On Tue, 11 Mar 2003 12:49:07 -0800, a couple of people wrote:
>how much was the encore set?
and
>OK how much?
in response to my description of the United Speedometer Encore gauge
set I got for my '52 Chevy 3/4 ton. I finally got around to digging
out the receipt, and the total was $911.59 including a $50 core
charge.
I bought my truck restored, and the original gauges had been done up
very nicely (*way* too nicely to turn them in for the core charge).
But with the engine and running gear changes I'm making, I felt it was
worth it to me to get the upgraded functions. I'm building this truck
as my daily driver, as an alternative to buying a new truck which
doesn't excite me nearly as much. I expect to be looking at these
gauges every day for many years.
I've put in a complete front crossmember and suspension from a '73-'87
3/4 ton Camper Special, and a 3.73 rear end (bolted to the original
springs) from the same truck. Gives me power steering, power disc
brakes in front, big brakes in rear, etc. Front and rear are quite a
bit wider than original, but plain steel wheels from late model D&dge
3/4 ton have enough backset to tuck the tires back under the fenders,
and allow use of the original hubcaps with slight modification. I'm
going to tow our 5th wheel trailer with this truck, so I'm keeping it
a full-capacity 3/4 ton--in fact, it will be heavier-duty when I'm
done than it was originally.
Engine is a '93 Camaro LT-1 with a 700R4 trans. I had to make a new
bracket for the a/c compressor to move it from the bottom to the top
so the engine would set down between the frame rails. Near as I can
tell, nobody makes just an a/c bracket for the Camaro LT-1 with its
cam-driven water pump and serpentine belt system--you have to buy a
complete set of brackets and pulleys along with new compressor,
alternator and p/s pump as the originals will not work with the new
brackets. That costs around $2k. My bracket cost me about $55 for two
idler pulleys, some bolts and a piece of aluminum stock. (I'm not
going to count the cost of my CNC milling machine, which I used to
make an idler pulley mount and the compressor bracket.) The revised
setup is not quite show-quality, as it looks a little awkward, but it
is completely functional and solid.
I'm told that the Corvette LT-1 has the accessories grouped together
at the top left of the engine, and fits into an AD engine bay as is.
If I had known that earlier, I'd have paid the dismantler an extra
$400 for a Vette engine.
I'm far enough along to see that everything is going to work and fit
and look good. My goal is to have a truck that looks so stock you have
to be pretty knowledgeable and pretty close to see that it's not all
original, yet will pull a 24 ft trailer over a mountain pass with the
a/c on and keep up with traffic. I think I'm going to achieve it.
Joe
--
Heather & Joe Way
Sierra Specialty Automotive
Brake cylinders sleeved with brass
Gus Wilson Stories
http://www.brakecylinder.com
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