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1937 Dodge, Ol Bessy Is Coming Home!


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  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

Lookin' good!

 

Boy do you you have a radiator fan!!!  ?  Over kill??

 

DJ

Posted

Nope.  Overbuild all cooling systems.  Then you can idle across death vally in august with the ac on.  Once and done.   But thats a typical size fan for an ls motor

  • Like 1
Posted

Probably run factory brake or clutch pedal to operate the brakes.  Gas will likely be simple cable pedal, not sure if this ls is throttle by cable or throttle by signal. ..... signal will be simplest.

 

Steering column is still being vetted, working exhaust first, then we'll finalize the column/shafts and/or offset drive gears.

Posted
3 minutes ago, Sharps40 said:

Probably run factory brake or clutch pedal to operate the brakes.  Gas will likely be simple cable pedal, not sure if this ls is throttle by cable or throttle by signal. ..... signal will be simplest.

 

Steering column is still being vetted, working exhaust first, then we'll finalize the column/shafts and/or offset drive gears.

I ran the hugger LS headers in my swap. Steering will route on the outside of them. But it does make for a tight squeeze at the motor mounts. I would of rather pulled the outputs further back. Was curious as I'm working on firewall/brake/gas/column on mine right now. 37 with LS1 Drive by cable. 

  • 4 months later...
Posted (edited)

Today is the first time we have seen Ol Bessy assembled since she was hit by a drunk way back in 1992. She is looking GRAND! (Even in her first rough assembly.) Hard to believe we are on the final leg of a journey that started in 1957 when Dad bought her for $50 with hopes of one day having a V8 in her. Now she sports a 21st century 315 horse mill and quite soon, all the creature comforts of a modern automobile. (Power steering, independent suspension, power disc brakes, Air Conditioning, Tilt Wheel, 4 speed automatic overdrive and she'll still look just like she did 82 years ago.)

 
And, I think my home made aluminum grill surround looks pretty good too!
 

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Edited by Sharps40
  • 2 months later...
Posted

She's not finished but the time has come for final assembly.....at home!   Awaiting confirmation, but current date for pickup at the shop is 14 August.   With some luck, it'll arrive in my garage that weekend or early the following week.

 

On the final assembly list is exhaust, steering, brakes, fuel, cool, glass, rubber and upholstery.  Barring any issues, I hope to start the car for the first time in 25 years by thanksgiving!

Posted

Been doing a lot of research. I'm thinking about first three steps in this soon to be garage project. After inventory and bolting up all the sheet metal, I think I am ditching the used modern engine and transmission. Looking at the cost (let alone complexity) of fuel system mods, trans wiring/programming, engine wiring/reprogramming, coolant system hose/steam line/pressure vessel monster, and the list go's on.......I am leaning towards a v8 and trans more closely aligned with my budget and knowledge.....a small block and a th350. The modern stuff would have been wonderful.....if they would have finished the car. Hell Bells, the engine alone needs 40eleven electrical connectors and 2 miles of coolant hose, brains, 6 million lbs of fuel pressure and its so wide, I can't even see where it'll all go..... I'm liking the simplicity and cost of a 600 CFM carb and HEI lots better.

Hell, a Goodwrench engine and TCI trans with converter are less new with warranty than all the mods to get the LS motor just to run....let alone fix whatever it needs as a used engine.

Crossed fingers, car might just be in my garage this week. Wed is supposed to be the loading day.

Posted

Ol Bessy went on the truck this morning at 11 AM.   Should be here tonight or tomorrow morning.   Looking forward to having her home in my garage for the first time since 1991.   Hope to be driving her by Christmas.   That'll also be the first ride in her since 1991, many more horses and amenities this time though.

Posted

Todays work.

Got her home and in the garage.

Front suspension springs are too long, bent and shocks won't fit.....I'll call Fat Man, may need shorter ones....not sure, this is a potential major screw up by the shop.

Dash is scraped up and needs new paint, probably by the shop in the moving around.

Headlights are scratched, not too bad though.

Hood braces installed, hood aligned, hood pins fitted, hood handles adjusted/freed up to operate.

Door check straps installed, door hinge pins seated.

Running board brackets installed, running boards need drilled and fitted.

Headlight stands and trim installed.

Headlight buckets installed.

Headlight inserts installed (6 hours to figure it out!!!)

Front Wing emblem installed.

License plate installed.

Screws installed in dash to hold it on, all threads are stripped, will have to repair to hold the dash up.

 

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Posted

Email to Dad this morning.....

 

Dad, this mornings work......off to mow and buy bolts to fix the dash attachment.
 
Installed the windshield inner trim, installed lower dash bolts (it won't fall out now), found steering column drop, installed rear view mirror, painted and reinstalled the license plate bracket (Silver), installed back seat hand straps and coat hangers, installed dome lamp and dome lamp switch, found and hung the dash plates that hold the light switches, throttle and choke, installed the full filler neck and grommet, located and installed the very poor condition front bumperetts.

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Posted

You are moving ahead. I am assuming you are going to do the interior so a lot of the interior parts you mentioned will have to come out again. Good chance to put some sound deadener on the inside of the roof, on the floor, and in the doors. You will likely need to order all new rubber for the front and rear windows and the quarter windows. Some window channels for the other windows will be necessary too. It takes time but you will get there.

Posted

Yep.   Rubber and glass.   For now, installing running boards today, aligning metal from back to front.   Front has to come off as we intend to toss the ls and 4l60e for a non computer drive line with a warranty.   Also I need to go through the suspension, looks like the shop might have installed over long springs and the rack hits the lower control arm bolts/needs shimmed forward.   Much to do.   Retiring in 19 work days.   Hope to have it driving by thanskgiving.   If so, we'll take it hunting and see if 4 deer will fit in the trunk!

 

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