Thread: What are you working on

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Bando - I'm hearing a lot of people thinking about using the S-10 frame under a fat car. The S-10 frame kicks up where the bed is supported - what do you do about this kick up? I also am working on a 4 dr & think they are a nice body style...Don

I'm having a huge problem getting the steering sorted out though, not much room for a box and rack and pinion steering isn't for me.I

If anyone out there has any ideas throw them at me,I'd love to hear them,
Thanks, Rob

Rob, if your stock steering box is in good shape, you should be able to use it. I had a 40 Chevy pickup many years ago with a small block V8 and I kept the stock axle and steering. I did not have any problem with the steering.

Vern

I'm working on a 1948 Ford F-3 pickup. I have removed the engine, transmission, steering, and pedal assembly. I have purchased an 87 Chrysler donor car for the front suspension, steering column, and rear end. I am leaning heavily toward a Chevy V8 and TH350 drive train, but not totally decided yet. It has been sitting all winter, but I hope to get started back on it this Spring.

I have what once was a Corvair. It was heavily modified and a 327 was installed midships, driving a 3-speed and a Tempest rear end. That setup broke, the Tempest powerglide conversion had problems, and the whole thing is coming out.
It will get a GM 3.8 w/ 4T60 trans. I will use the brakes and much (all?) of the drive-axle suspension. (will be rear wheel drive).

(anyone know Len Haner? Tell him his Toy may yet run again!)
low buck, should be fun!

Don, in speaking with a streetrod builder last week, I posed the same question. He said you have to change the rear part of the frame to take out the rise.

I'm not a street rod expert but I know of alot of people that have used dodge dakota frames. They have a pretty straight run all the back with little kick-up. And as suspension goes used eveything that's there including the rack&pinion.

I'm working on a 1947 Seagrave fire truck with a 906 ci V12. The motor is only 5.5 to 1 compression to start with (odd combustion chamber/valve arrangement...valves are 90 degrees to clyinder bore!) I am thinking it needs some sort of forced induction.

For suspension it is gonna get slammed..... 4 links and air bags.

Wheels and tires are going to be modern big truck stuff (22.5 or 24.5)

Body wise, it will get 2 more doors (4 total) 2 more bench seats (3 total, seating for 9). Holes left by missing fire fighting stuff are going to be filled. Storage areas under the body are going to be built (9 people usually carry lots of stuff).

It may get a convertable top (with lift out side windows).

Something like this.

Salvage - That would work & perhaps be a good frame to use. It could be a better solution in some cases than a sub frame.

I know there is a lot of controversy on frame swaps. I would not do one on a 20-30's car but, I think they are a great altenative for larger cars & trucks in the 40,s & up.

The important thing is to pick one w/the same track...wheelbase can easily be changed. I have not used a trk frame but, have used GM mid size frames. ie....chevelle,El Camino.

Would like to hear some COMMENTS on frame swaps that turned out both good & bad. In fact I think I'll start a new thread on this subject.

I am just finishing up my 55 chevy 2 dr sedan.
It's Prostreet- fresh frame off.
Body
55 chevy all seams welded & filled
Color
Viper Racing Yellow & Satin White Pearl
Suspension frt
Drop spindles, coilovers, PST Polygraphites, all powdercoated.
Rear Suspension
Full competition 4 link w/ coilovers (no urethane)
Engine
Pro built 388 SBC roller motor w/ AFR 100% CNC, to much to list, 577 dyno horsepower
Tranny
Race built TH350 by Art Carr w/ comp 3200 stall by same
Rear
9" nodular Ford w/ 4:11's & locker
Fuel system
Tank is custom built show polished stainless cell w/ sump. Filters & pump are all Aeromotive. All lines are stainless hard line S&R is 1/2".

It's been driveable for about a month now. Still getting the bugs out.
Not raced- a show car now.

I’m currently working on a '53 Chevy pickup that I bought on a Yahoo auction about 3 years ago. It was right off the farm and the cab had more rust than metal but hay, what's a little metal replacement between friends anyway.

So far I have replaced the rear cab corners, front outside "A" pillars, firewall and the entire floor along with a 18"x3' section in the lower rear of the cab. The floor and firewall were done with custom cut 14 ga. pieces while the cab corners and “A” pillar outside sections were patch panels. It may weigh a little more now but it is solid.

