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

Nice work!

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

I've been speaking to Rian this afternoon, he has been busy making brake pipe flares and I have been busy drilling holes. Oh the joys of truck building :hh:

So by way of a quick up-date, I have made the first of the strengthening plates for the trailing arms, as mentioned above I wanted to avoid seam welding the sides and try to create a more factory spot weld / rivet look.

Even with simple jobs such as this the marking out is all important. The U-bolt holes are 7/8" giving me 1/8 clearance, the spring cup hole is 5/8" giving me about 1/16 clearance. The weld holes are just over 3/8" (actually 11mm) at 4" centres, the idea is to plug weld these in place giving a spot weld / rivet appearence (I'll let you know how that works out ).

Below is a picture of the first one, it needs a little more fettling and then it should be good to weld in place. The 2 lower ones will be longer, about 28", upper ones will be about 24"

Attachment 1492698

Attachment 1492699

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

damn... that is looking good!!
looking forward to the photos of those welds

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

I spoke (text) Rian earlier and we agreed it was too cold and wet (and windy) to venture out into the garage. But patience is a virtue that I don't do well at (and most of the others come to think of it :lol:) so I found myself in the garage welding.

My welder was playing up a bit, I had trouble getting a consistent wire feed, I'll try cleaning the liner but may need a new one. Consequently the welds are not quite as even as I would have liked, but the "riveted" effect is exactly what I wanted. I reckon by the time they are painted they'll look OK

Attachment 1493030

Attachment 1493031

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

Looks good Ian . So with all this bracing when are the twin turbo's or big block going in

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

Well, to be honest, it often goes this way for me too.

I come indoors, get out of my garage clothes, then just as I am about to go shower, something springs to mind or a solution presents itself (it's happened while speaking to Nicola in the kitchen) and I go back and start again or finish a job.

I so wanted to finish the front line as well yesterday, but darkness is no friend as the trucks front end is under the open door.

Your progress is steady but very sure.

Not sure if I missed it, but why are you doing all this work? 710bhp ?

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

good job Ian. like your persistence even in inclement weather, you get the job done. i always wondered why i was named after bad weather...:lol: thanks mom, dad...

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

Thank you gentlemen. It's going to be a ZZ572

Attachment 1493664

I reckon if I sell the truck I can just about afford one :lol:


Thanks Clem, as always your comments are appreciated

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

Between work, tiling my daughters bathroom and starting to move my parents (yes at 81 and 76 my mum and dad are moving house!) I've still managed to finish the upper strengthening plates for the trailing arms.
They are a little shorter so a little quicker to make,

Attachment 1496139

I clamped and welded one hole at a time to ensure the tightest fit possible

Attachment 1496140

All done and ready for paint which I'll hopefully get done this weekend

Attachment 1496141

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

Any progress is progress I suppose, so after getting my new compressor wired up I finished up the trailing arms and got them painted.

Attachment 1503628

Attachment 1503629


I then set about the "fun" task of cleaning the axle,

Attachment 1503630


The numbers on the axle are

Attachment 1503631

If anyone can point me a site to help me de-code this I would be grateful, I found one site but according to that the axle is from a 1965 C15.:confused:

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

On a positive note the axle is a posi (although it doesn't look like a 64 GM unit) and the ring gear and pinion are more recent Richmond items.

Attachment 1503633

If I understand things correctly, (divide the big number by the little number 274 / 82) it's a 3.34:1.???

Attachment 1503634

Axle is painted now, I'll get the pan fitted and some fresh oil in once it dries and then it'll be time to put the rear suspension back together

Attachment 1503637

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

Ian,

Very timely as I am about to commence the same operation on my trailing arms.

Quick question, what gauge did you use for your strengthening plates, difficult to see from the pictures.

P. :D

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

Richmond sometimes has some odd numbers, just a bit off. You calculated correctly. I would assume that is supposed to be a 3.42 (or close enuff) posi.

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

Good looking compressor Ian.

Progress as you say, is progress..

