Technical Yeah, Its got a Hemi/41 shop truck

That's really looking great.

 

Man, I am impressed. That old truck is gonna need a rotisserie and mirrors.

 

I like to display them at the Portland Roadster show at least once while they are fresh, then drive em like you stole em 'Root!.

Thanks Brian. I am starting to get the itch to wrap it up. Weather is starting to show signs of spring finally, the truck needs to go the alignment shop and the AC shop to get a charge. I'd like to do that prior to mounting my fenders.

I removed some dings from my hood with dolly/hammer/s**** and re-primered those spots with epoxy yesterday. It is now ready to bolt on the truck and check for fitment before polyester primer and block sanding. Just in case there is any cutting or welding required to fit it to the cowl.

 

Simon says Stop!

Bed is re-cleared and polished as are the rear fenders. I liked this stop light that @Hotrodmyk used on his truck so with his permission I stole it! Trus story, I was stopping for lunch at the Bigfoot (good burgers) and Myk's truck was parked outside with that recognizable stop light on the bed. I walked in and introduced myself. Now I have one of my own.

I found the NOS light still in the box on our cl***ifieds and it even came with a spare lens.

I mounted it using some chrome bumper bolts and a bracket I fashioned from aluminum and gave it run across the polisher. I mean why wouldn't I? Drilling square holes is a lot of fun on your newly painted truck bed.

The back of the cab is the only one that gets this view. It's sanitary and won't rust. Hella sturdy too!

I actually had to make that bracket twice. The bed wasn't here last week when I made the first one and the mounting bolts did not land in the flat areas of the headboard. So, I had to make a longer one today.
Ok, now I need some help mounting the bed. Time to make a phone call or two.

Now that I am looking at this pic I think chrome acorn nuts would look cool holding the light on. All I could find in the junk drawer was SS nylocs, the studs are not quite long enough with that fat bracket so I red loc***ed em. That should stay there.

 

Had to chuckle that I saw it and thought “surprised he didn’t use acorn nuts” and then a few paragraphs later you mention it

 

Ok, that does it! I'm headed to the store to get some acorns!

 

And polish them to a perfect finish.

 

Wait a minute! I have one of those also..
I’ve stolen...er, copied....so many of your ideas, guess one more won’t hurt.
At 2700 miles I doubt we would run into each other. Course mine’s still no where close to running anyway.

 

I consider it a huge compliment when people like my ideas enough to incorporate them into their own builds.
Get that truck done! Toms ahead of us both, but I plan on catching up.

I hate polishing little stuff. Somewhere in my shop there are a few 1/4 20's that the buffer wheel shot across the room. My local ACE Hardware has a chrome nut and bolt rack that they stock just for me, I think. They should give me a key to it.

 

Now get that load of gravel you've been putting off hauling

 

@Bandit Billy nicely done!

 

To polish acorn nuts, install on bolt with a second nut to double nut against, chuck bolt head In cordless drill and save fingers and flying fasteners!

 

Ooh, that was close. I just ***umed there was plenty of room between the cab and the bed for those bolts...NOT!
It was uber tight. I had to remove the bed and cut the threads off flush at the nuts as they were making slight contact with the cab.

And I had to remove the bottom of the 4 studs that secured the light as it hit the reveal on the cab.

All better now. And the light sits well below the window opening.

More fun tomorrow as re***embly continues. Stay tuned.

 

Wow! Now that’s a buff job!

 

@Bandit Billy close call but an excellent save. So next question, so how are you going to polish the bracket in the future?

 

Louvers = cheese graters for hotrod hands.

 

It only took 2 years for body and paint. . My garage requires an extensive cleaning. I have found rubbing compound as far as the bathroom.

I should have taken a couple of days and had it powder coated but I wanted the bed on the truck. I sure aint taking it back off!

I never painted a car gloss black before. I never put a Hemi in anything before and I never had a louvered hood before. I am checking a lot of boxes off with this truck. It is time I learned what guys have complained for years about sanding/polishing those damn louvers.

 

More progress, fun stuff actually. I like putting them together, all those years of fabbing, collecting parts, body/paint/polishing, this is a lot more fun!
The louvered filler panels went in on both sides.

The louvers are canted to match my louver layout on the hood. Looks racy! Not in a non PC way though! Looks like my stereo speakers in the ceiling lost another grill. Zep happens!

Then I decided to tackle a rear fender. The rhino liner was a nice idea and should protect the fenders from starring, beside looking detailed and clean.

I used polished flat SS hardware in the bed.

I decided on SS fender welting, blue dots lenses and I ran my gas filler across the buffer before securing it with red loc***e.

