[Leakie]

How did the spray can chrome come out?

[Too Many Projects]

Originally Posted by Leakie

How did the spray can chrome come out?

It's a good 20 footer. Might pass at 10 without the polished stainless bumpers to compare to...

[matts37chev]

I have not been around here much, but I have seen a thread trying to help a fellow 37 owners' front end woes
so I thought I would add a link to that thread here
because to me, it looks like there could be other cars with the front end mounted in a similar fashion.

[nrfd]

I have a 1938 chevy half ton, and was toying with the idea of swapping out my current differential, but wouldn't know how to even begin this. Does anyone know what this would require/ where I could get parts that wouldn't involve serious chopping? I'm in the middle of restoring it, and might not go through with this, just wanted to know how easy it would be.

[Too Many Projects]

I'm not familiar with the frame and axle widths on a truck. I know the cars are similar enough to an early Camaro/Nova that they pretty much bolt right in. The cars have an enclosed driveshaft arrangement that requires the trans be updated along with the driveshaft to an open style.
Again, not sure on a truck. Let us know what yours is like..

[nrfd]

I'm gonna be too busy to do much this week, since i have finals through friday. any basics of what i should be taking photos of in particular/measuring? The bed's down at the body shop right now, so I can take anything from the above view. Thanks again

[Too Many Projects]

To start, get a pic of the driveshaft at the rear diff. That will show if it is enclosed. Measure the overall width of the rear axle, drum to drum if the wheels are off or backing plate to backing plate if the wheels are on. Then measure between the center of the spring mounts. There should be a centering bolt protruding thru the bottom of the lower spring bracket as a center reference. That will be the spring width to match up for a direct bolt in axle. The overall width should be close too but isn't as critical.

[nrfd]

Just did the measuring, and as you can see, it appears to be an enclosed driveshaft (if I'm understanding this right). It measures something around 54 inches from backing plate to backing plate, give or take an inch. From leaf spring to leaf spring, it comes in at exactly 42 1/2. And if it matters, the axle is 2 1/2 inches wide, and I just found out it's probably a 3/4 ton.

[Too Many Projects]

Yup, enclosed drivetrain. You'll need to change out everything to put a modern transmission in it. I just bought a rear axle from a '76 Nova for my coupe and the 42 1/2 spring centers is the same as my car. Looks like you could do the same...early Camaros' '68-81 and '68-79 Nova's used the same spring centers with slight variation in overall widths. '72 and up are the better 8.5 axle which is nearly as strong as a 12 bolt.

[Too Many Projects]

The calendar says it's getting closer to spring, although the weather is more like mid February around here...

The '38 has been sleeping for a few months now while I work on my GTO. I did reupholster the seats that were in it when I got it before I put it away. I still need to finish the cheesy carpet I bought and put the seat belts in. The parts are piling up in the shop for when I get back to it. I had a high performance 200r4 built for it and ordered a Dakota Digital position sender for the Ron Francis LED gear indicator I also acquired. Got a Bowtie Overdrive TV cable kit on the way and ordered Allen Grove brackets for the alt, a/c and ps pump. It has a manual rack now but I bought a ps rack and will convert it over. I will add heat/ac at some point too, so I have the compressor mount coming as well. I bought a 8.5 axle out of a 74 Nova with 3.08 gears and posi but when I pulled the rear cover, it was mucked up. The retaining bolt for the center pin was broken and someone had already chiseled at the pin to try to remove the stub. There was no way to get the stub to fall out after that hack job, so I carefully cut away the center pin with my plasma to expose the stub and remove it. The casting date on the carrier is 2 years before the axle was built so it was already a replacement effort and who knows if it is set up correctly. Now I'm at the point that I'm going to gut it, blast and paint the housing and install all new bearings and seals. Then I know it's done right and won't worry about it failing. Should be fun with the 4 speed auto and 3.08 gears. It has a peg leg axle out of a '78 Malibu now with like 2.56 ratio...

[spacytracy]

Just got my power steering rack hooked up today and everything aligned. Drives soooo much better now. I cant believe I drove for almost 2 years with manual steering before doing this. Pain in the **** hooking everything up though. Its so tight up front. Not much room to work up there.

[Too Many Projects]

Originally Posted by spacytracy

Just got my power steering rack hooked up today and everything aligned. Drives soooo much better now. I cant believe I drove for almost 2 years with manual steering before doing this. Pain in the **** hooking everything up though. Its so tight up front. Not much room to work up there.

I was looking at mine this past weekend and it should be a fun job to change out.

I should be finding my Vintage air on the porch this week.
I modified the rear bumper brackets to bring the bumper in 1 1/2" closer. Because of the step in the bracket, I couldn't shorten them anymore. I moved the front bumper back 3" last fall. I then sent all the brackets out for powder coat. No pics from the rear mods but I'll take a few when they come back all purdy...

I wish Spring would get here. We are 10 degrees or more below average this week and possible snow over the next 2 days....

[Leakie]

I like the what you did with the bumpers. Can't wait to see the pics of the rear bumper.

[dhparki]

New guy needs 37 Master Deluxe Grill. Parki

[Leakie]

Originally Posted by dhparki

New guy needs 37 Master Deluxe Grill. Parki

Any luck on that grille? Seems no one is making the original style any more just the crappy ganster ones.

How about a chrome hood center strip, anybody got one, I've been looking for one for a couple of years now.