Topic: Blackwater's coupe's getting fat (Read 108896 times)

hollisc10 · « **Reply #25 on:** September 16, 2015, 07:49:14 PM »

Looks good! I drove through Lebanon to get the truck I'm building now. To bad Redneck Rumble is the same time as The Rod Run this year.

miraclepieco · « **Reply #26 on:** September 17, 2015, 12:57:45 AM »

That thing is seriously radical! Heck of a blind spot out the right rear quarter; be careful changing lanes!

Blackwater · « **Reply #27 on:** September 17, 2015, 06:28:38 AM »

Quote from: miraclepieco on September 17, 2015, 12:57:45 AM

That thing is seriously radical! Heck of a blind spot out the right rear quarter; be careful changing lanes!

I kinda noticed that myself. I am going to make the back window a little larger and I like big mirrors. It had a pair of little motorcycle mirrors on it and I don't want to put truck mirrors hanging off of the doors, but I'll find something a little more usable and probably one of those "objects are closer" mirrors on the right side.

Blackwater · « **Reply #28 on:** September 17, 2015, 05:39:15 PM »

Got the filler neck and hose for the gas tank all worked out and installed this morning and sealed and tightened the sending unit. If I can find an AC Delco GF 439 filter that somebody doesn't want $75.00 for, I can finish the fuel system. Otherwise, I'll hafta' put one of those Speedway inline filters that you wash out when it get dirty on it. I'm going to have two short pieces of 3/8" rubber hose on the entire fuel system, each about 2" long. One at the tank pickup and one on the delivery line that connects to the carb.

I re-did my front spring. It was weak and the car sat too low.I added some new leaves and replaced the tie bolt and the U-bolts that hold it to the spring perch. I gained a total of 2 1/4" at the front and it's a good bit stiffer. Gonna raise the back end an inch tomorrow and start on brackets for the rear shocks.

While I had the front spring off, I decided to finish up the grill shell and get it mounted. It's much easier if that spring is out of the way. I added a piece of expanded steel to stiffen up the shell and put some regular screen wire in front of that for looks. Painted the screen and expanded steel black and hit the shell with some cast blast. It kinda' matches the headlight buckets which are raw aluminum.

Anyhow, here's some pics of the days endeavors.

lowboy · « **Reply #29 on:** September 17, 2015, 07:15:11 PM »

Looking good

obama · « **Reply #30 on:** September 18, 2015, 12:52:32 AM »

Daing' you be doing well, looks good, sure hope the welds are good on the wishbone spring mount.

Blackwater · « **Reply #31 on:** September 18, 2015, 06:09:49 AM »

Quote from: obama on September 18, 2015, 12:52:32 AM

Daing' you be doing well, looks good, sure hope the welds are good on the wishbone spring mount.

Yeah, the spring perch is on there really good. That weld isn't really as ugly as it appears in the picture. It was done while my shoulder was torn up and my hand wasn't real steady, but the penetration is good and the bottom side is solid too.

I actually wreckered it about 150 miles on the front wheels with the old front end under it. This front end will be much easier on everything.

Blackwater · « **Reply #32 on:** September 20, 2015, 07:48:57 AM »

I finally got the ride hight and rake like I wanted them. I was gonna' pull the lowering blocks out and replace them with one inch blocks, but something told me to put it on the floor before I went to all of that trouble. Glad I'm done with that thrash!!!

I pulled the seats and made and installed seatbelt brackets for five point harnesses. I don't know why I'm doing it, but the prices ain't bad for new ones and I think it'll look cool.

Tell me what you think of the stance.

hotwheels · « **Reply #33 on:** September 21, 2015, 08:24:01 AM »

That stance looks awesome. Great job.

Blackwater · « **Reply #34 on:** September 26, 2015, 10:46:37 PM »

Not much in pics to show, but I got all of the brake, transmission, and fuel lines secured to the frame and the radiator installed. I even made brackets to hold the rubber brake lines to the rear of the frame and to the axle. I put a drive shaft loop in the front floorboard and it will double as a mount for the shifter. I dropped the pan on the transmission and changed filter and fluid. The pan was free of metal and only needed a good rinsing out before I re-installed it. It's supposed to be a good one bout I didn't see it run or drive it. It WAS free!!

I had a band gig last night and didn't work on it today. I may try to finish the new spring clamps I'm making tomorrow. There's a jam session down in Nashville tomorrow afternoon and I've been invited to sit in and sing, so it may be Tuesday before I get back to work.

The shoulder rehab is coming along well, but it takes two mornings a week and it takes a lot out of me.

If you take the word "therapist" and break it up it becomes "the rapist"!! Them cute little gals that handle my rehab will make you cry, "MOMMY" sometimes!!

hotwheels · « **Reply #35 on:** September 28, 2015, 09:07:55 AM »

Lol about the therapist, hilarious. Glad you are still moving forward on your build.

