So, here I go again. I've got all of the corners repaired. It was a real learning process, because it wasn't until I got to the last piece that I was really proud of the work I was doing. It's actually the front driver side cowl repair that just looks ***y! Check out the pics. I started with the lower cab corners cause I'll see 'em less, and finished with the front cowl repairs. The first couple of pieces warped because again, I've never done this type of welding. I now, highly recommend having an air supply handy to help cool the welds as you go. It solved a lot of my warping. That, and patience. So, check out the pics. I'll post some more tomorrow.
Dig that sweet BLOB of bondo that the previous owner troweled into the front lower cowl. You gotta love cheap repairs. I've got little room to talk, 'cause I've got no skills. But at least I'm hacking through a metal repair rather than scooping bondo into the gaping wholes and calling it a night!
Just some more pics. I'll throw some more pics of the body filler that's going in the warpage around my body welds/repairs. I also boxed in the frames with 3/16th inch plate metal. That was fun rough cutting with oxy/acetyline and then grinding the **** out of em to get em close. But now that they're in I think they turned out well. Next will be a cross member from speedway motors, and my IFS.
Here's my first attempt at body filler. It's been fun. I've now got two layers of filler on. I'm trying to go with a thin coat, sand it down, and then another thin coat until I'm close. Then I'll throw a couple coats of primer on it, and then do a final skim coat. Enjoy Hamb heads!
Some more pics of the second coat that's cured. I'm going to sand it down tonight. I think that might be all the sanding and body filler I'll need for the cab.
DAWG...welcome, that old truck is just the right condition to rebuild. hey do it your way, and you'll never be disapointed. YOU DIG? personaly i love something different. man this hotrod world has become to cooky cutter. everything is painted black, geez what happened to color. i'am glad your a member, and good luck with your build...POP.
Great job on the pickup so far! I'd often thought about how many "new" pickups could be made from an old trailer and a truck cab... Just one thing- You're going to get rid of the huge gap between the bed and box, right? I'll trust you to it.
Thanks for the encouragement Holeshot! I agree, do what you want and you'll love it, no matter who thinks what about your build. Pinstriper40- I'm for SURE going to close that gap between the cab and the box. I also think I mentioned in an earlier thread that I'm going to shorten my bed just a little (possibly 6") so that the wheel well looks centered in the box. I'll post pics of the box build as I get there.
Here's the weekend update. I was able to finish sanding all of the filler down. The cab is getting really close to shooting primer, and then final skim coats. But I put the cab back on the frame, and also re***embled the front clip. I then measured the front IFS, and put a wheel in the front well to get an idea of what I'm dealing with. I then measured again (and again, and again) and tack welded the IFS cross member and the top posts in place. I need to cut a little out of the front inner fender to allow access for the IFS, ***emble to front end, and see if I like the wheel placement. All told, I've moved the front wheel location about an inch and an eighth forward. I'll post more pics through the week as I finish work. Later Hamb Heads!
Looking good, you look like a fast learner with lots of energy. I relly enjoy this type of post...keep them comming!!
Where does the time go?.... Oh yeah, fixing a nieghbors bent valve, replacing a timing belt, and then thinking, what the heck, I might as well rip out that faulty catalytic converter while I'm at it. So here's the update. I've finally had to seriously modify the shock towers that weren't so "universal" for the IFS. I think that they are about right now. I've also order the tires in form Coker and am waiting on the wheels. I pulled a nine inch rear axle that I don't think is really desirable. It's a WDU-H 3.70 rear gear 8.7 (I think that means it's actually an 8 3/4 axle rather than a nine). It's also a lighter duty 28 spline. Again, all of this wouldn't be a problem if I'd checked the lug pattern before I pulled the darn thing (always carry a tape measure). It's a 5 on 5 (maybe 5 on 5 1/4)- or some odd ball measurement like that. NOT a 5 on 4 1/2 like I want. So, it's back to the salvage yard. More pics to come.
More explanation of a couple of pictures. I've spent A LOT of time polishing my y block. It should be purdy when it's all done. I also helped my brother weld in his front IFS, and built those engine brackets for his 302. That was super fun putting it in, and building that and the ****** brackets. I'd be lying if I didn't say that sometimes I have engine envy (He's running a 302 with AFR heads, and a **** Stroker kit, and a TKO500). But my Y block will be all I need.
