Gray Man, Inc.

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Re: Gray Man, Inc.

#121

Post by DRIVEN » Sat Jul 31, 2021 6:52 pm

Tow dolly is next on the block and got a restoration. Pressure washed, repacked wheel bearings, new straps, lights, reflector tape, grip tape, cleaned up wiring. New tire on order. Buh bye.

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When the only tool you have is a hammer every problem starts to look like a hippy.

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Re: Gray Man, Inc.

#122

Post by DRIVEN » Tue Aug 17, 2021 5:03 am

1012 mile impulse buy. I'm an idiot.

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Re: Gray Man, Inc.

#123

Post by Taterhead » Wed Aug 18, 2021 7:08 am

Ok, so I know it’s a flathead V8, but what is the reason for your hand in the picture. Is it to show size or something like that?
Not saying your hand is ruining the pic or anything, I just don’t know much about those engines and was wondering.

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Re: Gray Man, Inc.

#124

Post by DRIVEN » Wed Aug 18, 2021 11:27 am

V8-60, which was Ford's downsized economy offering from 1937-1940. It's 136ci, 60hp, and has6:1 compression. My hand covers more than half the cylinder head. Hilariously dinky.
The famous old quote was that they didn't have enough power to pull the skin off a bowl of pudding. Bolt-on parts can make them cool and they were a go-to for midgets and hydroplanes in the 40s and 50s. There were supercharger kits, multiple carb intakes, high compression heads, and Ardun conversions.


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When the only tool you have is a hammer every problem starts to look like a hippy.

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Re: Gray Man, Inc.

#125

Post by Taterhead » Fri Aug 27, 2021 12:38 pm

Thanks for explaining that for me.

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Re: Gray Man, Inc.

#126

Post by DRIVEN » Sat Oct 30, 2021 5:50 pm

Tow dolly sold in 3 days for full price.
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My old man has been chipping away at his pickup. New fenders, fuel tank, rockers, radiator arrangement, gauges and dash paint.


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He's planning a dark metallic green over black fenders. I bought him a set of old school wheels but the offset was wrong so we're still hunting.

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The '98 GMC developed a rod knock so we're considering a 383 upgrade.

Vibe keeps truckin' and gets a timing set replacement when it hits 300k in a month or two.

I'm still collecting parts for the 225 6spd swap from my TW.


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Mostly, it's been fence posts and irrigation.
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Re: Gray Man, Inc.

#127

Post by DRIVEN » Thu Nov 04, 2021 6:16 am

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When the only tool you have is a hammer every problem starts to look like a hippy.

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Re: Gray Man, Inc.

#128

Post by Laecaon » Thu Nov 04, 2021 9:28 pm

That is pretty. I used to have lots of pretty sunsets at my old house.

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Re: Gray Man, Inc.

#129

Post by BLUE » Thu Nov 04, 2021 9:53 pm

Killer view
DRIVEN » Sat Oct 11, 2014 10:24 am wrote:
1. Make progress until broke.
2. Go make mo money.
3. Repeat.

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Re: Gray Man, Inc.

#130

Post by DRIVEN » Fri Nov 05, 2021 6:01 am

No filters, just my phone camera from the deck. I get a lot of good sunrises but yesterday was exceptionally vivid. Sunsets are on the other side of the hill so I don't get to see them from home.
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Re: Gray Man, Inc.

#131

Post by DRIVEN » Sun Nov 07, 2021 4:38 pm

Performed the autopsy today...
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Spun #6. Crank and rod ruined. DAMMIT!

If you're familiar with 90's GM cam/crank re-learn procedure, you can probably do the math.
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Re: Gray Man, Inc.

#132

Post by DRIVEN » Tue Nov 23, 2021 6:24 am

Cold, foggy, late-season ride yesterday. I rode about 8 miles from my house to the rendezvous point and my goggles and jacket were iced up. Luckily, we only had to ride for about 15 minutes to get up above the soup and into the sun.

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Still not dead yet.
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Re: Gray Man, Inc.

