On the last post, I had finished the cowl and mounted the windshield and dash. .......................................................................................................... Welding up the support post for the side of the cab. Support post fastened to the floor and held square by 2x4's. Fitting the rear lower panel in place. Next I needed to build the roof section so all 4-support post will be held square and parallel. I want a nice round corner on the front of the roof and I don't have the equipment here to bend the square tube at a 90 deg. ( I have a tube bender but it is still at my son's place about 500 miles away ) So I scrounged up a metal base from an old kitchen chair that has rounded corners. I'll cut them off and use them for the front corners on the roof. Getting the frame work set up for the roof. Roof frame finished. Inside of one of the side panels for the roof. Both side panels and rear panel welded to the roof frame. Finished roof section. The top panel is made out of aluminum and bolted to the steel frame with carriage bolts. Roof section setting in place. Next, I worked on the top rear panel. This is the roller used to put in the "stress panels". Fitting the top rear panel in place. Finished panels for the lower right and left sides of the cab. ( inside view ) ( outside view ) Panel is spot welded onto the framework. Finished panel edge with the spot welds ground flush. ( rear edge ) ( front edge )
that looks like a lot of work. whats the story behind the truck? was it in your family? what made you choose this one to put so much time into?
hey ray, you are one of the few people that can really say "i built it." great work. can't wait to see more. mike
Just an observation, not a criticizsm, but... The overall structure looks like it's gonna catch a lot of wind once you hit 45+ mph. I'm assuming this will be a fold down windshield design? Have you taken that into consideration because I kinda get the vibe that the 4 bolts your using to hold it down to the wood frame might not be quite sturdy enough. JMHO, so take it for what it's worth. The build looks killer. I'm impressed with your metal skills.
I like building things, so what looks like "work" to you is "playing in the garage" to me. I found this in a barn down in Indiana about 25 years ago and I've had it in storage since then. It is just one of the projects that I've collected over the years that I now have time to work on since I retired. This is what it looked like when I bought it. This is the engine that was in it. I got it from a guy that got it from a guy that got it from a guy, ETC. So I don't have any history on it. My question was, what is a "hotrod" engine doing in a beat up ol truck like this?? That's what gave me the idea of building a "Moonshine Hauler" out of it. It was the only reason I could come up with having a ratty looking truck with an built up engine. No offense taken and that is a very good question. The floor is built up with 3/4 inch plywood and hard maple 2x6 that are glued and screwed together. The bolts holding the side braces on are grade-5, 1/2 diameter with 1-1/4 inch washers on the underside. The side panels that are welded on the bottom of the cab have a 1 inch lip that folds under the floor and is fastened to the underside with 1-1/2 inch screws. This also gets a seat frame built in to it that fastens to the floor and the cab upright supports. Once it is finished, I feel it will be very strong. Keep in mind that the original truck cabs were wood frame and the metal panels where fastened on with small nails. I realize they didn't drive any faster than around 45, but what about driving in a storm with 60 to 80 mile wind gust? This is the style of cab that I am copying.
WOW that looks like alot of work but I think it will be incredibly cool when done. Keep up the good work and keep posting pics for us.
I think that you are doing a great job. My one question is; I can't help but notice that the front fenders are in pretty rough shape, are you planning to build them from scratch too??? I bet you not only could but will, I will stay tuned!
I haven't seen this build yet, very cool. The custom built body is going to be better looking than the original. Are you planning to use the box you showed in the first pics?
Who knows, it is possible that back in the 20's, some good ol mash cooker may have run something like this down your mountain roads ?? I know this truck spent a lot of time on dirt roads. There is about a 1/2 inch thick build up of clay under the fenders. It isn't your red <style></style>Georgia clay but it sure could be <style></style> Arkansas clay. Anyhow .. for me, it's just a fun theme to build something different. Sorry, I'm going to disappoint you on this one. I do not have the equipment to build the fenders. <style></style> Actually, I'm thinking of maybe running these fenders pretty much like they are. I like the idea of the ruff and ratty looking truck with the supped up engine under the hood. I want it to look like something that was still in use in the 30's. I'm thinking of trying to put a finish on the cab to make it blend more with the condition of the rest of the truck ( that should be interesting ). On the other hand, I might try to find replacement fenders for the front. They are far worse then the rest of the sheet metal <style></style> ( especially the drivers fender ). I've also thought of cutting the section out of the drivers fender and putting in a wheel well for a spare tire. Yes I am.
Nah our haulers never used trucks they allways used cars with big ass leaves in the back. A buddy drove and old zephr that had been a hauler. It looked funny as hell with its ass end sticking up in the air.
So what make sthis a Moonshine Hauler? When you buy a car and the guy tells you (after you get it loaded up) to "look at this 50 gal. copper tank under here" He said "Do you know what that is" You always say no... That way he can tell you what it is and why it's there
When I got this truck I was thinking ....... what is a "hot rod" engine doing in a beat up old truck ? Do you suppose some old moonshiner used a truck like this to run liquor down a mountain in Tennessee ? ... Probably not, ... but I decided that a " Moonshine Truck" would be a good theme to build this up to. Its just something to have fun building and to have fun driving around. I intend to show it alongside my crawlers at the antique tractor shows. When I do, I'll have a sign in it with what I've written above on it so every one will know that it was never a real moonshine hauler, just something I built to have fun with.
The Jalopy Journal
