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

Dad,

Brake pedal in a poor location for the accelerator, all compounded by a recessed firewall and a giant hump in the floor. Additionally, Ruger indicated that I'm taking entirely too long getting his Hotrod up and running. Pressing forward.....good news is the front seat now moves back and forth.

 

Dad,

Shifter is in, and it works.

 

So....after fiddling for weeks to get power steering hoses to fit Ol Bessy, I ordered a length of hose and 2 fittings. If it goes together as easy as it looks I'm gonna be really irritated.

 

Ok. Making and installing a custom power steering hose is the same ass pain as fiddling one that's supposed to fit and almost does. So, a brass insert shy of completion because, Naturally, i had the wrong brass fitting on hand!

 

Dad, very simple firewall bracket for a cable throttle. Other 2 photos are the days work getting the transmission downshift cable at a better height and adjusted. Success. Cut up a bracket, make a leg and it worked out fine. Gas pedal next and that may mean cutting the floor. We'll see.

 

Dad,

For seeing backwards. I never liked the clip on mirrors for the doors. Decided to go with a bolt on style that looks pretty good, or at least period style.

 

So, maybe I can set the fuel pedal without cutting the floor.

 

Dad,


Sorry, been down with the flu for a week. Just got to feeling a bit closer to right today so hooked up the throttle cable and managed to rough in the gas pedal without cutting the floor. Still might need to clearance the floor for carpet but at least its in and functional, I'll start plumbing fuel and transmission cooler now.

 

Dad. 16 ft of stainless steel fuel line in. Pre and post filtration and ready now to clean and final install the fuel tank.

 

Dad,

Getting real close....

She gulped 3 gallons of antifreeze and wants more. Big radiator!!!

 

A shout out for BigTen, THANKS!

Good day, and productive, spent together working on Ol Bessy.

While I drained the antifreeze, fixed a lousy completely soaked and saturated and ruined leaky china made paper thermostat gasket (by replacing with an o-ring housing) he muscled his way completely through the fuel system. Took off all the new stainless steel lines and swaged flares on the ends to help retain the rubber hoses, then got it back together. So, we can now pronounce the fuel system from filler cap to carbs, "Ready for First Start." (Note to self: No more stainless steel fuel line...its a bear to bend, broke my tubing bender, and must be a heller to flare given the smoke coming off his hands trying to cinch down the flaring tool!)

Meantime, I was fiddling with the wonkey, wobbly steering double u-joint and second support bearing (fiddling...taking the dayum thing off so I could potentially drop it all in the spare parts bin, thats another story) he managed to nicely convert a late model Chevy Truck brake-light switch and bracket to fit an aftermarket under dash brake pedal system in a 37 Dodge. So, instant on brake lights instead of the slow wind up to brake lights provided by the old style hydraulic switch. While he was under there and in the time it took me to remove 3 bolts in a steering bracket, he also mounted the brake pedal and got it nicely set up at a comfortable position and slightly higher than the gas pedal for safety.

Somewhere in there I did the really hard job though, (not right to give all the harder jobs to your pals)......So, I shoved a 1/4" vacuum tube in place to hook up the transmission modulator. Glad I got the skills for that but did have to jack up the car a bit since its sitting at ride height and the running board snags my gut on the way under and back. Car might be too low.

 

Dad,

Get busy thinking on when to come here. We are 6 hours and two exhaust stub outs from having you turn the key and starting your car! Come sooner.

BigTen,

Once again, thanks for coming on board and over to lend assistance and professional advice. I have a few days delay while i settle up on the purchase of the Tbird but, Sunday and Monday I should finalize the transmission plumbing on the Dodge.

In the meantime, as we discussed, the steering hook up has been my nemesis so far. The new borgeson single steering joints came in along with another section of DD shaft. I lad it out on the car and confirmed, the current set up is a bit steep at the center. On removing the second support bearing and the center double u-joint, I installed a single joint in the center and some new shafting.

With that huge double joint out of the way we have all the room in the world to do as you suggested.

1. Straighten the shot from the rack to the firewall by bringing inner end of this shaft upward and inward. We can make a near straight shot to the belly of the rams horn manifold above the doughnut seal.

2. Install a single joint in the center and we'll be able to shorten the shaft out of the steering rack thereby easing the angles on both of the other joints. (It won't be a straight shot from rack to column like Dads 47 Chevy truck but it will be a lot straighter and no interference as the engine rocks on the mounts.)

3. Remove the rear steering support bearing as it will no longer be needed.

4. The forward support bearing can be moved from inside the frame to outside and mounted on a very simple flat steel bracket.

Overall I think we can come up 1/2 to 3/4 inches and in at least 1/4 to 1/2 inch with a much simpler set up. I'm on it. Thanks.

 

Dad cant make it for 2 or more weeks but he said start it asap.

Shooting for first start since 1992 on sat sun or monday.

I should be ready to go by then. Roll it forward and kick the motor into life. Fingers crossed!

