Projects 1948 Diamond T pickup tow truck project journal.

Here it is outside. The trim on the left hand board isn't polished yet, but you get the idea. The goal was to have it match the hood trim, and the tailgage trim, which is a set of 509 stainless hood trim and vent screen.

 

Wow Brian - Your truck is looking GREAT! I wish you weren't so far away. I'd love to see it in person. Keep up the awesome work.

 

Brian,
Just came across this again. Love the big pick up. Hopefully my next project will be one.
Great job!
RB

 

The end is near! Its looking great Brian!!

 

wow beautiful truck ,

 

Here's todays work. All day sanding, then polishing the hood trims, then fitting them to the hood. When that was done, I wrassled the hood back onto the truck, and happily, didn't scratch anything up.

When that was done, I was going to clean up the shop, put the tools away I've been strewing around, take the mower off the lawn tractor, and then move the T'Bird into the bay next to the truck so I can work on it. That means I can then get to the '48 Pontiac 'covert, so I can pull the seats out, recover the originals, and figure out why it drains the battery in 3 days.

But, I got sidetracked making a base to mount the '35 Auburn "Flying Lady" hood ornament, cast by my buddy "Crafty B" (thanks Kirk!). That was lots more rewarding than putting things away and sweeping the floor, wouldn't you say?

 

Man that hood ornament is beyond cool, maybe even totally groovy!

 

Thanks! It'll look even better polished up. Keep those encouraging words coming guys, I've still got a LOT of work to do!

Brian

 

Looks great Brian! You do have some of the coolest projects on here.

 

awesome truck!!

 

That's looking mi -"T" fine. Beautiful job of bringing new life to an old workhorse.

 

Where did you find such an Art deco looking hood ornament ? Looks like it is meant to be on that truck.

 

Got the hood ornament cleaned up and polished, the grill is polished and mounted, with the center strip. Tomorrow I hope to get the hood latch handles painted and on, along with the latches. HOTFR8, the flying lady is a casting by my friend "Crafty B", (Crafty B's Notstalgic Speed), he makes them in bronze too, along with the really cool race car style gas caps, and other neat bits.

Brian

Sorry about the blurry pics, my camera doesn't focus properly sometimes.

 

WOW, he does a great job.

 

Looking awesome Brian.

I can't wait to see it in person.


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Here's the gas cap and mascot, before polishing.

Brian

 

I spent most of today cleaning and re-arranging the shop so as to be able to work on my '59 T'Bird and the '48 Pontiac converts. It took most of the day doing that, but the end result leaves me with much more room to work on all the cars AND, I can now pull a chair up in front of the woodstove and relax!

I did get the all the running board trim polished and mounted. I'd wanted to get the hood latches and handles painted, but didn't get to that. Those can be shot with rattle can gloss black, so I'll be able to get them done even if (when) it gets cold.

Here's the clean shop...

 

Man thats one heck of a garage!

 

Oh yeah - the Tbird. Looks forwards to seeing what you come up with on that car.

 

You thought I'd forgotten about that project hadn't you James? I'm going to start cutting the hardtop apart today. Thinner rear pillar, backlight canted forward, I think it'll work. What I really would like is the top from a '59 Skyliner retractable, which has the perfect proportions, but I'm lacking a retractable parts car to cannabalize!

 

Back on the DT! Air shocks mounted, bed floor back down and the trim on. Next up, making the aluminum panels to trim the inside of the cab, and the aluminum headliner. All those will be covered in taupe leather to match the seat. Crunch time, we've planned a trip across country towing the Spartan trailer next summer!

Visit "Cool McCool's Garage" to see all the cool old stuff we're working on this winter! http://flynbrian48.wordpress.com/

Brian

 

Looking awesome, as usual!

 

Brian that bed is beautiful! I guess you know you're getting close to getting it on the road when you need to buy shocks huh? Whats next, the T-Bird?

 

Buying stuff to finish the interior is when I know it's close! I got some .040 aluminum drops to make the panels for the back of the cab and kick panels. After getting those home, I decided an aluminum headliner would work too, but I need to go back and get more. It's getting close!

I'm already working on the 'Bird, it's nearly done.

Brian

 

I got the interior trim panels covered in leather and installed. They look great, although they're a little wrinkly looking in the flash. Tougher than I thought to smooth the leather out while bonding it to the 1/4" foam. All in all, I'm very happy with how it looks, and even happier with how it smells, like the inside of a mahogany cigar box. Great!

 

Hello
Nice job
Are you missing the brass name plate's for the hood?

 

No, I have 'em. I need to polish then paint the background yet. So much to do, so little time!

 

I just love the entire execution of this project. Almost forgot all about it. Using a Chevy Van for a starting point was ingenious. Red seems to be an over-used color for Hot Rod projects...but appears to be "Spot-On" as a choice for it. Thanks for sharing. Great Vision

JT

 

Thanks JT. Interestingly, ALL the Diamond T pickups (model 201) seem to have been painted red. The bigger series trucks were available in other colors, but the little buggers were all red. It does look "right", in red, does'nt it?

 

Wow the trucks looking great Brian ! Can you give a brief rundown on how you did the headliner?