Thread: Installing a blower on a flathead

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Mountain.JPGBestWesternCourtyard.jpgLunchontheBeach.jpgMarriottBoatBasin.jpgArrivalCR.JPGDrove the truck yesterday with my cousin on board. Ran like a champ! Attached are some pictures of the trip to Costa Rica. The Best Western Irazu is in San Jose (capitol city) and we went to a couple of volcano tours and coffee plantation visits. Weather was cold in the mountains and mild at the beach. We had lunch with our driver in Jaco on the pacific side. San Jose has 2 million plus residents and they must have all been downtown the day we walked the closed off streets. Elbow to elbow.... but this is definitely a boobies and booties country! Sorry if these pix are too big...I don't know how to downsize them. Maybe someone can do this for me. Thanks!

Wow!!! If it had been me down there in Costa Rica they'd still be trying to drag me out of there!!!!! Thanks for the pics, someday I need to take a vacation........

I'm just about over my cold....and now it gets cold here! Supposed to be 28* tonight. Too cold today to work on the truck very much. I know you guys up North are used to this, but us old Southern boys have thin blood Truck drives great and the engine and tranny are really matched very well. Just a little feathering of the clutch to get going and then...hold on....those gears are really nice!

Well...it was a long journey, this old F-1. I celebrated my 69th birthday Jan 20, and the truck celebrated its 60th this year. Just yesterday, I completed the truck in the vision I had way back in June, 1999. I started the teardown then and have been working on this ol' gal since. I fitted the front chrome "spears" on the hood yesterday and sat back and remembered all the work, sweat, tears, blood, Miller Lite, and busted knuckles. What a journey! I am going to take it to the monthly car show here in Davenport on Saturday after work. Rain is forecast for the morning, so hopefully, it will clear out of here by 2:00 for the show start. I'll take some pictures of the before and after and post them. In a couple of weeks, I hope to pull the heads and mount the blower....so let the fun begin!!!

CorvairSide.JPGPopcornTruck.JPGTruck in Line.JPGFirstParked.JPGColdOldGuy.JPGWent to the show and had a great time...lots of nice folks asking about the flathead. Here are some pix of the 40-something cars that displayed their goodies.

Truck looks great sitting there all shined up and on display! Is the clutch and everything working out ok?

All I can offer is CONGRATS! It looks great and you have a lot to be proud of!

Lookin' better'n ever. Congratulations!!

Thanks guys....the clutch and tranny are working out just fine. Shifter knob had to be re-done.... Used a golf ball instead of the wooden thing I used before. I will take a picture tomorrow along with all the goodies to put on the engine. Had to use something smaller because the shifter hits the bench seat....golf ball seemed appropriate. Just drilled and tapped it and it works great! Ahhh....American ingenuity!!!! Thanks again for all the congrats fellows....really keeps my spirits up when times are tough. Hope all of you have a great Valentine's Day and your wives appreciate you (like they should!). Go eat a good steak tonight!

Good looking truck. Congratulations on getting it done; now get to enjoying it. Ain't it nice when a plan comes together??

75dpiFrameSandblasting.jpgEngineXmasPresents.JPG75dpiTruckStartDate.jpgHey Rumbler....yes it is a joy when you can finally say "Whew...now it's done!". I have been enjoying driving the truck again after installing the T-10. I was driving it last year with the original 3-speed in it, but didn't want to tear up that trans when I put the blower on. So, it's been down for 6 mos. or so getting the drivetrain sorted out. Took it down the highway yesterday and it ran really nice. Used my gps as a speedometer and hit 57 mph on one stretch. Ran smooth.But....like everybody's ride, some things are never finished. The blower install with new heads is next. Heads first, so I can get to run the motor for the required 5 heat up/cool down cycles and then the blower. The blower crank pulley is already installed, as is the idler/tensioner. So, in a couple of weeks, I'll pull the heads and get started. Some pictures follow. The scrapbook pictures show my start date and condition of the old truck. Also, the frame stripped for sandblasting. The third picture is Christmas in February...all the pretty presents all gathered. Heads, studs, blower manifold, blower, carbs, linkage, etc. Oooh fun!

Well, it's been a while since I logged on. I've had some health problems and my wife's immediate family has had two rounds with that sadistic disease...Cancer. Lost her little cousin and her sister is now in chemo after radiation. Stage 4. It has not been a good summer and frankly, I lost interest in everything but comforting my family. Hopefully, news will be better later on and I can continue with my project. Hope everyone is okay after Sandy. Missed us, thankfully, but the Northeast felt its full fury yesterday. I will try to pull the heads and get started middle of November. I'll keep everyone posted with pictures and copy. Later, Gator.

Vehicle hobby 'fun' takes a back seat to health issues - personal or family. Get those straightened out and we will be waiting for your next installment. Even if not working on the truck, why not just 'lurk' and jump in on other topics

Yeah, when you don't feel good or have some serious bumps, or your loved ones are hurting, not much else seems to matter. My heart goes out to you and your family, and you all will be in my thoughts. Come around when you can.

Sorry to hear of these troubles. Hope your world rights itself soon. We'll be here when your ready to play again.