Truck based woody

[GB SISSON]

A lot has happened this year to the old woodie project. Over the winter and spring I built and installed a 276 cu in stroker flathead along with an adapter plate to mate a T-5 OD transmission from a '93 S10 pickup. Today I leave the island in the woodie to attend the annual Puget Sound Gas Engine and Tractor Association's extravaganza at Lynden Wa. I pulled out the back seat to make room for my army cot, brushed on a couple new coats of varnish and installed some actual working vacuum wipers mined from parts trucks in the woods. It's spittin' rain a bit here after a good soaker yesterday, but clearing nicely for the Wednesday-Saturday show... I'll get some pics from there and see if I can post them. Finally a chance to run that new powertrain 0n the interstate! Here's a pic of varnish job and another of last year's accomodations at the show.

[Scotty's 52 F3]

You sure have some skills Gary. Awesome thread too. Have fun at the show. Looking forward to your report and pics.

[51504bat]

Easier on the eyes

[cadillac512]

Ford would have done well to hire Gary to make their wood wagons! Beautiful design and construction.
And-the accommodations in the tonner look very comfy! The lantern likely heats it too.

[cas3]

Have funGB, you work hard and deserve a nice break. Like I always say, that woodie is the coolest thing, and more so now that its a highway machine!

[40coe]

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WOW!
A great project from a craftsman. Thanks so much for sharing the story and all of the photos.

I wonder about a woody cabover???

[Elmo Rodge]

40coe, I'd love one.
Wayno

[GB SISSON]

Went for a Sunday drive this afternoon, but my wife wanted to be home by 3:30 for some kinda football game on the TV. Sheesh, I was just starting to have fun!

[flatford8]

Looks great Gary !!……..handsome couple too !!………..Mark

[Scotty's 52 F3]

NICE! I'd cruise it too if it were mine. I'm dinkin around in the garage today. What game??

[GB SISSON]

Never been a big sports guy. Growing up in Seattle we had the Rainiers minor league baseball and the unlimited Hydroplanes. Our two sports. My dad always took us to the hydros. But... As a Seattle native, I gotta say it was a fun game tonight! Been a really mild winter. I even took the roofless foyota to town 3 times in January.

[cas3]

I have no interest in grown men still playing ball, but yes it sure has been a nice winter here in central USA. This day is always one of my favorite days to go for a drive, because you will see zero traffic. In my neighborhood, 2-3 cars in 20 miles is traffic, today zero, and 65 out side. mid 70's tomorrow...I'll take it

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by GB SISSON

Went for a Sunday drive this afternoon, but my wife wanted to be home by 3:30 for some kinda football game on the TV. Sheesh, I was just starting to have fun!

[51504bat]

Originally Posted by GB SISSON

Never been a big sports guy. Growing up in Seattle we had the Rainiers minor league baseball and the unlimited Hydroplanes. Our two sports. My dad always took us to the hydros. But... As a Seattle native, I gotta say it was a fun game tonight! Been a really mild winter. I even took the roofless foyota to town 3 times in January.

Crazy mild winter here in SoCal as well. Got home on Sunday in time for the big game after a trip with the missus to the central coast. It was 80 on the front porch at noon and this peach tree has no clue that it's only early February.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by 51504bat

Crazy mild winter here in SoCal as well. Got home on Sunday in time for the big game after a trip with the missus to the central coast. It was 80 on the front porch at noon and this peach tree has no clue that it's only early February.

[GB SISSON]

Another thumbs up to 'Pete the Illustrator' for making the woody logbook come alive! Since this thread chronicles the transformation from beater pickup to driveable woody, I suppose it's time to mention last summer's installation of a Ford 9" rear axle in place of the stock banjo type.
I found a correct rear housing with brakes and axles from a 1971 F100. I was told this would assure a direct bolt in and it almost was. If I had gotten the lower saddles from the '71, it would have. Axle tubes on the banjo are tapered, '71 straight. Easy fix though. I still needed a 4:11 pumpkin to fill that big hole. Turns out that our friend and fellow 'barner Lanny from Michigan had one that had been rebuilt as a spare for his '40 race car in the 90s which has sat unused in a big tupperware container under his workbench since. We agreed on a price and I shipped him a very sturdy, but empty plywood case. Back comes this pristine piece of machinery. I got it installed two days before our 4th of July parade, with grandkids urging me onwards. But first time I took a 90 degree turn into our gas station it chattered and rumbled back there giving me a fright! Turns out it is a limited slip differential and I had not added friction modifier. Following directions carefully I added the correct amount. Way better, but not quite smoot, so I added some more and di some research. Sometimes these 'posi' diffs prepped for competition get an added fricction disc, and or stiffer springs. Further investigation led me to a bit more modifier, and now all is well. In the old days if I backed too far outa the garage and cocked the rear downhill on wet grass I would need to pull it out with my tractor or a 4x4, but not any more.This sucker really digs in and pulls (traction plus the 4" crank). Also, any aggressive pull out onto the main road chirps the rear tires with a bit of a Rebel yell, and just for a moment I'm Billy Idol..... Maybe why a good friend of mine rolls his eyes, saying of me, "He's a legend in his own Mind".

[Mart]

Where's the like button when you need one! Like!

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by GB SISSON

Another thumbs up to 'Pete the Illustrator' for making the woody logbook come alive! Since this thread chronicles the transformation from beater pickup to driveable woody, I suppose it's time to mention last summer's installation of a Ford 9" rear axle in place of the stock banjo type.
I found a correct rear housing with brakes and axles from a 1971 F100. I was told this would assure a direct bolt in and it almost was. If I had gotten the lower saddles from the '71, it would have. Axle tubes on the banjo are tapered, '71 straight. Easy fix though. I still needed a 4:11 pumpkin to fill that big hole. Turns out that our friend and fellow 'barner Lanny from Michigan had one that had been rebuilt as a spare for his '40 race car in the 90s which has sat unused in a big tupperware container under his workbench since. We agreed on a price and I shipped him a very sturdy, but empty plywood case. Back comes this pristine piece of machinery. I got it installed two days before our 4th of July parade, with grandkids urging me onwards. But first time I took a 90 degree turn into our gas station it chattered and rumbled back there giving me a fright! Turns out it is a limited slip differential and I had not added friction modifier. Following directions carefully I added the correct amount. Way better, but not quite smoot, so I added some more and di some research. Sometimes these 'posi' diffs prepped for competition get an added fricction disc, and or stiffer springs. Further investigation led me to a bit more modifier, and now all is well. In the old days if I backed too far outa the garage and cocked the rear downhill on wet grass I would need to pull it out with my tractor or a 4x4, but not any more.This sucker really digs in and pulls (traction plus the 4" crank). Also, any aggressive pull out onto the main road chirps the rear tires with a bit of a Rebel yell, and just for a moment I'm Billy Idol..... Maybe why a good friend of mine rolls his eyes, saying of me, "He's a legend in his own Mind".

[oldbugger]

GB, if you ever need a little touch up NAPA sells an etching primer in a spray can that matches that "green" quite well

[GB SISSON]

Originally Posted by oldbugger

GB, if you ever need a little touch up NAPA sells an etching primer in a spray can that matches that "green" quite well

I bought a can yesterday... No kidding. Our two hardware stores carry a limited selection so when I saw that had that dull green in I bought a can. On my green tonner (current avatar) needs touch up I have a green camo that's really flat. The woodie was originally rattle can painted with 'satin oregeno' and a matte 'hunt club green'. Kinda both fogged over top of each other while still wet. The self etch primer is a good third mixer, now that the first two have faded.