Get ready, King Of Trucks is coming...

Thanks Leonard!




I trimmed my bumpstops in the rear today. Before, the axle was on the bumpstops. After, I have a little over one inch between the axle and bumpstops with no lowering in stance. It may settle down a hair after riding. I'm going to look through the shocks book at the parts place to get some new ones. Once those are on in the rear and I can give it a test ride, and I'll know if I need a small notch or not.

For the record, the rear shock length at full droop is 16". With weight on the axle, it's 14".

I'm leaving for Bowling Green on Wednesday. Shock installation will probably have to wait until after I get back. I'll report back then.

 

Have fun Terd.

 

Thanks bud!


I ordered shocks for the rear. They'll be here later today. The quick details are Monroe Gas Shocks, 17.875" extended and 11.25" compressed (6 1/2" of travel), $16 each. I'll get a part number later when I pick them up.

 

Looks like you've been getting a lot of work done! Looks good, I'm stoked for you man!

 

Thanks Shawn! Del told me you brought me a carb to shop night last night. I really appreciate that!




I've had this truck for a while now but haven't been on any long trips. Til a couple of days ago. I drove it up to Mt. Airy, NC (a.k.a. Mayberry, NC, yes that Mayberry) a couple of hours from home to meet my dad to ride with him to the Hot Rod Reunion in Bowling Green, KY. The truck did great. I was suprised how well it rode, especially in the rear, even on the really bumpy parts of the interstate. I ran into one issue though. When I got there, my brake lights stayed on when I shut the truck off. The brake lamp switch was super hot. I must have a short somewhere. When I get back from Bowling Green I'll check it out and get it fixed before the ride back to Concord.

 

I rode back from Mt. Airy yesterday. The brake light issue ended up being a bad brake light switch, the arm didn't move and fell right off when I touched it. I just disconnected the wires and used hand signals for brakes, still had running lights and turn signals. I'm positive 99.5% of other drivers have no idea what hand signals mean anymore, but it's still legal and will keep you out of trouble with Johnny Law in a pinch.

So this week will be another busy week (I hope). Here's what's on the list...
Side Cover install, shocks front and rear install, bumpstops front and rear install, brake light switch install, and advertising a bunch of stuff for sale to help pay for a drop axle from Sid's. If I get half that list done this week, I'll be happy.

More soon...

 

I got the shocks on front and rear. The ride is 100% better. No more excessive bouncing. Once I get the new bumpstops on the front, it should not be as drastic when I go over big potholes or giant ridges in the road. Otherwise, I was very pleased. I took it for a nice long ride out in the country yesterday and had a blast!

I used Monroe Gasmatic shocks. The part number is 59017. I should've used different shocks in the front, they required a larger loop. I ended up using the 59017's without the bushing in the front. They might wear out the rubber faster this way. But the shocks are only $16 each! Next time I'll get the right ones.

Still don't have brake lights or a brake light switch. My chevy truck place, Dixie Truckworks, was on vacation this week. Monday should fix that.

 

I love the new look dude!The color I wanted for is called Aztec gold.My old man had a 57 belair painted that color with tuck n roll black leather.I can still smeel the inside of that car 30 years later.I alaways thought that was the coolest color I ever saw.

 

I'm thinking a dustier gold. Or maybe something like George Poteet's '40 Ford pickup (Dupont Hot Hues Sierra Gold). I f*cking LOVE that thing...




I'm still going back and forth between a few shades of gold and another couple of colors. At least I've got plenty of time to decide since paint's a ways out.

 

Door handles are now just a rumor. They never happened.



I also got the trim holes from the hood badge filled in. I'll work on the fender trim holes next week. Thanks to Mikey from Buffalo, Shawn and Deltron for the help!

I finally got a brake light switch and my floor jack promptly took a shit. I got another one but it's been too flipping hot to jack the truck up and get underneath it to swap it out. Lame excuse, I know. But it's been around 100* for a couple of weeks straight round here. Shaving the door handles and filling trim holes had to be done at midnight to be tolerable, lol.

 

DO it!

I f-ing love that color.

 

I love that color too! But shiny paint is still a ways off. My buddy Deltron (hotdamn) has been trying to talk me into putting the truck in some sealer primer in the meantime for a better more uniform appearance. I'm leaning towards listening, lol. My list had patches, bodywork and paint as the last thing to be done. I'm being convinced I'll get a lot of bang for the buck to spend a weekend with the DA and some tinted sealer. We'll see...

