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Starting a new project....big vintage speedster


Jon1647545566

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Beatercamaro- I could probably do something with that tank. Let me know what you need from it and where to are located via PM. Thanks.

 

 

I was messing around looking at Cummins 4bt engines last night. Seems that they can be mated to SM-465 trans via an adapter. The adapters cost more than I'd likely spend on the engine and trans combined, so it's unlikely that I go that route. Been thinking that if I could find myself an old beat up truck somewhere for a smokin' deal, maybe I could just rob all the parts and part out the rest to offset costs. I keep watching CL with my fingers crossed.

 

Guy bought the stake bed last night, so I won't have to mess with that thing anymore. Got $60 out of it, which helps get it out of my way and kept it from getting scrapped. He was happy. I was happy. Everybody wins. Now I need to find somebody who wants a pig of a torque tube rear axle...... anybody??????

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So, I waste no time....

 

Drug the chassis back to my garage this weekend and started getting crackin' on taking measurements and such. I disassembled the front mechanical brakes to see what I could do to add hydraulic brakes. I tried a set of '53-'54 chevy passenger car drums. The hubs fit perfect, but the backing plates are too small. So I think that if I can find a set of 1950's truck brakes, I will be in good shape. I still need to track down a rearend. There is a guy on CL selling a '59 truck front and rear. I may go that route. They are a bit more than I want to spend, but one stop shopping saves time, plus he is close and I don't have to be cold and cussing in a junkyard pulling the parts.

 

I think I am going to keep the wheels afterall. They are growing on me and I think I can make up some adapters to use them. Not buying wheels will save a little in the budget and maybe help get the crazy big tires.

 

One thing is for sure, I did a little mock up and.... a 292 straight 6cyl is going to look teeny-tiny in that chassis. I am going to have to find myself a Straight 8cyl somewhere to get the right look. I have a lead on a packard engine and trans. Waiting on more info before making the drive.

 

If I can land some of these parts, I think I can get back on the fast track and start to do some fab work soon hopefully.

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Detroit Diesel 4-53T. Turbocharged and Supercharged two-stroke diesel that runs forever and can be repaired with a sledgehammer. The 6V53 (V6, 53ci per cylinder) or 6V71 (V6, 71ci per cylinder) would be too big for that narrow framerail chassis.

 

 

You don't need to understand diesels to put one of these in that chassis and roar down the road. :)

 

I wonder how long that thing would run on some R/C nitromethane? :gabe: They are essentially 2-stroke diesels, I believe.

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Update. Pictures will follow once there is something more to show.

 

I started in on the frontend knowing that converting to hydraulic brakes while still using the stock straight axle would be a big stumbling block. Everybody that I talked to has said that '59 chevy backing plates with '50-'54 hubs will would work. Well, they were wrong. That might work for cars, but the spindles on the 1-ton trucks are larger in diameter and longer in length. The bearing cones are different as well.

 

So after trying to attack it from a bunch of different directions, I think I may have the issue licked by using the '59 truck spindles and brakes with new set of '32 1-ton king pins and bushings. While at it, I am going to convert to tapered roller bearings. I should know by this weekend if my little plan will pan out. If so, it will be a major hurdle overcome.

 

I also found some wheels I like. I think they give off that early 1900's big car vibe. The nice thing is that they aren't split ring wheels and I can sell the originals and get back some of the dough I am having to drop on the other wheels. Pictures later once they are dressed up.

 

Packard engine fell through. I thought it was a done deal, but owner threw me a loop. So still on the hunt. Have two leads on chevy 292 engines, but really would like something bigger. I have been drooling over the 1990's Cummins 12 valve engines, but I think they are a bit out of my budget at the moment. But I think one would be pretty dang sweet in between those rails. So right now I'm taking the wait and see what falls in my lap approach. In the meantime, I will continue getting the chassis squared away and converted to more modern juice brakes and such.

 

Steady as she goes. Pictures soon.

