Junk Yard

I spent last Sunday at the junk yard looking for parts.  Pick a Part in Sun Valley, CA to be exact and it was definitely an interesting experience.  I found a 1977 Chevy Impala with the engine completely intact to dismantle and I was able to score an intake manifold and a left and a right exhaust manifold.  The trip was almost a complete success except for the hour and a half I wasted picking parts of an old Camaro that I could not use.  Apparently there is a big difference between intake manifolds for 2-Barrel and 4-Barrel carburetors.  These is also apparently a pretty big difference between the exhaust manifolds for a V6 and V8 engine.  Anyway, spent about 60 bucks on the three parts, whereas new, they would have cost about $350-$450 at some places.

1939 vs 1940

1939 Chevy although highly modified.  Note placement of handle in middle of dash and no lock above glove box.

Another 1939 Chevy.  Again note handle placement on dash and no lock above glove box.

1940 Chevy.  Note handle palcement on top of dash.

Another 1940.  Note handle placement on top of dash, 5 vertical lines running down center of dash and placement of lock above glove box.

Another 1940.  Note placement of handle on top of dash and again the 5 vertical lines running down center of dashboard.

Our truck.

As it turns out, our truck is not a 1939 afterall.  Its a 1940.  Unfortunately, my father-in-law was still born in 1939.  We are going ot have to settle for one year off on Sam Sharamitaro's 1940 Don Corleone.

Removed interior carpet to discover the floor board.  Literally a "board".  Made out of wood.

Removed floorboard to expose transmission and E-brake.

Removed the firewall.  Found two rodent nests.

Removed bed floor to expose muffler, rear differential, and gas tank.

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Removed the transmission.

Spent last Sunday (8/1/10) actually disassembling parts of the truck.  This is the first real work that I've done on the truck.  Removed old interior carpet and kick panels, removed floorboard and fire wall, and  removed the old wood bed.

I took the cylinder heads in to get looked at.  Carquest on Oxnard St in Van Nuys back on 7/23/2010.  They lost my paperwork.  I didnt realize it was so easy to misplace a couple of 25 pound pieces of cast iron that are painted bright orange.  They finally found them.  Anyway, valve stems and guides are shot, $300 to get them rebuilt or use them in exchange for new ones.  My dad, my brother Marc, and I are trying to decide a course of action.  Dont hold your breath.  Caution dictates that you measure twice, cut once.  Walters Family saying "measure twice, step back, measure once more, call your buddy to come over and double check your work, measure one last time, then think about whether you ever even wanted to cut in the first place."

Engine

Cylinder Heads (they need to be completely rebuilt)

Uhhh, Dont quite know but its about 13-14 inches wide.  I actually found this under the front seat.

Inside of the oil pan.

Carburetor

Stuff

More stuff

Head covers.

More stuff...

This is a 1972 5.7L 350 Chevy Short Block engine.  And yes that is zebra print carpet on the garage floor.

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More stuff....

My dad, Randy, is also in the middle of rebuilding a old-school Chevy pick-up.  His is a 1956 (I think) Chevy.  Anyway, he donated his old engine.  Some parts work, some parts dont.  Most parts are there, some aren't.

Background

I ended up with this truck after my brother-in-law, Carl, got a job promotion and moved to Texas.  There was no room for a old truck with no engine in his move half way across the country.  His wife, Allison, was so sad to see it go.  The whole family thought it was a 1939 Chevy, the same year my father-in-law, Sam, was born, based on information provided by the DMV when the truck had a VIN assigned to it about 25 years ago.  It's not.  It's a 1940.  Here are the "Before" pics.