 

That sounds like a good idea...

or:

 

I think the finish of your truck Terd is fine. You really need some shoes in the form of new set of Bias Ply tires. After that your truck will take on a whole new look. If you can swing the Chrome Steelies too this year you'd be way a head of the game. Then we can sela your truck this winter when it can be off the road for a few weeks.

 

So I got a couple of minor things done in the last week or so.

First up, I got the remote oil filter mount polished up. My good buddy Deltron hooked me up with his backwoods polishing/chromer guy and he did it for $10. That's the best $10 I ever spent, lol. It sure beats four weeks of ripping my fingers apart trying to get in all the nooks and crannies. And the pics don't do this piece justice. It looks WAAAAY better in person.

Before...


After...



Another good buddy got my intake tig'ed up from where it was buggered up way back when by who knows who. That hole and jb weld in the first pic is not supposed to be there. It turned out really nice I think. I still have to drill and tap two holes and then get it to the polisher along with my three air cleaners.

Before...


After...





I was over at another good buddy's house and saw this kickass tool box he got from his dad. It was a little lo pro craftsman from back in the '70s. I told him how cool I thought it was and how I'd been looking for a smaller box than the one I'd been using to keep in the truck. So, a couple of days later he showed up with one just like it. Turns out his dad had another one just like it and was going to throw it out because it was "no account" due to all the "damage". I sure am glad he didn't. I'll get this striped up by another buddy who stripes, lol. Also note the sweet ass kush colored shag, from the same tool box buddy's grandmaw's house. Don't drop your bud on that, you'll never find it.




And while I'm digressing on slightly off topic (non truck) stuff, I scored big time on craigslist. I got some righteous vintage Wayfarers for $20. As far as I'm concerned, this is the best part of this post. My grandpaw who passed away recently had some just like these from the '60s he used to always wear. He gave them to me and they promptly got stolen by a "friend". It's hard to describe, but it feels good to have another pair.




So in the next couple of weeks, my intake will get drilled and tapped then polished. The air cleaners will get polished at the same time. After that, all that's stopping three carb hell raising will be rebuild kits for the Carter W1's. I'll also be making some new oil lines to get a filter back on this engine with the new remote filter mount. I just need to decide where I'll put it. It seems to purty to hide it on the frame, lol.

So, pardon all my jibber jabber. I'm still slowly making progress, but there's still so much to do...and I'm having so much fun doing it. Seriously.

 

Believe you me, I am on that site where Kenny got his day and night (don't want to mention the name, I don't need the competition, lol ) looking for when a pair comes up. Del has fully convinced me to flip the front axle and use the money I would've spent on a drop axle for the tires and sealer. A three for one, so to speak.

 

in the great words of larry the plumber guy, "do it to it!"

lookin good terdamous!!!

 

Pop for an alliance membership and get a set of Cokers. I just picked up a set of L78s and they were about $700 shipped with a 5 year road hazard warranty with the discount.

see... pretty.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From 1959 Chevrolet Apache 1/2 Ton</td></tr></table>

 

oh, and those wayfarers are bad ass.

Back in my Vespa days, a pair of Ray-Ban Baloramas was my "helmet".

 

Anyone know any info on that color gold?

 

I saw your new tires. They look great! Something like that is such a game changer, so to speak. Tires are on my short list too along with either repainted stock wheels or chrome stock wheels.

I love those too. If they're good enough for Dirty Harry...

 

Dude, its totally in the post you quoted.

 

lol

I am a re tard

 

The fender trim holes are filled and the radio antenna is shaved (thanks Deltron!)...



More progress soon...

 

Ahh, I'm glad you posted Terd. I have taken the last half hour of my day and have been searching tire sizes for your truck...since we have $60 this far!!!

I am thinking

FRONT-6.70's with a 2-11/16" WW (28.58" total height and a 4.5" tread width)
BACK -8.20's with a 3-1/2" WW (29.59" total height and a 5" tread width)

Both tires made by Firestone and will look killer. Total price without tax from Coker is $702 which sucks but like I said, you can't go skimping on rolling stock homie.

 

Damn nobody has red oxide primer in our shop? That thing looks like a patch quilt now!

 

Yeah, Jeffrey's right. Those tires will look KILLER.

 

I think you need these: http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/pts/1901894780.html

 

I looked at the picture too long and decided that I needed them. They will go on the '52 after I run adapt them like this: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=430712

- Joe

 

Genuine Diamonds BABY..... Fuck'n sweet!!!