Went out to Andice today to work with Mike and Harold on the '40..... I was pleasantly surprised to see they'd actually been working on it!!
There were very few problems --
#1 - Is the bed on the truck wasn't square or level. When you viewed the truck from the side - the gap between the cab and front of the bed was a "keystone" or "taper". Now -- it's completely able to be shimmed with some blocks to make it fit perfectly - and I'm not saying that Pinkee's was anywhere near getting to this work area..... so don't get it wrong please. To me - it was more the fact that they (CHRA) had noticed it - checked in to what it took to make it right - and had already fixed it.
#2 - The gas cap in the fender -- a Steve Moal built cap -- frenched in to the driver rear fender. It's an "O ringed" cap.... but CHRA had gone one better and used a new car style positive twist and sealed cap INSIDE of the Moal cap - and had already C notched the chassis and run the stainless tubing for the connection....
#3 - The area under the bed - and the gap between it and the chassis.... normally filled with just a plain piece of metal. They had already mocked up, for my viewing pleasure, two different styles of louvers for this area - giving the truck a definite hot rod touch! The one they - and Gwen and I loved - was the use of a "curved" louver - think if you sliced a side of a football off - rather than just the standard straight louver. The truck is all curves - and the use of the curved version was perfect. CHECK!
#4 - The intake was already done!
#5 - The steering column was relocated slightly - so they could hook up the transmission linkage and steering knuckles and shaft. This area is a super tight fit at the driver side valve cover. As in -- Oh my!
We're going to use some of the curved louvers in the inner fender well area (custom built - very nicely by Pinkee's) to allow for some air flow.... and I'm "thinking" (now that I've seen this bitchin' louver) of throwing a few in the hood as well.... we'll mess with placement and pattern a bit to attempt to get it right - or eliminate them if we can't.
Discussion turned to some details -- bumpers or nerf bars in front - I'm opting for the nerf bar style. With the right rake - and some little hot rod touches -- it lends itself to that styling que..... They'll keep the front end from being hung out there with the traditional bumper (although a '41 bumper is better than the '40... they still have to be out front a ways). The rear has to follow the front - so a custom style rear bumper will be built.
We talked stereo - speakers - sub - amps etc -- door treatment (interior) and latches. Bear claws?- stock? - or their suggestion of a modern latch that Mike liked because of how it worked. I'll go with their modern latch suggestion. Door handles to operate it are TBD. Mirror styles etc TBD.
I hated the A/C in the '33 --- it was junk and could barely keep the tiny little space tolerable. Junk is being nice.... and there were a couple of factors that contributed to it's poor performance -- #1 being the ridiculous little hot roddy outlets. Those POS couldn't flow enough air to keep a flea cage cool.... and I've never liked the "one style doesn't fit anything" Vintage Air controls.... Well -- personally -- I love a shop that has the correct answers for solutions... and they showed me a couple of options that were spot on! BINGO! Problems solved. Gotta love it!
Then -- the seat? Gwen and I both sat on a plastic milk crate (my name for them). The seat in a stock 40 - had a "seat riser" platform... which is my preference - and we'll build in some storage drawer access in front. A quick access spot for little things like glasses - and gum - and just "stuff"... it will also be the right space to hide stereo amps etc. In 1940 - you had the option(?) of the gas tank under the seat or under the bed.... I ASSume the riser was the place where the gas tank went. We'll use this space for some storage. DONE.
So basically they're now in the process of getting all the "mechanical" stuff hooked up - or built and hooked up. That way there's no "oops" where's that going to go? Then they can go back and address the details. The hood etc fit really well -- amazingly well - kudos to Pinkee's for getting it right. The hood latch set up they built falls right together with a nice click.
So funny thing about the actual SEAT -- what style etc. I said my buddy Dan Peterson had the perfect seat in his '40 PU that I liked and wanted to use. It's a square back - with a fold down armrest - has a "bucket" feel to the seating area - and the seat cushion can flip forward for under seat access. A quick iPad pic and Gwen et al agreed. Only one problem.... I don't know how to get hold of Dan to find out what seat he used. So once back at the hotel - I started networking. A buddy owns Warehouse West - a perfomance parts wholesale distribution / retail operation - a call to the owner, Brad - he knew Dan and figured he knew a couple people that should have contact info.... an hour later - I've got it! Thank you Brad - you were always a good man!
A call to Dan - and it's a Glide Engineering Inc seat (they have several styles to choose from) and lo-n-behold they also make a steel seat riser! That will save me money when I don't have to make one from scratch! So I hang up after a nice conversation with Dan - and go to Glides website.... What's on the front page (home page)??????? A picture of the '33 !! Click on it -- and an even larger picture of it!! LOL WTF are the odds of that??? It's fate..... LOL
http://www.glideengineering.com/
Here's the seat in Dan's - at the time, unfinished project... and now he tells me he has 200 miles on his finished project! Good for him!! He's built some seriously nice hot rods in his day! Apparently he's still got it!! Good for you Dan!
Brian Hobaugh SCCA National Tour June 2014
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