Ya keep it going, I am enjoying this thread. I like what you are doing and the direction your going with it.

By the way, if anybody cares, here's a link to the official rules of the class I'll be competing in.

http://www.cotpa.org/10hotstock4x4rules.htm

Looks good you are realy going to town.

Managed to get some more work done today, after taking a few days off. Main body is mounted, and the front clip is in place. It's not pinned down 100% yet, but at least it fits, and clears everything.

The only problem I'm dealing with at the moment is the steering shaft. I'll have to cut the shaft off just next to the box, and the 4x4 shaft almost reaches, and it's not on very much of an angle. Problem is, will the stub of the original shaft that sticks out be stable enough? I've heard of people stuffing a bearing in there to support it for rack and pinion systems, and in my case, it's a very similar modification. The shaft feels like it's pretty solid, I can't wiggle it in any direction, so do I really need the extra bearing?

Any help would be great.

looking good , wish I was as dedicated to my resto

bill in red deer

You sure have a lot of ambition most people you of looked at is and sent it to the shredder. Hats of to you its really starting to come together.

Ya I know eh? What's up with ONLY 526?

Actualy the story behind that rule is pretty funny. Every two years there is a rule change meeting, and one time, my class, (Hot Stock) and the next class up, (Super Stock) held there meetings together. Apperently most of what was discussed was for Super Stock, and they passed a rule limiting engines to 526". The rule somehow ended up in the Hot Stock rules by mistake, but nobody said anything, cuz everyone wanted to build stroker motors. So the rule stuck.

Anything much bigger would be a bit of a waste really, we have to use OEM iron heads intakes and exhaust manifolds. Just wait and see what I have for that.

If you were to use the back of the roof from a 55-59 GM truck with the rear window this thing would look factory!

My brother and I had been talking about this before we ever started. I am not willing to seperate the box sides from the cab, it's just to rare a piece to change that radicly. I know, I've already done quite a bit of change, but I don't want to go that far.

However, what we were thinking of is using the rearmost part of the removable top, (which is pretty much the only part of it thats not rotten) and grafting it to the back, and following the drip rail all the way around the back. Everything below the drip would be cut off, and a flat piece of sheet will be shaped to the contour of the rear roof acting as the back of the cab. Then I'll have to find some glass that fits that contour.

All this assuming I change anything.

Have been working on the motor for the last little while. I decided to go a little different, (as is the theme of this build) and will be running a 455 Olds. I'll give all the specifics as I go, but I ran into a snag today that I thought I'd share.

I wanted to run a roller cam on this motor, but they're not exactly growing on trees for an Olds. Of the few that ARE available, none met the needs that I wanted, so I decided to design my own cam, and have it ground.

Before I buttoned everything up, I thought I would degree the cam, mostly to see where to position the timing set. I made a discovery during the process. Intake duration is good at 230* @ .050", but exhaust was 225* @ .050", and was supposed to be 240* @ .050". Lobe seperation was spot on at 108*, and lift was what was advertized, but the exhaust being 15* out, was a real downer on my day.

The point of all this? Degree wheels are worth every penny.

Doubtful. It's a factory 307 roller cam that I had reground to my specs. I don't think there's enough material to bring it back. Fortunately I have a second cam that could be reground, as long as they come clean for it.

Spoke with the cam grinder today, and he agreed that the cam isn't right. After looking up the job details, he agreed my claim is entirely possible. The problem is, the lobe that was selected, is intended for a much larger lift cam, and by carving it down to my reletively low lift, it affected the duration @ .050". He thinks they can fix the existing cam to what I want, so hopefully it works out, otherwise they'll have to start over with a new core. I'd rather them do that personally, the base circle is small enough as it is, and I'd rather keep as much strength as possible, and I fear the lifters oil band peeking out the bottom of the lifter bore. Either way, he's willing to make it right for me, so I can't complain to much. Hopefully I'll be back up and running in a week or so.