Projects 1935 Ford Pickup Project (First Build)

This is my first build and I am starting with a 1935 Ford Pickup. There is quite a bit of rot on the bottom of the cab and around the rear and front window. Other than that the rest is pretty solid.

Here's what I started with:


The first thing I did was get it up off the rot and pull out the gas tank that was in the cab. That followed by some cab bracing, see pics later in post.

I then got to work on a frame. Using 2"x4"x0.125" tube, I chalked up a frame on the garage floor and took some measurements. Using a combination square, a sharpie and a scribe I marked up the fish mouths.



I cut out the first rail and checked it to my sketch. Perfect fit.



I checked the rail against the cab and decided it looked good so on to the next rail.



I marked out the cuts and placed the cut rail on top of the first one. Using the square and some clamps I checked the fit of the rail and tacked it.





I worked my way to the front of the rail and repeated the checks and tacked the second bend.



I went back to the mock up to determine where the rear kick will start and made the cuts to give me this.



I used the same mirror process to match the second rail. I still need to chamfer the middle of the rails so they match the profile of the cab.



Thanks for reading,

RC

 

your tag line had me laughing out loud.
did she really say that?

(I've done a couple of these),
have you decided on what you are doing for rear suspensio?
Or what wheelbase your shooting for? bed length?

 

VAP - no it's the opening quote out of "Talladega Nights." I googled it and came up with it being fake, but it's hilarious as is the movie. I'm going to try truck arm rear. Not sure about wheel base or bed lenght. Kinda flying by my pants and gonna try to let stuff fall into place.

 

Lookin good,please keep us posted!!What are all the plans for the cab?

 

Keep us posted I'm going to follow this thread seems like a very interesting build.

 

Check out bob drake for replacement sheetmetal parts. Mack products has complete beds or pieces. Good luck.

 

The cab will get channeled over the frame and the the top chopped with laid back pillars. As far as how much? Not sure, when the time comes I'll have to decide. I'm going to take a look at some other builds to see what others have done.

 

looks like a great start, ill have to stay tuned to see how it turns out.

 

I'd like to have a project like that, but I can't see enough of my garage floor to draw a frame much less build one!! Maybe if you buy more stuff.......

 

Cool, building a 36 myself, keep up the good work, and let us no how it's coming.

 

Check out the social group:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/group.php?groupid=26

(although I've been absent there lately)

 

Well, it has been quite a while since an update. After a fire at the in-laws and trying to get their house gutted to get the contractors in there, and a little bit of the winter blues I decided it was time to get back to work. Made a rough stand out of 2x4's to level the frame out and get it squared up. Got everything tacked and decided to muscle the cab on there to make some engine noises and noticed that the frame didn't turn out as i had planned. I had tapered the rails 7* and it wound up 2" too wide at the firewall. So instead of trying to redo the taper, I cut 2" out of the rear cross member and...Perfect.



The front is just tacked together until I get a better idea on engine placement and front axle setup. I've got a certified welder buddy with a TIG so no I will not be welding the frame with the little guy. I plan on channeling the cab very little, maybe 2". Here are the other pics.







I also decided against trying to rebuild the 429 and picked up 352 that was complete and in pretty good shape. 4 speed NP435 will go behind it.

Cab floor is next on the list.

Thanks for tuning in,
RC

 

I might be a worry-wart, but since the frame is just tacked...take this for what it'sworth.

I've never been a fan of just butt-welding tubing together in a structral place (like a frame) without making a gusset-plate for the inside of it (to keep a clean look), if you make a plate that will fit on the inside of the frame rails (inside and outside) and drill a few holes in your rails on either side of the "Z", then leave a gap between the rails and weld the plate and both rails together at the same time, then fill the hole to the plate as a plug weld, it'd be much stonger...especially with that big FE up front, plus I'd doit to the rear too.

 

Fish plates on the outside of the tubes are just as effective as using the inner-plate method, and fish plates are a hell of a lot easier to use...the only down side is they're ugly if you can't cover them with the body...I'm glad you're going with a subtle 2" channel, there's enough "too low to be drivable" hot rods out there already...the 352 is also another neat choice...keep up the good work, hope to see some more progress pics soon...

 

I do plan on putting fish plates on all of the joints. They will all be covered by the body, less the ones ahead of the cab. They will most likely get covered some by the headers or possibly some fenders. I don't have an issue with the look of them and they will probably be diamond shaped to give it some sort of style.

 

ever see them extend the lower firewall when they chop them for leg room? I never thought of it

 

I dont think I will have room with the engine in there to extend the firewall any.

 

Looking good

 

i think you made the right choice buildin a new frame from scratch, i dont wanna know how many hours iv got into mine-shortened(twice!), boxed, all new cross members, sectioning the rails under the cab-it all ads up...fast! if i had to do it over agian id build a frame from scratch out ot tubing for sure. have you considered tappering the rail down fron the firewall forward?

 

Thats going to be a wicked little ride! Good luck on your build!

 

Here are some more pics of the frame with the cab off of it.

 

I could have used the original frame but it was a big truck frame and I figured i would have more time into modifying that frame than starting from scratch. Total time so far is maybe 8 hours, but that includes an unknown number of these.

 

haha, ya thier might be a few ow those that have been consumed during my biuld too, dont know if they speed things up or slow things down.

 

It's not that my legs are all that long it's that my belly likes them somewhere else when I'm sitting

 

If I'm driving all the way up there to help out on your build, you need to supply something other than unleaded beer, I don't get much done powered by that diet crap!!

 

I have a 35.Cool build.Keep us updated on your build.Thanks.

 

Today in Bay City was beautiful. With a 45 degree high and little wind, the man cave was full of action. Les (oldtin) made the hour trip up with his tig and assorted other tools. The plan for the day was to get most of the frame welded up and then do a quick mock up to determine front axle placement.

Here's Les layin some beads:


I figured I would try my hand at tig and here's my 3rd weld:


Too bad it's not my machine. Damn those things are nice. I don't have the money for one, but I need to find a way to get one.

Les brought some old 35's he picked up from his dad's place on the way up and here's a big and little wheel assortment mock up:


I think those are a little too big, but the 28" wheels I got with the 8.8" Ford Explorer axle seem a little small. Ill have to find a happy medium somewhere.


Next item on the list is to get the front cross member in place and with some front hubs, I could have a crude roller.

Thanks for reading.

 

Kool,keep us posted,lookin good!!!

 

A nice warm day, a few barley pops, and some welding fumes....all in all a good saturday. Just what I needed to break the cabin fever!
Damn, thems some big ass tires!

 

Looks like your making some real progress. Who would have ever thought that someone from Bay City, Michigan could actually do a project.
Seriously, I'd like to come over some time and take a look at what your doing. Been around the block a few times and "might" be able to offer some pointers. If not at least you'll know who to never let in your garage again.

Frank