Never done a build thread as it goes fairly fast and I rarely take time to document but the wife does an admirable job of capturing pics so here goes. Found a very nice cab/doors from Colorado that just screamed new shop truck. We didn`t want another painted truck so it stays the way it was found. Get over it. Not getting paint, just driven. Pics enclosed:
Aquired a bare `40 Ford frame and thought about a traditional chassis but wife wants to drive it everywhere so decision was made to upgrade to an IFS and parallel leaf rear. Drilled out rivits all day and did a bolt-in Speedway front crossmember along with Chassis Engineering rear spring set and center support. Won`t say it all drops in but after all was said and done not too bad. I would box and weld in the next one to save time.Too much drilling!
Well evidently there`s not much interest in an old truck build but I`ll continue on until I bore myself. Was going to run a 302/C4 but the oil filter is a pain and I had a fresh 327/TH350 on hand so in it goes along with an 8" Ford axle from a HAMB buddy. Drivetrain is in. Used bolt in mounts from Speedway and they actually fit in the correct location. Set the cab in place along with the bed assembly.Going to use a `41 bed as that is what I have on hand and after looking at some `35-`36 pickups the bed always looks too short so I`m planning on leaving the extra 4" alone and redrilling the fender mount holes. Now to mock the fenders up to check the wheelbase and height. That`ll happen next weekend. Starting to look like something.
Yes, you're right. It's a 1935 cab, which in my humble opinion look better than a '36 because of the lines...carry on...
The cab is actually a very early `35 according to the inside door trim but the frame came with a `36 title. I`m using `36 fenders, grill & hood and it`s not headed for a restoration... Chassis Engineering complete kit includes springs, all mounts,u-bolts, plates & shocks.$515.00+shipping Lowers it about 4" without blocks and it bolted right in but ya gotta remove those damn rivits!
sure is a nice cab hard to find one that good in this part of the county. 1937 box is about 4" ionger then the 35 36 box if you had one with back fenders the same as 35 36
That cab you found is in great shape. Where in Colorado did you find it? I like the fack you don't want to paint it,that way you can drive it any where any time without worry. Keep it going.....................
Found just north of Denver. A friend of a friend has a scrap yard out there and this was off a grain truck and was loaded on a trailer to be scrapped so I had it brought back. He goes out there looking for cabs and sheetmetal every couple of months. He says it`s about dried up until you get to this side of the Divide and the California guys have picked the other side pretty clean as well. Good sheetmetal is getting scarce. It wasn`t super cheap especially after shipping and paying its way through a couple of pickers but it is in amazing shape and will make an awesome shop truck. Doors open & close with a snick and the vent & front glass move nice and smooth. I found front fenders in Pennsylvania and rears & running boards in Ohio that were originally from South Dakota so I have all of the sheetmetal. Actually traded a wide five brake drum for the `41 bed complete with tailgate & chains. Sometimes things just fall together.Thanks for all the encouragement. Recently sold my old shop truck and can`t get along without a replacement. My old truck which came from Montana.
Subscribed. It is nice to see you are keeping the bed a bit longer. Many of the hor rod beds out there are too shortened up in my opinion.
Started on fitting fenders and boards to make sure wheels are centered in openings and that locates the cab so I can make my wood blocks to bolt it all down. The cab is going to be lowered a bit on the frame when all said and done to tighten up the gap at the boards under the doors. Looks like about 2" will do it. Just have to make sure that doesn`t screw up the hood/grille/cowl location. It seems these old trucks have to be assembled several times to get everything right. Headers look like they won`t work so I`ll switch out to tight fit for clearance to steering shaft. Rear axle is now set up and in for good. Coming along slowly.....
Looking good so far. I love watching a project getting put together especially when it's started from virtually nothing.
Killed me to let it go especially after I just installed a fresh 302. Ran & drove awesome but someone offered a bundle for it. No brainer. Sorry.
Okay. Got a little done on it this week. The bed is now lowered where it needed and the cab had to be remounted a bit differently for fender fit. The interior trim is out along with the windshield frame and I made glass templates to send out for cutting the side, front and back glass. Got to get the door regulators out and free them up a little more. No, I`m not going to run those Coddingtons but they were the closest to the offsets I needed to make it roll. I`ll splurge for the correct steelies later. Next is radiator/front fender mounts. After a trip to Goodguys Indy this weekend of course.
Wow...You have quite a fleet going there! I saw what I think is your roadster at the mum festival, but never saw you near it! You do really nice work, and congrats on the "other" new truck!
Thanks for the compliment. That little fendered roadster was built to sell but I`m getting attached to it. That was a very nice night to be out under the stars with that noisy exhaust wailing. Reminded me of driving a jetboat going home. I was all over the place at the Tipp cruise. What a turnout of quality cars and I was trying to take it all in before dark....and an occasional beer. We`ll have to meet up someday and bulls*#t about cars. Bill
Count on it! Yep it was a little overwhelming down there. Eventually I just gave up and sat down, and for what ever reason I drank coffee this year and not beer!
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