Sheesh! Another F-1 build...

[CR55]

Don't ya just love that feelin? Bet ya can't wipe the grin off your face can ya?.......Congrats...........CR

 

[TheTruant]

I'm taking the truck in to get aligned tomorrow morning but had it out for a quick test run today after getting the exhaust put on last week. The Summit shifter leaves a little to be desired (loose and cheesy and locked up once ) and I think I'm gonna switch to a smaller CFM carb. Other than that everything seems to work fairly well.

 

[bob w]

Thanks for the ride. How comfortable is it? Sure sounds nice!

 

[TheTruant]

Thanks for the ride. How comfortable is it? Sure sounds nice!

The frontend rides real nice, the rear rides a little stiffer than I would have thought. Not much weight in the rear though so that could have something to do with it. It's definitely much improved over stock though! [cl

 

[TheTruant]

Took it in to get aligned, made a big difference in "road feel" was kind of light and twitchy before that. It stalled out on the way home whenever I went around a sharp corner while slowing down (like turning in the driveway, etc.) I figured the idle was to low (no tach, just set what sounded good) and luckily that turned out to be the problem. My dwell was a little off as well and since I was under the hood already I went ahead and tweaked on the timing. Runs alot better and smoother now. [cl

And since driving home from the alignment shop when it's just about to rain and not having wipers really sucks I put one of those Speedway electric motor conversion kits in last night. Install was easy once I figured out how to do it [S We'll have to wait 'till it rains to see how it really works though.

Put on a new side mirror and did a few other misc. things like that as well.

 

[Gregster]

I think you've got a cool ride , I just read your whole build thread cover to cover , partner you have skills !

 

[JohnnyC.]

Great build and nice work. I like your truck and you did an awesome job on it.

 

[dyce51]

very nice build!!!! I like alot of what you did...the only thing I'd do a lil different is the rear springs....What I'm gonna do is take the rear drivers side spring and mount it on the Passenger side inside frame rail ...after I weld a plate on the frame) So that I can run a nice wide tire.

Very nicely done...I wish I had the script tailgate like you have!!

 

[TheTruant]

Been getting some small things done on the truck lately. I lubed and adjusted all the door hardware and the hinges and they work like new now [Tthey were really really bad before. I replaced a cracked window as well (yup, had to close the door that hard )

But the biggest improvment, it has a heater now! [cl

 

[Gregster]

AH ,,,, heat it's a good thing !!

 

[ovred]

What an Awesome build! [cl

 

[junkyarddog]

terrific job

Looking cool truant, many great miles of crusin to ya. I'm doing a 51 f1, thanks for some great ideas. I like cutting up parts and going for different looks so I'm using a 51 chevy car dash with the center mounted clock on top of the dash. should be really sick!!! I'm using a 324 olds w/ 4x2 s at this point. my last mod is the use of 53 buick head light doors. man a ton of work but worth it. I wish I were driving like you but that day comes eventually. again, great work and great fab skills, God Bless America!![cl

 

[falconvan]

Great job! I went back and read it from the beginning and this is one cool ride. She sounds really healthy going down the road.

 

[TheTruant]

Thanks guys! I'll get some better pics one of these days

 

[TheTruant]

Been driving the truck everywhere and came across a few issues. The only major one being the oil pressure in the little ol' 283. It still ran like a champ but at hot idle it only showed around 3 or 4psi of oil pressure.

So I found a re-buildable 350 4 bolt main on craigslist and me and my dad re-built it top to bottom. Nothing fancy, just your standard 30 over, mild cam, etc. And now that I was going to have a reliable engine I decided to swap the 4 speed and crappy shifter (the other issue I was having) for a T-5 so I could do some highway miles with the overdrive.

It was the first engine we've ever re-built together and everything went together great. Got it in the truck, got it broke in and went to take it for a test drive when we noticed a nice big oil puddle under it.

Long story short, the threaded hole in the back of the block under the head...the threads were ****ed up. If they were messed up before, or if the machine shop messed them up when they took the plug out and put it back, who knows.

After some tool throwing and head scratching we re-tapped the hole a little deeper and put the plug back in...all better [cl

After the radiator shop telling me $800 to re-core the stock rad. I decided to put in an alum. one I had laying around. Dave Havlir at the House of Fab moved the outlets around for me since there never in the right spot it seems Thanks Dave!

I decided to make a shroud for the elec. fan as well.

 

[TheTruant]

Here's some more misc. stuff I did that I forgot to post awhile ago...

Needed a radio but didn't want anyone to know it was there. So I put the CD player part of it in the glovebox along with a couple extra 12 volt outlets.

Made a pair of boxes for behind the seat to mount the speakers and to hold extra junk...

For the front speakers I made some sheetmetal kick panels, puched a few holes in them and mounted the speakers behind them. If you look right behind the shift knob you can sorta see them, they're really hard to see....mission accomplished

And best of all, I finally found a stock bench seat! No more buckets...woohoo!

 

[TheTruant]

After putting about 75-100 miles around town on the new engine and trans setup I met up with a few friends and drove to MD. for the Jalopyrama. Everything went pretty smooth and seemed to be reliable.

A few weeks later me a couple buddies went for a little test run. We made a 1,200 mile roundtrip to Atlanta and back. Truck ran absolutley perfect the entire time, couldn't be any happier with it

Here's a few pics from the trip...

 

[TheTruant]

I wasn't aware that Ga. had a space program of there own...

We took up some parking spots at Mills & Co. and drooled over Josh's '35. Thanks for the hospitality!

A ride through town...

Anyone who lives in or near Atlanta is crazy, I'm still seeing brake lights when I close my eyes [ddev

 

[earthman]

Congratulations on your completed truck! I love pix of the rides out and about. Thanks for posting.

 

[CSCStreetRods]

is that the derections in your window? is so that is an awsome idea... might need to remember that when i travel.