I traded the stock babbitt pounder and trans for a couple of '50 doors (without the vent windows) and picked up a '47 bed from Kansas at a local swap meet. Also picked up a replacement radiator support while passing through Arizona. The original had the entire bottom section rusted out.

The frame was ground clean and the front section and back half were boxed. A Heidts Mustang II IFS was installed with a power rack and 11" GM disk brakes. A set of Dodge Caravan rear springs were mounted on custom hangers with a set of home made "CalTrac" traction bars to eliminate spring wrap. I wish I could take credit for this but using the Dodge springs (which are an extreemly easy install) was the brain child of a friend in Canada. He has well over 30,000 miles on the same setup with no problems. The 10-bolt posi rear end is from a mid 70's Trans Am and is equipped with 3.08 gears.

Motivation will be a 331 (+.0625) Chrysler Hemi, which will be hooked (via a Wilcap adaptor) to a TH-350 trans. I rebuilt the trans last winter and included a shift kit and a few select hardened parts. The rotating assembly is currently at the machine shop being balanced. The pistons were another e-bay purchase and were brand new and had been sitting on the shelf of a hot rod shop for 35 years. The result will be an engine with 3 7/8” bore (the same as a 283 sbc) but with a 3 5/8” stroke. Or about 343 cu. in. Nothing wild here, just a single 600 cfm Holley on a stock 4 bbl. manifold, mild cam and 8.5 compression. I will be using a 340 electronic distributor and ignition system, stock exhaust manifolds with dual 2.25” pipes with crossover, and twin Flowtech Terminator mufflers.

Other mods include “Hot Rod Air” air conditioning, extensively modified dash, a white leather split bench seat from a late 70's Olds Tornado, Lokar shifter, and Mazda Miata door handles with 84 Toyota Celica latch mechanisms. The front fenders were beyond repair so a set of "glass" replacements have been procured. Wiring will be done with an "It’s a Snap" kit and the bed will have a rolled pan with '70 Camaro taillights. The truck is also equipped with a new class III hitch from a Ford Expedition which was custom installed through the frame rails. It will be hidden and accessed through a folding license plate mount. The color will be 1969 Dodge "Hemi" Orange and it will ride on '69 Camaro rally wheels.

Where am I now?? The chassis and all metal replacement are done and I'm currently doing bodywork. Will assemble the motor soon and hope to have it on the road sometime next spring. All work so far has been done in my garage.

I'm working on a 72 f100 hopping to turn it in to a pro street truck any ideias on chassie work or engine mods would be helpful

I am working on a 36 chevy truck. Why do most parts manufacturers carry items starting in 37? I haven't seen many pics nor articles on customizing this particular truck. Although it is on a different frame, and will have a different power plant, I would still like to hear from someone who has seen one done. There are some pieces I would like to get, like a dash and some other miscellaneous parts. Can you guys help out?

I am just getting started on a 41 Ford Super Deluxe fordor, just got the body back from the blaster and am awaiting parts for the frame.

Working on one and thinking about another.

Currently customizing a '66 Corvair Monza, but searching for the right drivetrain. I like the Crown V8 conversion, but I'm tall and need the leg room. So I was thinking about the 4.3L V6 in place of the 350. Any thoughts? Any known problems with the 4.3L?

Currently thinking about a Formula Super Vee with a Corvair engine (left over from my current project). I'm not worried about meeting any "Specs" because I won't be competing against anything except other Corvair powered cars. Anyone know where I can pick up a Super Vee chassis with VW Bus transaxle?

Originally posted by VairToy
Working on one and thinking about another.

Currently customizing a '66 Corvair Monza, but searching for the right drivetrain. I like the Crown V8 conversion, but I'm tall and need the leg room. So I was thinking about the 4.3L V6 in place of the 350. Any thoughts? Any known problems with the 4.3L?

Currently thinking about a Formula Super Vee with a Corvair engine (left over from my current project). I'm not worried about meeting any "Specs" because I won't be competing against anything except other Corvair powered cars. Anyone know where I can pick up a Super Vee chassis with VW Bus transaxle?

Porsche motor? They make some wicked blown 6 cylinders ya know. not sure of price...and you'd need metric wrenches

Toronado or eldo v8 drivetrain!!

Worked wiht a guy years ago that had a VW with a V6 out of some import (nissan??) and that was fast.

You could also try a Mazda rotary - small, light, cheap (i know of sources) and with a turbo you can get 300+ HP from 1.3 liters (that be 80 CI) reliable, and i have seen articles of 900HP! It'd be different!