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E-tek Restorations: PROJECT THREAD

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e-tek

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Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Technology?! This is OLD WORLD craftsmanship! ;)

FINALLY got the inner panels on and it'll be looking like a truck again - as soon as the fenders and hood get delivered!

IMG00160-20110822-1423.jpg


IMG00161-20110822-1424.jpg


Interior is taking shape - the shape of things to come I hope....

IMG00162-20110822-1424.jpg
 
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e-tek

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Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

He was quoting the intro lines to "The 6 Million Dollar Man", not referring to your workmanship.

Lookin' good, Ed.

I knew that....(check post #400).....but enough of Steve Austin!:bounce:
Thanks for the kind words.



The owners have opted to replace ALL the glass which will make this truck look SHOWROOM fresh!:beer:
 
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e-tek

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Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Now that all the inners are nearly complete, the owners brought over some of the major body panels to be fit.

IMG00180-20110828-1943.jpg


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IMG00181-20110828-1943.jpg


...and speaking of inners....even the sun visors are new!

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IMG00182-20110828-1948.jpg


IMG00184-20110828-2002.jpg


IMG00186-20110828-2003.jpg


Door hinges where next - which are partially bolted from behind the fenders:

IMG00197-20110831-1709.jpg


This weekend I'll have the front end on and it'll be looking like the truck they bought over 50 YEARS AGO!!:beer:
 

Omphaloskeptic

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Ultima Ratio, Wa.
Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Gosh, an invite to see E-teks work; I'm honored Sir!

I'm afraid that if I did tear myself away from navel gazing, the RCMPs at the border would ask me the purpose of my visit. I would say -
"I'm on my way to check out the SMELL in Saskatoon, SK.",
whereupon they would politely (but firmly) say -
"Take off, eh? You're such a hoser.":canada:
 
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e-tek

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Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Owners brought all the rest of the main goodies over and we might see it nearly finished this fall.....
(if it weren't for my "real" job ;) ).
 
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e-tek

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Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Today saw the installation of a few more small parts.....plus one fender. Though one might think it's just a bolt-on:headscrat, those in-the-know will realize there's MUCH more to it!:bounce:

Lining up the top edge:

IMG00214-20110903-1719.jpg


and the bottom (with lotsa protection!):

IMG00208-20110903-1700.jpg


These trucks have a lot of seals, whcih make things fit tight, but will help with sound deadening and wind-noise (seal is in the shadow):

IMG00209-20110903-1700.jpg


IMG00212-20110903-1702.jpg



Interior vents have metal grilles - ahh the "good ol days"!!:thumbup: I attached them with white-headed screws instead of chrome ones. Let's see if the owners like it as much as I do!

IMG00216-20110903-1743.jpg


After partially installing, removing and re-installing the glove box about 6 times, I have to say it was the HARDEST part of the job thus far!!:headscrat

IMG00210-20110903-1701.jpg


IMG00211-20110903-1701.jpg


The new Rad has this WARNING.....whcih I'd bet negates the warranty in about 99.9% of installs. Think ANYONE records the distilled water going in?:wtf:

IMG00217-20110903-1817.jpg


Work today also included installing the oil lines for the remote filter, which included dry-fitting them, then brushing thread sealant on all the threads for the final install:

IMG00221-20110903-1826.jpg


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Box pieces and most other stuff was delivered yesterday as well.

IMG00218-20110903-1818.jpg


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As usual in a project like this, we barely remember how it looked before!

IMG_3539.JPG


IMG_3447.JPG
 
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e-tek

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Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Today - the other side. I love weekends!!

IMG00230-20110904-1827.jpg



The new rad was installed, which looks great! After not finding new rad hoses in the parts boxes :headscrat and being skunked at 2 local parts stores, I boiled and cleaned the old hoses and re-used them.

Now, imagine my suprise when I opened the rad-cap box (purchased from Scott's Chevy) and saw this :wtf::

IMG00223-20110904-1331.jpg


Of course that'll never do! The man who bought this truck - and his brother who owns it now - likely fought in WWII! (And if they didn't, then they likely knew and ferried someone who did in this truck.... ;)) So, to avoid a whole new international incident, I quickly stuck the cheap Asian import back in it's box and found one I had that was "MADE IN THE USA". Crisis averted. :thumbup:

IMG00228-20110904-1826.jpg


I'm not sure the original engine had a fuel filter. The FSM shows a solid line was run from the pump to the carb. Anyone know for sure?

IMG00229-20110904-1826.jpg




"Aint she sweet":pimpflash
- Clint Eastwood, in Gran Torino

IMG00226-20110904-1825.jpg
 

pcgold

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Oct 25, 2010
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Saskatchewan, Canada
Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Hey E-Tek, I've been following this build since you first posted. If Ompahloskeptic doesn't want to come smell it, I will and I'll bring friends. I live in toon town too. ;)
 
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e-tek

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Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Hey E-Tek, I've been following this build since you first posted. If Ompahloskeptic doesn't want to come smell it, I will and I'll bring friends. I live in toon town too. ;)

Make it so!:thumbup:
 

djjsr

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Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

I'm not sure the original engine had a fuel filter. The FSM shows a solid line was run from the pump to the carb. Anyone know for sure?

