Project Calvin

Project Started!

 

This project, named after my father Calvin Snyder (1928 - 1997), has changed several times as the ideas have been thought out pertaining to just what we should do as a tribute to him.  After a long thought process, I decided the best way to honor my dad would be to reflect more of what he was, and how he shaped me into who I am today.

Project Calvin is going to be the 1985 GMC truck project that will pull the trailer used for hauling all the subsequent projects. After all, how better to honor my dad than with what he did for a living -- drive trucks, hauling freight for several trucking companies for nearly all of his adult life.  Dad owned two "squarebody" GM trucks, a 1976 and a 1981 -- there will actually be parts of his 1976 Chevy truck installed as a part of the Project Calvin GMC.

Because my main experience is with Oldsmobile-powered vehicles, Project Calvin will have an Olds powerplant and a Turbo Hydra-Matic® transmission.  This is easy due to the usage of the Olds Diesel engine in some of these trucks in the late 1970s.  I have located the correct frame pads for the Olds engine, so it's "Rocket Power" for getting us to the events.

Preliminary stats for Project Calvin are as stated below, and more details will be available as soon as possible in the Newsgram.

Project Calvin - 1985 GMC:

• 350 Cubic Inch V-8/TH-400 Automatic Transmission
• Holley Sniper Fuel Injection
• Ignition and Camshaft revisions for low-end (towing) power
• Extra-Capacity Oiling System by Dave Smith Engineering
• Stock Olds Cylinder Heads & Intake Manifold
• Thornton Exhaust Manifolds, Dual Exhaust with crossover
• Custom Auxiliary Tank Filling System - two tanks, one filler neck
• More details as the build process progresses!

Progress Pictures:

• Right after I purchased the truck - longer ago than I wish to remember. (112k)
• The front clip has been removed, and so far everything is looking good -- no serious frame rust. (86k)
• Now the cab is removed, need to determine whether or not we repair or replace it. (96k)
• The rust you see is the aftermath of the fire. I was told it was in the dash originally, but this tells me it was in or behind the seat. (96k)
• The back side of the cab shows more of the damage. What isn't as easily seen is the warping of the metal, making complete back wall replacement a must. (84k)
• Driver's side rocker panel, it's all adding up....... (205k)
• Front side of the bed - this will be replaced with a piece saved from my dad's 1976 Chevy. (112k)
• Frame after cab removal. Still looks good, just needs serious clenaing. (97k)
• Look at the crack I found in the exhaust pipe, this would have made for some interesting engine sounds! (114k)
• After a far-too-long delay, an update - the front suspension has been removed! Issues have been discovered that will need addressed before reassembly. (75k)
• At some point in it's previous life they must have had issues with the right front shock mount coming loose. The hole through the frame was damaged, and someone tried a patch to the opening with washers welded in (poorly). While the frame is stripped down we'll drop by Asylum Race Cares for a proper repair. (66k)
• This is an item that can't be ignored. The rear upper A-Arm mount on the left-side (where the alignment adjustments are made) has serious corrosion issues. I will be replacing all four studs, they are available, and this is a safety item that can't be ignored. (77k)
• The next big step in the tear-down: removing the front crossmember. Taking it off makes replacing the studs (shown above) easier, and allows us to thoroughly clean the inside, making it easier to treat any rust and stop it from recurring. This also shows the "stands" that will hold the frame as I'm cleaning/painting it and reassembling the suspension. (74k)
• Filthy! But not for long. I can roll this around as I'm pressure-washing it, making sure it's as clean as possible. Also makes undercoating the inside of it much less back-breaking when I put it on some sawhorses. (56k)