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Nothing wrong then with a Chevy 454 or Caddy 472/500 :D

 

Yank engine/tranny out of junker, remove emissions equipment, refresh and install. Size up driveshaft and exhaust and be done with it. If only it were that easy...

 

Nothing wrong with belly buttons either.

 

forget the cheap v-8 route, Keep it inline. I have my ear to the ground if I hear about any inline 8's I'll pass the info your way. There was a straight 8 40's pontiac junker on CL not that long ago but it looked like the engine needed a total rebuild even though it ran and you had to buy the whole car to get it:

http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/4901974568.html

As neat a car I think this is, I think it's too far gone to bring back from the dead and the seller is kidding himself on the price.

 

I know it is a straight 6 and a flathead but:

http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/4851850166.html

 

 

have you considered a V12? I mean if you want something massive that will haul the mail.....

 

http://cleveland.craigslist.org/cto/4841221662.html

Seller seems like he would be negotiable, plus you could put a chevy 350 into the chassis and resell the car for what you paid.

 

even cheaper but you may have to do a little work:

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/4897696613.html

 

you can convert the older v12s to a triple weber carb setup or dual quad 4bbls...just sayin'.

 

here is one with the chevy TH400 trans:

http://columbus.craigslist.org/pts/4839457663.html

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One thing is for sure, I did a little mock up and.... a 292 straight 6cyl is going to look teeny-tiny in that chassis. I am going to have to find myself a Straight 8cyl somewhere to get the right look.

 

The inspiration pictures look like they are running straight sixes as well. Maybe the old ones are longer, but I think the cowl makes them look longer than they really are. With the cowl coming all the way up to and over the radiator it makes the engine look really long. I think you could use that to your advantage and use a modern straight six. Or is it a straight 12 and I'm only seeing half the exhaust pipes?

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The inspiration pictures look like they are running straight sixes as well. Maybe the old ones are longer, but I think the cowl makes them look longer than they really are. With the cowl coming all the way up to and over the radiator it makes the engine look really long. I think you could use that to your advantage and use a modern straight six. Or is it a straight 12 and I'm only seeing half the exhaust pipes?

 

one of them is an airplane engine. The others are American LaFrance engine like they used for big firetrucks. The engines you see are massive. The 292 inline 6cyl would be about half the size at best. A 1950's straight 8 would get closer to the length, but not the height. I don't really care about the height though.

 

I think you are right though, good use of where the body ends up can nudge the proportions in the right direction.

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Came across this on craigslist:

 

http://cleveland.craigslist.org/hvo/4882681074.html

 

Supposedly has a good running Cummins 8.3L, and the truck itself may have some handy components left on it to go toward your project. From what I understand the 8.3 is both taller and longer than a 5.9 cummins, but is mechanically very very similar. Gobs of torque, and I believe can be mounted to standard 5.9 bellhousings ie 727, 48re, and many manual combinations.

 

There are a handful of guys who have squeezed these into pickups :)

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couple pictures.... Busting the tires off the old split ring rims and the grille shell that I intend to use.

 

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b117/hotrodderguy/big%20roadster/IMG_1865_zpswagmkrxv.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b117/hotrodderguy/big%20roadster/IMG_1857_zps7zgbohfn.jpg

 

 

tomorrow I am picking up the wheels I hope to use. The king pins are also scheduled to arrive tomorrow and I will be able to find out if my little plan to convert to '59 brakes and spindles will work out or not.

 

More pictures by the weekend.....

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Bummed......

 

Made the drive out to Springfield today to pick up the wheels I was hoping to use. Seller swore they were 6 on 5.5" lug pattern even after two calls to verify. Got there and tried to test fit my hub and immediately realized they weren't 6 on 5.5". They were 6 on 6". Because of the style of the wheel and how the new brakes will be, I don't want to use an adapter. Besides after some brief searching, I couldn't even find a 6x6" adapter. So I had to leave them there. Really really bummed.