That manual is correct. There was a steel line from the pump to the carb. No filter and no rubber. Probably not a good idea with a 50+ year old gas tank. :)
 
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e-tek

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Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Ahhh, the broken bolt.....but what to do if the part has just been painted??! Jeez.

well, first I used some Cold Coat heat blocker around the captive nut.

IMG00234-20110905-0922.jpg


Along with a small hot flame (looks bigger in the photo):

IMG00233-20110905-0921.jpg


Makes quick work of the rust and expands the nut.....releasing the remaining stud.

IMG00231-20110905-0920.jpg


Tape - duct, masking or otherwise - is a key tool in re-assembly. Here I masked the grill tabs to slide it into it's opening:

IMG00239-20110905-1309.jpg


IMG00241-20110905-1746.jpg


IMG00240-20110905-1746.jpg


:beer:
 

Skin

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Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck


Just my opinion but if you could find one of the old style fuel filters with the seperation bowls that would look pretty slick compared to that piece of plastic

29-11.jpg


I believe they were used on vehicles of that era.
 
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flybefree

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Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Just wanted to bump your thread...clearly stands out in Free Parking as something worthwhile. Love the great work you are doing.

Shaun
 

thomfr

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The Netherlands
Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Just my opinion but if you could find one of the old style fuel filters with the seperation bowls that would look pretty slick compared to that piece of plastic

I believe they were used on vehicles of that era.

Also for another far more dangerous reason. That plastic piece is a huge potential fire hazard!
They tend to leak or melt and then...

Please throw it out (there are nice glass and steel ones if you need an in line, but I also prefer the body mounted ones).

Thom
 
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e-tek

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Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Just wanted to bump your thread...clearly stands out in Free Parking as something worthwhile. Love the great work you are doing.

Shaun

Well thank you Sir!

As for the fuel filter - I agree it's not the nicest style - but it does the job (and can't say in all my years using them I've ever seen one melt....:dunno:).

As per djjsr, the truck originally had NO filter at all - but I like the idea of using the vintage style type. Maybe we'll have to put a FORD glass-bowl style unit on it. A little FORD never hurt!:lol:
 
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e-tek

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Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Owner came by to help with the hood and box sides installation. After lots of juggling, they're on!

IMG00243-20110909-1357.jpg



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IMG00246-20110909-1440.jpg
 

justanengineer

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Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Very nice work thus far. I have been following your thread since the beginning and am enjoying it immensely. Keep up the great work, and post plenty of pics of it when completed.
 

gustoffur

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Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

IMG00228-20110904-1826.jpg


I'm not sure the original engine had a fuel filter. The FSM shows a solid line was run from the pump to the carb. Anyone know for sure?

IMG00229-20110904-1826.jpg




"Aint she sweet":pimpflash
- Clint Eastwood, in Gran Torino

IMG00226-20110904-1825.jpg

I know for sure. We cut the fuel filter into the line in-order get it running when we pulled it out of the bush. Not the best thing to do, but no one was thinking long term about restoration at the time, we just wanted clean fuel to see if it would run after 27 years in the bush...and it did.
FYI, it was 10 years ago this Thanksgiving - Columbus Day for our American cousins - that we got it running. The exhaust had rusted off so everyone in the house heard it when she fired up. Next thing I did was to jump behind the wheel and take it for a spin with my father in-law riding shotgun. It didn't go far, but my father in-law, who thought it would never run again, he was thrilled. Can't wait to see the first time he drives it all restored.
 
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e-tek

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Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

I know for sure. We cut the fuel filter into the line in-order get it running when we pulled it out of the bush. Not the best thing to do, but no one was thinking long term about restoration at the time

I think what I'll do is insert a threaded filter just after the fuel pump, down low and run a solid line from there to the carb. That way it'll look original but have a filter. Sound good?

It didn't go far, but my father in-law, who thought it would never run again, he was thrilled. Can't wait to see the first time he drives it all restored.

That's a BIG part of the motivation - even for the grunt (me)!:thumbup:
 

gustoffur

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Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Yeah, that would be better than a plastic in-line filter.
 

gorilla

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Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Back in my early days of wrenching I remember seeing allot of 6 cylinder Chevy trucks with sediment bowl filters screwed into the fuel pumps. You can consider that if you want period correct. My preference for in line fuel filters is the steel canister types sold at NAPA, I've never seen a plastic on melt either but the metal can makes me feel better.
 

MP&C

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Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Looking good Ed, as nice as that one is turning out, are there more candidates in the same field?
 
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e-tek

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Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Looking good Ed, as nice as that one is turning out, are there more candidates in the same field?

Thanks Robert:bowdown: - always makes me feel just a little more worthy when you comment positively on my work. As for more candidates, I would guess that like many farmers they had a few others items out there, but likely all the desirable stuff is long gone - to a restorer, a hoarder, or back to the earth!:bounce:
 

z28snksknr

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Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

This build is an awesome inspiration. Lots of good tips and advice, as well as some satisfying progress to watch. Thanks for taking the time to show us this level of detail.
 

gustoffur

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Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

I've been working on the truck seat. After removing the upholstery I sand blasted the springs in my back yard.
002-1.jpg


001-1.jpg


004-1.jpg
 
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gustoffur

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Re: E-tek Resto's 56 Chevy Truck

Next I had to repair the damage to the seat. Years of leaning back in the seat had taken it's toll.

003.jpg


003.jpg


Pliers, vise grips and a hammer helped bring the seat back into shape.

009.jpg
 
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