Blackwater · « **Reply #36 on:** October 02, 2015, 12:20:19 AM »

I wanted to replace the leaf spring clamps on the rear end with something I can mount a shock bracket on and that is stout enough to not twist or flex. I found some nice ones 3/8" thick and reasonably priced at $29.99 which I didn't think was too bad considering I am still recovering from the shoulder surgery and I wouldn't have to do all the drilling and welding. Well!! They wanted $20.00+ to ship 'em to me' didn't offer a less expensive choice like Flat Rate USPS, and it would take four or five days to get them. NO SALE!!

My Metals supplier sold me two plates 3/8" thick, cut to the size I need and had 'em ready in 45 minutes. UNDER $10.00 and I went ahead and drilled 'em and I'll weld up the shock brackets later this morning when I get back to the shop. It ain't that I'm cheap, I just don't see paying two thirds of the cost of something like this to get it shipped to me. USPS Flat Rate would have bee $7.95 and it would have arrived in two days!!

RANT MODE OFF!!

hotwheels · « **Reply #37 on:** October 02, 2015, 04:36:21 AM »

That shipping price is horrible. Probably making a few bucks off the shipping, not just the part.

Blackwater · « **Reply #38 on:** October 02, 2015, 05:55:08 PM »

That was what I kinda' figured too.

I got the lower shock mounts and the spring clamps welded together and painted and installed. I started on the upper shock mounts and the welder decided to mess up. I got a little frustrated and stepped off for the evening.

Has anyone besides me run into Japanese steel that didn't weld good?? There are parts of this NISSAN truck frame that no matter how well I clean and prep them the welds are uglier than I like and the arc seems hard to strike. I'm not the greatest welder around but it seems that when I get to certain import frames and suspension pieces that it doesn't look as good as I am accustomed to.

hotwheels · « **Reply #39 on:** October 06, 2015, 09:32:27 AM »

Sadly some frames are just garbage metal. Bout all you can do is try to use a torch and heat up the metal, burning out some of the garbage.

Blackwater · « **Reply #40 on:** October 15, 2015, 10:05:54 PM »

Well! I finally got those upper shock brackets welded in. I hit 'em with a torch for a second or two and then a hotter setting and more wire speed. They STILL ain't pretty, but they work great.

I had a good weekend last weekend at the shooting match and made a few extra RAT ROD BUCKS. So now with the rear suspension all worked out,I'm taking the car to the muffler shop tomorrow to get the tubing bent for the cooling system. With the radiator in the rear I'm not wanting to run hoses from front to rear. I also got a new water pump and a trick thermostat housing that I can fill the system through.
It has a radiator cap flange, three fittings for temp senders and heater hose nipples, and it's reversible. You can have the main return outlet aimed any of four directions as needed buy turning or flipping the main body and it has a recovery tube on the cap flange.

I also got a manually operated line lock to use for a parking brake. Next week I'll get the new seat belts and the transmission and driveshaft tunnels in and put the seats and shifter in and re-do the rear brake line for the new parking brake set-up.

Now, in the morning I've gotta get it onto the tow dolly and get it into town, pick up two sections of seamless tubing and get to the muffler shop. Hopefully it will all go as planned.

Blackwater · « **Reply #41 on:** October 16, 2015, 06:26:39 PM »

Well................................it didn't go as planned!! The driver for the O'Rielly truck didn't drop off the pipe sections last night and they were half way back to Springfield, Mo. by the time we tracked them down. My parts guy was really pissed about it and I heard him giving the delivery guys HELL on the phone. I was able to find what I needed on the other side of Nashville, so an hour and a half and half a tank of gas and I had the car back on the dolly and headed home by noon. I'll put up pics tomorrow or Sunday when I get it back on my rack.

My new T-stat parts and parking brake pieces got here today, a day early, and so now I can finish both the cooling system and the brake system completely this coming week.

I stopped by the alignment shop that I've used for thirty years on the way home and my specialist said it looked good and that toe in and centering the axle and the steering wheel might be all it needs. I DID bend the left side wishbone mount when I got into a bad spot and the dolly ramp caught the bracket and tweaked it inward under the car. I'll gusset both of them after I get it bent back out.

Tomorrow I hafta' get my wife a new tail light assembly for her Sportster and we're going to a wedding tomorrow afternoon. Don't look like I'll be working on the project tomorrow.

Blackwater · « **Reply #42 on:** October 18, 2015, 03:14:11 PM »

I got the bent wishbone bracket repaired, but the lift is occupied so I'll hafta' wait 'til they get the clutch back in the pickup that resides there to get the gussets welded on. When I get it back on the rack I'll take some pics of the new cooling pipes too!

I got the new water pump painted and installed and I'm going to pick up a new lower radiator hose and clamps tomorrow to finish that. The T-stat housing is installed with a gutted thermostat and new bolts. It has outlets for two temp switches and a heater hose in the front side that I'll use to control my cooling fans. I found switches that turn on at 175 and 200 degrees that will screw right in and work perfectly! I'm planning to drop the new cooling pipes out and lay a couple coats of paint on 'em so they won't be as likely to rust or corrode and then finish the installation and be done with the cooling system.

