Projects Old Rusty . . . a Father/Son '51 Chevy

[BrerHair]

So, Detail Zone said to change factory oil pressure switch (lg. one) for 2-prong switch (small). For some reason that I'm not sure, I had trouble wrapping my brain around this concept and procrastinated locating a new one. Stuck engine back in w/o changing it. Not easy to reach in there now and screw it onto the manifold, but managed to get it done.


You can make out the switch with the black terminals of the red and beige wires:

[beachbum jim]

keep up the good work. I need some of your motivation!!!

[RamJet1]

I read your entire thread today, and as others have said, it is inspiring. Great to see you are still plugging away. And my 9 year old is exactly the same as far as the labor-side of things go. I am also hoping my perserverence will pay off in the future.

Keep up the good work.

[Ole_Red]

thanks for the great read today. My son isn't even born yet (due in July) and I already am looking forward to building a project with him

[BrerHair]

Originally Posted by beachbum jim

keep up the good work. I need some of your motivation!!!

Thanks. Looks like I might need to tap your knowledge when we get to upholstery!

Originally Posted by RamJet1

I read your entire thread today, and as others have said, it is inspiring. Great to see you are still plugging away. And my 9 year old is exactly the same as far as the labor-side of things go. I am also hoping my perserverence will pay off in the future.

Keep up the good work.

Thanks. I can understand it in a nine year old. Harder to figure in a 19 yr old.

Originally Posted by Ole_Red

thanks for the great read today. My son isn't even born yet (due in July) and I already am looking forward to building a project with him

Congrats. I highly recommend a son, he'll understand you like no one else in the family! A fun ride all the way. And thanks.

[BrerHair]

OK, moving on to brake plumbing. First, laid it out.

[BrerHair]

Started with rear brakes. Got about 5 pcs 5 ft long stainless 3/16" pipe from Inline Tube with inverted flare both ends. Moving forward from above rear end on driver side frame, went as far as pc would go and installed brake light switch there:

[BrerHair]

Played around with different geometry for running flex hose from frame to rear end housing and decided to go from frame straight down to housing near left rear wheel. Got a hose with pipe thread connection on one end (frame) and retainer ring lock/inverted flare connection on other end (housing). Welded stud to housing for retainer clip lock.




Spent a couple hours playing around with how the hose would move during up & down rear end movement, put the hose in every configuration I could think of, and what you see above is what I found to be the least (negligible) hose rotation. Both ends of the hose should not rotate during up & down rear end movement.

At least that's what I think. Sure hope it works. Please chime in if I've got a problem here.

As far as I've gotten so far, been practicing my double (inverted) flares.

[robleticia]

Well damn it man! I need to check in more often! You are making great progress, Looks great!

[beachbum jim]

if I can be of any help please ask!!!

[Hivolt5.0]

I really like your work. Very nice and thought out. I don't know about you but I have just as much fun thinking/planning out my next task as I do actually completing the task.

[jetslide]

any updates?

[BrerHair]

Originally Posted by robleticia

Well damn it man! I need to check in more often! You are making great progress, Looks great!

Thanks but you spoke too soon Rob. That last post is as far as I've gotten. Double flare tool broke about then and I entered one of those "life gets in the way" car-building funks that I'm stuck in (and don't see a way out any time soon). Lord knows, you know what I'm talking about.

Originally Posted by beachbum jim

if I can be of any help please ask!!!

I will when I get back at it Jim.

Originally Posted by Hivolt5.0

I really like your work. Very nice and thought out. I don't know about you but I have just as much fun thinking/planning out my next task as I do actually completing the task.

The ciphering is a fun part of the process to me too, David.

Originally Posted by jetslide

any updates?

Thanks for asking, see comments above.

[gsport]

Yeah, I was wondering how the build was going too.

