[Road Angels]

I vote for the open edge out....with some lightening holes... and lots of rounding of corners

 

[sbauman2]

I'm with Lash on some large diameter holes but with the closed side out.

 

[JW MOTORS]

I got a little welding done today on the framing for the floor boards!

 

[mmhotrod]

Looks great JW. Nice and clean.

 

[1937Austin]

Coming along nicely!

 

[JW MOTORS]

After an extended break I am back on my truck build. I have recessed the firewall using a wheelbarrow tub. I have the motor and trans sitting about where i want them . I went by a friends shop today and found a transmission cross member and cut it down to size. All in All a productive day.

 

[56 VIC]

I just heard about the wheel barrow tub/firewall idea a couple of months ago, its so perfect for that! now I find its common knowledge to lots of old school builder car guys.

I like productive days! I've had a few of them myself lately,,Keep em going!!

 

[JW MOTORS]

I spent the morning on the truck and got the firewall mod. completed. Sorting through some headers to see which ones I will cut up. And seeing what will be needed to move the steering shaft. I am waiting on a pair of motor mounts with a different offset than those in the photos. Then I can get stuff bolted down .

 

[1937Austin]

The wheelbarrow firewall thing is great for most small block V* engines. But usually wont have enough width to use with a big block engine setup, regardless of maker. When I did my Austin with a SBC I went to the hardware store to measure wheelbarrows, and compared it to my firewall. It wasn't much smaller than my firewall, and I decided I'd be better off cutting my whole firewall out and simply making it flat with a small recess for distributor maintenance and clearance.

 

[mmhotrod]

Sounds like youre having fun. Great construction ideas.

 

[JW MOTORS]

Thank's Mario,
I enjoy the process. This is a little different for me than prior builds. This is a use what you have build. So far the only thing purchased has been the tubing. The truck was even free. Everything else I either already have or friends have donated to the cause. I came home the other day and these 15 x 10 Rallye wheels were sitting on the porch. A friend asked me what I was going to use for a motor and he said " well I have a angle plug mud pit motor your welcome to borrow " So we will see where it goes from here.

 

[mmhotrod]

Pretty cool. Hotrodders are a rare breed. That's how I did my MG. everything was used and hand eye down except the radiator.

 

[1937Austin]

Both of my cars were as much used swap meet or CL parts as possible. Just can't bring myself to buy a bunch of new parts when good used parts work.

 

[JW MOTORS]

I got my motor mounts sorted out today, washed the steering box up so I can take it apart. All in All a productive day.

 

[mmhotrod]

I got my motor mounts sorted out today, washed the steering box up so I can take it apart. All in All a productive day.

Nice job. Do you think maybe it should be rubber or neoprene mount bushed so you get less vibration. Speedway sells a cheap hurst mount bushing kit that can work there but it needs a flat plate on top of the square tube. bolt goes thru. Just a thought.

 

[JW MOTORS]

Nice job. Do you think maybe it should be rubber or neoprene mount bushed so you get less vibration. Speedway sells a cheap hurst mount bushing kit that can work there but it needs a flat plate on top of the square tube. bolt goes thru. Just a thought.

We are mounting it all solid, motor, cab. It is going to ba a limited use vehicle. Just something to shred the tires. All this is just in the mock up stage right now. We got the motor squared up where it needs to be but I can't finish the trans mount until I get the rear axle situated. And for that to happen it will require moving the springs to the inside of the frame rails and then I will have to pull the rearend apart so we can mount some new perches on it. Next on the list is freshen up the steering box and get the steering hooked up.

 

[mmhotrod]

I was just thinking about my past experience. I mounted my small block solid and the auto trans solid mount also and developed trans tail shaft leaks that came from the solid mount. I ended up going neoprene on the trans tail.

 

[JW MOTORS]

I was just thinking about my past experience. I mounted my small block solid and the auto trans solid mount also and developed trans tail shaft leaks that came from the solid mount. I ended up going neoprene on the trans tail.

Yes, you would not mount the trans solid. Usually you would end up with a broken case.

 

[JW MOTORS]

Right now I am working on the steering linkage and sorting that out. I have 2 boxes, one original which after tearing down and cleaning up looks fine. The other is a N.O.S box that has not had the shaft cut. But shafts need to be turned down 10 thous. to fit the heim/supports. I had the tie rods and sleeve to build one piece of linkage and ordered a swedged tube from speedway for the other. Rearranging the idler arm mount due to some fatigue on the frame. Step the bushing bolt size up from 7/16 to 5/8.

 

[JW MOTORS]

I have gotten a little work done on the truck this weekend. I found a local shop to turn the steering shaft down, I bent up a piece of metal to mount the bearing support on the firewall. Still working through the idler arm mount so it will have support at both ends of the pivot bolt instead of just the inner.