 

Spanky new battery is on the charger at 2 Amps to bring it up full. Shouldn't need back up batteries but have the Nissan and should have the t bird here by then just in case. I wanted an 800 amp 34 or 34/78 series but the largest that would fit the hole in the floor is a 750 amp. So, thats what i got.


Drivers side manifold reinstalled. Trans cooler hooked up and tubing secured on bracket along the oil pan. Picked up 12 feet of flexible 2.25" pipe to hook up to the down pipe stubs so we can run the exhaust out from under the car to the side or, since we'll be working from both sides, out the front away from our feet.


Broke the bottom out of the brake light switch on disassembly so ran out and got a new one. Hooked up the charger to the car and the rear sockets are wonky/loose on the bulbs so may replace those, if so, I'll split out the brake lamp from the turn lamps at the same time by adding another single filament bulb to the rear buckets. But, the brake lights work!


Still not seeing any oil, fuel or trans fluid leaks. Gotta remember to pull the plug off the transmission tail shaft before we start it and put it in gear.


Fuel gauge responds to power now. I'll put clean gasoline in it Saturday morning and let it sit a few hours to check for leaks before we fire it.


About all that's left to do is rotate the engine to check the valve adjustment, prime the oil system and drop the dizzy back in at TDC. I think we'll break it in at 0 to 4 BTDC and then once we get it on the road in late March, see if it likes 6 to 8 Before top dead center.


Gonna be a long wait to the weekend!


Guess I'll put the battery in tomorrow and program the stereo to link up to the phone for calls, texts, navigation and streaming.


Prolly oughta pick up the Tbird in there too......

 

Go man go!


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Almost 30 years from the wreck that nearly finished this car. Getting more nervy by the day!

 

Dad,

Just like you taught me and just like we did all those years scraping by to keep her running.......when in doubt, run flex pipe out...on coat hangers! So, couple sections run forward and to the sides/out of the way so we can roll her forward Saturday for first start.

Charged battery is in. We have power to starter and the Dizzy and everything else. I'll pull the chrome valve covers and check the lifter adjustment tomorrow. Probably also pull the choke cable and dizzy and see if there is enough room to get a drill in place to prime the motor.

Fingers crossed. Sat is the day with Sun and Mon as back up days for my screw ups.

 

Dad,

Final checklist. Counting down to Ol Bessy back from the grave....I am a nervous wreck.

 

Dad,

10 am Saturday, final checks and blow fuel from tank to pump. Should be key on by 11 am. Just need beer now.

 

Dad,


About ready for start tomorrow. Tool laid out, including fluids. First thing I'll get fresh gas and put 4 or 5 gallons in the tank. I'm placing a real time temp probe inside the radiator and we have the Infrared Gun to match against the gauges.


Engine already primed and was making 55 psi oil pressure on the small electrical drill.


Push her out about 10 am. Stage the tools, giant fan and tie down the exhaust pipes. We will blow fuel from tank to pump and prime the main carb, stand by fire extinguishers and should be cranking by 1100 hrs.


I'll call you just before we turn the key so you'll be on hand

 

Staging for start up completed...

 

Now all ya gotta do is umm,start it up.


Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Dad,

Prepped and key on at 1030 7 March 2020. Last run was fall 1991 when she was struck and parked. Video is a compilation of the 45 minute break in. 15 mins at 2000 rpm, 10 minutes at 1500 rpm and the remainder at 1000 and 700 rpm. BigTen blew fuel to the front, primed the line from pump to carbs and took care of filling the trans and radiator while I bumbled around and tried not to poop my pants or puke. I love this car.
Some minor weeping at the pump and thermostat to correct with new gaskets, but everything else is fluid tight. On to the last of the mechanical and hydraulic systems now and then we'll get to tuning and exhaust.
Your Gal is almost ready to gallop!
(I recon we'll start a trend. Give it a month and all the youngins will have flex pipe exhaust running out the front of their tuners!)

 

Today we had lunch on Bessy's front bumper. Buffalo Trace and some beers. Thank you BigTen! She's Alive. Dad's going to be so damn excited!

 

Dad,

Brakes next. Went lokar front to back for the parking brake. Expensive but all matching maker and should work fine. I'll put it in first then follow with the brake lines. Ordered a coil of 3/16 tubing to plumb it and based on recommendation, all the fittings are for that line, eliminating many additional unions/less leak potential. Getting started on both next week. Antenna is on the way, probably mount up in front of the radiator, hidden. One its in and working, I'll call you from the car!

Last big part is the drive shaft. After that, nothing but driving and tweaking!

 

Good progress. What are your plans for the interior?

 

Drive and tweak this summer and then upholstered this winter if lucky. Havnt thought past a grey or blue. Only for sure is to follow the factory pattern of 2 tone and wide ribs. Prefer to find the ribbed battleship rubber floor that was original. May have to trim in a truck bed mat as those repop floor mats are long off market.

 

I like the truck mat idea. That may be a good option for the running boards.

 

We hit the boards with blue paint and topped with rino liner. Planning to step on them so paint wouldn't hold up.