Hot Rods 1937 Dodge Ol Bessy is Coming Home....redux

Dad,

Rim arrived. Largest that will likely fit all the way around. I checked it in the rear as its the tightest fit.

Its a 15x6 rim for a 225/75R15 tire (same size as your 47 Chevy truck.)
With that tire size, looks like our inside clearance between inflated tire and steel fender/inner fender well will be 1+" to fender and about 2" to inner fender well.

Shes bright. I'll drop it off to get a Hankook Optimo or similar white wall mounted and balanced tomorrow. When its back I'll check fit again with weight on the rubber. If its good, will be ordering 3 more to shoe up Ol Bessy.

Also, your third brake light will be red bullets on the license plate. Naturally, one broke on assembly so.......I have a do over to do but, they look pretty good. Since one broke I'll try to find some antique jeweled red glass lights instead of these LED models. But, assembled and wired here for proof of concept.

Work to do in the woods tomorrow, rifle season starts Sat. Will be hunting the AM sat with Uncle Vic's WWII capture rifle. In between times I'll keep moving forward on the brakes. But at least today, I got new lug studs pulled into the axle and I have the axle brake lines and hoses now. So, moving quickly forward.

Probably 2 to 4 full days work and then I think I must dung out the shop and start removing the front sheet metal. You see, we are rapidly approaching the need to purchase the engine, trans and cooling system.....Right on time/target. All is well. Don't quit your day job, its about to get expensive!

 

Dad,
Spent the morning setting up new deer blinds in the woods. One more to do tomorrow.
Got in tonight and plumbed up your rear brakes across the rear axle. Still have to put in the bracket for the flexible hose. Then I'll plumb it all the way up to the firewall.
In the past, we've always bent brake lines from scratch. Thought I'd save some time by buying and installing preformed brake lines since I knew exactly what year and model the rear came out of. No dice on time saving. You still have to bend and tweek the preformed lines to get them in place. But they look good, fit good and only a couple more hours work to finish all the break work all the way to the rear.
I also dropped off the wheel to get a tire installed. Should have it back tomorrow afternoon and by evening we should have some final measurements and photos. If its all good, I'll get the other three wheels and tires ordered and installed.
Tank and fuel plumbing is next. Then we get to the heavy stuff up front!

 

Dad,

Back brakes done, everything is new.

First wheel and tire is on and looking sharp. Plenty of clearance to the frame and inner fender well. Bulge of the tire sits just inside the lip of the fender and plenty of clearance for the axle to move up and down over the deep NC pot holes and off road when running through streams and over logs when we go hunting in the old gal.

Additional wheels arrive next week, we'll get the remaining tires and the spare then.

Tank straps and supplies are ordered, so I can get the tank in place.

So, gotta do the dirty job cleaning , sealing and painting the floor pan underside....I'll slow boat that so maybe when you get here you can get your eyes and hair fulla rusty crap too.

Barring any issues, we'll pull the sheet metal and perhaps pull the engine and transmission while you are here this month!

 

Dad,
Front end is off. Picking up a loaner hoist today. Its tight in there, oddly, you see how tight better with the metal off.
I don't know.....small block or big straight six. Much to think about.

 

Loaner hoist won't work out......dosn't have the back braces for the main tree, main tree is bent forward, main tree bolts bent, main tree base bent and won't pick the engine, just bends the main tree well past 90 degrees down toward the engine.....so I backed it off and away from the car and the hoist fell over. Missed the car but got some meat off my arm and pulled the plunger out of the cylinder. Now I have to buy a new one to get the job done and since I broke the loaner, reimburse the lender by passing on the new one. Note to self, purchase tools, never borrow.

 

Well, new engine hoist actually works. Letting it sit today with some weight on it to ensure the cylinder is fully bled out, should be pulling that motor and trans combination in a day or so. And, I was lucky enough to score a brand new unused 8 ton cylinder for free, same manufacturer as the cylinder that got pulled apart in the toppling of the borrowed hoist. I'll use it and some stays to rebuild the borrowed engine hoist so I can return it in better condition than I received it. It looks like things are "picking up" ...

 

Dad,

Your Ol Bessy has dancing shoes.

 

Dad,

Sold the modern motor and trans in 24 hours. So, shoot a big buck next week and I'll get it mounted for you.

 

Dad,

I was thinking about running a compact spare to save trunk space. But since they are still pretty big.......and I had a solid 14" rim that fits the axles......

I went with a 225/75R14 full size tire. Its about 1.5" smaller in diameter than the tires on the axles now.

So we use it like a compact and even though full size, still saves a bit of space and fits under the shelf, which the full size tires wouldn't do.

If we get a flat on the back, we have two choices.....under 50 mph and 50 miles with the compact spare to keep from overheating the rear axle or if its not raining, just mount it on the front and put the front tire on the back then just keep running. Neat.

Now to find a good scissors jack and tire iron and get the brackets bent up to secure it all to the trunk deck.

 

It's coming along! I don't recall my Plymouth having the chrome trim at the belt line. Is that a Dodge thing?

 

37 plymouth had stainless on the hood and hood sides only. Nothing on the belt line from the cowl back like the dodge. I always thought a 37 plymouth sedan would look sharp with pinstripe down the beltline.

Motor and trans are out and gone, old wheels too. Sold them all in 48 hours. Dad will be here Tueday and we'll talk new motor and prolly go order one locally.

I scored a free 8 ton ram to rebuild the loaner hoist that fell over and broke. Just got to get some steel for the back stays on the hoist and I'll be able to rebuild and return it in new condition.....the owner uses it for his tractors and I'll explain the issues/flaws to him and I think he'll be happy not to have the tractor waiting to fall on him anymore. Once i get the new motor and trans in place, I can get the new engine hoist i had to buy sold too, hated to buy one for a single job but didn't count on the borrowed hoist being a danger in need of fixing and never counted on being able to score a new in box 8 ton ram for free to rebuild the loaner hoist!

