1931 Chevy.

Jeff66 · COLDWATER, ONT

1931 Chevy.

427CARL · CLINTON, ONT

Hywayhauler · SUDBURY, ONT

I like it!
So excited to see my old truck finally getting the attention it deserves. Glad you decided not to chop it either, I like the channeled look.

I do hope however, that you keep the front axle a Chevy one... Too many guys putting Ford axles in the old Chevy's. Alot of time and money went in to lowering the original axle.

Cheers, Dan

P.S.
I would love to get a chance to have a ride in it when you get it on the road, I'll drive to Barrie for it. lol

Jeff66 · COLDWATER, ONT

Yep, front axle is staying put.. We have spent a lot of hours just looking and thinking.
Saturday we will start the work. Of course you can have a ride. Glad you like where we are going with it. But a lot to,do,in the meantime! Did you notice the bed is 12" shorter as well?.

-- Edited by Jeff66 on Thursday 7th of January 2016 10:31:40 PM

Jeff · HORSESHOE VALLEY

Been busy today. Body is now down 9 inches!

Jeff66 · COLDWATER, ONT

Some cutting, welding, banging and bending, the seat frame is in. It is a perfect fit. Just a little more welding and it will be ready for the soft stuff.

427CARL · CLINTON, ONT

seat frame.jpg

Jeff66 · COLDWATER, ONT

Good news, due to selling the fenders and running boards, I now have more in the budget. So, I can get the wheels n tires I really want!!! WooHoo!

Whitey · CLARINGTON, ONT

Love that look Jeff!! Keep up the great work.

Cat in the Hat · BRANTFORD, ONT

Dont forget to cut the rad!

Whitey · CLARINGTON, ONT

x2...

Jeff66 · COLDWATER, ONT

Yep, the rad has to drop 9 ".... It will be a challenge, as it sits on top of front crossmember. So think I will be replacing the original crossmember.

Hywayhauler · SUDBURY, ONT

Any progress on the old girl?

Jeff66 · COLDWATER, ONT

In a word, no... Been on holiday, then got sick! But soon.

Jeff66 · COLDWATER, ONT

Spent the morning in the shop... Rad is off, the crossmember has to go. It is too wide. But I can make a stronger smaller one, which means the rad can drop, as well as go back an inch or two. Will look much better.

The body was just too flimsy. So,a lot of the wood has been removed, and replaced with steel. One side is complete, and feels so much stronger.

Seat frame is now finished. Very happy with that. Looks like it was made for the truck. Not just thrown in.

firewall was taken out, as it has been trimmed and welded to the front do the cowl return. I guess to give it a clean flush look. I wa t it to look more like stock. So trimmed and welded from be hind. Can now see the stock cowl return. Looks much cooler.

-- Edited by Jeff66 on Sunday 3rd of April 2016 11:26:26 AM

Jeff66 · COLDWATER, ONT

Bit more done today.......

-- Edited by Jeff66 on Saturday 23rd of April 2016 07:19:23 PM

Jeff66 · COLDWATER, ONT

Well, it has been a while.. This truck is fighting me real hard! The body was pretty much a mess. Just to get one door aligned has been a real battle... Cab was twisted, A post was bent, rear C panel was twisted and roof all crooked!

So this season kinda just went out the window, so have to aim to get it on the street next year.

After some beating, pulling, twisting, shrinking and stretching, as well as welding and grinding, oh and fabricating a complete inner cab frame, I have 1 door pretty much where it should be. I think the drivers one is almost there as well now.

Advertised as an almost finished project when I saw it... Hmmm. Took it right back to almost nothing to get this far. But, it is being done right.... That is where all the time is going!

Hywayhauler · SUDBURY, ONT

You should have bought it from me, at least I was honest when I was selling it. I had it advertised on Kijiji the last time for $6500 when I sold it. (Well, traded it for a POS 1968 Mustang Coupe)...At least I got to drive the Mustang after working on it all winter... This truck was far from finished when I left it with the guy in Barrie, and he knew that...looks like it was painted quickly for a quick sale...didn't look like much else was done to it other than that.