I really like the SS bead on the welting. Yes, black would have looked great (and was my second choice) but this is *****in! White would have been overkill since I am going to get this panel stripped in white. Nod to @Moriarity for the push to go with the SS. Thanks man!

I stuck an LED 1156 in the stop light and the taillight got an multi LED 1157 bulb I had left over from something. Can't have enough light in back.

A shot of the filler pipe, brace and taillight install. I had found an excellent fuel hose with a 45 molded into it that fits like factory...if the factory was cool and used lemans style flip caps. I am thinking it may be a good idea to build a little curved SS shield to protect that rubber hose? Be easy to secure it to the brace, already had one hole, just need to add another. I think I will do this.

Back on the floor, Lugnut's torqued down and spider cap installed. This one is done.

That looked so easy (and it was really), but as I was ***embling that fender, I was remembering all the welding required to put that filler in, and the taillight brackets I built, and all the damn cracks and dents. I was all smiles this afternoon, trust me.

 

@Bandit Billy that truck is absolutely gorgeous!

 

Your endless hours of sanding/paint prep shines thru...nice!

 

There were a few must have items on the truck and that gas cap was one of them. Those ripple kick stand pipes you sold me was another. I am jonesing to put those running boards on.

I appreciate that HRM, Hopefully I can drive it out for a Tuesday burger with you before too long.

I was going to hire out the body and paint but a group of friends sort of egged me on, over a beer one night at the watering hole. They said put up or shut up and I don't like to shut up! It wasn't really in paint jail for two years, it was more of a home confinement, but no ankle bracelet.

 

I was going to hire out the body and paint but a group of friends sort of egged me on, over a beer one night at the watering hole. They said put up or shut up and I don't like to shut up! It wasn't really in paint jail for two years, it was more of a home confinement, but no ankle bracelet.[/QUOTE]

I'd say you've definitely put up, and shut them up! Outstanding job.

 

Looking amazing! The welting is a nice touch. You gonna be at Portland Transmission in a few weeks?

 

I was just checking on the date, it looks like it isn't until the 13th this year. And wouldn't you know it I am out of town that day. I really wanted to hit that if it wasn't pouring down rain.

 

More fun after the working hours are complete...actually since I am the boss, I left at 3:00. If you are reading this and you are my employer in Illinois, I meant 3:00 Chicago time.

Okay, *** sufficiently covered, I hung the right rear fender and running board this afternoon.

I was a bit nervous as this is the fender I cut the end off and welded on a new front extension. It started life as a '46 fender and has found new life on my '41. I did measure twice and cut once, and for once in my life that actually worked!! That as tight as you are going to get! That gap in-between the board and the louvered filler is T I G H T !

What do you think of the SS bead in-between the fender and board? It is a bummer to install and I have to try it again as the bottom continues to pull out. I tried "over bending" the radius but that hasn't worked yet obviously.
I'll take any advice with a smile and a hardy handshake (followed by the finger as you walk away).
Art shot

Yes, the pipes will get connected but I needed them in their permanent position first. The ripple pipes get a flex joint, a thermal connector (that is supposed to reduce the heat being transferred) and a band clamp connection to my down pipes. Nice clearance under the frame. I have 1.75" band clamps to secure them to the existing system. If they melt my rhino liner I will cap them off.

They are not for everyone's taste (like most of you have any ), but I like them and to me it was worth cutting up perfectly fine (rare) running boards and frenching them in...as far as I am concerned (which, other than my wife, is all that really matters). Thanks Mark @Moriarity for the pipes again. Cool add to the truck.

Again...SS fender welting on the boards/fender? Cl***y. Different. Special. Mom always said I was special...and different, I don't recall the word "cl***y" ever coming up. RIP mom! I made a lot of friends online, I know you don't understand that but it's better than not having any friends online. Tell dad I said hi and that I love him...and yes, I am still wasting my time and money on cars!

Feel free to weigh in on that welting. It would be a **** load easier without the welting, that's for damn sure! I think I like it which means many more hours of work.

 

Before committing to it, how does the contour of the front fender/running board affect manipulating the welting?
Front may present more of an issue since it's not just a straight shot, like the rear is.
You know you have to make it work...you haven't seemed to just settle on anything thus far.
Good luck, you got this.

 

Ooh, good point buddy! I have no idea yet. I will wait to make a decision until the front end chimes in. You deserve you're "Mr40FORDPU" designation.

 

How many and how big are the pie cuts on the welting flange? Maybe try smaller cuts, but closer together?? That's a pretty tight bend you have to contend with...

 

looking cl***y!

Could you drill the last tab of the SS welting between the board and fender and use some some stainless safety wire to pull it in anchoring off one of the board/fender fasteners?