Turning out to be such a good week, I'm going to take the evening and morning off to chase deer in the woods.

 

Fuel tank in place. I left dad under to caulk the seam at the new and old floor while I relax....

 

Bessy has a v8. Generation 1 350 cu in. Pick it up tomorrow before lunch.

 

Got some photos today working with Dad. We took a day off from hunting Deer to hunt up a new heart for Ol Bessy. Gen 1 350 Small Block.

Bringing her heart home, Dad Working out,.....and, Pending proper lubrication, we are prepared to commence Ol Bessy's heart transplant.

 

Started the overhaul of the borrowed hoist with Dads help. Back stays were missing from your hoist, as such, it put the bolts that should be in compression into tension.....I suspect that tractor hood would have fallen on you one day. I specked new grade 5 bolts (its what Pittsburg calls for on the base) as yours were bent nearly to the point of failure without the back stays to maintain the reverse angle of the main beam. As it was, I think it was barely strong enough to lift your tractor hood/tank assembly, it wouldn't budge the engine, just kept rolling forward till the beam touched the firewall padding....so, I quit early, moved it out and promptly managed to drop it while trying to fold it up to store.....

From there I got some steel to make the stays for the main beam, this keeps the main beam from pulling forward and bending/breaking those bolts in the photo above.

I also scored a free brand spanking new never used Pittsburg 8 ton long ram to replace your old one. (as when the hoist fell over while getting it out of the way/folded up, and you told me it would......the piston pulled out of the original ram!) We bled the new ram and conducted an initial range of motion and Old Fat Man pull check.....looks good. I marked the ram and we'll leave it up for a few days to make sure its bled, then we'll lift some weight before pronouncing it completed.

Thanks for the loaner, I think we'll get it back to you in A1 condition.

 

Before the evening hunt, we decided to clean up the garage by installing some of the many parts that keep arriving daily.
For this mornings work we pressed on a Professional Product harmonic balancer and retention bolt. Just gotta get a three pulley set before we start setting the motor.
Dad also installed the mechanical fuel pump. From there he took the centerline measurements of the engine and frame openings....seems we'll have plenty of width for the fuel pump and likely the power steering pump too.
Its looking like classic Rams Horn iron exhaust may fit between the frame rails and....hopefully, leave room for steering connections. But, initially it seems we can set the motor on the center line and still have up to a couple inches to the Passenger side if we need to offset the motor.
Heading out hunting but, its looking like motor mounts will go on the motor today for some more measuring and we'll be ordering a TCI transmission package next week.

 

Love 37-38 Mopars!!! This one is very cool.

 

Thanks. Hope to run That mill by Thanksgiving day. With luck, dad will drive it Christmas day for the first time in 40 years , I started driving it daily when I was 16.

 

Dad,
Ger outta bed, you got work to do! While we were out hunting last night a nice Fedex driver delivered the motor mounts and a pretty dual plane manifold. This morning I ordered the dual carb set up, 2 pretty Rochester two barrel carbs with louvered air cleaners. Time to get wrenching.

 

Here are your carbs, maybe they'll be here this week!

 

That would be an Awesome Christmas Present!

 

Dad got the dual plane intake manifold and motor mounts installed before lunch!

 

I hope it works out. Ordering trans next week along with radiator.

 

Took a break and dad made meat. 80 years young!

 

Dad kinda likes his new "carb job"

 

Well. No light shines around the secondary throttle butterfly so I have high Hope's itll run well. Cant be any harder than a 32/36 dgav Weber.

 

Getting close to the first test fit on the small block and trans. Trans arrives Monday, complete kit less flex plate. I'll get that local when I'm sure on the TC bolt diameter. Also coming are Alan Grove pulleys and brackets so I can have the length and side measurements (PS Pump bracket) for the trial fitting. Picked up the Saganaw PS Pump and a Delco 12si Alternator.....I think the alternator will have to go vertical but we'll see. Other tidbits include new Delco water pump, thermostat and housing, pump pulleys, etc. Should be enough once bolted on to really have a good feel for where to set the motor/trans between the rails.

 

Dad,
Transmission arrived! Its a TCI Street Rodder, TH350 automatic.
Long ago, when i was stronger I put one of these in a 62 Chevy Impala behind a mildly built 327 engine. I remember laying under the car, transmission on my chest, guide studs in the block and lifting the trans straight up and sliding it home over the studs. I was a bit stronger then......
This time I'll use a hoist and slide it home from the top!

 

Dad,



Starting pump and pulley assembly. Water neck is good, bolts a bit long for the aluminum manifold, so some tweaking to do. I scrapped the o-ring and put in a real felpro gasket with the Stant 180 degree thermostat.



Started placing the Alan Grove pulleys and brackets, for now, crank set is assembled and the power steering pump and bracket assembly is roughed in. Brackets will need paint but it all looks like it'll clear.



Back of block to front of crank pulley is 26.75", add a half inch for clearance at the firewall and the nose of the pulley set will be well back from the radiator. Power steering pully at mid point of its adjustment is 12" from center of crank to outer edge of power steering pump....as the inner fender wells flare out as they rise, should be plenty of clearance both to the side and between the power steering pump and power steering shafts.....i think!.....we will know soon. Hope to be setting the package in the frame for first test fit in about a week.

 

Dad,

Quick video update. Trans is together. Motor and accessories test fitted. A flexplate and starter/shim kit is on the way.....once thats tweaked, it'll be time to bolt the power pack to the slush box and stick it between the rails. Looking good. Alternator to set, pulleys to shim, exhaust and steering yet but almost far enough along to get it off the stand. Perhaps mid week.