-- Edited by Hywayhauler on Tuesday 23rd of August 2016 03:44:26 PM

Jeff66 · COLDWATER, ONT

Hey Dan.....

That would of been better for me, that's for sure... For a cop, he was a tad economical with the truth I think.
Once I get the body sorted, I will probably need to have a chat with you, perhaps that will stop anymore surprises in the future.

To be honest though, I think giving myself another year on it, is going to be a good thing. The work we are doing on the body, will play dividends when it is done.
It really is getting a lot stronger for it. That is a good thing.

Still like it though. :)

Jeff66 · COLDWATER, ONT

This is where I am going with it, there are areas of these trucks that just don't work, I am slowly sorting those out!

-- Edited by Jeff66 on Wednesday 24th of August 2016 12:51:04 PM

Jeff66 · COLDWATER, ONT

Started fabrication on these parts now,
all was going well, till the 6 foot brake fell over! Do you know how much those things weigh!!! Shocked

There are 22 pieces of shaped and curved steel needed to make those parts!

After pulling the roof off yesterday, we found the horror of a wood frame that was rotted and split! No wonder the body was all over the place.
Wood has all be taken out, and a new steel frame is being made. This will make it a lot stronger, especially as I will tie it in with all the other steel frame we have made., also dropped roof 1/4". Makes the top door gap really neat and tidy. new direction 7.57.08 AM.jpg

Jeff66 · COLDWATER, ONT

Just heard I have to get out of my shop. So not sure what the fate of this truck is now!

123pugsy · MARKHAM, ONT

That really sucks Jeff. Hope you can find a way to hang on to her.

Jeff66 · COLDWATER, ONT

Thanks, But just cos I loose my workshop, does not mean I will let the truck go. That is far to defeatist. Come a long way with it now.

Not going to turn back! I have found two places, one close by, and the other an hour or so away. There is a big advantage with the longest

distance site, if it comes off, I will let you all know.

-- Edited by Jeff66 on Thursday 22nd of September 2016 11:10:40 AM

Jeff66 · COLDWATER, ONT

OK... All sorted I think. Great to know lots of people in the restoration scene!

i have space in a fully equipped 3500 sq ft workshop! From tig to English wheel! Can't wait to get in there and git er done!

-- Edited by Jeff66 on Sunday 25th of September 2016 08:39:50 PM

123pugsy · MARKHAM, ONT

Jeff66 wrote:
OK... All sorted I think. Great to know lots of people in the restoration scene!
i have space in a fully equipped 3500 sq ft workshop! From tig to English wheel! Can't wait to get in there and git er done!

-- Edited by Jeff66 on Sunday 25th of September 2016 08:39:50 PM

That's great Jeff.

Jeff66 · COLDWATER, ONT

So, celebrated by buying a set of wheels, tires, lakester headers and some real neat wipers. That should change the look of it a bit more!!

Jeff66 · COLDWATER, ONT

Well, here it is in the new shop, hopefully this is the final phase before being street legal..

-- Edited by Jeff66 on Saturday 8th of October 2016 11:28:51 PM

Hywayhauler · SUDBURY, ONT

I like it.

Jeff66 · COLDWATER, ONT

It is getting there slowly... Hope to put more time in it over the winter..

Hywayhauler · SUDBURY, ONT

Did you keep the '56 Chevy rear diff in it? Or did you swap in the S10 rear?

Jeff66 · COLDWATER, ONT

The 56 rear is still in it I think.... Whatever one is in there is a posi. So that was perfect. And it is the ideal width.
I will have some questions for you soon.... when I start putting it all together.
The cab was a killer to get square again.... But has worked really well. All in all, I think it will be a great little truck when finished.

Hywayhauler · SUDBURY, ONT

Yes. The posi one is the "56 Chevy. I had given a 2000 S10 rear with the truck when I traded it. It was narrower, and would have worked better with fenders.

Jeff66 · COLDWATER, ONT

That makes sense, as the current one was a tad too wide when the fenders were on....
I had to bow to the families majority vote, on going fenderless and channeled... Meant a lot more work, but looks good for it.

