[beck]

This project is just beginning it's 4bt portion of the build. The truck has been in progress for a while, with the intention to convert to the 4bt after the bugs were worked out of the truck. I couldn't wait and dove into the step van purchase. The small block Chevy V8 that is currently in the truck will be pulled before it has ever powered this truck. The 4bt will be taking it's place shortly I hope.
I will attempt to update my link as progress is made so keep checking back.
I'll try to take some photos tomorrrow of the 4bt coming out of the P-30 chassis (weather permitting) and hopefully of the progress I made this week on the truck bed.
Here is a link to the trucks web sight.
http://bh2.htc.net/~beck/

 

[JimmieD]

Looks like a great project truck! I'm a Dodge guy but I still like the 60's to early 70's GM trucks for the body lines. Should be one nice truck when you're done. Did you build the other rod there, looks like maybe a '33? Nice shop area to work in...

 

[beck]

Thanks,
The other car is a '32 Ford 3 window coupe that I built. I have built several street rods. The truck is the latest model vehicle I have ever done a project on. Before that the newest would have been a 1946-47. I had a Ford and a Chevys of that year. Those cars were a bit like Johnny Cash's song and the parts interchange so you could have a multiple year car. The thing that really determined what it year was the title. The '62 truck is a bit like that also. some body parts interchange from 60 to 66. The '62 truck will be a rat, the 32is not.
Work areas never seem to be big enough. This is my attached garage. My daily driver stuff winds up in the driveway. The garage is full of projects or finished hot rods. That doesn't make my wife happy when she has to scrape ice and snow from her windshield in the winter, and her black car is hotter than he!! in the middle of the summer. Her car truely should be in the garage. How does she put up with me?? I just took a break from cleaning up the garage so I have room to move the truck around and get some room to pull engines. I'm trying to tie up some loose ends as I go, so the motor may not make it out today. I am going to try take some new photos today too. http://bh2.htc.net/~beck/

 

[beck]

3-25-07 update

The bed wood is now all cut to fit. I had to redo it a few times but finally got the right width. I still have to bolt it all down. That won't be fun. I think I will have to lift the bed above the frame about a foot to get to the bolt heads.
The 4bt is now out of the P-30 chassis. My engine hoist had all it wanted. It was made a little more difficult because I pulled it at the top of my driveway. There is a little incline going to the garage. I had a hard time pulling the hoist into the garage. My caster wheels don't want to turn with a load on the hoist. I took all the motor mounts too. I even took the frame doublers at the mounts. Since I have a GM chassis of about the same vintage they may fit. I dropped all the drive shafts too. You never know when they will come in handy. Anyway the garage is trashed. I can't hardly turn around in it. I managed to scratch the finish paint on the cab with the bottom of a fuel tank I was using it to catch the oil as I drained the 4bt.
The next step is to pull the pan on the 4bt and see if I can get it welded properly. It has hit the crossmember of the P-30 at some time. It was brazed when I got it. It drips. It will be a busy week at work so there probably won't be much accomplished this week. I need to get some things together and cleaned up to sell at a swap meet next weekend. Hopefully I can squeeze a trip to the shreader in this week too. I have to get that big chassis out of my driveway. It's UGLY!

 

[WC53]

What year is that poly tank ?

And is it a stock unit from Chev or an aftermarket one ?

 

[beck]

The poly tank is aftermarket. I thought I kept the reciept, but looked and cannot find it. I purchased it from the net. I paid about $170. It was drop shipped from their supplier. Their reciept was still in the box. It can be bought direct for $105. I remember real supplier was in Iowa. If I recall it is for the mid 80s up to 90. This is a 31 gal version. They are also available in 25gal. The Blazer tank is the same. I thought it would have the large vent tube that goes to the filler line in the tank but it does not. I just realized yesterday that the pickup/gas gauge from the P-30 will work in this tank. It appears to be the same height. The P-30 tanks originally had provisions for the large fill vent in the pickup/sending unit insert. Mine was crimped and soldered. I cut the crimp off and hope to solder on an extension to use that vent tube. The 5/16 vent from the tank was crimped and soldered on my pickup also. I don't know where the tank was vented from. I also am hoping to salvage that vent. My fuel pickup tube was badly cracked at the bottom of the tube where it makes a 90 deg. bend. That also will need repair. Previously I had modified another pickup from a smaller tank. I had to extend everything and modify the fuel gauge sender. I wasn't sure the gauge would read correctly. At least that part isn't broken on the old P-30 pickup.