Finally pulled the 48 out last week and stared to get to work on it. I have had this project for about 5 years now and haven't done anything with it yet. Just has not been the right time until now. It all ready had a lot of work started when I picked it up. The first pic is what it looked like when I got it. I pulled the Chevy running gear out and installed a MOPAR 360 and a 727 tranny that I freshened up some with new gaskets, oil pump, cam and bearings,waterpump and a few other things. I was going to build it but once I got inside I could tell it had been rebuilt not long ago. Then I started with the bodywork. I think I have everythng roughed in now with couple of blockings on top of that. Long ways to go still but I am trying to make Pigeon Forge in Sept.. Running boards did not come with it so I am trying a set of side pipes that I had. What do you think? This may be too streetrod for this group but to each ther own. This what it looked like when I got it. You can tell how long I have had it by looking at how clean the walls are in the background compared to now. Removed the rust inside and under it then painted it black after etching it. I forgot to wear a hat and had jet black hair for a couple days after. Primed the bare metal with etching primer. Man this thing is big and hard to reach. Then bodywork and blocking. Mopar motor and trans installed before freshening. And a few pics of what it looks like today with motor and trans installed, all cooling installed, seats installed (but not recovered yet), brakes installed and the side pipes mocked up. Well thanks for looking. I will be back in the shop when the sun comes up.
Sweet panel...sold my 54 dodge panel and wish I had it back...I had lakepipes on mine and liked the way the looked but mine had a real taildragger stance and it seemed to work...check out pix in my albums
Truck is great! Not a fan of chrome sidepipes, but I think some satin black sidepipes would fit in and look OK. (without a heat shield, just smooth and black)
Yep Perry I have been working on it for awhile now. I have finished the body work and am in the prosses for putting the final prime on this weekend. Hope to be painting on it by Feb.. Here is a pic before pulling it part to paint. Here is pic of some friends and my self doing the final blocking this weekend.
I didn't think I would like the side pipes, but they look good in the final primer pick. They work with your wheels. If you changed the wheels to steelies, don't think they would work. Good luck. What COLOR?
Well it's painted. Came out really nice. This weekend I blew it back apart so that I could reclear everything and touch up some spots that I could not reach with it together. Next will be cutting and buffing. I'm not really looking foward to that but it must be done to get the trash out of the paint. I use my one car garage to paint in and there is no way to paint without getting some trash in it. I will update as it goes along. Here a couple pics of it painted and the a couple with it apart.
UPDATE In the middle of cutting and buffing. Wow the price of sandpaper sure has gone up. Cutting it 800 then 1000 then 1500 and will see if it needs more may have to go 2000 also.. This thing is huge.
It is looking great. Having driven my 48 about 50K with a similar set of sidepipes I was going to say that you would soon get real tired of that constant drone in your left ear but as you are into bikes it probably won't bother you like it does most guys who run them. The other bad part about side pipes is that the exhaust likes to swirl around and get crud on the rear wheels so they need constant cleaning to look good.
I hear ya Dodger. I just couldn't leave the Cheby in it. Here is a tease of the interior. The front This is the back. It will have old Harley parts on the shelfs.
Well it's cut and buffed now. I sure am glad that is over with. Cut it with 600-800-1000 then finished with 1500. I tried Presta products for the buffing and will throw out all my 3M products after using the Presta. I was worried about it showing the 1500 scratches and figured that I would have to use at least 2000 on the black. But even the black turned out great with no scratches. Paid $145 for the shop pack that came with 2 black, 2 green wool pads and a blue foam pad for the swirl remover. It comes with the compound, polish, swirl remover, spray wax and a detailer. Try to buy all that in 3M and see how much it costs. I reset up the paint booth into my upholstery shop today and will finish the upholstery before putting everthing back together. Looks like I may make Pegion Forge in April after all. Well back at it in the tomorrow.