Rusty Fifty One

It’s amazing what all a door panel can do. While improving looks it also manages to silence 99.9% of the rattling the door internals do. I added heavy plastic, cut from the bags the frames came in, to the backside to keep any leakage off the cardboard.

Also installed new door handles and arm rests while I was at it.

2.25″ pipe kit and two 30″ Smithy’s glass packs. Goin’ for a deeper more mellow sound without losing the classic straight six rap. 8)

New-ish tires from a friend. 7.50×16 10 ply farm tires are out and the new 6.50/7.00 6 ply Hercules pie crusts are in. Much better for town/hwy driving.

Side note: Those who think the 216 with a 3OTT and 4.11 can’t run at highway speeds… Mine routinely runs between 55-65mph for extended periods without issue. *knocks on wood*

Had some free time on my hands so I cut out the last of the rusty bolts that were rattling around on the bed sides and cross sills, added some 2.25″ blocks (cut from 2×2″ scrap) under the front sill and finally mounted my rear bumper.

Received the dual master cylinder, proportioning valve, push rod, bracket, residual pressure valves and lines for my disc conversion from Performance Online (Part Number: MCA4755-2). Took today off to powder coat the calipers, bracket and MC.

Finally picked up my split stock manifold from the welder’s shop! Not as pretty as I wanted but nothing a little grinding and coating won’t hide.

Shot the intake and brushed a quick coat of POR-15 Manifold paint on so it doesn’t rust while I’m waiting on the rest of the exhaust.

Scored an old three wire DixCo tachometer on the ’47-55 AD Tech and Swap Meet fb page. Works great! Took it apart to clean it up and change the bulb color from green to white/clear.

Nothing to add to the blog, just been puttin’ in some time behind the wheel.

…actually, that’s not true about nothing to add.
I changed the oil and filter and managed not to seat the canister gasket correctly. About 3mi later pressure was at ZERO and I had lost about 3-3.5qts. Rolled into a service station and filled her up with the thickest stuff I could find and she’s been running better pressure than ever. ~14lbs at idle and 15 under load. Still have to get the good stuff back in. Mmm… ZDDP.

Left a nice 4″ wide trail all the way from my house (made a three point turn in my neighbor’s driveway) to the main road about 2.5mi away.

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Here’s a picture from the first Chuck-a-Burger Cruise Night this season.

No matter how much a hotrod she becomes, she’ll never not be a pickup truck.

It’s been a bit of work but Bessie is finally startin’ to look like a real hot rod!

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Started out with “Sky Blue” but it was WAY too smurfy.
The remaining powder is going to a friend with a white/black on blue 1960 Impala.

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So a second batch of powder was ordered. Sterling Teal Micro Pearl. This stuff kicks ass! It looks a bit blue in some of the pics but it’s almost an exact match to Tiffany blue which is probably why it’s called Sterling Teal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiffany_Blue

Color comparison.

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Process shots.

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Tire prep.

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Mounted and balanced.

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Caps.

Odd but whateves…

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Ready to dance!