Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

Work on the truck had been a bit sporadic lately so I haven't been very good at documenting what I’ve done.


I finished the front end fender repair, came out ok

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The return on the lower repair panel was actually too short where the repair panel joins the original fender so I had to put a small piece of steel in to even it up

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The other thing I was missing were the brackets that hold the uppers seals at the rear of the fender. I'd used the rusted out parts as a pattern on the passenger side but on the drivers side I literally had nothing to work with and was completely stuck without them. Sometimes when you're working on US vehicles in the UK you can be stuck for the most simple of parts this was one of those situations. Luckily for me I'm a member of this forum which is full of great people. Rocknrod (thank you Sir!) put me onto Aspen Autos, if you've not used them I honsetly can't recommend them enough, and they suppleid me with an excellent used set at a very fair price.

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I've got the inside of the fender coated in stone guard and the fender returns into body colour,, next job is to fit the seals and then re-fit the fender.

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Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

Looks good! :metal:

Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

Last two updates are just great Ian.

Looking so good.

Well done!

Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

Today in County Durham it was one of those fabulous autumn (sorry fall) days, dry, sunny, cool but not too cool and you just know its going to be the last (or one of the last ones) until spring. Time to jump on the bike and grab those last few miles of the season. It was while I was riding I realised I hadn't given my latest bike a mention.

Those who follow my thread may remember that last year I did something I said I would never do.............no not that :lol::lol: I bought a water cooled Harley. Now it wasn't a bad bike at all, but in fairness wasn't really me. I just love the noise, smell and feel of an air cooled twin, so earlier this year I traded the "kettle" for an air cooled 48 sportster.


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I also found time today to finish the fender closing panels and fit them using nylon "fir tree" clips

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Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

I also managed to get the fender back on, I'm very happy with the fit,

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The door gap needs a little tweak at the bottom which I can get to once the door comes off.

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Tomorrow is the NSRA Northern Swap Meet, the last one of the season , so me and my mate Paul are off the Sheffield :metal:

Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

That’s a pretty Harley.


You missed a spot on the fender :mm:

Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

Looking good Ian.

If you and I can keep up the pace we should beat the two southern softies and get back on the road first :-):-):-)

Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

Thanks Rian, it's a shame you don't live closer you could have taken it for a run out, these modern Harleys ride really nice.

Indeed, but neither of us will beat Rian with the pace he's going on his new blazer

I went to the Northern swap meet on Sunday in Sheffield, it may be Northern for Rian and Martin but for me and Bill there's nothing northern about it :lol:

There were a few rods but mainly 50's chrome and fins stuff. There were a couple of trucks there, most seemed to have motorcycles on the back

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Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

This 69 was probably my favourite

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I didn't buy much but I did blag this old slot mag for £10 ($12-$13). It will make a great hose reel for my garage wall.

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A quick truck up-date, I've pulled the drivers door to do the last of my cab rust repairs, I got the outer stripped ok, flipped it over and started on the inner.

I had a pair of inner repair panels that I got from Martin a while back so i was good to go (or so I thought). The rust extends into the hinge pocket so I thought it best to check how far up the repair section goes.

Hmmmm can you remember those spot the difference pictures that were in all of the comics when we were kids?

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It turns out they were a pair alright (as in two) it's just they were both the same side, oh darn :lol:

New one is on order from Ecklers, luckily I've plenty to be getting on with

Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

Ah but Blazers don't count Ian.

Shefield! May as well be another country to me, oh wait it is!

Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

Sadly have to admit defeat here.

Bill is right.

But the Blazer is making me feel better.

Ian and you have been quietly steaming ahead.

Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

Sorry this is not really truck related but I thought some readers of this thread might find it interesting and there’s a transport link in here somewhere (honestly :lol:).

While walking my dog at the weekend something occurred to me. It’s strange how we’ve all visited places hundreds, even thousands of miles from home but you never seem to visit places that are on your doorstep. One such place for me is the Causey Arch, the oldest single arch railway bridge in the world and it’s about a mile from my front door.

