Well, after 18 months, I finally got to take the first drive in my F1. It was just down the driveway a couple times, then I got brave and went out on the road (short, private road).

After a few weeks of wiring, pinion seal repair, severely under-filled C4 tranny (hope I didn't do too much damage running it only about half full of fluid - yes I am an idiot), etc, I decided to see what it was like to actually drive the beast. Felt great, even if we only got up to about 25-30 (enough to make sure the trans shifted through all 3 gears). A bit breezy without windows, but it's summertime.

Now if I could figure out why the brakes are only minimally working, I would feel better.

Oh well, that is why the call it a work in progress.

Dave


Started with this the day before Super Bowl 2012:



Here is where I am now:



Even took my toothless copilot for a ride:



A long way to still go but I would definitely call this progress.

Thanks for all the help and support.

 

You should update your avatar now!

 

You have come a long way with the old girl, in a short space of time. It must be very satisfying. Congratulations, keep up the good work.

 

Very nice. You have made a lot of progress. Keep on moving forward.

 

It's a good feeling isn't it?

 

Congratulations Dave!!! Looks like you have a nice little helper there in the driver's seat! Those are beautiful seats too - where did you get those?

I can't give you much help on brakes though I will say they can be incredibly sensitive to the push rod length from your pedal to your master cylinder.
Our's was a 1/8 of inch too long & we had the opposite problem residual pressure in the system locking us up.

Looking great in Oregon!

Ben in Austin
1950 F1

 

beautiful truck. going to be a great looking rig when finished.

 

NICE!! You can't imagine how inspiring that is to me with the '52 I just hauled home that looks a lot like your first photo.

Looks like you have the bulk of it done, just need to work out the little bugs & gremlins now. It has to be nice when the light at the end of the tunnel really isn't an oncoming train!

Congrats on a job well-done so far, and keep up the good work.

 

Congrats on the first drive, mine will be ready for it's first drive soon.

 

Great progress....congrats on the drive! Good looking truck too...

 

ATTA BOY Dave. Good work. Could you see while drivin? Your smile must have been so big, your cheeks were pushin your eye's closed

 

Congratulations!! It's coming together. Your dog looks happy the seating arrangements!!

 

Thanks for the kind words. Yes I had quite the smile during the drive.

Ben, the seat is out of a Honda Passport I found at the U-Pull-It and the brackets are out of a Voyager van. Grand total of $30. It is just the right width.

 

congratulations DMack! No other feeling like that first drive. Looking good.

 

Outstanding! The first drive will always be remembered. Nice progress!