Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

Sorry I didn't post yesterday, friends over.
Here I have removed paint from left rear fender, ready for hammer and dolly work.

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

After getting the metal close as I could. I had removed all the old crap from the inside of fenders, blasted and coated with encapsulator paint.

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

Pic 1 This is the fender after a little filler, primer sanding and reprimer.

Pic 2 Both rear fenders ready for paint.

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

Pic 1 This is the final layout of my console. Got the radio and AC control openings cut and units installed.

Pic 2 Another view.

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

Need to tell a little story here. I'm no different than most home builders on here, things get in our way and work on our trucks take a back set. At this point I was about 1-1/2 years into the build. The next 5 months hardly anything got done. This will happen a couple of times during my build, just wanted everyone to know, no build goes as smooth as we want. Jim

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

Pic 1 Here I have installed Alan Grove brackets and installed the alternator and compressor.
Pic 2 Started running AC lines and heater hoses. Spent hours trying to figure out the right layout (don't think I ever did).
Pic 3 Fabing the hard lines for the fuel system.
Pic 4 Inside view of bulk head and AC lines.

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

Pic 1 Starting to fab up my exhaust system, mandrel bends from J.C. Whitney.

Pic 2 For over rear axle.

Pic 3 Making up hangers and fitting to mufflers (stainless steel Borla).

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

Pic 1 From header back toward mufflers.

Pic 2 From mufflers to the end of pipes.

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

A couple years, YES YEARS later, they were taken apart. I drove to HPC in Oklahoma City, observed their parts check in system. Toured their facility and left my parts to be coated to match my headers.

Well thats today's post. Next post is on the aluminum lift off top. If I get clear I may post that later today, no promises. Jim

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

Jim, I have to see more about this install. I just got home after spending four days at Pate Swap Meet in Ft.Worth Tx. and fell fell in love with this door handle install I saw on a 51 for sale. Don

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

Don't know how this one is set up, but it is neat looking. Was that whole cab chrome, or some type of chrome paint??

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

No the truck was a very very slick Black,I guess it was my camera or something caused it to look like that.

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

I've been asked to give a little more detail on my door latch system. I'm not a mechanical engineer, so I'm sure there is an easier way. I have a tendency to make things more complicated that they are, so I'm sorry in advance. I would have taken pictures of the set up, but I would have to remove the interior, and that I don't want to do. As mentioned earlier this is for a manual button system.

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

I will break it down from the top of latch to the bottom of cab. The latch is mounted upside down so that it works as a push up (an not a pull down) latch.

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

Sketch 1 shows the top part that is attached to the bear claw latch arm. I welded a 1/4X20 bolt to the latch arm, then I added a 1/4X20 nut, then an eyelet fitting, another 1/4X20 nut. A 1/4X20 threaded rod also screws into the bottom of the eyelet fitting that will go thru the pipe in the cab body.

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

Next you will need to thread a 1/4X20 nut up on the threaded rod. Find a location for mounting a brake line holder (mine is on the exhaust tube brace). Mount that holder so the nut rest on top of holder. This will allow you to keep the latch arm in a netural position, when door is closed (see sketch 2).

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

Depending on where you want to mount your inside lift handle will determine how far you thread the tee fitting up on the threaded rod. The tee fitting is made out of two 1/4X20 1" long nuts (you can get this at the local bolt place). Weld one up to the face of the other to form a tee (see sketch 3 "A". Add 1/4X20 threaded rod to length and put knob on the end.

One you have a location for the threaded rod, drill a hole in the cab corner, large enough for your pipe, and weld to cab. Insert threaded rod thru the pipe, and cut to length, and add the knob (see sketch 3 "B").

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

Pic 1 shows my inside lift handle, near floor, easy to reach while in the seat.

Pic 2 shows the knob at the bottom of the cab corner coming thru the pipe. Push up and the door opens.

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

With everything in place adjust the nuts at the latch to have a little play between the eyelet, once you have everything lined up and working, put red locktite on all the nuts to keep them from moving. If anyone wants more just PM me and we will work in out.

Be back in a few for my regular daily post. Jim

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

Had not worked on pickup for about 4 months, helping friends with their rides, etc. Anyhow, I fabed up a wooden structure to mock up the roof. Here the wood is covered with white poster board. Gave me a good look at how the top might be.

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

Here are three views of the wood structure, nothing fancy, just for mockup.

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

Somewhere during this time I had also worked on the hood, primered and installed.

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

Started making up the aluminum angle across top of header.

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

Bent the 3/4" x 3/4" aluminum tubing to match the outside shape of cab.

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

Here I have bent the aluminum tubing to match the shape of main upright support.

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

I have an old Autocad system on my old PC that I use for drawings. I drew up the structure I wanted for the top, based on the mockup. This way I knew what angles I needed to cut my pieces to form the shape of top.

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

A few days later and here is most of the aluminum structure welded in place. I've never welded aluminum before, and it's not easy, and mine welds look like ****. What I did was convert my MIG to weld aluminum. You have to use pure argon, I also had to use .030 aluminum wire (the .023 just bunched up in gun). When you first start it isn't hot enough, but does OK after you get going. I just ground out the real bad stuff at the start.

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

View from the back, if you look at the left side you can see how I have the new roof sloping inward, and not going straight up.

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

When I got the top fabed, I knew I had a problem with the initial header and door piece layout. Before I go on, if you look at the door piece you can see where I welded in a piece of metal to fill in where the old molding used to be.

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

May be hard to see the yellow tape, but this is the new design layout for header and door piece.

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

Pic 1 Now I'm on the passenger door, but you can see the metal has been cut for the A pillar and header.

Pic 2 Metal removed.

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

Pic 1 Part of header material removed.

Pic 2 More header material removed and trying to figure out new design on the A pillar.

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

Pic 1 Made new inside piece that door will go against.

Pic 2 Here the new metal has been added to door. After I cut off the old curved part I had to dig thru the old door upper parts to find a straight piece to install.

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

Pic 1 Here is the new header and door design with top it position.

Pic 2 Close up with the wood window up. Now the header, door, window and top all meet at a nice point.

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

Here is the top with the aluminum sheet installed on the structure. I used .050" aluminum to make the cover.

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

Pic 1 Front view.

Pic 2 3/4 view.

Pic 3 Full front view.

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

Most of my info on this top came from an article I read in one of the rod magazines (can't remember which one, but I think it was on a 32 F**d roadster pickup) about size of material, etc.

Well about 3 months had passed during this time, not all in the shop, but time doesn't stand still. On to the next job.

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

Jim, did you use rivets or screws to put the top together on frame? Love the door latches simple yet unique.

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

Been following this thread for a while now. That is totally cool! Nice work..

Re: My 50 roadster pickup build
 

Yes I used rivets, put a little dough over them, primered, then had it covered with closed cell foam and contvertible top material. If i had a Tig welder I would have tried to weld, but not with the Mig.