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A bit of history

In the 17 and 1800’s coal was transported in wooden wagons from the mines of County Durham (at that time the largest coal field in the world) to the port of Newcastle for onward shipment. These wagons travelled along unpaved roads know as wagonways, being in unpaved they would become rutted and pot-holed and often impassable. To combat this in the early 1700’s the practice of laying rails for the wagons to run on began and thus wagonways became railways.

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The mine owners even agreed a "standard" width for the rails so that everyone’s wagons could use the railways. This was 4 feet 8 1/2 inches which was considered to be the ideal width for the horse pulling the wagon and the man leading it. Today about 55% of the worlds trains still run on this "standard gauge".


So what about the Causey Arch? It was designed and built in 1725 by local Master Mason Ralph Wood, to span the Causey gorge. At the time it was built it was the longest single arch bridge in Britain at 102 feet.

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The fate of Mr Wood

But the real irony to this tale is the fate of Mr Wood himself. Convinced his construction was flawed in some way and believing it would collapse, he threw himself from the bridge to his death in the gorge some 150 feet below.

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They say that his ghost can be seen wandering the bridge at night and on a windy night you can hear his cries as he falls to his death. (this is Beamish….. we love a good ghost story). Anyway in 6 years it will be 300 years old... how wrong he was.

Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

Sadly there have been many Ralph Woods’ in history.

Some for small reasons, some maybe by reason of “insanity”

However, we can never really predict or even change the way they see their world.

Thank you for sharing this.

Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

Interesting story on the rail width. Glad I could help with info on the fender seals. Your doing great Ian. ;)

Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

Thanks Rian

Thank you


It's been a while since I last did a truck up-date progress has been slow but steady.

I finished the fender, the repair panel was a really decent fit so took very little prep to be ready for paint, I did the cab corner floor and rocker at the same time.

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I've also made a start on the drivers door, which, if things go as planned and I buy new bedsides will be my last rust repair :bann::bann: It is pretty much the same as the passenger side just "truck rot" as Clem would say.

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Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

What wasn't the same was the repair panel. :banghead: Now I know pattern parts can be variable, but the drivers door inner was about 3/8" -1/2" bigger than the door and the the trim looked like it had been done with an axe..........and it cost be about $80 including shipping to the UK. I actually thought they had missed a tool out when there were making it there was the right amount of metal it was just all in the wrong place. :lol:

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Nothing to do but cut it up rework it (lots) and use only the pieces I need.

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When I'm working I often get so caught up in the job I often forget to take pictures at different stages

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I made a patch panel (can you guess which one)

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And tacked it in, I won't finish weld anything until I've had the door back on to check the fit.

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Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

I got as far as cutting and tacking in the front portion of the inner, so barring the finish welding the inner is done

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And that's all the work I'll get done on the truck this year.

So it only remains for me to wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous 2019. May you get everything you need and most of what you want.

Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

Your getting there Ian. Nice work.

Ive been beavering away the last week and I do need to update my project as well. At this rate we will definitely be finished before Martin and Rian!!!!!

The North Rules!

Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

Great progress Ian.

I hope I can replicate what you and Bill have done when I get there.

Thank you for the steering wheel for the Blazer.

Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

Great looking repair patches. Your body working skills are awesome.
All I've done is buy a few parts and do a lot of thinking about the next step.

Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

Blazer is looking nice though and at least you do have a running driving truck!

Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

True......


Thankfully.


HIJACK MODE ON.


And the steering wheel,was delivered as mentioned,by the chirpy courier lady.

Thank you to Ian Brown again.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...psyv9fwbmc.jpg

Closer inspection showed years of wear and tear and muckyness.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps086k0oba.jpg

Some rust on the horn button itself.

I wanted to give it a coat of paint, but suspect it was made that way, because it does not get paint.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...pstl31jv7q.jpg

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Spring plate was very much rusty too.

Stopped at this point.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps3jsyyraf.jpg

Cleaning took just over two hours with Cillit Bang ammonia based cleaner and a kitchen scoured, and a sharp knife in places.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps0xwk600e.jpg

And offered up in the truck different size for sure.

