I finished welding up the motor mounts this afternoon, and started modifying the transmission mount for the truck. The motor mounts went slick, then I had to narrow and raise the transmission mount. I went to put the new rubber cushion I had purchased under the trans, but it wouldn’t fit! I ended up having to take a half-hour to run up to the parts store and buy a new one. It ended up that I needed one from a 1984-1986 Chevy Caprice to fit it.

So, I got the transmission mount modified, and then it was dinner time. I buttoned things up and now, all I have to do is do some measuring, and drill eight holes, and the engine and trans will be bolted in place.

I sent an email off last night to a bunch of people I know who I thought might appreciate this photo. I was holding my little boy, and he grabbed hold of my thumb like he does… I asked Michelle to grab the digital camera and I snapped the photo. I can’t stop looking at it… it’s not that the photo is anything special, it’s not my composition, it’s the perfect little fingers that God gave our son.

Just think… in a few years, they’ll be greasy, and dirty like his dad’s!

I had found a pair of whitewall tires on steel rims on Craigslist the weekend before Emmett was born. They were off of a ‘47 Ford project, and they were the perfect price to see if I really wanted bias-ply whitewalls on the truck.

(more…)

I’m a big fan of the bicycles of Sacha White and his company; Vanilla Bicycles. I subscribe to his newsletter, and today it had an excellent example of his imaginative designs, and simple, functional, and fun flair for bikes. Take a look

I ordered a bunch of rear suspension rebuild parts last night from Mid-Fifty F-100 parts. My experience was awesome. The lady on the phone knew exactly what she was talking about, and was very helpful with a couple of questions I had. So, the rush to get this thing on the road has started…  I built a spreadsheet on Google Docs that has a rough list of items I have yet to buy for the truck… the total is around $1200 on the low side (assuming I use some junkyard parts) and around $4400 on the high side, assuming I buy basically everything for brand new, retail prices.

I’m shooting for not hitting too far from the $1200 mark!

You can see my list with periodic updates here.