The Final Build
30 December 2014
Picked up the chassis and rear suspension components from the paint shop and set up for the final build.
Dropped of the engine bay panels for slight modification to clear the new front suspension and add a cover for the accelerator mechanism.
31 December 2014
Ordered all the bits for the fuel lines today. I have gone with the black anodised hard fuel line and fittings from Aeroflow.
Brake lines will be Stainless Steel. I am a member of the Southern Rod Runners and they have the tools for flaring and bending the hard line.
2 January 2015
Summary to Date:
Most of the big ticket items have been ordered or purchased and are sitting in the work shop or the spare bed room.
All the panels have been painted, just the cab to go and then some small items.
Tray is complete and ready to be bolted back on the chassis.
The truck has been pre built to check all the modifications fit together.
So, ready for the final build!
To Do List:
Finish the cab repairs, dash, speaker positions and mounts for safety belts. need to work out all the switches and blank off the ones we don't need.
Drop of the rims at Adelaide Rims so they can be welded at the correct off set 25mm from the front lip.
Send the cab off to paint.
New Front Wind Screen is on Order, coming from the US so will land about Feb 15.
Dismantle the seat and send the frame off to paint.
Fuel Lines, Brake Lines and wiring loom
7 February 2015
Started the brakes, running the brake lines to the back brakes, I am using 3/16 Stainless lines which have bent pretty well, you only get on shot as the stainless hardens after the bending, almost impossible to unbend the tube.
Had to make some custom brackets for the brake lines and the hand brake. The rear is done and looking pretty good. Had a tug of war with the drum brake springs to get them into place. All new springs and cylinders with relined shies.
A couple of hints from Murray (a work mate) on the sequence to install the drum components was a big help, as always the second one went in much quicker than the first one.
Just the flexi hoses to get made and the rear brakes are done. Actually the rear end is done
Reco transmission Turbo 350 with a fresh coat of enamel ready to install
15 February 2015
Had an OH Sh!!t moment today when I tried to place the new rims over the brake callipers, looks like they will not fit with the way we have welded the off set and the orientation of the rim.
Rooky mistake did the off set with the hubs on and no brake callipers. Looks like if we rotate the rims and change the off set on the front they will fit, more time more money.
22 February 2015
Picked up the seat frame from Ross at the paint shop, he has done a great job matching the leather colour.
Put the bench seat back together and of course had the first sit on the floor in the spare bedroom. The wife has made the comment that it is more expensive than our lounge suit, so I can see a new lounge suit on the shopping list (after the Chevy is finished).
2 March 2015
Dropped of the fuel tank straps for painting, it has taken a while to get the mounting solution but pretty happy with the out come, two steel straps have been bent around the tank with two bolts on the front and a 25mm square tube supporting the back of the tank on two mounts welded to the straps
9 March 2015
Had a big week end in the workshop, we have the truck on four wheels Yeh!!! , motor and gearbox in for the last time, fuel tank mounted, the height and the angle all looks good, just need to rubber line the steel straps. Just need to insert the sender unit in the tank and screw on the breather and filler. the filler will be inset into the wooden tray floor drivers side.
Another update on the suspension, the Hiedits front end has ended up with only a couple of mil clearance from the lower arm to the "hub" on the right and is just touching on the left.
Look like we will need a 3 mm spacer behind the rotor so it will clear the lower arm on the left, we can not find any mistakes as yet but will keep checking on the left hand front suspension.
The front widescreen is still in transit from the US.
14 March 2015
Installed the Fuel lines with the Aroflow Fuel logger, Holly electric fuel pump and the two Holly fuel filters.
Installed a 2 inch space block between the carbi and the heads to raise the fuel logger from the rocker covers and achieve better performance.
4 April 2015
Transported the chassis and cab to the Paint Shop for final fitting and painting
18 April 2015
Ross has worked through the Cab and chassis and fixed and fitted out the last of the modifications
Trial fitted the column and ordered the column drop
Trial fitted the A/C unit, made a custom bracket
Trial Fitted the Retro Radio into the dash
Welded out the unwanted holes in the dash
Modified the engine bay panels to avoid the clash with the new suspension
Set the Cab and Panel heights with spacers
Fixed the rubbing of the brake disc on the suspension arm I had fitted back to front.
Identified a problem with the brake lines and master cylinder front and back back to front.
Front rims have been cut and reversed to clear the brake calipers, all good now.
