Thread: Project 29 rpu is underway!!

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Man, I forgot what a tough crowd this was.........I feel like the Rodney Dangerfield of hot rodding.

Yeah, I did get a little head start on this project, it was just very helpful that this body just happened to fit the chassis we already had so well. I think I might be able to bring this one in under $ 3,000.00..........that is if I am able to keep mooching free parts off of my Kids. I think they think I am on my way out, they are being VERY nice to me lately.

I'm sorry I missed most of you at Billetproof. I kept commenting that we spent the entire day walking around there and didn't run into anyone we knew. I was hoping I would see Hotroddaddy or Jolietjake because I had that front spring I wanted to give to Jake, but I had no idea what he looked like or what he drove. Gastrick later told me Jake owns the cool Chevy II gasser, and I did see that car, but didn't realize who owned it. I did see Jim Robinson's coupe, but not Jim, and I totally missed Bill's Deuce for some reason.

BTW, in case you haven't heard, Bill (Gastrick) took Best Hot Rod, and that was no small accomplishment in that crowd. There were a lot of cars first of all, and secondly, many of them were top notch. Congrats Bill on a very well deserved win, your 32 is just plain bitchen.


As for the powder coating, I'm willing to give it another shot, but NO MORE CLEAR! Dan almost has his frame ready to go back, he skimmed on a second coat of filler last night and this weekend he plans to get the sanding all done so it can go back for the recoat. As you can see in this picture he has been pretty busy sanding away. The one good thing is that the frame should end up better than the first time as he has now sanded it so many times. All that dust on the floor is about $ 200 worth of Drylac filler.



Don

Don--Looks like it will be fun.---Brian

Yeah Brian, I think it will be a fun build. It will be nice to not have to worry about stainless brake lines, or scratching new paint bolting stuff on. Just pure hot rodding like we did when we were a lot younger.

Mike, I missed your question. No , the rear is a 3 bar setup from Suicide Doors, and it is sometimes used with air bag rear suspension, but I am using it with coilovers. I needed something short, and this one filled the bill and is very compact.

Don

Don i did not make it this year, but i talked to jay when he was there. i was trying to figure out a way for him to catch up with you cause i knew you were bringing that part for him.

Maybe i can talk him into a road trip soon. Could be fun.

Congrats on the trophy Bill!!!

It is still in the back of Dan's truck, John. I should have hooked up with Jake via email before BP so I could know what he drove and all. It is one heavy baby and I'm not sure what UPS or Greyhound would want to ship it. If he is in no real hurry Turkey Run is only about 8 months away, and we all know how that time flies. I think he mentioned this is a long term project, so maybe that isn't out of line. Have him PM me.

BTW, is that maroon Chevy II gasser his? If so, it is very cool. I looked at it and didn't know whose it was until Bill told me he thought that was Jakes car. We drove to the other motel looking for it ,but he was already gone it seems.

Don

Yes that is Jay`s gasser. He`ll have to tell you the history on that car sometime, it`s a pretty cool story. Im hoping both of us will have our new projects driving by TRR! I better get to work though, cause i have alot of panels to make.

You've just reminded me I have to go out to Dan's truck and get the spring out of the bed. He's driving to Tallahassee tomorrow am and I'd hate to see someone steal it for scrap or something.

Don

Ok, it's safely tucked in the house..........that's one heavy spring!

That looks really good Don. Wish I could get "cast offs" like your RPU. Tell Dan to hang in there. I, like many others, are pulling for him. His trk. is going to be a very nice and detailed P/U.
What's that stuff on your back tires? Are your going Concours De Eligance on us?

Earl

I was so anxious to mock up the car I didn't even unwrap the rear tires. Stuck a hubcap in there and instant hot rod. Lots of vice grips and wooden blocks at this stage.

Don

Hey Don how is your new project going? How about Don Jr. and Dan's as well? We are entertaining and traveling so unfortunately no time for my truck, but wondered how goes it with you guys?

Strange you should ask Steve. I haven't done anything major, but I have been pecking away at little stuff that needed to be done. For one thing I had Wheel Vintiques make me some rear wheels for it a while back, and I took them to the powder coater last week. They called Friday and said they were ready, so I picked them up and today I had the Coker L78 x 15 tires mounted on them. The red powder coating is slightly off from the red I painted previously on the front wheels, but since I am running hubcaps it is barely noticeable........besides, this car is meant to be a little rough around the edges.

I found some new old stock Dietz headlights on Ebay that I bought because I wanted a smaller light than I am running on my other cars. They were never previously mounted and only have some shelf rash, so all I have to do is paint them again.........and that will be marginal because I want the body work on this one a little on the crude side. I got the headlights mounted too, then snapped on all four of my 56 Olds hubcaps and sat in my pondering chair for a while. I like it! I also raised the front of my engine up a little to level the carbs, and that looks better too I think.

Next step is to take some more parts like the front end to the powder coater and also to have Dan finish the little bit of welding I have left on the frame, then it can also be powder coated. I haven't sat in the car making motor noises yet because I suspect Dan and Don are just looking for any reason to commit me and I don't want to give them any ammunition.

Here are some shots of my new wheels and tires and headlights. For all practical purposes it is now officially a roller.

Don

Wow! Nice look with the old style caps and the white walls! Should make one fine retro rat rod!

Steve, you have no idea how I agonized over putting the caps on the rear wheels. They looked so nice and smooth after having them powder coated that I hated to scratch them up with the prongs on the hub caps. Finally I took the rubber mallet and popped them on though. Gotta say I'm glad I did, I like the caps too.

Don

I've decided to ditch the 4 speed hydro that is behind the Olds in the rpu and go with a modern transmission. Bendtsens Transmissions makes an adapter to put a th350 or overdrive transmission behind the Olds. I am going to order one this week. I already made the plunge and ordered a built TH350 from Jackson Racing transmissions. I have bought 3 from them previously and have been very happy with them. I decided to go with the tried and true 350 automatic instead of the overdrive because to me they are just more simple and I don't really need an extra gear in this car as I am running 3:42 gears and a 30 inch rear tire.

I will document the installation of the Chevy transmission to the early Olds motor in case anyone here might be interested in doing the same thing. One thing I want to keep is the stock Olds 3 point motor mount system (one mount on the motor and two on the bellhousing) so I will have to make some mounts for that to happen, and probably one under the stock tailshaft position too.

This will also simplify my shifter situation as the old 4 speed hydro was very fat and I would have had to build some so-so shifter. With the th350 I can use another Lokar like I have on the T, or maybe a Gennie this time around to see how I like those.

My alternative was to take the hydromatic to a trans shop to have it gone through, and I bet the tab would have been as high as what this will cost me doing it the modern route. Plus I understand those 59 era four speeds were not the quickest shifting units out there, and I like to bark the tires.

Don

Oh, here is the kit that will make this all happen.

Don