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

Ian, have a look here:

http://www.richmondgear.com/partsearch/search.php

It appears that you have a 4.10 ratio. Lucky you! :metal:

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

Nice job on the trailing arms Ian

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

I used 1/8" (but 3mm would be fine) it worked a treat for the plug welds, any thinner wouldn't have worked, any thicker and I'd still be drilling holes :lol:



Thanks Bill thats what I thought too, however it appears you were right Richmond has some odd numbers

It is indeed and you are making great progress at the minute

Thanks Johnny 4:10's and a posi ..... drive it like you've stolen it :metal:

Thanks Dale, really appreciated. But still very simple stuff compared to your build :lol:

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

Thanks Ian!

Looks like a steel run is in order.

P. :D

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

Not done an update for a while, so here we go. I've been working on the rear suspension, it's a 5" static drop using POL components.

The after all the strengthening the trailing arms have had they were finished off with new poly-bushes, so easy to fit a 9 year old can do it (and here is one demonstrating this :lol:)

Attachment 1520505

Attachment 1520506

Got the axle cleaned and painted, put fresh oil in and a new gasket, all good to go.


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

Springs are -4" with matching nitrogen shocks and new spring cups

Attachment 1520510

Attachment 1520511

Plus 1" lowering blocks and new U-bolts.

Attachment 1520512

I also used the POL shock relocation kit which corrects the shock absorber angle on lowered trucks. The space between the upper brackets was less than the shocks, which although easy enough to tweak is not great given everything came from the same place.

Attachment 1520513

Attachment 1520514

That said this is the first problem I've had with anything from POL and I remain a big fan of POL if you are working on a budget.

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

Even a 9 year old can do it.

Nice.

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

The axle in my truck is 4:10 posi :metal: unfortunately it is also from a 65 (panhard bracket on the diff), my truck is a 64 (panhard bracket on the axle), this means if I use a 64 panhard bar it is too long and if I use a 65 the chassis bracket in the wrong place

Attachment 1521522

Attachment 1521523

The PO had not let mere technicalities like this get in the way and had simply bent a 65 bar until it lined up. I am hoping to come up with better solution

Attachment 1521524

I am toying with the idea of leaving the bar full length and fabricating a bracket to sit on the outside edge of the chassis rail, the plus is it will give me the longest bar possible, the minus is it will be difficult to make it look good. I am undecided, so, while I am mulling this over I thought I would turn my attention to a bit of stripping down ready for a couple of rust repairs I need to do.

First up I removed the passenger door upon removing the check strap and found this absolute masterpiece of engineering.

A check strap made from a 3/16" spanner and 3/8" hex wrench.

Attachment 1521525

Attachment 1521526

It made me smile, I will definately keep it........but not on the truck:lol:

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

On with the strip down. The good news is there is very little rust,

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The bad news is the truck has clearly been strafed down the passenger side and has been repaired using tons of filler,
I chipped this out of the cab corner, it would have been so easy to knock out there's really no excuse for using this much "bodge".

Attachment 1521537

I normally have panels media blasted before paint, however, I have recently bought this paint stripper,

Attachment 1521538

If paint stripper could be "weaponised" this would be it. It's clearly no good for the environment, dolphins (or people come to that) but it's also not good for paint, one coat had the fender down to bare metal.

Attachment 1521539

I'll strip the fender and door and decide where to go from there, but I suspect there will be a replacement door in my future somewhere.:waah:

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

Progress is progress Ian, even the direction you are headed in right now.

I really think a box frame with that lump of filler and the door check mounted in there would be a great bit of history for the study.

I have the pan hard rod I removed from my truck, the bushes are shagged, but could one move them from your new unit after cleaning and painting my old one??

If so, you are welcome to it.

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

it looks like some people think it's easier to fill a dent than knock it out . Yours must have gone to the same body shop as Paul y's . Glad you didn't find to much rust .

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

Ian, re your Panhard Bar...

I had the same situation in my truck. Here's what I did, starting at post #87... http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=642296&page=4

I suppose bending the bar would work too.