I think the guy you sold it to, sold off a load of parts before I bought the truck. And I hate the silver paint on it!!

Do you know if the clutch and brakes are all OK? And is the 5 speed all OK? The motor seems to run just fine. We ran it up a day or two after I got the truck.
Just hoping the gearbox is OK, and that cluch and brakes just need a tweak or two.

Jeff66 · COLDWATER, ONT

Don't know if you ever watched Restoration Garage..... But the guy who hand built the front fenders and stuff on the Bugatti......

That who owns the shop I have it in at the moment, He has the tools and skills to help me get finished.

Hywayhauler · SUDBURY, ONT

Yes. You've told me about the guy from The Guild before. Way cool man!

As for the brakes, the front is completely new. They are all 1970 Camaro parts, and the conversion kit is from ECI. The rear brakes are all new, rebuilt about 12 years ago. The clutch and brake pedal, masters, and booster are all new Willwood stuff. The engine, I rebuilt. Its a 350 4 bolt from a 1980 Chevy pickup, 3/4 ton. Bores are standard 4", new bearings throughout, rings, complete rebuilt 2.02 early Hump heads with new guides and springs. New lifters, push rods and Cam, all Comp Cams stuff. I broke the cam in properly. New water pump, carb, oil pump, fuel pump, timing set. All resealed with Felpro Premium gaskets. The transmission came from a 1991 Chevy, I bought the whole truck, and tested it and it shifted smooth, with no issues. The shifter tower is a short throw after market. The clutch is brand new center force, with new release bearing and slave cylinder. The flywheel is also new.

I think that's it for now. Mechanically, its sound, the #1 reason I got out of it, was I was getting close to body work, and it scared me...lol

Jeff66 · COLDWATER, ONT

That is really encouraging to hear!!! Sounds like this little thing is gonna haul ass for sure! Yes the body has some concerns, but nothing that can't be fixed. It is pretty much all square now, and the doors fit a treat... All wood is out and new steel frame fabbed up. Made it so much stiffer, as it is tied into the chassis.
Nearly ready for floor. Then front section is being redone, rad has to drop 9 inches, as well as go back a couple to nicely centre in the wheels and rad!

Hywayhauler · SUDBURY, ONT

That was another thing...The rad is the original top and bottom tanks. I got it re-cored at a local rad shop... Cost me $650... :S

Jeff66 · COLDWATER, ONT

Bit more progress today... bending and shrinking, curving and bending, more to do still, but the bottom is getting there!

Iwannagofast · ONTARIO

It's a nice looking truck Jeff, keep at it.

henrys57wagon · WOODLAWN, ONT

Lots of great work there Jeff. What tires did you get?

Jeff66 · COLDWATER, ONT

I got the Firestone replicas from Coker.

Jeff66 · COLDWATER, ONT

Decided to re visit the lower extensions, and start again. Also time to weld in the chevy logo on the back of the box. This will be cut in and welded flush for a stock-ish look.

-- Edited by Jeff66 on Monday 5th of December 2016 09:16:04 AM

-- Edited by Jeff66 on Monday 5th of December 2016 09:25:16 AM

-- Edited by Jeff66 on Monday 5th of December 2016 09:25:58 AM

Jeff66 · COLDWATER, ONT

Sloooooow progress!

Jeff66 · COLDWATER, ONT

Quickly made this up as test.... decided to go this route, but bench seat.

Ground Pounder · Senior Member

Very Cool idea...
Nice fab work that chair..

Hywayhauler · SUDBURY, ONT

Any updates on the Old Girl Jeff?

Jeff66 · COLDWATER, ONT

Lost my storage space again! So had to pack it all up and move it home to my garage. So, not a lot done for a while!

Jeff66 · COLDWATER, ONT

Jeff66 · COLDWATER, ONT

Really lost my appetite for this at the moment. Car in my garage at home, not enough room, or needed tools/equipment. Feeling really down about the whole build. Really not sure where this is going, or even if it will be going! No mojo at mo!