Projects Diamond T mock up, DONE!

This is something of a milestone, I got the DT sheet metal mock up all finished up today!

Spent the entire day getting the front fenders actually bolted, not clamped with vice grips, to the grill shell, cowl and running boards. Had to tweak the fender brackets, which also support the headlights, and cut some reliefs in the fender extensions I added, but it looks right on. The hood hit the fender on the left side, and there was too much gap on the right. All better.

I bought a neat little tool, something like a pop rivet gun, and set threaded bungs in the cowl and grill shell to mount the fenders. Cheap, works great. Cut little slots in the fenders for some fudging room, it all works well, I'm not afraid of aligning it again once I blow it apart.

The "fun" part is about over, I still have to make the firewall recess and make some gussets for the steering box mount, but fabrication wise, it's done. Rolls, steers, bounces on the springs, it's almost a truck!

 

That thing is really cool... You have great vision, I like that.........

 

alright now the hard parts done I want it. Send it to me and I'll finish it for ME. LOL ...

That is one bad*** Diamond T cool keep the pics comeing...

 

She's a big mother! Looks great.
Is that dust I see on my favorite green car on this site???

 

Wow that bed looks rad!

 

Looking good Brian,keep after it and keep posting. I'll be looking for more.

..........Jack

 

Awesome. Looks great!

 

Yeah, it has presence, doesn't it? And yes, the roadster has a protective blanket of grinding, paint, and abrasive wheel dust on it. Kinda sad...

 

Looks really good, in the navy we called the tool a rivnut gun and the bungs nutserts.

 

that looks great. what colour are you going with?

 

Looks great, I dig it. Love the way the tailgate and roll pan flow. Like the full running boards too.

 

Well now that your done with that... Here's your next project:

Jeff

 

if that bed was the same red I would believe it came that way. BTW bed looks amazing.

 

The 420 is an interesting truck. From the louvres int eh hood and the ***embly on the under hood above the carb, it looks as if that acts as the air intake for the engine. Pretty interesting. Wonder if the little access panel next to it is where you change the filter element??

 

very nice... is that a chevy 3/4 ton frame 2wd stock or did you mod it what moter did you put in it any pics

 

Thanks, but no, it's on it's original frame. Front suspension is '93 Chev van, narrowed 3" with one ton spindles, hubs, brakes, and the rear is a Dana 70 with 4.10's. I'm using the 350 TBI/4L60E from the C20 van the suspension came from, along with the fuel tank, wiring harness, steering column, radiator, and all the little trinkets that'll make it a truck. Not very exciting, but it'll get the job done.

 

I'm gonna be different, and paint it red with a green beltline stripe! Actually, I thought about just buffing up the cab and front fenders, and doing the rest in "patina'd" red/primer/rust to match, but after all this work it's gonna be shiney.

 

Looks great. I love the whole truck.

 

yes real paint is the way to go on such a nice truck very nice again

 

That looks sweet!! What year was the cab??

 

It's a '47.

 

Looks great. I like the m***ive look of these trucks. Even when they are mounted on a 1/2 ton ch***is they look much larger.

Frank

 

It's actually shorter, lower, and narrower than my '00 Silverado. It sure looks bigger tho.

 

As I noted, the firewall and floor weren't done. Well, now they are, save for some filler and caulking the seams. Here's what it looks like: The engine and trans look as if they're protruding way into the cab, and they are, but no further back than the original Hercules six, it's just wider.

In order to keep the toe board more or less intact, and give room for an accelerator pedal, the brake pedal, and at least the same amount of leg room, I trimmed the toe board to fit around the back of the 350. I had trimmed the firewall roughly to fit the engine, and since I don't need access to the trans/clutch from inside the cab (being optomistic!) I decided I could just weld the toe board to the firewall and form it as I went. This meant I couldn't make the recess symmetrical, since I had to notch the toe board to have travel for the brake pedal.

The end result is lots of small pieces, but with the seams filled and Dynamat glued to it, it won't matter. It fits, clears the engine by about 3/4", I can reach the distributor if I need to service it. It's sort of "notchy" looking, but hey, it'll work and there's room for everything, including my feet.

There's the same amount of foot/leg room as original, which isn't much, but by doing it this way, I saved about 4" of room. Which, the cab won't allow.

 

Brian;
Looking great! Can't wait till Gilmore this year.
Glad you live close so you can bring all your rides.
Buffalo Bill.

 

Wow! Looks great!

Very creative and convincing as "from the factory" design. Glad to see this one making it to the home stretch.

I will second the question. What color combo?

 

way cool!!

 

Another really nice ride from your garage to our 'puter screens. Nice job, can't wait to see it painted and shod.

 

rad, rad, rad, rad, rad, rad, rad, RAD!!!

 

,

and the steering column

and then seeing if I STILL fit in the cab. Turns out, yes.

Also cut apart the vans big ugly air filter, and combined the bottom of it (to fit the throttle body) and the DT's old oil bath air filter. I'll cut some foam for a filter.