With 2011 behind us, a few days off, and some mild Colorado weather lingering I pulled the yard truck out and started cleaning the property before working in the shop. It’s been sitting out back for about a month but after a few cranks it fired right up and even though the back was full of branches, Orville and I took off for a joy ride. How could I resist?

It was so nice out when we got back that I pulled the tractor alongside the garage in anticipation of protecting myself from the Winter wind as I intend to get to this from time-to-time before Spring. Ever since I built this thing I’ve been procrastinating gearing it down. It’s really just too fast to work with - even in first – so I’ve continually debated between either adding an offset jackshaft or installing a tandem transmission. The offset jackshaft will allow me to work with the compact 10″ span between the trans and the rear without having to change the rearend setback, but the second, inline trans is really the way to go from a functionality standpoint.  Whichever option I commit to, it’ll get done this time around since I’ve already started tearing back into it.

The ’36 has been getting it’s fair share of attention, but it’s been a repeat performance on the driver’s side door of work that has been done to the passenger side door. So far on this side since my last posting I’ve:

1. shaped the lengthened door to its opening:
   
   
2. built the inner structure such that that it was stable enough to remove from the opening. This let’s me continue shaping and finishing it at a more comfortable height and flip it over to get to otherwise hard to reach areas, etc:
   
   
3. started on the hinge pockets for the suicide treatment:
   
   

 
I’ll be keeping at it as time allows after family and other priorities so stay tuned.

Ironincally, I’ve spent very little time during the warmer months of this year in or around the garage and probably more out of motivation to clean things up a little than to actually work on Rex the ’58, I’ve put together some of the pieces of steel that I’ve been kicking around and saving for the last 6+ months with the intention to make a set of push bars.

Continue Reading »

The music and truck are from the same year.

I put the ’58 Chevy on the road earlier than anticipated and have since been shaking it down by running errands, driving it back-and-forth to work, etc. I really wasn’t ready to start driving it, but it’s turned out to be good motivation to get back to working on it again.

The truck still needs a lot before it could be considered presentable, but you do what you gotta do and driving it right now has turned out to be the best thing. Even though this one isn’t close to finished yet, I’ve totally forgotten the effect these things have on people and how much fun they are.

I’ve been involved in the “Street Rod” scene with the ’56 Ford, and I’ve met some decent people at local shows, gatherings or stuck rows and rows deep in cars and unable to get out when you’ve had enough, and it’s just not how I want to spend my day anymore. I like building stuff and talkin’ to people who build stuff. I really appreciate the effect old mechanical stuff has on people and sometimes a vehicle just fits the bill. It just changes our perspective sometimes. Continue Reading »

I had originally diagnosed Exhaust Valve #2 as not opening so I set out to replace the cam in the ’58. Good thing, because it was worse than I thought. You can enlarge the side-by-side, old vs. new photos below to see for yourself:

Working on a 350 Chevy in an old truck’s engine bay is really about as easy as it gets. It’s usually just time consuming, but when the over-priced Snap-On junk breaks yet one more time, the process takes longer than it should.

I don’t really give two bits about the life-time replacement warranty and with the mobile tool vendors you’re really paying, in a large way, for that replacement service. It costs money to run those trucks, print those hats & calendars… and the dealer needs to make a living too. No harm in that.

It was all well and good when I worked at Salem County Harley Davidson and Larry Flintcraft would come by or be readily available by phone to repair whatever got broke. That guy had a phone in his truck before cell phones were in. But now that I’m home I’ve got to run out myself whenever something breaks… and it shouldn’t. I want my investment to be into the quality of the merchandise, not the service and the promo goods.

All I was doing with my 1/2″ drive wrench was taking off the driver’s side head-bolts (no cheater involved) when “Bang!” little pieces of The Amazing Exploding Wrench go flying all over my garage! They should list these things in the backs of comic books.

Be the First One on Your Block
Own
The Amazing Exploding Wrench
Fool Your Friends!

All I want is quality that will last. Funny thing, after the stars from my mashed thumbnail went away, I reached for the Craftsman that’s older than I am and finished pulling it apart.

Snap-On may have invented the little ball that snaps the socket onto the wrench (hence the name), but they haven’t done much good since then but build a decent tool box and collect payments. I’m done with ‘em.

I’ll get the valve seals replaced and put the rest of it back together tomorrow.

Ciao.