 

This is what they looked like:

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/z/uxwAAMXQUmFSoMPi/$_57.JPG

 

 

oh well, the search continues. Mail should be here soon. Maybe my luck will change with the king pins. Fingers crossed.

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  • 2 weeks later...

another set-back, another step forward.....

 

Followed another lead on a 292 engine. Thought I had a deal hammered out with the fella over the phone. Drove out to Newark this morning loaded for bear and ready to attempt to pull it from a dump truck. When I got there I quickly realized the the fella was confused and didn't quite understand the different generation of inline 6 engines. What was actually in the truck was a 261. Neat engine, but not one of the ones I am considering. Anyway, the guy was a cool fella. Real nice and I stuck around a shot the shit with him awhile. He had a vortec 5.3L sitting on a stand that he was trying to get rid of. I wasn't really interested in it, but he wanted it out of there and gave me a deal I couldn't refuse. So at least I didn't go home empty handed. So if anybody is looking for a Gen III GM 5.3L flex-fuel engine..... let me know. I'd love to sell it or trade it for something I could use.

 

After I got home, I decided to try to see if I could move forward with the hydraulic conversion on the front. I had to use parts from a couple different king pin kits, but I got it worked out to where I was able to mount the '59 spindles and brakes. While I was at it, I converted to tapered roller bearings. Now I just need to do the other side.

 

The engine search saga continues......

 

I know everybody likes pictures so....

 

original hub/drum assembly

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b117/hotrodderguy/big%20roadster/IMG_1847_zpshi9x1lz4.jpg

Original mechanical brake setup

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b117/hotrodderguy/big%20roadster/IMG_1853_zpscrwleynq.jpg

New bushings for the spindles

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b117/hotrodderguy/big%20roadster/20150307_151119_zpsyvgbol2l.jpg

test fit '59 spindle

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b117/hotrodderguy/big%20roadster/20150307_152707_zpsz7gx81wk.jpg

had to enlarge the holes on the steering arms

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b117/hotrodderguy/big%20roadster/20150307_153334_zpstlfrgzyf.jpg

Backing plate mounted

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b117/hotrodderguy/big%20roadster/20150307_160824_zpseyvzcqll.jpg

new roller bearings

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b117/hotrodderguy/big%20roadster/20150307_160833_zpsjsez54op.jpg

separating hub from drum

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b117/hotrodderguy/big%20roadster/20150307_161356_zps83nu9chb.jpg

separated

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b117/hotrodderguy/big%20roadster/20150307_161523_zpsyuukuooy.jpg

drive out old bearings and races

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b117/hotrodderguy/big%20roadster/20150307_164739_zpsgdpvwibg.jpg

Drive in new races

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b117/hotrodderguy/big%20roadster/20150307_164748_zps9amhdvpb.jpg

Hub mounted.... and done

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b117/hotrodderguy/big%20roadster/20150307_165657_zpsqc9zq97z.jpg

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Guess what's in the box......

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b117/hotrodderguy/big%20roadster/20150314_121741_zpssfvidsu3.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Give up???????

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b117/hotrodderguy/big%20roadster/20150314_121759_zps8oqmyypt.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

Found this one still in the crate as new, tucked away in a fella's pole barn. Got lucky....I think.

 

It's a 1980's "Hecho in mexico" GM goodwrench replacement engine. Fella had three that he had got from a dealership that was going out of business years ago. I got the last one.....

 

 

I am on the hunt for a GM NV3500 or NV4500 2wd manual transmission. They were used in GMC/Chevy 2wd trucks from the late 1980's to late 1990's. If anybody has a lead, please let me know. Thanks.

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Good luck finding that trans, I have one sitting in my garage that belongs to a buddy of mine (blown). He has been searching for a replacement for a year now without much luck. Nice find on the engine though.

 

There's on on CL over near cambridge. But when I called him he said he didn't know the condition and that when he got the parts truck, the clutch was already torn out.... doesn't give me much confidence.

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