Topic: 1938 Chevy truck Project (Read 87034 times)

brett93304 · « **on:** August 25, 2011, 04:24:06 PM »

Started looking for a project 2 years ago about a year ago i found a 1938 Chevy truck in LA, 2]hours south of where I live)
It was dimantaled and someone had already startred to chop the top 4" got alot of parts and pieces, pink slip and some cool old plates.
After looking over what I got I quickly decided it was not going to be a restroation project so after taking some time to work out the details decided to go wild and build it how ever I wanted.
I salvaged what I could of the old frame, which was not much, sat down with my Laptop and started to design me a completely neew frame on AutoCad, I enjoyed this some but the cut and welding the tube for the frame was more fun.
Built it on my garrage floor starting with the rea suspension and worked my way forward.
Picked up a Ford 9" rearend from "Pick-A-Part" on half price day out of a Lincoln Mark 5. Picked it because it had rear disc brakes.. A must for this project. went on EBay and purchased a posi third member already rebuilt with a low ratio and instleed in in the housing.
The plan was to buil a ratical motor but I needed the dimentions to finish the front frame rails so I look on Craigs List and found a cheep Chevy 350 in a 70 truck the guy was nice enough to pull it from the truck for me for a 12 pack of beer.
The plan was to just clean it up and use it just to build the frame around it...however late one night I got boared and tore it apart, the next day I was at my local auto Parts store purchasing a master rebuild kit, dropped the heads off to my loacl machine shop and with in a week had a ruuable motor. I still plan to build a ratical motor for it some day.
For the transmission I took a trip back to Pick-a-Part and found a TH350 out of a full size Checy van didn't take anyone with me and forgot to bring a jack which made for a very long day puiing it.
I have rebuilt a few Trans when I was younger so decided to pick up the parts and rebuild it my self.

Sorry didn't mean to write a book will wrte more later.

brett93304 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 25, 2011, 04:41:55 PM »

Here is the cad drawing of just the rear frame section.

brett93304 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 25, 2011, 04:49:34 PM »

Here is the rear end travel drawing

brett93304 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 25, 2011, 04:51:24 PM »

Sorry forget to attach

Greybeards Customs · « **Reply #4 on:** August 25, 2011, 04:59:50 PM »

Nice looking work on the computer and in the shop .

Greybeards Customs · « **Reply #5 on:** August 25, 2011, 05:01:33 PM »

I am glad to see new builds being posted and yours looks great

Dustin Arnett · « **Reply #6 on:** August 25, 2011, 05:18:03 PM »

Quote from: Greybeards Customs on August 25, 2011, 05:01:33 PM

I am glad to see new builds being posted and yours looks great

I agree, great work!

brett93304 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 25, 2011, 05:34:24 PM »

Thanks!

Building all the pieces takes alot of time, take the Rearend 4 Bar setup it took several days to build the brackets that were welded to the rear end..of coarse I only get a few hours a night to work on it..darn that day job..HA HA.

I really do not care how long it takes to build a particular part, just as long as it comes out how like, yes this does mean I scrap stuff I have build.

obama · « **Reply #8 on:** August 25, 2011, 06:48:17 PM »

Looks good, keep us posted.

ezrat · « **Reply #9 on:** August 25, 2011, 06:50:46 PM »

That 4 link looks pretty fancy pants. Your going to put Grey Beard & Cornfield
out of business.....

brett93304 · « **Reply #10 on:** August 25, 2011, 09:05:06 PM »

I built the rear of the car to handle pretty much any hores power I could throw at it.
In my younger days I use to Street and bracket Race..got more than a few tickets..it the price you pay to drive fast..HA HA.
Was thinking I would at some point run it down to Fomosa and see what she would do in a 1/4 mile..funny been out of it so long did know all the rules, I hear they will not let a "Bagged" car run so if I do decide to try it will have to add some hard springs first.

RaTaTat · « **Reply #11 on:** August 26, 2011, 08:31:49 AM »

Beautifull work Brett I love 4 link suspensions!!! you can really get creative with them!

tattoodaddy1967 · « **Reply #12 on:** August 26, 2011, 10:23:57 AM »

Damn NICE work brother

brett93304 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 26, 2011, 11:38:54 AM »

Thanks!