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

Hey Ian I have really enjoyed reading your thread, as a youngster i spent many summers in northern England as my parents are from Yorkshire. My current project is a 66 c10 long bed to short bed conversion , ill post some pics as soon as I figure it out "definitely not technically inclined" turns out were both vintage 1963 cheers for now Colin

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

Rust free is definitely nice. Even stripping paint and digging out bondo is progress.

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

Thanks Rian, I'll definately keep the check link, I think the filler got swept up, but I'm sure to find another lump :lol:. Thanks for the offer with the panhard bar, I'll let you know

Looking at Paul's thread I'm glad too

Thanks Johnny, I remember reading this, it's a great solution and executed to your usual high standard.

Hi Colin, it's a really small world, I spend one or two days every week in York City (it's beatiful) look forward to the pictures of your truck

I agree Dale, and I don't mind digging out bondo if I find decent metal underneath

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

Looking good Ian.

P. :D

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

I will try to get my "new" door out this weekend and see if I can get a neighbour around to help me hang it for fit.........
If it fits, I need to strip my red door down As I have given the quarter window to Martin as well, and then we need to get the red door plus Ta2Don's door cutout repair panel and your pallet trolley that is still stored here under the "shed" caravan up to you. So your truck seems to be turning into a Frankenstein like Pauls with bits from Arkansas, Kent etc ;)

They are both quite bulky pieces so a visit and BBQ may be in order. I am sure Martin and Paul would be game for some burnt offerings. (Meat..... That is)

Will let you know if it all works out.

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

I finished stripping the passenger side fender which revealed a large (thick) patch of bondo.......I just had to know what was behind it.

Attachment 1522727

Attachment 1522728

Using my favourite method of propane torch and scraper (if you try this, wear a mask, if the filler catches fire the fumes are terrible) I removed the bondo

Attachment 1522729

What was behind it was a really ugly, snot welded patch, which pretty much sat on top of the panel.......I had to know what was behind it

Attachment 1522730

Using a thin cutting wheel, as carefully as I could, I cut the welds around the patch, which revealed pretty much the same rot hole as most other fender get.

At this point I would normally buy a new fender but having seen how poor some replacement fenders are I'll reserve my decision until I've removed the bondo from the front

Attachment 1522731

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

Now is the time to ask yourself repair or repo ?

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

Interesting there on the panhard bracket location...didnt even see that when I done mine not long ago.
the previous owner, just welded an extension on the panhard rod. thought about buying an adjustable panhard rod, but dont really need to spend that money right now. so just left it.
did put polly bushes on the panhard rod and control arms seeing as I had the rear axle out.

I got a rebuilt posi axle on mine, I have no lowering blocks and not a clue how short my rear springs are. do you know how long your rear springs are?

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

JP
The springs are fitted so there is a small amount of load on them but as they sit fitted they are 9" high (they are 4" drop from POL)

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

cheers!
going to check what mine are, so I have an idea of what they are in relation to standard. just for future reference

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

Ian,

How tall are your front springs?

P. :D

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

Paul,
New springs are 2" drop POL and measure 10 1/2", old springs are 12 1/2"

Attachment 1523123

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

Finished digging the bondo out of the front fender today,

Attachment 1523126

Looks like the fender has had some damage which has been repaired using the "drill holes and slide hammer method", I can understand doing this on closed panels and box sections (although it's not something I would do) but on a fender where you can get a hammer or dolly up the back :crazy:

Attachment 1523127

Attachment 1523128

There's a crease in the lower fender and a couple of rust holes too, there's a good days work or more, sorting this one, I'll pull the other side and decide whether I'm buying fenders too.:hh:

Attachment 1523129

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

Thanks Ian,

Could you measure the coil thickness?

My springs are also 10.5 but have had a lump cut off the bottom. Need to,increase my ride height but 1/2" but dont know what to buy to make the difference.

Maybe yours are thicker and that makes the difference. Make sense?

P. :D