The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Re: What did you get done on your 'Bolt today?

Drove the '59 for the first time. Just a short cruise around the block without the bed on it.

Everything working fine except the electric seat heaters. Tonight we'll figure that out - I hope.

If only all that didn't work on my truck was the HEATED SEATS! LOL!

That is one problem I'll never have on any of my trucks.

I bought my seats from Wiseguys in NY and heated was an option. After consideration of the size of my cab, the "hellfire" heater that came with my Old Air unit and the climate in Texas I decided against it.

Plugged the steam port. Got the passenger exhaust manifold bolted in. Fitted the new radiator in place (fun!) AND, started snaking in the engine harness.

Once you've had a set of heated seats it's hard to go back to unheated seats. A lot of times that's all we use.

I guess it's like indoor plumbing, once you've used it in the dead of winter you'll never live without it. lol

Finished bending, flaring and installing new fuel line....which took me way too many times! Haha!

Got the turn signals working, ABS plastic door panels made, now to figure out how to heat them just enough to get a bend in them to fit the shape of the door.

I am guessing you don't have to bend it too much. What if you screwed on the top holes and used a heat gun and slowly attached more screws as you work your way down?

if you don't have a heat gun handy, use the wifes hair dryer, if she don't have one, put it in the bath tub and run hot water on it for a few minutes

Bill

I am not really sure... but I know i spent 8 hrs in my garage. ... worked a bit on my spare T5 to get it back together... I had my cab on its back to begin cutting and welding but after further thought, I lifted it back to normal and braced the door opening with angle iron to keep it straight when I begin cutting and welding. fitted up my T5 with a 1950 bellhousing to my 235 engine. looks good. Now it goes into a corner for a year or so.

thanks for the suggestion!

Ah! But the satisfaction of how they look when done and that you did them yourself.........PRICELESS!!

removed all front end sheetmetal stripped doors removed glass (I hate those 71 year old clutch head screws )

swapped out my 3.90 gears for 3.38 which you can read about in the Driveline section

Changed the oil and greased the chassis , ready for next weekend away to Geraldine.

Pulled old parking brake cables, starting install on NOS cables. Ordered new clevis sets. That's after a drive to the flaps. Also ordered seal and cushion to freshen up driveline.

Nice to be back in the garage.

Installed the transmission cooler lines. One of the few places I did some splurging. Used Russell brand braided hose and hose ends. Easier than bending tubing, fitting ends, etc. Just cut, install hose ends and attach!! Cost a little more but I was paying for ease of installation!!

Finished up the ignition overhaul on the suburban and posted the video over in the Panels and Burbs section. Sounds great with the new Glasspack!

Found me some power steering supply line hose.

I stripped a door to bare metal tonight.getting ready to paint

Started plumbing the power steering pump reservoir. Found out that the straight fitting I bought would probably be better as a 45* fitting. Guess it's back to the race shop. Had a look at my serpentine. Decided I need to put in another idler so the belt will go around corners better. So I picked up one of those. Found some ball rod ends to make stiffeners for the alternator. Both in right hand and left hand threads. Hopefully I can fab those tomorrow. The wrong oil pressure sender showed up so I need to find the correct one of those.

Well finished up installing the door speakers & connecting them to the radio, turned out nice. Also installed a battery disconnect switch. Started laying the carpet down. All this is for the 1953.

Got my new door handles and throttle cable on as well as getting my new glass set into the channels. Then took a half hour cruise.

Finally after six years of driving I decided to tackle the dreaded job of adjusting the driver's door upper hinge and correct the weather stripping peeking through at the front of the door. I removed the door, re-glued the weather stripping and bent the hinge strap to adjust the door inward. I took the hinge apart and used my shop press to bend the hinge strap a little. The truck and I survived the dreaded process which turned out to be not too bad afterall!

Finally got the shop compressor rebuilt and the last of my 51's wheels blasted. Powder coating starts tonight!

...you wouldn't believe how hard it is to find 4' of soft copper line that's not being sold with 56 additional feet attached to it on a roll.


Also met up with one of our new stovebolt members, Dave Rootz. Cool guy with a killer '53 GMC!

Just updated my blog with pics of the following...
Heater restoration, stripping the wheels for powder, fixing the horn contacts so they work with a repop wheel, replacing the speedometer driven gear and a sway bar I picked up a long while back.

http://rustyfiftyone.com/ketchup-catsup-catch-up/

......picked up my newly rebuilt differential with the 3.38 gear but I'm to tired to work in the shop tonight. After more than 6 years a couple more days ain't gonna hurt!!!

Finished install of left parking brake cable on the 3600

Made up the power steering return hose. Made an idler pulley shaft. Made an adjustable mounting strut for the alternator.

Another busy day in the shop on the '53. Worked on laying the sound deadner matting, installed 3/4" jute padding under the seat. Removed all the pedals & started laying the carpet.

Took an old hydraulic reservoir and converted it into a coolant puke tank. Polished it up on the buffer wheel. Cleaned up the distributor.

Sounds cool. We need to see a picture of that.

The distributor? Just kidding.......


http://www.bunchobikes.com/1952suburban126.jpg

It used to hold fluid for three hand operated brake controls on some construction equipment.

Cool.

Nothing, Got my butt chewed for tryingto do anything before healing from surgery.


BUT I,M FINE!!(me)
no your not!!!(wife)

THERAPY!!!! (If you can sell her on that idea!!)

Cleaned up the excess tape on my window frames and started installing the components in the doors, also got the lower door hinge panels off, that was almost as challenging as the door felt window track

Like trying to sell ice to an Eskimo