New World Datsuns...

So did the stock clutch slave that was on the bellhousing/case stick out to far, that is why you went with the pull setup?

It looks good, I used a stock Ford Courier power brake booster/master on my 47 Chevy truck, I also used an automatic transmission, so I deleted the clutch pedal.
I used the stock frame with a AMC Pacer front clip on my truck, they said I could not lower it with that setup, but it was plenty low enough, but I would never do it again, because the Pacer bushings just are not made for a V8 and the weight of the truck, it worked great for a while, but when I backed up everything just got out of shape even though everything was new, to much weight, but it drove like a car, smooth.
If you keep picking away at it, you will finish, bet that will be a day for a "finished the truck" party.

The Lakewood scatter shield that I'm using is semi-universal and it does have a mounting bracket for a push type hydraulic slave. The biggest problem is pedal clearance when the brake is pressed. As it stands, I had to shorten the throwout fork a bit to get the room for the pedal to go past. I will admit that aesthetics were a secondary consideration. I just didn't want it to be visible. There's a few things that would certainly be easier, and possibly even better, but I'm choosing to take a harder path simply to get a certain look. Low mount alternator, aftermarket cast manifolds, mechanical fan, making the pedals fit the stock locations, fuel tank and battery relocation were all primarily a cosmetic decision. I'm even researching an AC system that would be completely contained under the front of the bed floor and under the seat with no visible components. I guess I'll see if it was all worth it when I get it done.


Always heard good things about the Pacer. I didn't realize your Chevy was updated like that. For some reason I thought it was pretty stock. I remember the Pacer being the hot ticket before the Mustang II got really popular. We actually picked up a donor car up for a '36 my dad had back when I was 14-15. We ended up just doing a disc brake conversion on the stock straight axle instead though. That was the car that really taught me to dislike the feel/smell/taste of brake fluid. That was a pretty neat little truck with a '46 flathead -- sounded great through the dual exhaust. I don't think we took a single photo of it before it was sold.

Mine was a modern truck except for the body, 350/350, 69 Chevelle posi rearend(355 gears), tilt wheel, pacer front end with the hub/rotor drilled to a Chevy pattern, my biggest mistake was to restore it, didn't drive it anymore after it was nice.
I guess I build for function, I will likely never have anything with a tucked wiring harness, that's just going to far for me, I don't want something I cannot drive in any weather if I decide to.

Pre weekend update...

Opened a spot for the rear swaybar.


The brackets fit inside the rail but the bushings needed to be shaved.


I'm in the process of making some bolt-in fillers to give back the structural integrity. Overall it fits really nicely.

I needed to fabricate 2 corner gussets for the rear as the originals were too mangled to save.

My dual snorkel air cleaner finally showed up. Still kind of on the fence about it. I really like it but not sure yet if it's right for this project. It stays for now.

Then it was time to separate the cab and break it all down one more time.

You ever start doing something and just know it's a bad idea?

Added a safety chain once it was all the way up.

Got it all leveled and squared again. Now it's all ready to start welding and grinding. Soooo much grinding.


The only other thing I got accomplished was bolting up the clutch.

Looking great.

I too am not sure about that air cleaner on that truck. I like the air cleaner, and the truck. Just not so sure about them together. The traditional Cadillac air cleaner might fit the trucks style a little better(IMO).

I'll have to wait until the truck is done to be sure. Honestly, there's a few different things going on with this project. The general appearance and style will definitely be traditional. The chassis is undeniably streetrod. The engine is backlash against the backlash. For the last 40 years it seemed like everybody was putting a SBC (usually a 350) in their old Fords. It reached it's peak in the '90s when everyone was soaking them in ball milled billet and the end result was that people started to hate them. That brought on the "anything but a 350" movement, which is cool because I like seeing the variety and I'm certainly not a purist. In my view, it's starting to come full circle and I don't feel bad about using a SBC at this point. Rather than try to go "traditional" with a polished tripower and maybe some vintage style Edelbrock valve covers, I'm tipping my hat to some of the high marks of the muscle car era. The 283 has a lot of DZ302-spec items. I always liked the LT-1, Z/28, L-82 valve covers too. The air cleaner is a pretty correct repro of the LT-1 Camaro unit. Although the manifolds aren't technically ramhorns, I think they capture the vibe. I have a couple other induction styles I want to try later on so the air cleaner will get changed regardless.


Anyway, I spent a few hours welding today. No pics because there's really nothing to see yet.

Just googled caddy air cleaner. Omnomnomnom.

Trucks coming along nicely. Any word from your bro?

He stopped by on Christmas morning. I asked if he'd made any more progress on the door he was working on and he said he hadn't done any more work to it beyond the inner patch and the lower skin. So, basically, he hasn't finished the first panel yet. Still has another door, the cab, 4 fenders, 2 inner fenders, a grille, 4 hood panels, 2 lower bed filler panels, a tailgate and a bed. So I figure he's got about 2% finished. There is no possible way I'll be driving this by June. Not much I can do about it though. I'll have a chassis all ready for a body inside of 90 days.

is he your younger brother?

Little brother but still a grown-ass man of 36. Too old for a little brother beat down?

Nevar too old

I think I've referenced this a couple times earlier in the thread; This body/paint work was part of a semi-convoluted three way cash and labor trade between my dad, my brother, and myself. We started this deal over 2 years ago and I set a driving deadline of June 2015 back in November of 2013 which should have been ample time. Our dad has more than met his obligations. In fact, he's sweetened the pot (at least twice that I know of) and volunteered labor too. I've held up my end and then some. The problem is that my brother has already been "paid" for the job so there's no leverage. It's frustrating because he's really good at what he does and there's no one I'd rather have do the work. That being said, body guys do have a reputation as being flaky.
All I can do is plug away at my part of the job and wait. Either wait on him or save up the money to pay someone else to finish it.

Hahaha. That's what I was getting at. Go beat his ass

My older brother and I never really got physical. We wrestled once and I punched him in the side of his face cuz he wouldn't get off me. (He's a big boy and it's very easy for him to throw me around and do whatever lol). I got a choice. Either a punch to the face or the gut. I chose the gut. Fucking ow.

It sucks, but at the same time he is your family. I get the place you're in with this. He's a good guy, I've met and talked with him a few times. Ah well, I will impatiently be patient for this project of yours to get painted for my viewing pleasures

A few more hours spent welding. Again, no pics because it basically looks exactly the same.

Frustrating point in the build. 8 more hours in the shop today. Cut/weld/grind/repeat. Still looks basically the same. Pics when there's something to show.

Cant wait to see pics

I'm a shitty welder. That is all.

DRIVEN » Tue Jan 27, 2015 8:59 pm wrote:I'm a shitty welder. That is all.

You don't need to be a good welder, you need to be a good grinder, I am very good at grinding.

Truer words were never spoken.


Honestly, I can lay a decent bead most of the time. Just having a hell of a time on this old Henry steel. Must be the 80 years of rust and contamination...or I might just be a shitty welder.