Topics

I would like to put cruise control on my '39 Chevy for a couple of reasons.  One, there isn't a lot of extra space between the transmission hump and the brake pedal to move your foot around and secondly, I would like to keep my driver's license.

My transmission is a T-56 Borg Warner (Tremec) so I need the disconnects for both the clutch and brake pedals.

What cruise control do you recommend?

TIA

My neighbor bought a '54 Chevy BelAir 2 door post.  We have been evaluating the rust situation and the floor pans require extensive work.

Does anyone make replacement floorpans and other sheetmetal?

TIA

Spent most of the Thanksgiving week end putting my chassis together after powder coating.  The drive train consists of a Chevy ZZ430 clone, T-56 trans and a 9" Ford with 4.11 Trak Loc.  The front suspension is a Chassis Engineering Mustang ll set up with 11" Granada rotors and GM calipers.  The rear suspension is a triangulated 4 bar of my own design with QA1 coil overs and a Deuce Factory stabilizer bar.  It is extremely tight back there forcing me to run the tail pipes underneath the rear axle.

The body was media blasted followed by a light sand blast and a couple of coats of zinc chromate primer.  I was extremely pleased with the body after media blasting.  This is the nicest body I have ever worked on in my 40+ years of playing with cars.  There are several pin holes in each of the rear fender wells which I plan to lead and a couple of patch panels on the pan below the trunk lid.

After the body work is complete, back to the body shop for urethane primer and start the long task of block sanding.  This car will be black so several cycles of priming and blocking are in store.  The body will be mounted to the chassis before the final top coat is applied.

After owning the car for 24 years, I can start to see daylight.  Hopefully, I can drive it next year without interior.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b388/b_inchicago/39_Chevy_Construction_066.jpg

What weight gear lube is recommended for a 9" Traction Lock rear end and how much?  The housing is a 1966 Fairlane if that makes a difference.

TIA

What method works best for you in removing rivets in ball joints?  I've tried grinding the heads flush and whaling with a punch and hammer and I've tried drilling the rivet out.  Neither method was robust.

I would like to salvage the ball joints if possible.

TIA for any suggestions.

Hi all.  I made myself a New Year's resolution this year to spend less time on the computer and more time in the garage making things happen.  So far, I have been able to make significant progress on my '39 Chevy.  In about two weeks the frame and chassis will be sent to the powder coaters.  After the chassis is reassembled, the body, with its 66 year old paint, will be placed back on the chassis. I will paint the fenders and runningboards with some version of California suede.  That should match the original paint fairly well.

I intend to drive it this way until I can afford paint & uphostery or I might just drive the wheels off of it an enjoy it like DRD57 has done with his Model A for the past half a dozen years.

Well, I'd better get back out to the garage if I'm going to meet my paint appointment.

Later.

I am putting 11" x 2.5" mid 70s Econoline (Bendix) brakes on my '39 Chevy.  I have purchased all the component parts but I want to be sure I am putting it together correctly before I make my first stop.  Does anyone have any information on assembly of these brakes?

TIA

I am close to ordering sound deadening / insulation materials for my '39 Chevy sedan but I'm not sure what to use.  What do you recommend or suggest and why? Dynamat? Insulshield? or other.  These materials are rather expensive and I want to get it right the first time.

This car will be a cross country cruiser so comfort is of most importance since the better half will be joining me and I have spoiled her with her daily drivers.  She wants is as quiet as her Olds Aurora. Ha Ha!

TIA

One of my neighbor's nephews, a young man in his late 20s, has been visiting my shop a couple of times each week since I met him last fall.  He has been watching and helping me work on my '39 Chevy and has been bitten hard by the street rod bug.

He recently purchased his own '39 Chevy sedan that has been sitting in a ditch the past 20 or 30 years.  The body was covered with a tarp and is salvageable but the frame is Swiss cheese and beyond my talents for saving. His father thinks he should put the body on a late model frame but I believe that would be a last resort.  I have never seen one done that way that looked right and I have all the templates used in building my '39 that he could use.

Do any of you know of a 1939 Chevy frame available at a reasonable within a one day drive of S.E. Wisconsin?  Please let me know.

TIA