Re: tilly to the rescue
 

I see in your rendering that the front wheel is centered.
I have to ask, Are you going to center the wheel in this build?
Just curious.
Got me watchin everyday.

Re: tilly to the rescue
 

I agree, the copper as an accent would have more impact I think.

Re: tilly to the rescue
 

very cool! thats going to be one very nice service truck .love the work you do sooo cleeeen!

Re: tilly to the rescue
 

have had a bunch of distractions lately. several guys are bringing their bedsides and fenders and doors by the place for me to repair. wanting to establish the shop as a restoration meca... i can't say no.

Re: tilly to the rescue
 

a distraction that i'm really diggin is this old 51 1-ton. if you caught the story i posted earlier ('cool story' on the main board) you might remember that i built this truck back in 1983 and took a year to do so. long story short, it has come home. only driven once in 29 years you can imagine what all had happened to her... well it all happened plus some. now shes running great, stopping good and buffed back to color. still like driving a boat while sitting on a park bench... but thats the nature of the beast.

Re: tilly to the rescue
 

so even though its been a long time there was still progress on the utility truck.
since its a build for a friend and customer, i don't want to get too far ahead of the money...

the utility bed once removed and put on a cart was sandblasted... inside and out. a new stronger bed front was made to mount a winch and it is connected to the bed framework.

the inside of the boxes had bad rust where the braces run in the wheelwells so that was patched.

old men shouldn't have to sandblast, but a long time employee dumped me so i gotta do what i gotta do.

finally back in the body shop for fill and skim...

Re: tilly to the rescue
 

the final installment for now is the frame. 6" had to be added so the bed would fit. the frame was scraped, washed, blasted and now sits in a coat of etch primer awaiting paint. most of the other front suspension parts were similarly processed and waiting for paint. bought all the new joints, bearings, seals and stuff which are also being patient, awaiting paint... guess i'll go get to painting.

thanks till later...

Re: tilly to the rescue
 

Diggin the 51 1-ton and for being done in '83 it sure is lookin nice.

Can't wait to see how the tool box truck turn out.
Top notch work always!

Re: tilly to the rescue
 

nice now i need to get my truck covered and take you my doors and patches to fix them, lol!!:metal::metal:
and if i had a set of fenders you could fix them too, lol!!!

Re: tilly to the rescue
 

the frame is looking good! you talked about using the truck that was in the back with the big window! what are you going to do with the swb frame and the extra stuff you have for it??

Re: tilly to the rescue
 

always such cool work dang i wish you were closer

Re: tilly to the rescue
 

thanks buddy... almost done with the 51. all thats left is new tires. it sat all those years on 4 flat tires and they drive like squares. to save that money i could wait till summer and put 60 lbs in them and try to drive them round again... just not sure i can wait.

hope the foot is getting better.

the guys i'm doing stuff for love their trucks... they just don't have the tools and skills you do.

the plans on this utility truck keep changing. now we're at using original cab and doing a big window change like you did. once i jump on the cab i will be checking out your build for pointers.

thanks dino... we'll have some hang time one of these days.

Re: tilly to the rescue
 

Keeping an eyeball on this build. Sounds like a great project.

Re: tilly to the rescue
 

i'm in, love the 51 by the way.and with your skills there shouldnt be any problems with a restoration shop, i will bet you stay covered up with work.

Re: tilly to the rescue
 

Tuned in for this one!!

Re: tilly to the rescue
 

This is gonna be a sweet shop truck..

Re: tilly to the rescue
 

february and half of march were pretty much miserable weather wise. rain and cold winds keep me inside and theres not much garage space around here. but there was a little happening on the utility shop truck.

the fenders were in worse shape than i hoped... the braces were gone and the lower rear sheet metal was a fiberglass matt that was breaking up. so , i opted to use some other fenders i had. they weren't a whole lot better except the braces were good.

blasted, ground, cut and patch... not shown is the blasting pic cause no way would the patch be welded up with it rusty inside. now where is that blasted blasting pic...

Re: tilly to the rescue
 

had a weekend that was not raining and around 50 degrees so figured it was time to disassemble the cab... tagged and bagged. i'm fairly disappointed with overall condition but its workable. lots to do.....

Re: tilly to the rescue
 

Wow that door pillar looks rough, never thought they would get cancer up there like that !!

Re: tilly to the rescue
 

no problem, a man with your skills will breeze through this like a hot knife through butter:metal:

Re: tilly to the rescue
 

the bed has 2 coats of high-build urethane primer... let the blocking begin. also sprayed bed liner on the wheelwells and underside. the plan is to spray the gatorguard bedliner on the bed floor and inside all cabinets too. man, that stuff is expensive but nothing works like it does.

Re: tilly to the rescue
 

got a couple of coats on the frame. took a little bit of time because there were some repairs and had to replace a couple of crossmembers.

i'm going high gloss on most of the suspension because the plan (for now) is a satin black paintjob on the cab and bed so a glossy frame will contrast a little. plus gloss paint is harder and more durable than the matte finished.

Re: tilly to the rescue
 

just one more pic for now... say goodbye to my little friend.
i tried but couldn't negociate a deal to keep my old truck. the guy who has owned it for almost 30 years just couldn't let it go. hes a nice old fellow and i hope he can drive it around a little... i was just glad to hang out with the truck and get a chance to get it back the way it was the first time around.

Re: tilly to the rescue
 

ok, just one last pic... got a new tool. this lift is really going to help out. poured a slab and footing and bolted it down a month ago but just wired it this last weekend. oh boy, can't wait.
the plan is to build a shop building where the white '48 sits.

Re: tilly to the rescue
 

I'm sure you will be happy once that lift is up and running....they definitely come in handy!
Coming along nicely. Keep up the good work.
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