Work on the truck has slowed down considerably due to my wife's health issues, but I am trying to plug away at it when I can. I picked up a tripower intake for it back in June, and this past Sunday found some carb cores to rebuild. I also snagged a points distributor while I was at it. I'm hoping to score a decent 283 or 327 to build. This 350 is just for mock-up purposes. I've also been working on the interior a bit, mocking up the brake and throttle pedal ***emblies, shifter, and column locations. The tilt column will be tossed...I'm going tomorrow to get a column and steering box from an early 60's Econoline van. Today my new wheels arrived. Didn't take long to get them checked out, mounted, and installed. They'll eventually be painted gloss black and will have trim rings as well as the Spider caps. I was going to build a new sheetmetal pickup box and even went so far as to mock one up out of cardboard... Then I saw this photo posted in one of the HAMB Drags threads and knew this was the way to go. My truck is a cut-down sedan and this is most likely what it would have had for a box back when it was converted in the 40's. I have access to some beautiful oak to build it with. That's it for now!
Good progress Boyd. I think the metal bed would look way more "factory". Check B-Scott Studio's album here on the HAMB, I think theres some pics of his 29 Es*** PU that started life as a sedan.
I like the idea of the wood box, especially with the fenders. Keep at it. Tell me you didn't ditch the ****on-tuck interior!
B-Scott's truck is really cool. I believe his started life as a 4-door sedan while mine was originally a 2-door sedan. While a steel box would probably be a little more practical, I like the look of the wooden bed and since there was never a "stock" box for these cut-down sedans I'm betting that a wooden box was what it had when it was converted to a truck back in the 40's. Ok, I won't tell you that. Everything except the sheetmetal and the frame rails was tossed out. I have a new design for the interior that I think will please most people. Less disco, more traditional.
What? worn, stinky "Mohair"? (JK) it looks as if it is coming along well. "I" would go with a steel box. I understand your dilemna, but consider the 36 chevy's that were converted.... kind of a blend of the two?
Progress is good..for me going with a wood bed, would be going backwards. Wood beds always look like they couldn't /didn't have the steel bed for the pickup, and improvised (and that isn't a good thing). I know un-solicited opinions ****, so please continue doing what you want to do.
What's wrong with stinky Mohair?? I'm still on the fence regarding the box. I think when the Es*** was converted from a sedan to a truck in the 40's it probably had a similar wooden box made for it. That said, I'm also considering the idea of modifying some kind of stock 40's era box to fit, or building a new one from scratch. The slots would be fine if I was going for a 70's look, but I'm trying to do an early 60's hotrod. The other problem with the slots is the width and backspacing. They simply won't work for the build. Here's an outdoor shot of the truck with the new wheels/tires. Remember they'll eventually be gloss black with trim rings...
Think the wheels will look great. Like the way the dash is going, nice line along the lower edge. My preference is the metal box, but I think it needs some stake pockets down the side, early Chevy ones have nice swoopy lines to them. Those are just my .02s Are you going to leave the front spring mounts on the frame or trim them off where the fender meets the frame? Wish my coupe was as far along. Missed seeing you guys this summer, but you have been in my thoughts. Canuck
Thank you. We've missed everyone as well. We only made it to one show this year when we spent a few hours at the Super Run in Red Deer while we were out there visiting family. A summer without car shows seemed a little strange, but we'll get back into it next year. I re-shaped the bottom of the dash to fit the curve of the So-Cal dash insert I picked up. I hope it turns out the way I have pictured in my head. If I go with a metal box it will definitely have stake pockets front and rear, as well as a functional tailgate. Yes, the frame horns will be trimmed back to the edge of the fenders. I plan to build a tubular nerf bar for a bumper on the front. Great minds think alike! As for it being further along than your coupe...it looks considerably more complete in the pictures than it really is. I need to take it back apart to finish the ch***is, then get the drivetrain rebuilt, then I can start on bodywork and interior. It'll probably be at least a couple more years before it's back on the road, unless I win a lottery. Thanks Leo.
The early trimrings wont work on the reversed wheels..... One idea about the bed. Make it narower and fit a adapter betwen the fender and bed like on a model A that way the bed dont look so big and boxy
They are Wheel Vintiques Series 62. I ordered them through WheelMaster Cl***ics in Calgary Alberta. The fronts are 15 x 6, reversed with a 2 1/8" backspace. Rears are 15 x 7, reversed with a 2 1/4" backspace. Thank you. She's a bit tired from all the treatments and such, but has a great at***ude and outlook. We're heading out on a month-long road trip at the beginning of October. We're driving to the east coast of Canada, a region she's never been to before. We're going to try to see some of the NE USA while we're out that way. Can't wait! The trim rings I ordered are supposed to fit these reversed wheels. As for the box, that's not a bad idea. I'll look into it.
It will get a bit better fuel mileage if you leave the cardboard bed. I always liked the 70's vibe of that truck but it's looking good.
Looks good! I would agree with the others who think you should stick with a steel box. I understand your thinking about what would have been done when it was converted in the 40's but I would guess if it did have a wood box then it probably did not run rear fenders. It probably was converted for gas rationing and I wouldn't think they would go to the trouble of reattaching fenders.
Finally got off my *** and did some work in the shop this past week. I've been messing around with the dash. Stock '27 Es*** dash... The So-Cal panel doesn't quite match the curve of the dash... A little m***aging... I made a hammer-form to make the recessed panel... And this is how it turned out. I still need to finish dressing the welds... Compare that to the dash that was in the truck when I bought it...
The Jalopy Journal
