Sunday, May 31, 2015

Saturday, May 23, 2015

One Week to Go

Insurance and registration secured this week as planned. For the first time in 30 years, this truck is officially street legal. Upgrading from the original single feed master cylinder to the new dual feed required some metal fabrication, but the word from Alex is that the hard part of his work is done. Now it's just a matter of running the new lines and bleeding the system.


After 60 minutes at the DMV on Thursday we're officially registered!


Also Thursday - Stopped by to check progress, Alex had his gorgeous '69 Firebird out


The original single feed master cylinder bolted to the driver's side of the frame but the new dual feed will mount toward the front, which required the new mount


Test fist of the new MC. Directly above is the access hole for the original (on the floor of the cab), which we'll need to enlarge for full access to the new one


As Alex pointed out in our conversation yesterday, there are plenty of things on this truck that will need attention "sooner rather than later," as you might imagine with any vehicle that's been sitting for so long, but we will be safe and ready to go down the road when the brake system work is done.

Hard to imagine that in just one week's time the dream will finally be real.


###

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Another Trailer Ride

We're still on target for the first drive May on 30th, two weeks from yesterday. I'll always be appreciative of all that my friend Steve has done for this project (securing the trailer to haul the truck to his house and back, fixing the frame, mounting the disc brake kit on the front, and providing countless valuable tips and advice), but we weren't able to match things up schedule wise to get the brake job wrapped up in time for the big day. I have a lot of family and friends coming from near and far to be here, and it would have been an absolute nightmare trying to reschedule. Thank you again for everything, Steve! Really hope you can be here for the first drive, and of course looking forward to parking this thing next to your gorgeous '38 Chevy Sedan Delivery on cruise night at the Sycamore.

I had no idea if we would fit into Alex's schedule when I made the call yesterday. Thankfully the answer was yes, and he came by with the trailer. For some reason I'm not able to add photos to the blog today, so please see our Facebook page for documentation of the truck moving from its spot in the driveway for only the second time in the past 5 years.

The insurance/registration process is underway and should be all wrapped up by the end of the coming week. Then a week from Saturday, we drive!


###

Monday, May 11, 2015

On the Ground Again

After getting the new rear brakes on, we were having a small adjustment issue with the right side. Not 100% sure, but I think it's mostly due to the parking/emergency brake cable. Finally got the shoes to go in enough to get the drum on. We've still got some adjusting to do, but the wheels are on and we're ready for the trailer ride over to Steve's for the new master cylinder and brake lines.


Mothers Day 2015: Off the blocks!


Got a good quote from Hagerty yesterday for the insurance. Looks like we'll go with them unless there's a better deal out there. Then as soon as I have the card, it's just a matter of a trip to the DMV for the registration and we'll be that much closer to driving day...


###