A WB Ute called Mrs Marsh

[Morton]

You are a beast of efficiency. Clearly done this more than once

<3 the lifting frame for the old shells ^_^ I could learn a thing or two from you!

[Lumps of cheese]

Excellent detailed build so far mate. Can't wait to see the end result.

[OldDog]

Thanks for the kind words guys. Yup this has sure turned into much more than my original plan of doing a fast build. Almost every part of the car has had to be rebuilt apart from (fingers crossed) the engine and gearbox.

Everything, from the headlights to the steering column to the diff have had be pulled apart and refurbished. Half way through i realised that i may as well just take my time and do everything right the first time.
So after this weekends marathon, the ute now has the front end on, the engine, gas, tailights and dash are wired up. I ended up making a whole new rear wiring loom as the two i had were stuffed. I ended up breaking the old windscreen getting it out of the grey shell (for some reason i have no luck with windscreens) so the car is booked in for Thursday to have a new one fitted. Its going to be a mad rush in the next few days as i still don't have blinkers, brakes, or the engine running! LOL





I painted the nose this morning and it looks good in a pic but unfortunately i didn't match the colour well enough and its a bit light. Its an easy panel to remove so i'll correct it later.

[OldDog]

It's ALIVE! After a bit of fiddling around this evening i gave it a quick stab of the starter and it fired right up! Its got one noisey lifter so that may give me some trouble, or maybe i'll just leave it idle for a while and see if it pumps up. Otherwise it sounds very healthy I've been held up the last few days so i guess it won't be ready for tomorrow, ah well. I have all this Sunday to finish off some of the bits and get the damn front blinkers and the windscreen wiper motor working.

[OldDog]

So i've got the beast on the road, got the windscreen fitted and have fitted a gas prime system so i can start the thing easily. The starter motor mount repair has given me a bit of trouble so i'll have to fiddle with it until i get the right gear mesh, it doesn't always engage the ring gear. Anyway, so i took it for a good long run this afternoon and its deceptively quick, but just not quick enough. It's running pretty well but theres just not enough punch, not enough "smack in the face with a mallet" affect. I think i need to dump the auto for a manual box. I think i need to hot this engine up some more. I'm planing either a dual quad setup or a tunnel ram, i'll have to get in touch with an engineer and find out how much engine i can have poking out the bonnet and still have full rego. Wonder how far a blower pokes out the bonnet? I may even take the time to fit a 9 inch and do just the one engineer report.
So yeah, not sure if i should run an old school 4 speed like a Muncie or a Toploader, or if i should go for a more modern 5 speeder. Whats a good 5 speed that can handle a bit of pressure?

Cheers
OD

[ari666]

whats the engine specs atm? i dont really find stock SBC to be very exciting really. its only when they are cammed that they start showing their true colours.

[OldDog]

G'day Ari, i know what you mean! Its got ported '883 heads, a moderate cam of unknown specs but as the rest of the engine is set up for gas i'm thinking its performance gas grind of some sort. Standard 4 barrel manifold with an Impco 425 straight gas carb and a Scorcher gas dizzy. Plus the pacemakers as well too. So plenty of room for improvement. A dual quad or tunnel ram will allow me to get the flow i need with two impco 425's. The '883 heads are usually crappy but its had the ports opened up a bit....i still think they need to go though. The power its putting out is about right for being on gas, but i want more (havn't we all heard that before). I think the big limiter on induction will be how far out the bonnet i can go, i don't mind a low bonnet scoop if i have too, but those tall things you see look dumb, and beside if you got it flaunt it.

You got any good suggestions for a manual gearbox Ari?

[ari666]

You got any good suggestions for a manual gearbox Ari?

nah man, im still pretty new to the chevy scene. everything i have ever had any dealing with has been auto.

i cant seem to find 883. which one of these does it have?


can find 882, or 993

[OldDog]

Ah sorry mate, '882 and '883 are the same apparently, can't remember the shape but will have another look tonight. I had the rocker covers off and found that the casting number ended in 883 which was new to me too, i hoped that they were something good and was dissappointed to find that they are the same construction as the 882 ie light weight smog head. I was planning to stay cast iron with the heads but may have to go alloy after all, although i have a line on a supercharged 4 bolt 350 at the moment which would be a more economical option....now if i just had some money, that'd be a big help LOL

[ari666]

now if i just had some money, that'd be a big help LOL

god, i know that feeling

[OldDog]

Yeah i was sad to see you have the mighty Impala up for sale

[ari666]

well then youll be happy to know, no one wanted it for 10k

[OldDog]

Bloody hell i'm sorry to hear that, i guess you're "stuck" with it then!

[OldDog]

Evening all, well it was a day of mixed emotions today. A couple of local lads have bought Mrs Marsh and will be using her remains for spare parts to keep their beasts on the road. On the good side I got $600 for it and i have my driveway back



Meanwhile Number 6 is sitting under a tarp at the moment, i picked up an Offenhauser 360 dual quad manifold for it so i can run two gas carbs. The 360 is a low rise manifold so the carbs won't stick too far out the bonnet and attract the coppers. I've run out of time to finish it so it will have to wait 6 months or so until i've moved into my new hose in Mudgee and set up the workshop there. That won't stop me from buying bits for it in the mean time though

Cheers

OD

[ari666]

but but but... your still gonna update... right?

[OldDog]

Well its been a while since i mucked about with this thread! Sorry Ari i didn't see your last reply there, but yes i'm updating it. It looks like i'm not going to have enough room at my new place for this ute, my Jailbar project and all my bikes, so the WB is going. As i like a bit of irony, i'll put it back on ebay from where it came from in the first place. I'll roll the money from it into the Jailbar....or maybe i'll just get another bike

Cheers

Bill