[Hivolt5.0]

BrerHair, where did you get all of your brake line parts? Did you order a "kit" somewhere or did you just pick up the parts at an auto parts store. The reason I ask is I'm nearing the point of running new brake lines on the '48 F4 I building and I've been trying to figure out what all I need to put together the brake lines.

thanks
David

[repeater]

Wow! I just read over the build for the first time this morning and wanted to tell you...very impressive. Great that your kid's learning so much too as you go along. A couple things....1 - Very impressed with the welding just using a simple flux-core. I remember learning on one of the suckers...they definitely make you a better welder! 2, noticed the super-awesome Harbor Freight self-darkening welding mask (the blue flame one). I've had mine for close to 9 years now and it still works like a champ - has to be one of the best buys I've had from HF. Just curious - you rarely see someone put so much work and time into a 4 door - I think this is really cool, I was just wondering if your intention when you started searching for a car was a 4 door, or was it just impulse at the time? Sorry if you stated this somewhere in the thread before, I just looked over the pictures and narrative of them quickly. At any rate, awesome job. You should really be proud so far!

[jetslide]

you have no ide how much i benfit from your pictures in your thread, got my 49 chevy here the other day, and i have no idea what the former owner have been up to, its welded all over and i can`t say it`s beacuse of rust, cause there`s wery little, but i guess they`we havent braced up the chassie before they started cutting, that have resulted in a twisted body, the doors doesnt fit the door jam, they have made the floor bracing that doesn`t mach the original ones, so it`s low in one spot and way to high in the other,and so on.
so i guess the only place i have as an referance point is the b-pillar and some holes in the floor that bolt on to the frame. so by looking at the pics of your work, it gives me an idea how it`s sopose to look, so thanks brerhair for a superb thread :-))

[BrerHair]

Originally Posted by gsport

Yeah, I was wondering how the build was going too.

Right back at you Jim, last I saw you were installing the radiator?

Originally Posted by Hivolt5.0

BrerHair, where did you get all of your brake line parts?

thanks
David

"Street Rod kit" from InLine Tube: 3/16" SS pipe w/flared fittings, like 5 pcs 5 ft. long, something like that, $ 125 I think.
SS braided 16" lines (to calipers) from Chassis Engineering Inc.
Rubber hose (to rear axle) and misc. fittings from local parts store.

Originally Posted by repeater

Just curious - you rarely see someone put so much work and time into a 4 door - I think this is really cool, I was just wondering if your intention when you started searching for a car was a 4 door, or was it just impulse at the time? !

Thanks. OK, here's the long answer. I have no natural bias against 4 doors. Grew up in the 50's and 60s and we almost always had a 4 dr. Think the first 2 dr our family had was my Mom's '66 Satellite. Just never have had a feeling that a 4 door was undesirable. 3 kids at home, back seat has always been important, so getting in & out easily is important also. >>
I get it, a 2 dr hardtop looks best; 2 dr with B pillar looks 2nd best; and so forth. There was really no bias one way or the other when we chose this car. The main thing at the time was price, my 13 year-old son (Billy is now a freshman at UNC-Greensboro) only had $ 400 to his name, and I wanted him to feel like the car was his, so we were looking for something 400 or less. I know, I paid 850 to have this 395 dollar car shipped to us, but there it is. Hindsight? Would have done it differently, but here we are.

Originally Posted by jetslide

you have no ide how much i benfit from your pictures in your thread, got my 49 chevy here the other day, :-))

So glad to hear you say that, it is precisely for this reason that I decided to go the long route and post every little thing. I have often second-guessed that decision (Geez, who cares?), so thanks, glad it helps. Good luck with your 49.

[gsport]

i havn't done much lately.. i did try my hand at cutting and rewelding the drive shaft.. after reading and watching the Sunday auto shows thought i'd give it a try. the way they said to do it, only maybe 1 in 10 might need rebalancing.. we'll see when i get it back on the road.. i also just ordered a wire harness, shifter, and throttle pedal and linkage for it...

[49styleline]

this is do cool!! me and my dad are restoring a 49 chevy 4 door to be my first car and im a freshman in high school so i can relate to your guy's experience. good luck!!