I finally took pictures of the radiator mounting and location. I'll need to louver the trunk lid when I get it built. I may find me an old A/C unit and pirate the louvered panels to make a deck lid.

Anyhow, here's some pics of stuff I got done the last few days.

hotwheels · « **Reply #43 on:** October 18, 2015, 09:24:40 PM »

That looks good.

Blackwater · « **Reply #44 on:** October 19, 2015, 07:12:36 PM »

Switches are ordered to control fans. I stripped the right side of the engine and cleaned and painted it. The header gasket should be here in a day or two and I'll pull the header and manifold and freeze plugs and paint that side, install new freeze plugs, paint that side of the engine, and do a final paint and install on the header/manifold.

I like this "Cast Blast" engine paint. I painted the water pump yesterday and you couldn't tell it from raw cast iron. With the valve cover stripped and polished or bead blasted and the distributor housing back to natural aluminum it ought to make a clean attractive look.

The new hoses and clamps finish the water pump install and I've looped the heater hose for now and I'll run the heater hoses when I get one of those nostalgia heaters in a month or two.

hollisc10 · « **Reply #45 on:** October 21, 2015, 07:16:38 AM »

Looking good!

Blackwater · « **Reply #46 on:** October 21, 2015, 03:25:53 PM »

[attach=1]I got several pieces ordered today including seat belts. I'm putting full tilt racing harnesses in it, mostly because they are better than the usual crap you'd get in a regular cage,and 'cause they'll look cool!

The metal shop completed my tunnel parts and I picked them up today. Made me a temporary break/roll shaper out of a piece of 6" well casing, a pair of C clamps, and the edge of the work table. The local metal shop doesn't roll anything and it's a half a day round trip and money I don't have to spare to get it done otherwise, so I got creative. I do have paint and undercoating and a tube of good caulking so I can finish off the floorboard inside and out tomorrow!! Pics below........

Several other parts should be here tomorrow and I've got the stuff here already to finish the parking brake and do an oil change, (I'm going to find out if the big dump truck oil filter will clear the frame. If it will I can run and extra qt. of oil.) on the engine. Also expecting the header gasket and some odds and ends to finish up the left side of the engine. I WANT to find a serpentine crank pulley that fits flat up against the harmonic balancer. If I can find that I can run a serpentine belt for the water pump and alternator. There are other options but I think it would look neat. Anybody that can tell me where to find one without buying some stinkin' billet piece will be greatly appreciated!!!

I also found a neat looking heater for the car. It's made in the states and it looks retro enough to fit right in. I'll hafta' wait 'til I get paid again to afford it, but I know what to look for now! It's a Maradyne model 4000. 13,200 btus and a two speed fan with three directional vents.

Okay!! Now some photos!!

That first pic is the well casing I used to roll the tunnel stuff. Worked GREAT!!!

The last two pics show part of the cooling system. Those 1 1/2" pipes ain't exhaust!! Those are the lines for coolant to and from the radiator that's mounted in the trunk.

hotwheels · « **Reply #47 on:** October 22, 2015, 04:31:34 AM »

Wow, very nice.

Blackwater · « **Reply #48 on:** October 23, 2015, 03:22:34 PM »

I HATE waiting for UPS and FED-EX!!! They're always six or seven O'clock getting to me with deliveries!!

So!! Two hours later the oops man finally shows up!! Got the header reinstalled and started into installing the new seat belts. NO DAMN BOLTS!!! I've never bought a set of racing harnesses that didn't come with the bolts. Those guys are so conscious of litigation that they generally put their own bolts in so's somebody doesn't grab common bolts and have them break in a wreck. Not this time!! So in the morning I'll pick up a set of grade eight bolts and nuts etc.....

Gotta' go pick up a 250 six cylinder and three speed tranny I bough tonight for a $100.00 bill. Came out of a running truck and it has all the pulleys and an alternator bracket along with the harmonic balancer. Those are the pieces I need to button up the engine.

It DOES have room for the big oil filter!!!

I got the shifter mounted and hooked up too. Pics tomorrow when I get the seats and belts and all in!

Blackwater · « **Reply #49 on:** October 24, 2015, 06:49:56 PM »

Once again, the best laid plans................

Got out early this morning to make the trip for the 250 six cylinder. Turned out to be stripped. No pulleys, the balancer was damaged, and no brackets either. HELL!! Even the side linkage on the transmission had been taken off!! I did get over to see a buddy's '52 Studebaker pickup project, so the 150 miles wasn't totally wasted. Worse still, I got caught in a wreck and had to sit in traffic making a whole eight miles in a little over an hour.

While I was sitting in traffic I went ahead and ordered the balancer and picked it up on my circuitous route home. After a while, you just quit putting off spending money and just bite the bullet.

By the time I finally made it home, my knee was hurting so bad that I just laid down and propped it up!!

I'll get the seats and the balancer installed tomorrow and maybe get the car up on the rack again.

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AuthorTopic: Blackwater's coupe's getting fat (Read 108896 times)

miraclepieco