#133

Post by DRIVEN » Sun Dec 12, 2021 5:26 pm

Did some riding when my brother was in town.
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Didn't break anything. Steel toes save real toes.

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My dad has been steadily working on his '37. He did some trading with a guy to install new rockers, patch the lower door corners, bodywork the front fenders, and put the repairs in black E-prime. Didn't like the fit of the E-Ts so he bought some chrome baby moons.

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He also painted the interior and dash and installed new gauges. He just gutted all the scary wiring and will be installing a Painless harness.

Work has stayed busy for the last couple months so I've been space truckin' like a motherfucker. Hit 300k on the Supervibe (currently just under 303k). I've got a timing set and gaskets sitting in a box. Just need to be home long enough to install.

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I finally hauled my work table from my basement down to the shop. We went back and forth (analysis paralysis) on what to do for the GMC. Crate motor, used drop-in machine shop rebuild, and stroker were all considered. In the end, an inexpensive viable core was located. I did rings, bearings, timing set, and reused the original cam, lifters, and heads. Everything mic'd out on the big side of acceptable. Basically, we're hoping to be back where it started, just shinier. I finally got a chance this weekend to do the work. I'm this close...
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Hoping I get a work break for a couple days. Might have a runner by next weekend.
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Re: Gray Man, Inc.

#134

Post by BLUE » Sun Dec 12, 2021 6:46 pm

Damn , cheapest set of steel toe boots one could purchase any cost after seeing that picture. Here’s to having all the toes !

Amazing , I literally perk up a just a touch more , every time I hear how high of mileage your vibe is getting with zero issues.

Yeah , hard to know what engine options to go with these days. I’ll admit , these days I tend to lean a touch more towards what’s reliable (within reason of course) more than anything.

Well done , keep up the good work
DRIVEN » Sat Oct 11, 2014 10:24 am wrote:
1. Make progress until broke.
2. Go make mo money.
3. Repeat.

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Re: Gray Man, Inc.

#135

Post by DRIVEN » Sun Dec 12, 2021 7:12 pm

I really wanted to talk him into a 383 build. Not my money though. He doesn't really drive it enough miles to worry about MPGs. The primary reason he bought it was for those long trips towing projects home. Doesn't matter, really. It tows fine with the 350. I've told him I want first right of refusal if he decides to sell. Then, all bets are off.
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Re: Gray Man, Inc.

#136

Post by BLUE » Sun Dec 12, 2021 7:23 pm

10-4. Makes complete sense , 383 is a decent step up.

That’s how we do it in my family to , 1st right of refusal , feels like we don’t ever really sell vehicles just pimp out the cool stuff worth having to each other.
DRIVEN » Sat Oct 11, 2014 10:24 am wrote:
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2. Go make mo money.
3. Repeat.

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Re: Gray Man, Inc.

#137

Post by DRIVEN » Sun Dec 12, 2021 7:32 pm

I built a torque-specific 400 for the Smell Camino years ago. It was nothing short of incredible for towing. IIRC it had 440lbs from 2200-4500RPMs on my Dyno2000. Peak horsepower is fun in hotrods but torque matters when it's time to do work.
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Re: Gray Man, Inc.

#138

Post by DRIVEN » Wed Dec 15, 2021 4:53 pm

It's a runner. No bad noises, smoke, or obvious leaks. It does have a miss though. I'll sort that out tomorrow and clean up the shop a bit.
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Re: Gray Man, Inc.

#139

Post by BLUE » Wed Dec 15, 2021 6:31 pm

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DRIVEN » Sat Oct 11, 2014 10:24 am wrote:
1. Make progress until broke.
2. Go make mo money.
3. Repeat.

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Re: Gray Man, Inc.

#140

Post by DRIVEN » Wed Dec 15, 2021 6:37 pm

Sometimes it's nice to deal with a boring, old SBC. I have to admit though, I've lost flat rate edge. I would have lost my ass on this job.
When the only tool you have is a hammer every problem starts to look like a hippy.

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