Technical 1932 Pickup Rebuild Thread UPDATED 1/11/16

Dennis, just an aesthetic thing, but to my eye the gusset on the shock bracket would look better if the free edge had a nice curve to it.

Still digging the build.

Mart.

 

When Detroit started using turn signals, if I remember correctly, the lenses were not amber but just clear. Don't know if the law now says they have to be amber, but the clear lenses are less obvious, while the amber ones stick out like dog balls. Unless a car is painted an amber color, the clear lenses blend in better, and look similar to just chrome.

 

Over here it was legal up than sudden year of manufacturing, to run white in the front, Amber on the side and red at the back.
And it looks better.

Today it's mandatory to run Amber turn signal all the way around. But you can run clear lenses and Amber bulbs.

If you do that all should be good. Even youngster that are awake will know what you are doing, and hopefully not run in to you.

 

I looked through many pages of motorcycle signal lights and everything I saw (that had a housing shape that I liked AND that wasn't modern looking LED's) had either amber or red lenses. I definitely agree that clear lenses would look better. If I find something better I can change them easily.

 

Dennis, check for reproduction lighting for early, Series I or II Land Rovers - they have a sidelight assembly that may work that is clear. Not sure on size or whether it's a glass lense though. If it's the right size, maybe adapting to an appropriately shaped, vintage-style lamp shell would be an option. They have a cool, beehive-like fluting as well.



Steve

 

I don't think those landy lights would look too at home on Dennis' truck. On my roadster I used some bike type indicator units on the front but when I painted them matt black I allowed some paint to lightly fog over the lens. Not enough to stop the light from showing when illuminated, but enough to take away the visual "look at me" from the bright amber lens when not lit.

 

How about some Guide marker lights w/clear lenses mounted on top of the front frame / frame horns? Small and somewhat inconspicuous yet will be visible when lit. Excellent thread BTW and thanks for sharing.

 

Or some 682-Cs with the marker lights on top of the bucket? Like the ones I'm using on my roadster..

(shameless plug)

 

UPDATE

Okay, guys, check this out!!!

Over the weekend we received an email through the shop from a fellow named Al Barrows who doesn't have a HAMB account but lurks here and has been following this thread. Seeing the recent discussion about signal lights and the ultimate preference of something vintage with clear lenses he offered that he has had this bitchin' pair of lights for 40 years and would be happy to donate them to the project. They look to be just like the chrome/red lense 2" Yankee lights I mocked up but with old black patina paint and WHITE lenses! How awesome is that?! So, in the near future I should have these in my possession and I think they will be absolutely perfect for the truck. I'll just put in some amber bulbs to make them a little more noticeable.

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You won't find cooler lights than those!
I'm sending a pm regarding my steering box
that you helped with info about.
Thanks again!

 

Dennis---What a great score!! See--for all your brilliant Tech Teaching...You get Rewarded!

 

Very slick....bitchin' for sure! If the white bulbs are bright enough, you can probably skip the amber bulbs. Just make sure you use nice and bright white ones. The amber bulbs even when not flashing will reflect the Amber color. On my coupe, the white bulbs seem to be noticed just fine, even by soccer moms.

 

You can get modern bulb that look white in lamp and blink amber. All the boy racer with there rabbit an corolla* runs them,

*And FYI it's pronounced shitbox and rice burner, lol

 

X2

 

Hi Dennis:
Very much enjoying your continued efforts keeping us updated. It is so nice to hear the story of Al Burrows contributing the nicest of lights for your project. To paraphrase Tolkien " help unlooked for is twice blessed". Thanks. TEB

 

I love those marker lights! Color me amber with envy..

 

Those are cool markers for sure.

I picked up some old motorcycle sidecar marker lights for mine.


These were made by Arrow. need some work but I really dig the lenses. They're not hard to find but bargains are elusive.

 

I had 682`s on a roadster that I converted as well for signals. Switched out the receptacle for a standard 1157 but used a smaller version 1157ll bulb obtainable through a motor cycle dealer. They fit perfectly under the marker lens and come in either amber or white.

 

UPDATE

I received the black/clear turn signal lights that Al Barrows so generously donated to my truck. I know you are reading this, Al, and I can't thank you enough. They're perfect!!!

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I also received a BIG box from Spring, Texas this morning. Inside it were the widened 18" wires that Danny Burroughs of Bruce's Rod Shop made for me. These are going to be that crowning touch that the truck needed. Thanks again, Danny. I wanted to take them straight to our powder coater today but we had a lunch time visitor so it'll have to wait until tomorrow. At any rate, I should have them back before the end of next week and I'll be going straight to the local tire shop to have the GIANT 700-18 STA Transport truck tires mounted. I need to pull the engine so I can detail it and build my trans (should have used a different case for mock up, DOH!) but I'm gonna leave it in one more week so that next weekend I can get the rear wheels/tires bolted up, put the truck down and roll it outside for a look and pictures.

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Danny also made me a drive shaft/ torque tube seal for my stock "B" rear. It already needed one but the truck is gonna have more forward rake and the axle would go empty without this.

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I also started modifying my original throttle pedal to have the lever moved to the drivers side for the 4-barrel. I'm about half way through that job but no pictures yet.

Stay tuned!

 

That is a really nifty seal housing. I`ve seen them mounted on a press in ring in the torque tube, but the bolt on really makes more sense. I`ll need one for the `46 rear end I have for my T project...

 

Give me a call and I'll make you one. I made this one for Dennis. 281-376-5932

 

Thanks, Danny. I`ll give you a call next week.......Cheers, Kiwi Paul....

 

UPDATE

This morning I forced myself to get up early (I hate doing that on weekends!), got to the shop at 7:30am, loaded the rear wheels and tires into my Dad's '34 Pickup and made way for my favorite local tire shop. Got there 15 minutes before they opened so I could be sure to get in and out. Got back to the shop, bolted on the new rear wheels & tires, set the truck on the ground and pushed it out the door for a sneak preview of it's new look. Overall, I'm very happy!

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The ONLY unexpected issue I have ran into with the SBC swap is that there is not adequate clearance between the tie rod and harmonic damper/crank pulley. I've ran through several scenarios to fix it (making a dropped-center tie rod or rerouting the tie rod under the wishbones) and have settled on removing the reversed main spring leaf and installing a stock main leaf. I really don't want to get into reworking the tie rod and spindle steering arms now that everything is painted and put together. While the truck was outside I used a floor jack and raised the front frame horns 1", the same amount the stock main leaf will raise the front. I think the truck still looks really good up 1". As it is now, it has A LOT of rake. It's way more exaggerated in person. I could put a spacer between the spring and cross member but then I would have to make new U-bolts. Changing the main leaf won't affect the U-bolts and will also increase the gap between the top of the axle and lower spring clamp plate.

The rear is also going to come down at least an inch once I rework the spring.

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Now that I've been able to see the truck down on all 4 it's time to pull the SBC back out, clean and paint it, build the trans and get them both back in for the final time. Then it will be down to reworking the rear spring, making rear tube shock mounts, changing the rear brakes to MT Lincoln repops and getting an exhaust system made. My new goal is to be able to drive my truck on December 3rd, my 36th birthday!

 

It looks phenomenal! I love it.

 

Cool.
Al.

 

Looking so good!

 

I'm loving it !

 

x2

 

Sweet!

Mart.

 

don't touch the rear spring...it's fine