The 37 is getting a new motor

Its back togather and ready for a test drive,it looks like I am done tinkering with it except it might need a new battery. Batteries have gotten expensive since I last bought one a couple years ago and will have to do some shopping for the best price.

junkyardjeff wrote:I installed the spindle I have tonight and seems tight so I am going to put it back togather and see how it does,I am still going to check on a NOS spindle in case there is a problem in the future. I am almost certain the bushings required more force to go in on the other side,if I have to do too much work to it again maybe its time for a IFS.

No IFS but an old Nailhead would be cool in there.

I am going to be on a watch for a running Olds or nailhead,dont have the money to rebuild one due a Y block project coming up and that needs to be first on the list. I miss the days of 50 to 100 dollar running parts cars like what I bought when I built the 53 Olds back in 85.

Drove it today for the first time since I started tinkering with,I keep forgetting it has a foot stomp starter and can not use the key.

For the one's that have never seen Jeffs truck here's a picture.

It's a slick ride.

It does not sit that high now,about 5 inches lower in the front and 3 in the rear.

When I was chasing down the source of the rattle in the motor I backed off the timing thinking it was spark knock but never bumped it back up after I found out the rattle is related to cylinder #2,its been a dog the last few years so today I got it out and bumped the timing up and is running very good so no need to go back to 4.10 gears now. Those old sixes have the timing mark on the flywheel which I could never find so it was timed by ear since day one and now that I found the source of the rattle I am going to run it until it blows,I do have another 235 so before it goes in I will make sure it has the mark on the flywheel so I wont have to guess on the timing but a 56 Olds 324 shown up on craigslist today.

here is what it looks like now

1957 235 made to look like a 216 and still have a couple things to do to it

Clean setup!

Looks really good Jeff. Do you have an oil filter on it? I remember helping my dad put an aftermarket Fram filter on my Granpa's '60 model pick up when I was about 5 or 6.

Looks good Jeff! That is a good looking pick'em up truck.

It does have a oil filter and can not believe I have been driving it around for the last few years with the timing backed off,I should have wrote down all I done trying to find the noise so I would not forget. It still is going to need another motor since I put in thicker oil along with some Lucas oil stabilizer to make the rattle go away but probably wont last too long. I have a supposively low mile 235 but I need to make a stand to fire it up as its not going to be a easy swap due to the front clip needing to be removed and only want to do it once.

junkyardjeff wrote: as its not going to be a easy swap due to the front clip needing to be removed and only want to do it once.

 
 
I know what you are saying. It is a very nerve racking to remove the front end on one! I have to put mine back together yet.   Not looking forward to that....Time and tape all the edges!

I always liked that truck.

Took it out for a drive to a small swapmeet today and ran it kind of hard while playing with the timing on the way there and the rattle has returned so I will need to do some thinking on a motor soon,the thicker oil only cured it for about a year. I brought it home to do a bunch of small stuff to it and going to run it until it blows and go from there,I have located a 235 that can be heard run and depending on how much is wanted for it I might grab it. Measured the 300 six in my beater truck and it might just fit as its about the same length from the fan to the back of the head so after I do some more measuring to make sure it could have a more modern six in the future.

New master cylinder and battery installed,going to rebuild a Carter YF carb next and its done until I figure out what I am going to do about the motor. I forgot I have a heater for it so I might see where I put it and see if I can get a 12 volt motor for it but not looking forward to cutting holes in the firewall.

Found the heater and also found out it is a correct 1937 heater,was told it was a 40s model from the person I bought it from. Now its going to come apart for paint and a 12 volt motor.

Bought another 235 today that I know runs good,its a 61 motor that came out of a 51 2 door hardtop that is now getting a V8. It has a chrome valve and side cover plus headers and a Petronix kit and other parts for 200 dollars,going to pick it up in the 66 and leave it in the back at the storage garage until spring while I try selling the other 235 I picked up last summer.

junkyardjeff wrote:Bought another 235 today that I know runs good,its a 61 motor that came out of a 51 2 door hardtop that is now getting a V8. It has a chrome valve and side cover plus headers and a Petronix kit and other parts for 200 dollars,going to pick it up in the 66 and leave it in the back at the storage garage until spring while I try selling the other 235 I picked up last summer.

Dang...sounds like you got a good deal!

later,

Lee

I probably should not get rid of the other motor as I will tear down the one in the truck to see what went wrong and might need parts,less then 10,000 miles and a rattle on cylinder #2 that might be a rod bearing. If its the cylinder that was sleeved and is the sleeve that is making the noise its scrap pile time for the block and will keep the rest of the parts.

Trying to hook up the throttle cable to use it for high idle for warm up since the high idle can not be adjusted and is a little too low,since I am not using the original throttle rod I will have to make a bracket to attach the cable I tinkered with it yesterday when it was a little warmer but its going to wait until it warms up a little before I go back in the garage.

Got the heater painted but need to send the core to the radiator shop to be tested and a bracket soldered back on and then order a new fan motor,the heater will probably not be used much but will be there if the need arises. Got the throttle cable hooked up and working.

Heater/defrost is a wonderful thing.  Unfortunately, the defrost in my F-100 is a recirculating heater, doesn't help much on the steamy windows on a stormy day.  may have to make some kind of fresh air duct to draw in outside air.

The 37 is not even designed to have defrosters so I have a fan on the steering column,there is no place to mount defroster ducts and in 39 they got them for the first time in trucks.