It is obvious that I am addicted to cabovers, I had previously stated out loud that I was finished with cabovers. I even sold all the extra parts I had ac***ulated having built three Fords . Well here we go again.
It is a horrible, incurable illness for which the only possible treatment is starting another project. Congratulations on falling off the wagon! Regards, Mark
I’m not sure yet, no frame’s around side windows. Years ago l told a friend if he ever comes across a ford c.o.e. let me know, well he was out finding some mopar parts when the guy says he has a forgotten truck project in the other building. Buddy sends me a picture we work out a deal and he delivered it in under 3 hours. The guy is looking for the 40 grill he bought 25 yrs ago. I know I said I was done but I’ve changed my mind.
It’s still doable, I built my 47 Mercury pick up in my 2car attached garage in 11 months during covid.
No on the patina, already started on the bodywork besides no sign on other side as the door has been changed.
The first one I bought for 50 dollars, I used to go visit with the old guy a couple times a year and was up to 1200 as a offer to buy it. After he p***ed I caught up to one of his sons and he had left instructions for his family to sell it to me for 50 bucks, cool. The second one I heard about and asking around I was able to track it down, like the first one I only bought the cab, it was 800. The third one I missed getting by a week due to not having enough money but was able to buy two years later, it had changed hands from the guy that had bought it and was a fluke I found it. It cost me 6000. The 41 I just bought was a little bit more. These are getting hard to find, there’s quite a few sitting as projects in garage’s that will never see the road again.
So when I’m not at our recreation property I’ve been planning on the direction I will be going on this build. I don’t need anything heavy duty and these days fuel economy is important because I tend to drive my stuff lots, still thinking about this. Like the first two cabovers I’m going to V-**** the front windows ,it cuts down on the wind noise, same with the vents. I’ve also decided to change out the dash for something with some character ,been really thinking on this and will share when I know. I bought a Dodge Dakota frame and by measuring lots it has a good track width as well as rack and pinion steering that will be real easy to hook up, these have disc front and drum rear brakes. I’ve started on the bodywork and it’s not as bad as I first thought. Enough rambling for now , l will post pictures when there is something to show.
Been straightening out the grill, I’m going to win this battle,it’s a lot more beat up than it looks.
Performance World aluminum for a 55-57 Chev big block. I’ve bought at Mopac and on Amazon. I use exhaust tube to run from front to back.
I used the same kind of tubes and mixed in an anti-rust additive to the coolant. Coolants been in there for years with no rust signs
Winterized at the recreation property yesterday and have freed up my time so going to be working a lot more on this project. I have rebuilt the front fenders that were missing the lower fronts as someone bobbed them, also had to replace the lip on the opening , about 18in on the driver side and 27in on the p***enger side. I’ve also put a sub frame under the cab floor and installed the 14ga sheet metal flooring. I have set the cab on the cleaned up Dakota frame and will be fabricating mount’s real soon. I’ll take pictures soon , just want to get some more welding done first.
I’ve been working on the bodywork and rust repair, I like to keep track of the time spent on stuff like this.68 hours so far and about 70% done, I will take pictures soon. Back to the hood today because it’s easy to work on, I’ll work on rust repair as I’m close to having it fit the opening with a even gap all the way around then I’ll start working on the grill bars which I will have to dismantle and straighten each bar individually. It all takes time.
So life’s been getting in the way of this build and I’m looking forward to working on it again,I’ll promise to show some progress pictures soon. Off to the city for mig gas and other parts needed.
Been lucky to get back on the cabover and enjoying working on it. Dialing in the front rolled pan, lots of hours.
The Jalopy Journal
