Gas Tank & Cab Mount

Got my new Poly 14 gallon gas tank this week from "Tanks" here in Monticello Iowa. Proud to find out it is even made in Iowa. Wa Hoo. Also got parts to mount the cab back on the frame from National Parts Depot. Nancy helped me put the cab back on but it's not tied down yet. Roger Droz (Toes) came up from Topeka and has helped me take the mock engine and transmission back out so I can return them. Will maybe need them later again.
We are going to work on the installation of the gas tank today and will have to do a little head scraching for that project.

New Driveline

Got my new driveline back from Quality Repairs in Danville yesterday. When asking about shortening my existing driveline, Bryon told me that it was built for about 100 horsepower and probably wouldn't hold up under the 300 HP I was putting in and said I should go for a whole new setup. Turned out great and when I asked Matt if it would take the 300 HP I was putting in, he smiled and said, "this baby will take 800 Hp if you want it to". Enough said. I did a quick line up with the dummy tranny and rearend and looks like it will fit fine. You will notice the new one is about 6 3/4 inches shorter than the original, that takes care of the bigger 350 V8 block and longer 700R4 transmission.
Gas tank is ordered from "Tanks" in Monticello Iowa and should be here by the end of the week. Also ordered a cab mount kit from National Parts Depot in Canton Michigan. That should be here by the end of the week.
Gonna get cold outside soon and will have to move my Mig welder inside and start working on fenders and running boards.

Cab back on

My best helper helped me put the cab back on yesterday. Two of the best things I have is a great helper and that gantry crane. Now I know the cab sets back far enough that I can get the distributor out and there is lots of room up front of the small block and fan for the radiator and transmission cooler. The room behind the distributor was the important part as I don't want to have to pull the motor to get it out.
Have to bolt the cab down so I can start working on the new floor pan. The rear of the cab hooks to the frame with a rubber bushed bar on each side and the one on the drivers side wanted to stay put. Was rusted in. I finally had to grind the bolt off both sides so I could get it out and sandblast the rust off. Their in pretty bad shape with most of the rubber bushing gone, so i'm going to order a couple of new ones today from LMC TRUCK along with a new cab mounting kit.
Also have to figure out how to get the rust off the bottom of the cab floor. May have to roll it 90 degrees so I can clean it easier, but thats a way off yet.

Brake system

Got a little ahead of myself this week. After installing the mock engine and transmission and put the pumpkin back in the rear end, I couldn't figure out why I had to rase the transmission tail so high the get the carb base level. Jim Luther and Van Aldershof came down and straighened me out. I wasn't compensating for the "set" of the frame and had the front end too high. Came right into place when I lowered it down, then the pinion angle was easy to dial in. They told me to wait til further into the build before I finally weld the rear spring perches in their final place as the added weight with all the sheetmetal will change things considerably.
I was going to set the cab back on today to see if there was enough room for the engine, distributor and floor pan, and as I was moving boxes around I found out I hadn't installed the hangers for the brake system. Got it all in but missing an adjusting rod from the brake pedal to the booster. I put in a piece of plastic pipe temporarily and will make or buy one later (Don't forget Norm).
I did measure and order a new driveline from Quality Repairs in Danville, that will be finished on Tuesday.

Almost hear it run

Was a good day today. Went to town and picked up a gutted 700r4 transmission case from Jim Luther and an almost gutted 350 block from Larry Gerdom to do the mock up for the tranny mount. Got it all together and drilled and bolted in the tranny mount. I also drilled holes in the frame for the front brake lines. Next I have to put the pumpkin back in the rearend so I can measure and get the drive line cut, rewelded and balanced. Then I can set the rear end angle and weld in the spring perches. Then I will set the cab back on and bolt it down so I can weld in a new floor pan.
Yesterday I went to see Rick Evans who is building a chopped 50's Plymouth station wagon hotrod. I wanted to look at the frame he just had powder coated. Turned out great and made me decide that after I get all the items welded on my frame and all the rest of the holes that need drilled, I will have this frame powder coated also. It really will look a lot better that just paint and outlast me. The cost is a lot less than I expected.

We're Back

Had a great time in Europe. Saw a lot of old stuff and drank some good wine and beer. Had some catching up on home chores for a couple of days but got to go to a great car show in Quincy yesterday and saw a beautiful silver green F1 there. Excellent job on it and gives me more incentive to get back on my project.
One of the guys in the Friday group had his frame for a Plymouth he's building, blasted and powder coated for a reasonable price close to Burlington. I'm going to go look at it this next week and think this will be the way I go on the frame. Also, this next week I will borrow a gutted 700R4 transmission and empty 350 block for mock up so I can finish putting in the transmission crossover piece.
Nice to be home again.