Looking good man. Gonna have 'er ready for the weekend? Hey while you're out there look for a rear end for me too - mine has 4:27!
So I called Coker and this is what happened. When I initially placed the order they didn't have any 16" wheels, so I ordered a set of 15" wheels with the firestone tires. Well, turns out after waiting over a month and a half I call Coker wanting to know what the **** is going on and why I haven't recieved my wheels yet. Tires came in fine. Charlie and Cokers super nice and tells me that when I ordered them they were in stock, but now it looks like they are on back order, and who knows when they'll be in. I saw an ad for "Early Tires" and called Jason to see if they have any 16" wheels. Sure do! He can make them in tomorrow, and ship them out on Friday at the latest. Call Coker back, ask for a return on the tires of got, to exchange them for the 700R16's and they've got the return postage coming. And hopefully by the middle part of next week I'll have rims and tires..... Unless I have another Coker incident.....
I had another Coker incident. They received my return tires July 1. But it was like July 12th and I hadn't recieved my tires. So I called them and for some "unknown" reason they hadn't shipped them out. So after me pushing them again I finally got them in the mail today! Yippie.
great thread. glad you're keeping the y-block. they sound so nice with striaght pipes, or brockman mellowtones that you will not regret it.
So, I kept pulling my ford 8.8 rear axle apart and finding more things that needed to be replaced. Now I basically own a brand new rear axle. What started out as a $75 salvaged rear axle that I was just going to "run", is now an $800 completely rebuilt 8.8 rear axle. Detroit tru-track. New pinion and ring gears (stayed with the 3.73 ratio), and new bearings and seals through-out. Tell ya what, it was fun to pull it apart and try to figure it all out as I put it back together. Should've taken pics of the rebuild. But it was sure fun.
PS. The dudes at Six States Distributors in Orem ROCK. I need to thank them a TON for the free help and advice in getting that thing back together. I couldn't recommend them more! Kevin literally helped me through every step, pressed the bearings, and checked the rolling torque on the pinion for $10. If any of you Utah County dudes need work done with drive-trains, axles and what not give these guys your business! Here's a link if you're interested Six States Distributors
If you dont use the ton steering box hang on to it. They are 1 more turn lock to lock and they used them when power steering wasnt wanted. Less effort at steering wheel.
I've done a lot of work and haven't posted in a while. Thought I might throw up some pics for you're viewing pleasure. I made some custom stake pockets, cut the box length down a little, and mocked it up. Finished the front end, and am now working on the rear axle placement.
The motor has been a slow process waiting for my machinist to get his **** done. He's a good machinist, he just takes FOREVER. I mocked up the bottom end. Measured clearances everywhere. I'm paranoid about motors until I'm SURE it's right. The narrowed rods were a little tight at .012" end clearance, but the bearings were barely kissing the radius so I trimmed them down a little more. I'll take some pics of them as well. The pistons were in the hole about .006" of an inch, the opposite of what I wanted. So I've had the deck trimed down .012" to get them out of the hole a skosh. I've got one last check before I can balance the rotating ***embly, and that will be the piston to valve clearance. If that checks out then the rotating ***embly will get balanced next week, and I'll put her together in probably to weeks. YIPEE!
I also scored a sweet Cougar WC T5, had the bell housing modified by John Mummert to accept the newer ******, and mocked it up the other day. I'm also stocked about the sweet Edelbrock 553 intake that I bought off the Ford Barn. I've had it cleaned, polished at Ogden Chrome. Who did an awesome job by the way!!!! And I've sent it over to ****, at ****'s Hot Rod Shop to have him work his magic. It should be done in about two weeks as well! SAAAWWWEEEEEETTTT!!!
I've bought some speedway junk (which I may already be regreting) to build my rear end. I wanted a four link and ended up with this odd hairpin, ladder bar set up. I don't know if I'll keep it or not. But, I've been racking my brain on how to get my truck as low as I want, and still have it managable without to much effort. I've finally decided that I can raise my once f350 bed several inches without having it look TOO odd (F350 came stock from the dealearship with higher bed sides- if I remember correctly about 2 inches). So I'm going to raise my bed floor, just the bed wood, 2 inches, and build a bad little c notch make it all safe again. I'll post more pictures next week as I complete more work.
The Jalopy Journal
