53 ihc

[the reverend muddy grimes]

ok, well where to start? Im slowly building this truck, it will never be pretty, but I love it. There is some good old southern engenering involved in it. Ill post lots of pics as I go.

[the reverend muddy grimes]

ok, lets start small with the seat, only 2 pictures there...one before cover and one after

[the reverend muddy grimes]

ok, then we will look at the door pannel> a little more involved, but i had time and was curious to see if it works. Pictures are in order or 2,3, 1, 4, cause thats how they uploaded, and again, I was bored.

[the reverend muddy grimes]

Ok, time to go redneck. I had the gas pedal rust off, well the hinge on it did, along with the spot in the floor where it goes. I went to walmart and bought a hasp lock. Then the fun began.

[the reverend muddy grimes]

body work is not my thing, and I admit it freely. THe grill on this truck is wasted, but its why i love the truck, so I get to outbackparts.com and buy a new one for $300. But in the mean time I went to a boneyard and picked up some beauty rings for the headlights..They werent in beautiful shape, but were fairly straight. A lil time with a composite wheel has them ready for the new grill, you know, when I can afford it.

[the reverend muddy grimes]

The next big project is the motor swap. I have to go v8 cause as it is I top out at 45mph. There is a book called "Truck, A Love Story" by Michael Perry that states if you are pulled over in an IHC for speeding, they dont give you a ticket, they give you an award. Yeah I know Im going small block chevy because thats what I have, but it wont be a 350. Its a 327/th350. the automatic is temporary, again what I have. I want a 3 speed on the floor, I just love that boost between 1st and second. I ordered the cross member in november for it, and it arived 2 nights ago. Unfortunatly it is snowing now and it will be a bit before I can do the swap since I have no garage. Here are some pictures. you will see the stock silver diamond 220 rated at 90 horse way back when it was brand new (over 50 years ago). The 300 horse 327, and the crossmember. Yes I'll clean the leaves off the 327 when I pull it.

[the reverend muddy grimes]

havent posted anything new in a bit. Sorry bout that. Been putting a 350/4 speed in my best friends 59 apache. No time to work on the IHC. Ill post again when soemthing happens with my precious truck. Probably when its not so cold it has to warm up to freeze.

[the reverend muddy grimes]

Spent the morning sanding the hood. I swear there is almost an inch of bondo in some places, and I cant find a dent one in the metal. Some people should not be allowed to buy bondo. It should come with a 7 day waiting period and an I.Q.test.
the big news on the truck is that we finished my buddys 59 chevy apache so we are planning to start the engine swap this weekend, assuming my other buddy gets over here with the cherry picker and the weather dosent go to hell on us.

[the reverend muddy grimes]

so i learned three things today. First is that the p.o. is an idiot. He put bondo on every spot on the hood except where the bend is. (finally found one.) Second is that I understand you patina guys now...Sanding sucks. I cant do that to a car, but I understand why you guys do it now. Thirdly, I learned that body guys are underpaid.
I think that 99% of my free time is going to be spent sanding and painting. Did decide on a finished color today though. That will help me with the planning.

[the reverend muddy grimes]

raided the salvage yard today. Picked up a front bumper off a mazda 5, and a fly wheel for the v8. Tomorrow im going to get the 3 speed and bell housing. Im going to clean everthing up and get some pics then. if it ever stops raining.