Thanks!
Called the machine shop yesterday, can you believe my engine block for the supercharged engine is STILL not finished?
Good think I didn't wait for it, coming up on a year ago I dropped it off. I think machine shops are worse than body shops.

 

You need to find a new machine shop.

 

Great build. Great fab skills. Considering buying a crusty all original 51 F1 from a guy I work with. Don't know if you inspired me or deterred me from taking on the project but will be following your build(s) regardless.

 

LOL thank you and that's pretty funny!
I say buy it, but I have a problem with buying old rusty junk, so I am biased.

 

Time for a tail gate!
Got this one cheap at a swap meet since it had lots of holes drilled in it, cracks, a chunk missing out of the side, and it was the wrong year for my bed!
But hey cheap is good.



Holes filled, damage fixed, latch tabs lowered to match my bed



blasting



some black paint



fogged some home mixed brown over the black




And finally mounted, matches the truck and is actually functional



Another step closer to done!

 

You make it all look so easy.

 

Thanks, but it is just one small project at a time. Collecting the tools to do the work over the years does speed up the process, craigslist is my friend!


LOL I just noticed there is a jag in the background of the one pic, destined to be stripped for the suspension shortly for a different build!

 

I noticed that too and the big equipment. You have the setup to pull them out and get rid of the scrap. Im hoping to find one when i get space.

 

The big tools help but are not a must have, I worked for years with only the usual hand tools and jacks. You have already done a ton of great work with your truck, so you know it isn't easy, but pictures sure can make it look that way!

 

Another update, the LT1 engines are designed to be low profile and because of that sit low in bigger engine compartments. To fix that visual problem I like to add an air cleaner on top, similar to how I put this caddy air cleaner on my 47 caddy to fil up the space.



It is not functional, but it is funny watching people at shows looking under there and seeing no carb. Then they start looking closer to figure out what is going on!

So with that in mind I have been trying to figure out what Ford air cleaner would be cool to use. Of course a shaker came to mind but prices are way high for the parts, and I didnt want to cut the hood. Cobra air filter almost won out, but then I found a 1960 Tbird air cleaner on ebay for cheap, it was priced at only $40 with shipping which is a steal. I think the seller figured out his mistake and to make up for it shipped the air cleaner complete with nut shells and mouse nest inside

After shaking out the mouse leftovers



A quick blasting and wire brushing



And a spray with my custom mix blue I sprayed on the inside of the cab.



I will let this dry and then comes the metal flake to finish it off.

 

Love the look of the T-bird Fender Metal... Looks great on there!

 

Thanks!


Took the truck out to put gas in it, thing is unreal loud. I have a radio to put in it but that would be useless right now! My wife wants me to leave it this way but tail pipe fabrication will be coming up.

 

Apparently I have the same problem. Not sure what to do with it yet but strongly considering the Jag IFS swap based on what I have seen you do.

 

Thanks, the jag IFS does work very well on a lot of different cars, just because the track width is right and the crossmember is not hard to adapt to different frames. I also like that the front suspension pieces are all forged parts, no light weight parts. The XJ6s I have been parting out show a loaded weight with passengers and cargo of almost 5000 pounds!

I also want to install a jag IRS in something as well, just to do it since I have a few around now.

A cool think I just found out tonight is the floor shifter in the jag is a pseudo ratchet shifter! It has detents from 1 to 2 to D, so you can start out in first, slam it and it only goes to 2nd, then slam it again and it goes into drive. I normally use 4 speed automatics now but I am going to see if I can make it work. Not a bad looking shifter either.

I am picking up another XJ6 tomorrow just to have more parts on the shelf for the future, sometimes they are too cheap to pass up.

Good luck with your build which ever way you go with it.

 

You're gonna have to change your handle to Jag man if you buy any more Jaguars.