now in the Flickr album.

Hot-Ziggity! --- my new Allison 2200MH tranny arrived! It will be on it's way shortly to the shop that will be mating it to the Cummins 4BT in a week or so...then the fun begins. Stuffing that package into my chassis will likely be...interesting. Gotta find a whole new steering gear set up as the original is inside the frame rails and, short of a miracle, will probably be in the way. Looking for a late model power steering set up from a 1.5 ton or maybe a bread van (P20/P30). Any suggestions?

Drove out to take a look at some possible gears last weekend. Fellow had a 1.5 T flatbed sitting in front of his house that his wife is using as a rose arbor. Long story short...still no 5.43 gears. The ring & pinion turned out to be another set of the "Optional" 6.14:1 gears. Too bad, as they were in great shape. Beginning to believe that just about everyone who bought a Chevy truck from '41 to early '47 opted for the Optional granny gears as that is all I've seen during the past year of searching.

Is there really any such thing as 5.43 gears...or are they up there with the Easter Bunny & Santa?

The hunt continues.

Will finally pick up my new Allison 6-speed on Monday! From Stewart & Stevenson, it goes out to Diesel Specialists to be mounted onto the Cummins 4BTAA. Then the fun begins. I have a feeling stuffing all that metal into my narrow Art Deco front end is going to get...uh...interesting.

Still on the hunt for the mythical 5.43 ring & pinion set.

Tango, there should be a song made up about "tango's expos on shorty the bus"

...and, as all songs have an ending I'm sure Shorty will have one to. Thanks for keeping us updated.

Hey Chip --- just wish the ending was in sight! Got to visit the old girl today for the first time in a month...no wonder this is taking so long.

Well Howdy --- After more than a year of thinking that the Big Bolt Chevy trucks came standard with a 5.43 rear end and had the "option" of a 6.17...I just discovered it is the other way around! That is contrary to what I had heard and been told (online & off). No wonder I have had no luck finding that particular ring & pinion set.

I finally got my hands on a real '42 to '46 Chevy truck manual and it clearly states that it is the 5.43 that was the optional equipment.

I may be stuck with what I have or have to do a Frankenstein transplant on the whole center section.

Ah well...

Onward!

Tango, hang in there man. There is LOTS of chapters in a good book. Keep writing and then one day you'll reach the end...... Thanks for checking in.

Thanks for the encouragement Chip --- I should be wrapping up my current commission project by mid-March and then have a little bit of the Summer to get back to work on the old gal. My engine & tranny are mated and waiting to be picked up but right now I don't have the time to sleep let alone work on anything else.

But soon...