Projects 1948 Diamond T pickup tow truck project journal.

Brian, the truck is looking really good. Sorry to hear about Frankie, I bet she would have loved to go for a ride in the new D-T.

 

Beautiful!

 

Boy oh boy, what fantastic progress you have made!!
That is really awesome.
Good for you.
Cheers.......

 

Thanks guys! Yes, she'd loved to have ridden in the truck. I'll miss that.

Brian

 

Hadn't seen this thread before. Sure is a nice looking truck!

 

I did the final mock up of the Diamond T bed's inner panels and floor yesterday. Had to make the little filler panels from side panels to floor (the box is 52" wide and the floor is a 4x8 sheet of Cepele marine plywood). The result is quite striking, even without the varnish on the floor. The stainless bed strips will be mounted with polished stainless carriage bolts thru the floor, which will be bolted to the bed frame with counter-sunk carriage bolts hidden by the rub rails (the pre-cut holes in the rub strips don't line up with the floor framework). Complicated, no? There's a couple more pics at my blog, just click on the link in my signature line...

Brian

 

Yowza; very nice!

 

What a fantastic build. It is great to see some folks breathing new life into an oddball hauler!
I myself collect International trucks. they were meant for work- but as seen in the incredible craftsmanship of this build- had some really nice lines and several TONS of potential. Great engine choice by the way...
Brian- did I see you make mention of a spartan trailer? what model and year? My family has a 1954 Sparton Royal Manor 35 ft park model- built like an air craft by the people who knew aircrafts. That is the PERFECT trailer to tow behind your truck!
The 6.0 is a great all around engine.

absolutely astounding work!

 

Thanks, I love the truck, it looks EXACTLY like I envisioned when I started the project.

Yes, I mentioned Spartan trailers, we have two, a '46 and a '47. The '46 is restored (well, my version of restored, modernized but looks period), and it's a real gem. I really like the front window treatment on these first year '46's, with the square cornered, recessed front windows.

The '47 we haven't gotten home yet, it's up in northern lower Michigan, as it turns out, only 10 miles from our family vacation property up there! I'm not sure what we're going to do with it, needs a total rebuild. I'm thinking a very modern, contemorary interior, sort of urban chic, as we've got the period thing going in the '46. I had the idea of a pinup girl on the outside, ala' warbird nose art, but my wife is not seeing the "vision" yet!

Brian

 

Nice build! That is going to be one fine tow rig! I see your wagon and trailer picture, was that at Relics this summer? Nice set up, I hope to have my 57' F100 and 59' Yellowstone 16' ready for next years Relics show.

 

Great! I'll look forward to meeting you! Yes, that was us, hopefully have the Diamond T there hitched to the Spartan, and the wagon towing the Tini-Home canned ham (canned HAMB?)

Brian

 

Another shameless plug for my Diamond T forum, click on the bouncing link, it's ALL Diamond T trucks, ALL the time! http://diamondttrucks.freeforums.org/index.php

Brian

 

The Diamond T is looking really nice Brian! Got to say though I am hoping you get back to work on the Thunderbird soon and keep alot of progress pics posted on it.

 

I'm going to get a build thread going on the 'Bird as soon as I start work on it again, which should be hopefully after the first of the year. The pic of the "Ranchero" '59 'Bird on another thread has me seriously thinking about doing that to it, but, it's not good to change horses mid-stream...

Brian

 

I got the first coat of varnish on the Diamond T trucks bed floor today. If it's dry enough by morning, I'll roll the second coat on. Otherwise, it's clean up the shop day...

Brian

 

2nd coat of varnish on, and I lifted the bed floor out and painted the underside Massey Fergesun Red with a roller and tractor paint (it's a near dead on perfect match). The Cepele looks like walnut now with varnish on it. I guess it's OK. The picture below is from EXACTLY one year ago. Pretty big difference, huh?

Brian

 

This is an amazing build!

 

Well, am I done with the bed floor, or should I sand it one more time with 320, a fourth coat of Polyurethane, then ultra-fine and wheel it out? I think I know the answer... The rub strips and interior panels are just laid in, I couldn't resist going out in the shop tonight and seeing how the dark wood looked against all that polished stainless and aluminum. Get the sunglasses out, it's gonna be BLINDING!

Brian

 

WOW thats gorgeous! As for another coat, that'd just set it off more but the NASA people would be griping about you shining lights on the space station.

 

Do you mean this one? Heck Brian, with your skills this oughta be a piece of cake. Do it!

 

Yeah, Baby! The top is already off my 'Bird, the w/s posts are sunken 2", so it's half done. Lets see, if I simply moved the top forward to the edge of the door, I could even leave the tonneau cover in place. I think I like it!

Brian

 

For that matter, how about a removable hardtop Ranchero (Rancherobird?)?

(Sorry about getting off topic)

 

Lol, we have drifted rather far afield from my Diamond T, but hey, it's my thread! The top is already removeable, so that's done too. If it were a pickup, there'd be a place to put the top, right? Here's the 'Bird.

 

I really like those tonneau covers, saw one when they first came out and thought the '63ish T-bird was a two seater. It looks good on your car.

 

that T is darn sweet !!!!!!!!!!!!! but the puppy obit , well from one dog guy to another, it's priceless!!!!!!

 

Brian - I just read the entire build, top to bottom. GREAT work!

 

I feel bad that I haven't touched the truck since January, the "Canned HAMB" trailer project has taken all my time. I HAVE been buying stuff though. I picked up the glass last week, got fender welting, and windshield frame rubbers are on the way (from Steele, '34 Chrysler split w/s rubber is the same profile as the DT). I decided the trailer was a reasonable project to get done by May, our first outing, and the truck would be pushing it. Especially considering it's first drive would be a long trip pulling a trailer. So, it's on a back burner. Still planning on this summer completion, but I don't want to rush at this point.

 

Great truck,Great build!

 

I love your Diamond T! Excellent work, I especially like the bed you crafted.

- Clark

 

Brian .... i`m drooling over my keyboard

very nice work ... especially that wood bed


btw
i just dragged my DiamondT project home;



she is a big 1952 "722" ... ex Santa Fee NM FD pumper with 12kmiles