And note the centre is not Centre.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...pseo3tsidv.jpg

https://i294.photobucket.com/albums/...pswggojpyi.jpg

I will fit it after the New Years Festivities are over.

Back to work soon.


HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL.

Here’s to a car and truck filled 2019.

Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

Looking good Rian. Yeah they off centered then I guess so us plump Americans can get in and out easier. :lol:

Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

A quick up-date (while I remember),

I thought I'd get away with 2 corner repairs on the outer skin but it turned out much worse than I thought and ended up replacing the whole lower section. Doing the outer skin in 2 halves is not the most efficient way but hey-ho.

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Once everything was tacked in place I hung the door back on the cab to check alignment and fit (I forgot to take a photo) and the fit was really good. Once happy with the fit I fully welded the inner.

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I had weld the outer skin a little at a time, as the welds cooled and contracted they pulled the skin inwards making the skin concave and creating a hollow. So it was weld a little, hammer and dolly back out weld repeat until done. The access to the rear of the door skin is really restricted, you have to wedge your arm through the larger hole at the top. If only my arm was a foot longer and I had an extra elbow I might have avoided this bruise :waah: the sacrifices we make for our trucks :lol:

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The outer skin still needs a little work but the shape is 95% there

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Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

Just a foot longer? Id have gone with extendable and you had 4 pair of them. That would just about be enough.

Nice work though Ian.

Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

But then you would have to spend all of your time fighting crime.

Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

Im not the biggest superhero fan, but wasnt Doc Ock a villian?

Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

I think you will have to decide for your self if you want to use your powers for good or evil

Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

Good point, though I propose a 3rd option, for good, evil or hot rod/car building!

Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

Thanks guys I laughed out loud reading your posts ( while watching DC Titans on Netflix ):lol:

Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

The weather in the UK has been wierd, it's been over 70 degrees, a record for February, we sometimes don't see 70 in June :lol:. Anyway good news for me, it's always easier to paint when the weather is warmer so I got the door painted, it turned out OK

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Because the petrol tank is now under the bed I need to blank off the filler hole, now I know the pre-cut panels are only $10 but by the time I pay postage and taxes it could cost be 3 times that to get it here in the UK. So time to be creative,

A little trick when needing a curved panel it to do a pre-bend using a vice.

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I made a template by covering the hole with masking tape and tracing around the hole with a pencil I then stuck that onto the pre-bent steel

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and cut out the shape, it doesn't have to be perfect.

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And then welding it into the truck, I'll hopefully get it prepped and painted at the same time as the door check and the rear of the cab.

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Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

Looks good Ian . I know what you mean about the weather it’s been crazy. Looks like you and Bill will be both driving yours soon
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Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

Glad to see your progress on the truck.

Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

Looking good Ian. Door looks good. I managed to damaged the paint on one of mine yesterday. I have to open it over a wall and I didn't take into account my bulk inside when I was wiring. Door dropped just enough to hit the wall, so Ive some painting to do.

Gas filler repairs look good. Good tip on bending it first. Wish Id done that. I welded it in the top first then bent it into shape in place once it was hot.

Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

Nice job Ian!!

Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

Excellent as always

Was looking back in your thread yesterday, at where you have come from and all you have done.

Impressive

Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

Thank you Vince

Oh nightmare, your truck is clear over base a real pain to repair

Thanks Bill
Thanks Rian, it's small steps but I'll get there eventually

And speaking of small steps, I have the door check and cab back panel to paint before I reassemble the cab. While sanding I discovered some bondo.... you know what comes next, a hole :(

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It wasn't actually as bad a the passenger side was so was a relatively quick repair, the usual cardboard template transferred to steel and welded in place.

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I got it and the fuel filler into primer

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Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

Tell me about it Ian. Thats going to be fun. Even my mates that are painters dont like doing it and every time Ive tried its reacted badly.

Your cab is coming along nicely. At least I didnt have any repairs to do to the upper body. Nice work.

Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

A very quick update, I got the drivers door back on, it fits well. After the repairs it had thats always a relief. I painted the pillar and the rear of the cab too it’s funny but with the doors back on it feel like I’m moving in the right direction again

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Re: Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England
 

Looking good Ian. Will be ready by the end of April after all!