Projects 59 El Camino.. Build Pics

Lookin good man!

 

Why thank you, young man.

 

This is the inner t/gate cover, I found in Rancho Cucamonga. I was there buying some t/gate hinges & spotted it. That was a nice find & even better price..



A lot more of the same..



Humble beginnings..



The sheetmetal break was fast, but the smaller pieces slowed me down.



Looking a little better than when I started. I liked what I saw, when I was putting it away.



Now I need to get back on the beast!



Almost pulled my left shoulder out, again.. just picking up the bed floor to move it. Reminder to self.. don't grow old!

 

I missed this pic.. everybody loves bondo on the backside!

 

Some 3.55 gears were dug up outta the depths of inventory.. or the hoarding pile!
So now, I know which speedo gears to put in, an all that.



I will be at 1819 RPM @ 65 in overdrive. Sounds good to me!

 

nice work gotta love the 59s

 

No work today, but I went to the water park! 108 degrees out, & I didn't bring my flip flops. I had to run from shade spot to shade spot. Hilarious!

 

I picked up my 59's grille, today. Not perfect, but neither am I. The pic shows what it looks like, when Aluminum's welded & anodized. When I dropped it off, I should've really emphasized, I didn't want a polished finish.


My parklight bezels have that original 'dull type' anodized finish.. So I need to figure out who offers that, or simply polish my parklight bezels. Because I'm still looking for hood opening moldings, which I would like to match the parklight bezels!

 

Sprayed penetrant oil on all the broken bed bolts. Then started to remove the filler neck provisions.







I'm glad I didn't start finishing the outer quarters. Changing the filler neck, eliminates the gas lid door from smacking the bottom side of the fin.

It's not dry heat, an it effin sucks to work outside, lately. Progress is going to slow down for sure! I'll make up for it, when it cools down.

 

I just did mine, forgot my camera, so no pics, my taillight hinge looks like shit, it works but not pretty, after seeing WOODPECKER'S pics again, I'm gonna redo them, nothing was solidly welded so it's all gonna be east to cut out.
The door filled in easily with little distortion.

 

Nads, any pictures of your project?.........Mike

 

I picked up the hardware I needed this morning, to start on the hinge. I made the base plate yesterday evening. I had to straighten the t/light housing, an it still needs a little more manipulation.


I used a piece of metal for a straight edge, to make sure there was room for the filler tube with out any major mods.



I marked the t/lights depth on the base plate, so I can make sure there's room for the gas cap, when closed.



Physically looking at the arm, it was apparent that it was going to hit the filler neck. So I made a new pattern, and now I need to cut out the two 'C' pieces.



I'm going to use this window regulator to automate the arm, with a 3 position keyed switch to actuate it. Made the pattern for the plate steel, that goes on the backside of the t/lite hsing. I'm going back to it in a couple hours..

 

I was looking at a JC WHitnet catalog and seen in the truck section they sell that corrigated bedding steel you have in your bed. Pretty cheap too , only like $20 a section and your bed would take 2 or 3 sections. Kinda late now you have fixed yours. Would have given you the option. Keep it up man , lookin good.

 

Imma check that out, thanks

 

Ok This is a great thread. I like how you are stcking with this. So many "builds" get you halfway there than go away. cant wait to see this one done. My old hats off and showing the bald head. Love the 59's Keep it up this is going to be nice!!!

 

I'm going to use this window regulator to automate the arm, with a 3 position keyed switch to actuate it. Made the pattern for the plate steel, that goes on the backside of the t/lite hsing. I'm going back to it in a couple hours..[/QUOTE]

Maybe you could replace the tailgate escutcheun with one off of a wagon with the power back glass and use the window switch to control the light/fuel door. Nice work.

 

dude slow down !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
your going to get your's done before mine lol
i dont know if u saw in my set up of the flip opening tail light but it has two pivit points so the tail light swings out and open to clear the quarter , unless u got some thing else up your sleve that i cant wait too see

 

In the morning, I will finish the hinge arms on the inside & out. I will continue on the bed floor, also. It needs a little more grinding on the topside.



Once in there, it was easier to see what actually needed to be done. I hope the filler neck works, to where I don't have to hold gas pump the whole time, it's filling the tank.

 

I am shaving the t/gates escutcheon, so that's not an option. It's funny I didn't even think about that, subconsciously I knew it wouldn't work out.
Thanks though!

 

Thank you, I was taught by my Dad.. Even if you just put in an hour a day on the car, atleast you're doin' something. I also remember reading something when I was younger, that editor Jeff Tann said. He mentioned people bringing up the question, "When did he find time, to build cars?" He simply said, "I don't watch TV".. Later I realized, it's priorities. No school can teach you that. You either do, or you don't! For as long as I can, I will! I am so glad I stayed home and learned from my Pops, instead of out fuckin' up with the people who I thought were friends. Cos' now I can build the cars, they can only dream about. Motivate, Motivate!

 

I've been thinking about what you said. A spring on the second pivot point( the one closest to the housing) could tilt it in as its closing, should work. More on that tomorrow!

 

Yeah it was odd , I seen the materal and thought " I just seen a guy fixing his bed on the HAMB. Looking at your tail lights , I kinda wanna change my fill spot from behind the plate to one of my tail lights on my 65 impala.
Keep up the good work.

 

I would make sure the gas pump nozzles O.D, is'nt bigger than the t/light itself. Just a thought..

 

I was thinking about a power actuator but my tiny mind can't wrap itself around that, can't wait to see it done.

 

So this is the arm, I'm going to keep. The second attempt at making an arm, isn't even worthy of photos. I had to start thinking outside the box, and this is what I came up with. I knew I had room down under the filler neck, so I took advantage of the slot, for the t/light housing's, bulb receptical. Picture shows the bearing, before I welded in the pipe to hold the bearings.



The pipe for the bearing is welded in, in the couple next pictures..





I used the cutting torch, to rough out the two arm pieces, I ended up welding together. There's is an art to using that thing. After I would pass through and be cutting along, where I just cut through- would fuse back together. Like I needed more oxy to blow away the slag. Only practice is going to help me now. I plan to put a lip on the inside top of the arm for more, ridgitidity.


Then I'm going to use a torsion spring, to push the housing away, from hitting the body. The red arrow shows where I figure, the spring will contact the housing.



Then I made sure everything was playing nice, once all together. Those punches came in handy, once again! Then, I tacked the riser to the base plate & quickly, pulled the regulator off. So no melty, nuutheen!





The pipe had to be reamed out, in order to fit the bearings into it. So I used the circular file & tapered both side. Now beveled, the bearings can't squeeze in.



Now, I need a one inch shorter bolt,(on my way after this) and where the arrow points.. I will use epoxy, to fuse the bolt and inner plastic adaptor, together.



I welded up the dent in my rear bumper guard, while I had the welder out, too.

 

I missed putting this picture in..

Now, I need a one inch shorter bolt,(on my way after this) and where the arrow points.. I will use epoxy, to fuse the bolt and inner plastic adaptor, together.



I just showed, Pops what I've been doing while he was gone, today. And my Uncle came up and asked me where I bought this set up, from. My Uncle doesn't hand out compliments.. but that comment made all this work, worth it.

 

Joe actually gave you a compliment?Everything is looking good.

 

In his own round about way he did, without giving up too much! Atleast I know it was sincere.(grin)

 

Cool!

 

Now I have a headache, thanks.