The Time Has Come

The time has come to pull the engine and transmission. We want to tear down the engine and replace all the gaskets top to bottom. Todd would also like to re-ring the pistons. We are working with a 383 block with 35o heads. This combination will offer us a decent power range and a wide rage of parts companies to choose from. The latter will be important when we get on the road. I am sure we are going to have a breakdown or two along the way. After inspecting the MOPAR radiator we decided that it might just be best placed on the wall as a decoration.

While Todd was tearing the front end apart I was working on the drive line. We removed the prop shaft and inspected the transmission a bit. We are thinking that it must not be original. The original engine was a six cylinder with a different bolt pattern. We found some pretty shifty engineering but figured out that it wasn't a hatchet job. Mostly our problems are making sure that we plan some smart mounts for the transmission and engine. Luckily the original frame was not turned into swiss cheese. The floors however are a little bit of swiss cheese so eventually those are going to have to go. There are some really good resources out there for sheet metal. The floors should be mostly a labor and time issue. Luckily Todd is a welder too.






I am finding out that working on really old cars can be simple. With out all the technology, most of the parts are mechanical in nature. With this simplicity we had the engine and transmission prepped and ready to be removed for inspection and maintenance.







The prop shaft comes out. It was a stubborn little guy. Getting underneath her and messing with those u-bolts reminded me of working on my old Jeeps when I was a rambunctious youth. The shaft is in good shape I think we can use it when we get the new rear end.





There January Birthday sits. A little naked but looking sharp and ready. The next step for us is to drop the transmission with the forklift and then pull the motor and get it on the engine stand for breakdown and gasket replacement. I think the project has settled in a bit and I can feel some of the magic all ready. We keep plodding along like the tortoise and eventually we will cross that finish line.

Slow And Steady

Progress is going slow and steady on January Birthday. My partner in the project, T.B. Lussier pictured right, and I are in the planning stages still. Gathering parts lists and trouble shooting what is what on her. We have the engine figured out for the most part. We have a lot of work to do on the front end. I am going to put a disc brake kit and upgrade the wheel bearings to make her a little safer. The steering box needs a little love too. We have decided to scrap the rear end it has in it now. It is old and we have figured out that a newer one from a mid sixties would be a more reliable choice. There are a lot of salvage yards here in town we can scout something I'm sure.


The ride home was a great realization that this project could work and be fun at the same time. We revelled in the fact that January Birthday was bought in the shadow of Route 66. We talked about all the possibilities, all the different ways we could make her great. From paint color combinations to how to out fit the rear to hold all of the grip equipment. Our thoughts were like the open road before us. Any turn is ours to take. We drove home through the night and dropped her off at the garage where we are doing the work. It was a quick twenty hour trip that started the wheels turning.









The work has started. Todd and I have chosen the front end to start with. I was blown away when I saw my solid front axle for the first time. I have decided to keep as many original parts as I can. So the big forged axle stays. The old drum brakes and ball wheel bearings are getting swapped out for disc brakes and tapered roller bearings. While we are waiting on parts there is little stuff to do here and there. I removed the headliner that was falling apart and the other day I removed the rusty wasted exhaust from the manifolds back. The engine is ready to be pulled. It's amazing how minimal the engine compartment is. Working on her is going to be a great learning experience. I'm taking photos every time I go up and do a little work. More to come soon.

Hello

I bought a truck. It's a 1954 Chevrolet panel truck. I named it January Birthday. I plan on fixing her up and making her road worthy. January Birthday is going on a trip. We will drive East and West, North and South. Looking for the great things that define America. The foundation of the trip will be Historic Route 66. The setting for the original Road Trip. The trip however, will come soon enough. There is a lot of work to be done on January Birthday. You can watch the progress here on this blog. I will be updating it with written word, pictures and information on topics related to this project. For now though I just introduce January Birthday.