When I started to build the 4 bar set up I purchased a set of Heim joints with weld in bungs, however when I stqarted to assembel them I didn't like the look of the welded bungs, they looked like a week point that could break all too easily. so I went to my local meta supplier, who by now knows me by name, and purchased some DOM heavy wall tubing, then I drilled and tapped the ends to except the Heim joints,,,,so no welds to break!

I if were building a Salt Flat runner I would not have used such heavy material, however my goal is to build somthing I can thrash on and it will still bring me home safe.

Greybeards Customs · « **Reply #14 on:** August 26, 2011, 04:58:40 PM »

Did you tap each bar with RH and LH threads ? I know the taps are not cheap. I think you took the correct path .

brett93304 · « **Reply #15 on:** August 26, 2011, 05:57:20 PM »

Yes they have left and right threads , makes adjusting much easier.
I had the heim Joints with left and right threads and already had a 3/4" fine right handed tap just needed the 3/4" fine left handed tap, I ask around and could not find anyone with one so saved up shopped around and bought the left handed tap.

Really glad I went this way I feel must better about its durability.

I know this project is taking allot of time, still more than a year away before it is drivable, but it is just me working on it a few hours each week night an an occasional weekend here and there.

Greybeards Customs · « **Reply #16 on:** August 26, 2011, 06:17:26 PM »

I understand the way you feel , I enjoy the whole build no matter how long it takes , if I get bored with one particular part I will stop on that part for a while and do something else . You never want to hit burnout on something . change up and stay fresh with your thinking . So what if it takes a year , as long as you are happy with the result .

brett93304 · « **Reply #17 on:** August 26, 2011, 06:31:08 PM »

Thanks!
I jump around all the time, I completely agree, I think it makes for a better project.
Seems like the best ideas come to me when I stop working on somthing and think about it, when I get stubbern and try to push myself to finish a part it doesn't seem to turn out near as good.

Gald to hea i am not the only one that does this.

Greybeards Customs · « **Reply #18 on:** August 26, 2011, 06:38:56 PM »

Just do us all a favor and keep posting your work on here ,everyone may not be doing what you are , but we are all watching and thinking about what you are doing . Anytime you can see what another is doing ideas are born . So don't stop .

brett93304 · « **Reply #19 on:** August 26, 2011, 10:10:02 PM »

Well a week or so I startede to build a Drive line loop, as usaule I could have just picked one up off E-bay bhowever I am way too cheap for that so sat down and drew one up then set out to build it...several redesigns stats and stops later it is done.
just through some black paint of it and plan to install it tomorrow.

Greybeards Customs · « **Reply #20 on:** August 27, 2011, 06:16:42 AM »

very industrial looking , i've seen pro - mod cars with less strength loops than that .

obama · « **Reply #21 on:** August 27, 2011, 08:22:43 AM »

Agree, that shouldn't break, looks tuff.
recently did a driveline loop on mine, made out of an old wagon wheel steel hub ring.

brett93304 · « **Reply #22 on:** August 27, 2011, 08:48:29 AM »

Had to build it out of heavy material because the plan is to have it support the battery on the passenger side and my air compressor and tank on the left side. The extra material was not so much to contain the drive line as it is to provide a ridged connection point from one side to the other.

Have not built the battery box or Comp mount but will send photos when I do.

obama · « **Reply #23 on:** August 27, 2011, 09:00:58 AM »

Makes sense, suprised at how many don't build a driveline ring of some sort, must be an old circle track habit.
The "planning ahead" thing confuses me.

brett93304 · « **Reply #24 on:** August 27, 2011, 01:14:10 PM »

I agree the loops are simple to build and can save a word of hurt if/then bad things happen.

Rolled my truck out of the garage today, needed to clean the floor...way too much grinding dust.

Also did some testing of the frame hights with the bags at ride hight ad=nd when fully deflated...the frame does touch the ground with no air in the system, will have to add some stops so the frame has about 1" of clearance with no air, however the blocking will be added much later in the build.

Note I can not stand "Plastic" air lines I have seen them break way too many times to trust them on this project,
All the lines on this build will be Stainless Steel tubing, if I had to pay for the S.S. tube would not be using it but I have a friend who does Instrument work and saves me the scrap, and used tubing...could not make it with out friends.
The Air bag system, transmission cooler and fuel lines are in 3/8" S.S. tube.
The Brake lines will be in 1/4" S.S. tube, have not built them yet.

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AuthorTopic: 1938 Chevy truck Project (Read 87034 times)

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