So this is my build. Its been a crazy adventure so far and there is still a lot of work left.
So it all started with a trying to find an engine for the build. I needed to stick with a vintage engine so my choices that fit within the rules were somewhat limited. It took awhile but I found a GMC 302 inline six, only catch was that it was 6hrs away... so after alittle debate and some phone tag, my dad and I decided to take a day and go pick it up. We emptied the truck and cleared our day. 6hrs later, we had a 302 in the back of the truck. Here it is in the garage after I first got it.
It was complete from carb to oil pan, but it was locked up. I tried everything to get it to turn. I let it sit with PB blaster for a week, no luck. WD-40 for a week, no luck. Coca-Cola for another week, no luck. Not even with a breaker bar and a pipe on the end of it. I popped the head off and it was a mess of rust in there. I took a hammer and a block of wood to the pistons, but it was to no avail because pistons 3 and 4 were at the bottom of the stroke. So the engine was torn down the rest of the way, labeled put away. It took my dad and I with two hammers and two pieces of pipe hitting at the same time to get the stuck pistons out and they didn't come out in one piece. Also when tearing the engine apart I found that one cylinder had been sleeved. Things weren't as cherry as I had hoped.
One day my dad and I were passing a junk yard that was within 20 mins of the house, neither of us had been in it because it was small perhaps an acre, and only carried large trucks. We decided to stop by, the people were very polite and allowed us to go through the yard and sure enough, there were 2 GMC 302s! Within 20 mins of the house! And they both turned by hand! I bought them that day and had them home by the end of the week. Here they are,
I was very happy, I now had 3 somewhat rare engines. I tore one down and kept the best of the 3 complete for reference and if I end up not needing it, I am sure someone will want it. The new block was great, I took it and the crank, head and cam to get cleaned and checked at the machine shop. Here's the specs of what I have done to the engine.
Block bored .125 over
GRP 7.5 inch connecting rods
JE 13 to 1 compression pistons
I personally ported the head
SBS 2.02 intake valve, 1.60 exhaust
Cam will be custom ground, saving up for that right now
In case you use GRP for a connecting rod, they now have a GMC 302 connecting rod and stock bearing provided by me for an example.
Also in case you use JE pistons with a stock head, they have a cylinder cut off from one of the heads, it was was too rusted to use for anything but research.
So the engine is being put together and now I needed focus on the body. I was looking for anything between 1923 and 1948. I called almost every junkyard in MD and personally went to the rest. Everything was either 1 year off or way to gone to be worth working with. I started driving down old country roads looking for anything in the weeds. I met a lot of nice people, but no one had what I needed. One evening I got a call from John The Junkyard Dog, that's what he referred to himself as, he said he might have what I was looking for and he definitely did. He had a couple of pre 38 coupes and sedans as well as a barn filled with 1900-1930 touring bodies and model t parts. But sitting outside, was a 1926 Model T coupe. After some negotiating and some emotional support (he was a classic hoarder) the Model T was in the truck and on route to the house.
Then the work began.
Stock wind shield height,
Current height and future ride height,
Those aren't the actual tires that I plan on using, but it is the right rear end,
I know its a 9 inch and I will loose up to 4% of power through friction, but its what I am most familiar with.
That's what I have so far, I just got 100 feet of 1 5/8 .120 wall tube steel so I am now working on the roll cage. I'll try to keep the updates coming, but this first post is 4 months of work so it might be alittle slow.
Thanks,
Sam