So I have been looking for a project A for sometime now and came across this in the local craigslist. It's a 1930 5 window converted to a pickup. It's on a custom frame. Suspension currently is a quarter elliptical front I beam. And a 4 bar rear with stock spring. It came with a rebuilt 350/350 combo. The doors hang nicely and latch. There is little rust. All in all it's a great canvas for what I intend to build. First this I intend to do is ditch the quarter elliptical junk for spring behind split wishbone setup. When I build cars I tend to tweak out and move quickly so stay tuned for progress! Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Started building today by removing the quarter elliptical junk from the front on the car. It I was nice to be able to remove an entire front suspension with one 6 bolts and pry bar. Also laying out the new front suspension parts to help determine the wheel base and rake that I want the car the have. It should also be noted that this car has some of the worst welding I have ever seen on it. Be sure to take in the home brew motor mounts pictured below! Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
I'd consider starting over completely on the ch***is if that is how the welding is on the motor mounts is.
It looks they forgot to turn on the gas while welding through paint to get a weld that 'nice'. I hope you shorten that wheelbase. It looks like the start of a cool project.
My thoughts exactly! I have an old custom 2x3 I built some years back stashed at my shop, I'm going to be using that for this build Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
That was a weld? I thought a possumn crawled up there and took a dump. Better check things over very closely to make sure there is no hidden surprises that could end up getting you hurt or worse.... Cool truck though.
Wow, the kingpin bores are really close to the perchpin bores on that axle. The turning radius is gonna be a challenge if you split the bones to the outside of the frame rails.
Digging up this old thread/ build. New year, new priorities! Decided that I want to build this truck for the spring summer so I wasted no time getting everything squared away. Hoping to have this old gal a rolling ch***is by weeks end. Mocking up the new front frame section. Pulled to body off in order to properly weld the ch***is, and also fix the cab sheet metal. Everything squared up and ready for the new front frame section. New front section tacked on and squared up. Spring, wishbones, axle hanging off new front perch, measuring and figuring out the next step. Test fitting the motor to make sure everyone is happy! I am using an early vw bus steering box for side steering. Had a heck of a time deciding if i wanted the axle behind or I front of the grille shell (in front won, Jason graham style) rear suspension is a 4 link with coilovers and Panhard bar hidden (not OG I know, but I live in the Mecca of canyon roads and really want to bomb them confidently!) motor is a 350 sbc, Schneider cam, forged internals, 3-2 offy intake connected to a th350 and ford 9 inch. Wheels and tires will be here tomorrow and last ch***is bits show up Wednesday. Thanks for taking a look! Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Made some good progress since my last post. The motor is square, level, and firmly mounted in the new frame. Split bones, spring, perches, etc are all welded in and set up. Wheels and tires are ready to go! Next items up are finalizing the rear suspension geometry and fabrication. Then hopefully I can start testing the body for fit and stance. Starting to get stoked on the fit and finish of everything! Motor mounts after final welding Frame mounts built from 1/4" plate tig welded in place. Front wheels mounted to get fit and stance measurements. The rusty old vw box/ column prior to cleaning and rebuild Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
great work - did you have to or are you going to pie cut the front wishbones for castor? those vw boxes were real popular over here and are getting hard to get now thanks mark
I set the radius arms and front axle at 7° and if need be can use shims under the spring perch to fine-tune caster angle. I had the VW box from another project, I don't know why more people don't use them honestly. They are as close to perfect for side steer Pitman facing up style steering as you can get. There is a shop in Northern California that rebuilds them and sells them like New for a couple hundred bucks. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Nothing too exciting this weekend, fabricated the 4 link frame mounts. Tig welded to the frame and started locating the rear axle and fine tuning geometry.
The Jalopy Journal
