Projects 1934-1936 International C-1 Build

Howdy -

I've been working on my project for a little while now and am finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel on it. So, I figured I would start documenting some of the build for others to see. I agreed to have it on the road for Lonestar Roundup next April...let's hope it works!

I cut my teeth on old IH Scouts and have been partial to the IHC brand ever since I can remember. Not that I don't appreciate the other brands, IH just isn't a run-of-the-mill brand I guess.

I got a hankering to build a hot rod after my last build and was really looking for a 1932 IH pickup (built by Willys Overland) but never found one. What I did find was a 1934 IHC C-1 in Sacramento that I just "had to have."

 

Looks like a solid start to a different rod. Gotta love something different!

 

Well, it was quite a trip but we brought it home to TX. After looking at it for a while and finishing up the project before it, I decided that it was just too nice and too original to cut up for a hot rod. We were able to get the old flathead 6 running and used the tractor to push start it so I could run it around the pasture....too much fun! There is nothing better than bringing something back to life that someone else has given up on.

I wound up selling it to a feller that planned to restore it....but not before I found another to take its place. This one had an original cab and grill but was already torn down for a build.

(The gray and black truck is the one from Sacramento with a little rattle can flair.)

 

that truck is to coool nothing like a different ride to spice things up

 

I hope this is not out of line, I am looking for a 36 International to purchase for my father. The more resored or finished, the better. Ebay offers a few options, any help you could provide in locating one would be great. I was 3 weeks late on one in Michigan. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.


Rob

 

Thanks. It is a little different...

I thought the chassis one the new truck was something I would keep, but after looking at it in person I decided otherwise. I just could not get into the narrowed nine inch, the rack and pinion on a straight axle, or the way the frame was put together.

I was not happy about that initially, but I am glad that I took on a new frame now.

 

The cab, however, was in much better shape and just needed a lot of clean-up. The wood structure was already replaced by a metal one and it came with metal doors as well (only on later models). Hidden hinges, shaved latches, and bear claw latches were not top on my list but they were done on one door and started on the other when I bought it. So, they were finished at the same time the chop was done.

While mounting the lights on the grille was a creative use of the original castings, it was not the look I was after so they will be changed as well.

 

Okay. Before I lose too many of you, I tried to get an acquaintance to draw a concept but he didn't have time. So, I spent a little time with some 3-D modeling software and sketched it out.

Since this is my first complete rod build and I determined that it needed to be channeled, the fenders were out. Besides, the ones that came with the second truck were fiberglass and off of different vehicles.

Here are a couple pics of the modeled concept....sectioned grille, chopped and channeled cab, shortened bed, and custom chassis.

 

Dusty at Dusty Rods in Leonard, TX assisted with the chop and hanging the doors, etc. I really like the way that he chopped the cab as he was able to keep the rear window in tact by hiding the chop under the roof seam.

This is very close to what will be actual ride height.

 

Cool build how much is it chopped? I have 2 1935 C's and 3 1936 C's. Hope to start on one soon.

 

The top was chopped about 3 1/2".

I wanted to keep the same wheel base on the truck and with the top chopped I set out to mock up what it would look like at ride height and with all body pieces in the correct location. The grille has not been sectioned at this point.

 

In order to get the ride height I wanted (approx six inches ground clearance), I needed to 'Z' the chassis somehow. If done properly, a 'Z' looks okay but it was not the look I wanted so I drew the profile on graphed posterboard and cut out four pieces of 11-ga metal with a saber saw. Talk about taking some time and a few blades! Whew. Then I clamped them together and ground on the rough edges till they matched each other. Next, I cut 1 3/4" strips to weld between the vertical pieces to make my boxed sections. I inset these strips inside the vertical profile so I could get a good fillet weld without having to grind the weld later. I also made a fixture to hold everything square while welding it up.

 

It's amazing how many 'binders are showing up here lately...gets me more and more fired up to tear into my newly acquired 37 D-2...looking forward to following your build

 

Cool truck,it looks great.

 

binders are the bee's knee's haha.

 

Next, it was time to section the grille. I love the IH grille on this model truck, but channeling the body left it taller than the firewall and I'm not a fan of raking the grille rearward to make it fit. This seems like the best compromise to me even though it changes the grille's proportions some.

I do not know why, but I had to take six inches out of the grille but I only channeled the cab four inches. The first pic is the grille before sectioning and the last pic is after sectioning.

 

Once the grille was sectioned, I finished designing the chassis on the computer. Then, I found a shop that would CNC plasma cut the suspension and frame pieces so I did not have to get the jigsaw out again. Much better!

 

Time for the chassis build....

Since I did not have a table and wanted to speed progress along some, I asked Dusty to help setting up my chassis after I built the frame rails and had the suspension parts CNC'd.

The rear is a Ford 9" from a 78 Granada and the front is a 4" drop tube axle that came with the truck.

 

Looking very good.

 

Very nice, I love the C series. I have a K2 that is almost in paint now.

 

Thanks. Do you have pics of your K2?

Progress came a little easier with this part of the build as I had done most of the planning earlier and the shop was doing some of the leg work instead of me having to find time in the evenings.

The truck I purchased came with a rack and while we thought about using it, we could not agree on the steering linkage geometry so we went with a vega box and cross steer.

The crossmember was CNC'd and welded together to position and hide the bags on the front. The batwing design was a little artistic liberty used by the shop and I think they turned out well.

The cab is channeled here and the bed is cut to fit.

 

Sorry, link didn't work, I got a picture I put on the OLDIHC.org. I'm at work, will have to post one from home tomorrow.

 

Next up was placement of the engine/trans and building the trans tunnel/floor. The progress that is being made now is mostly mock-up and rough-in but it is taking shape.

It was important for me to have the engine and trans suspended above the bottom of the frame rails as I do not want to worry about them dragging. The same goes for the master cylinder and anything else that might get hung up. Unfortunately, this means a larger transmission and driveline tunnel in the cab since it is channeled.

 

Thanks for the update. I've been following this thread to get ideas for my future '34 - '36
C-1 build. By the way, do you know where the serial numbers on these '34 -'36 International pickups are? I can't find the serial number on my frame or cab.

 

Looking really good strait2u, southfork: the serial numbers are stamped on the driveside frame rail way towards the front and the vin plate is mounted on the passengerside running board apron towards the front other than that there are no other numbers. I will be picking up my 1936 C-30 from montana next week, i really need to stop collecting and start building one of my C's, i have a 1935 C-1, 2 1936 C-1's and 2 1936 C-30's.

 

It's been a little while since I posted, so here goes....

I got to playing around with a grinder and white spray paint for white wall tires. It is a no go right now as I do not want to spend the time grinding nor the money for wide whites. So, its radials for now.

The grinder works amazingly well and I can see how someone would get good 10ft results with it. A lot depends on how smooth you can grind it and the rest depends on the tire manufacturers use of white underneath.

The paint was a little shiny for my taste...I just made it as wide as a could for grins.

 

My old 35.....traded it to a buddy for his 50 chevy sedan delivery.
The box is a sears yard piece. Top is cut 4.5".

 

The actual progress on the truck is looking much better in the mock-up stage. The engine, radiator, and steering gear are now installed and the transmission tunnel is further along.

 

That is a sweet little project, Rocky! I like the way your hood sides and exhaust is laid out.