Exhaust and Fuel Sender in

Got the fuel sender installed. Still have to run a ground wire to it but will do that when I get the wiring kit.
The exhaust is finally all mocked up and tack welded.. Now have to take it all back apart and finish the welding. Also have to get and install some hangers.
Going to Washington State for a couple of weeks. Nancys mom is having her 90th birthday party. See you when I get back.

Exhaust and Gauges

The pictures at right show some of the mockup's I have done so far. As you can see, I even turned some 2 1/2" wooden dowels to use in the process. The one that I think will be used is the one where I cut two 90 degree elbows and made a 2 inch jog in the pipe to clear the brake booster. It's just tack welded so far with a little more fine tuning to do before I complete the welding.
My new Autometer gauges showed up today. The Speedometer has a tachometer at the bottom of the gauge which saved me from installing a separate one. The dash gauge plate is a polished aluminum billet insert made by Boese Engineering out of Tempe Arizona. It will be a while before this all gets wired in but I got the fuel sending unit with the fuel gauge and now I can install it and finish up the fuel tank.
Back to the exhaust.

Who said "Patience is a waste of time"?

Well, sometimes you just have to set back and look. Scratching your head also seems to help.
I thought I had cut a fat hog with my first mockup of the exhaust system. I've modified those plans many times so far and still not finished. I'm having a problem with the drivers side. I have the elbow now coming around the outside of the steering shaft (Bob Ertzingers suggestion), which gives me just enough clearance from the shaft. My problem now is getting around the power brake booster and master cylinder. I made a mockup out of cardboard today that curves inside around the booster. I need a little more contemplation before I start cutting and welding pipe.
Meanwhile, UPS arrived today with the new Flowmaster Mufflers and Torco Stainless Steel step clamps, the carb spacer and mounting bolts and the Speedometer output adaptor for the transmission. Put the Speedo adaptor on and it is now ready to be wired when the new gauges arrive. I got a real nice used Edelbrock 1406 Carberator from Van Aldershof and installed it today after the Spacer and mounting bolts arrived. Still have to connect all the do daa's to it yet but it looks cool setting on the 350. Still have to decide what air cleaner to use but I think one that matches the valve covers will look great.
It will be nice to get the exhaust system sorted out so I can move on, Still a lot of work to do on the cab.

Steering, Seat belt plates etc.

Made a bracket to hold the steering column to the cab floor plate. I had to Split the plate in half so I could get it around the column I had made the plate last year and now the steering shaft is in solid. That allowed me to cut the 3/4" double D shaft extension and put it and the two universal joints in. Now I can actually turn the front wheels with the steering wheel in the cab.
Made some upper seat belt mounting brackets to weld to the cab just above each seat by the doors so I can install three point seat belts later. Still have to make the brackets for the floor mount yet but will buy the belts first that have and installation package with them. Got to decide on the color first,
Will be working on the exhaust system next.
Had a nice surprise last night when Dennis Patrick (One of my Old Dogs who ride Hogs Partners known as "Two Gallon") from Topeka showed up with his son Russell for a visit. Russell is a woodworker and keeps me updated on his projects. He looks good in my Ford.

CAB BACK ON

Got the cab back on today. My best helper (Nancy) assisted with the installation.
I had been practicing my welding on some scrap exhaust pipe and finally cut a piece of the Stainless Steel pipe and practiced on that. I’m not there yet, but not far away. There are so many little things that needed finished or mocked up that I decided to put the cab back on today. I have to finish mounting the steering shaft to the firewall so the double D shaft can be cut to length and the universal joints installed. Once that’s in I can finalize and weld up the first bends out of the manifold of the exhaust pipe on the drivers side.. Anyway, still plugging along.. Got to get my annual health checkup tomorrow. The one day out of the year where all orifices get checked. Yuck.