Stewart's 1954 Chevy Shop Truck

Few pics on the way to the car club meeting. I was driving the Firebird so Amy and Sami drove the truck.

Cincy Ohio skyline over to the left in this picture.

The sideboards are cool but I think they look a little too polished for that ride. Know what I mean?

Man that looks sweet

Arieldouglas wrote:The sideboards are cool but I think they look a little too polished for that ride. Know what I mean?

They are not as pristine as I would like when I work with wood. That is rough cut lumber. Just that clear makes 'em shine.
In person it has some distress. But yea I know what ya mean. I may cut that top board off after looking at it in the pics. That would bring them down a bit in size. What do you guys think? Cut the top board off or leave it?

I'd leave them. looks great

I like them.

wack it

I like them, but I like the idea of taking the top ones off. I think it will look better with the rear window.

I really like driving the truck. I just wish we had a rearend for it so I can drive it farther than just around town!

Your truck looks really good....I'd cut the top rail I think it would look better,That's just me

oldman wrote:Your truck looks really good....I'd cut the top rail I think it would look better,That's just me

I'm going too. I just haven't gotten to it yet. After I seen it going down the road I knew the top one would be lopped off sooner or later.

Lose the top board and leave the wheels you got on it first time i saw a set of them that looked good on something. Congrats on your ride i like the look even if its a chevy the old ones had a good look to them.

Gear ratios/Transmission ratios are playing with my mind. I have never messed with these 700R's or any overdrive. I knew they had a steep 1st gear. The 54 has 4.11 gear in the rear. The 1st Gear: 3.06:1 with the 4.11 rear makes it useless. It shift so fast you don't get to feel it. If you hold it out it is so steep it bogs it down like a Granny gear in a dump truck. It doesn't make it fast. It holds it back. When it gets to the overdrive it is great. 4.11 gear and you can still run down the highway at 70+MPH and you don't tax the engine. I want more!

need any front end sheet metal seems like a decent deal if needed

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/pts/3328158726.html

I got use to the F-body's highway gears. 2.41, they are dogs out of the hole but you can run 120 MPH all day and you don't see the tach hardly move. GAS MILEAGE IS GREAT!
The spider gears in the truck are going out. I found a rear end that I'm pulling the guts out of it for the 54 it is a 3.08 Doing the math the first gear will pull okay. Issue is with the .70 OD it will have a final drive of 2.16. WOW 2.16? That 305 won't have enough torque to pull it up a hill. I'll have to down shift it unless I'm going 300 MPH. You know that's not going to happen.
PM'd Joey a little while ago. He's running a 350 turbo in that Monte SS. He wants to get better MPG so we may trade the 3.08 gears for his 3.42's. That will set me just right in the truck. the 1st. Gear will still pull hard and not feel like a bulldog gear in a dump truck and the .70:1 overdrive will give me a final gear ratio of 2.39

I think that will work best. All 3 gears will be in the sweet spot and the overdrive will kick it on the highway to where gas mileage will be great at 65 MPH or if I want to run the truck at 130 MPH from here to Cali it will do it.

JRiggs wrote:need any front end sheet metal seems like a decent deal if needed

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/pts/3328158726.html

I sent him an email we hopefully it's still there. Thanks Riggs

JRiggs wrote:need any front end sheet metal seems like a decent deal if needed

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/pts/3328158726.html

Sorry Steve
I sold them to a guy this morning

Steve, I have an S10 3:42 ring and pinion if you need it.

Thanks Bill. I think I have what I need if all goes right.

A few random pictures of us enjoying the truck.

Amy and Aryan playing around.

Now back to work.