1956 GMC panel truck - POS to RatRod in one year.........

[MZcountryboy]

That is some spectacular looking roller paint there, Dwight, although I'm really diggin' the matte black on the Camaro too. I think I am going to have to try it.



Did you have to build a trophy room yet, Mr. Race Car driver?

[RedRocker]

[hankgs]

Man, I wish I could attempt a "multi-faceted project" like this... To have a shop, tools and skills- Awesome!
If there is anyone in my area doing a project like this and needs a noob-grinder, tool getter or clean up guy-let me know!

Thanks for the post!

[Roadracer_Al]

It's amazing to me that those hinge boxes are available! I did some restoration work on a '73 IH Scout II, and there wasn't much available.

I hesitate to mention this, since you've already got it finished....

If you feel like buying tools, one of these is really pretty sweet to have and not terribly expensive:

Horrible Fright Shrinker/Stretcher

This tool would have let you get the entire windshield surround done in one piece. I have a pair of the smaller units (the bigger one hadn't come out yet) and they're a real treat to use, although the greater throat depth would be very nice. With two bodies, you don't have to switch jaws all the time.

[ddavidv]

Originally Posted by MZcountryboy

Did you have to build a trophy room yet, Mr. Race Car driver?

Not yet. The key to me getting a trophy is to select those races that will be terribly under-subscribed. My first two races only had 3 cars in the class. I'd have won one of them after the leader spun had my head not been up my posterior during a yellow flag. Stupid noob mistake. In 'real' races I've finished as high as 5th, which is pretty good considering I have the wrong wheel/tire package, a power steering pump that is still hooked up and driving skills that are best classified as 'average'.

[EvilClown]

Originally Posted by ddavidv

THREAD HIJACK WARNING
Not what I was going for...the point was to be an homage this:
So I wound up with this (sorry for the ginormous image):

I've since fixed the stripes to the right color scheme.
THREAD HIJACK OVER--back to Saving The Panel Truck

Whew! For a moment there I though you were waiting for things to dry to get the green stripes on to match the KLR in your avatar.



How's that motor coming along, Scott?

[MZcountryboy]

I finally found one of those parts that seemed to be impossible to buy. Thank-you, ebay.

The exhaust manifold on the 250 6 cylinder uses a heat riser setup to warm the intake manifold and carburetor faster when the engine is cold.

On the V8 - this was a bolt on unit on the bottom of the collector, and can be replaced easily. The 6 cyl has it built into the manifold, and is welded in place. The key to making it work is a temperature sensitive bi-metallic coil spring, that wraps around the shaft of the flapper valve next to the counterweight.


Cold engine:



Hot engine:




My spring was broken, and the heat riser was inoperative. Replacing the spring required cutting the flapper from the shaft and pulling it out of the manifold, then re-welding.



The 1/4" bolt is the stop for the spring, the original pin was rusted away.



Got the carb on the intake - along with my fast idle cam + link rod.



The two manifolds nest together -




All new studs, (one of the collector studs needed to be drilled out, and wow, I didn't get it very straight, but the collector flange has elongated holes, so it should be OK. (I can always bend it if need be.....)

Getting close to being ready to put a motor together.

[Inane Cathode]

Thats really cool you're going through the stock setup parts instead of going all repop :)

[Whitey1]

Subscribed and loving it!

[Laconic]

I was headed off to read a book until I found this. What a great read, MZ.

Adding another subscription...

[MrBob]

[/QUOTE]

The maintenance trick for the heat riser valve back in the day was to give the counterweight a wiggle every time you checked the oil. Keeping the unit moving freely greatly extends the life of the spring. They usually didn't require much more maintenance than that - dead simple.

[H96669]

Originally Posted by MrBob

The maintenance trick for the heat riser valve back in the day was to give the counterweight a wiggle every time you checked the oil. Keeping the unit moving freely greatly extends the life of the spring. They usually didn't require much more maintenance than that - dead simple.

What??? You never used GM's special Heat Riser Valve Lubricant.....!
Worked great to release rusty fasteners too, I remember the smell to this day.

Great thread BTW, reminds me of all the hours I spent on a similar GMC owned by a friend, installing a 350 Olds engine in it.....back in 1974.

[natedog39]

Count me in.

Maybe over the summer both our projects will be in the same place at the same time,,,,that'd be a cool photo op.

Keep up the good work.

[MrBob]

Here's something to shoot for

[MrBob]

Super crappy photo of my old sedan delivery. This was a 52 Pontiac and Canadian made with a combination of Pontiac and Chevy parts.