49 Chevy Project
Year #3 of the 49 Chevy Project started with the car on jack stands with the engine, front suspension, transmission, fuel tank, guages, and most of the interior having been removed and in various stages around the garage.
Engine |
The engine was finally installed in August, the trans and rear all hooked up. The plan was to get it started and on the road for the Hunnert Car Pileup in October, but the night before we were still chasing gremlins in the electrical wiring so we decided it best not to try to push it. On January 12, 2008 we finally got everything ready and the weather turned unseasonably warm so we rolled it out and fired it up. We wired up the throttle and ran it at 2000 rpm for 20 min to break in the new cam. Click here to see the first start. |
Guages |
The new guages worked during the first start. The temp guage climbed to about 230 but since I had checked the accuracy I felt pretty secure that the engine was not running hot. I had built an overflow system that took any coolant that would have been spit out of the radiator. Click here to see how the coolant overflow tank was built. |
Electrical |
The original 6 volt wiring had been replaced by the previoous owner. As we got into the work we were doing it was discovered that some of the wires we needed had been cut out. So a new wiring harness from Rebel Wire was installed. Since I had no previous experience with auto electrical systems I tried to learn all I needed. One of the most helpful areas was Mad Electrical. Using the techniques and products from Mad and Rebel, all new wires were installed. Check out the Learning Resources page to link to Mad Electrical. |
Brakes |
The new brakes worked to stop the car when we drove it out of the garage and the emergency/parking brake worked to keep it from rolling down the slope of the driveway. |
Oil filter |
When the engine was in the shop, I had the block drilled and tapped for Full Flow oiling (this process is described in the tech section of the Inliners site-check the Learning Resources page for the Inliners link.) The 61 - 235 did not filter all of the oil as do present day engines. The process to convert to full flow oiling is to drill into the oil passages and add an external oil filter. |
Body Repair |
As time has passed the paint has started to peel and several areas of serious rusty body rot has been discovered. Here is the first attempt at welding in a patch panel. |
As work continues during this third year, additional photos will be addes with descriptions of the work to date.
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