I haven't done a build thread in a long time, so thought I would post some progress on my latest distraction. I sold my patina 32 Fordor a while back... replaced it with a shiny one... but had the hankering for another "rusty" car. So bought this old CA Bay Area hot rod pickup... It sat for a few years as I bounced around on a few other projects. Then we got a wild hair to get it running for the RPM Nationals last year. We did a 3 week thrash and it ended up with the infamous green engine from my RPU. After RPM, I made a few changes to the appearance... We put it together with a 3.78 rear and a 39 trans with Zephyr gears. I wasn't happy with that drivetrain combo, so here we are now. I opened up a proverbial can o worms... A friend asked if the "green engine" was a curse to 32 pickups. Hopefully this one makes it back on the road quicker than my poor RPU that's been torn apart for 10 years now.
The truck had a 31 Cadillac dash in it, and to be honest, it is what pushed me over the edge to buy the truck in the first place... I had the upper dash rail pieces replated, but the dash insert cleaned up with it's old plating. I had a few other interior and engine pieces plated as well.
Great project. Your fab skills are great. Are those rear fenders original. the rear flare looks short?
Wow Neal, I love your builds! Like the creative rivet bucking tool. (Is your steering wheel smelly? Mine (same) is like a hunk of parmesan cheese.)
The dash was in the truck. I went back and edited the post an added some "before" pics. I saw the truck and thought it was kinda cool, then saw the dash and had to have it!
The fenders that came on the truck were 29-30 Chevy. I have since got original Ford fenders for it. The wheel does not smell. I have a friend with a Crestliner steering wheel in his truck...and it's a stinky one...
Neal: Love your truck. I have done 2 deuce pickups with 31 Caddy dashes. Also had a 3rd but sold it. They are a natural for the deuce truck. Tough to find but I found my 3 at the LARS. Very lucky. Gary at Cornhusker
@NealinCA top notch work as always! Glad to see you posting. I dig the Transition in pic 12. @Roothawg is coming up here to ride wit me soon!
While the bed was off, I had my good friend Josh Carrillo @CarrilloCustoms replace the cab corners I bought the Howell's patch panels, but the stamping wasn't real sharp around the corner, so Josh made up some dies and formed some new patches. I did a quickie fake patina job, so after it ages a bit, it'll look like we never did anything...
I do like what you’re done with your truck. I have a really nice 32 cab and frame...yours is the look I want to achieve... later.
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