Colorado Melons

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  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.

I would’ve bought one just because of this ad.
 

No special effects back then. I’d like to see that done with the new Camaro with all those crumple zones and all ;-) ‘ doesn’t even scratch a bumper.

I need some ramps.

Although I’ve still been going at it, there’s just not too much exciting to post. I’ve been doing a lot of sanding lately inside the cab and some pictures are updated in the gallery. In addition to working the compound inside curves of the ‘B’ pillars, I’ve filled the dash holes that will not be used any longer and now have the modified brake pedal mounted.

The ‘58 originally had pedals that went through the floorboards and the newer chassis with power disc brakes uses pedals that swing from under the dash. In the later model truck, the brake pedal would swing down along the right side of the steering column, but due to space constraints, I had to mount it along the left side of the column.

This placed the brake pedal a little too far from the accelerator for my liking so I stripped it all back out and modified it. As of tonight, it has been remounted and works like a charm. While there, I also mounted the (modified) brake light switch mounting bracket.

Now I get to sand the dash some more and repaint it. ;)

In an earlier post, I showed the construction of a portable lifting frame for my chain hoist.

Today’s job: Lift the 13′ dump bed back onto the truck. I don’t know
the weight on this bed, but even with it’s dual 10 ton hydraulic rams
and 6″ channel frame it must be less than 3 tons because that’s all my
chain-fall is rated for. ;)

Frame Assembly (it all just slides together)

• Stakes in front of the feet
• Upper chain and chain-fall ready
• Rope attached to top of frame and truck

Lifting the Frame Into Place

Turn the Feet 90 Degrees to Stabilize (and chase Orville out from his shady spot under the bed)

Enjoy!