Got it one piece at a time... 51 chev
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I have built several old trucks over the years, both for myself and for customers, but I have been without an old truck, in running condition, for about three years. When I sold my last one I thought I would build another truck right away,but that didn't happen till now! This winter I am not taking on any customer restoration work and want to build this truck for myself! I started on the chassis in spring, camaro subframe in front, built my own rear section of frame,but got busy with other things over the summer. Now that winter is back,had our first snow this morning, I should be able to spend more time in the shop. Plans are to keep it simple, 350, automatic,etc. I have collected most of the parts for this build over the last few years, mostly by trading either labor or other parts, so this should be a fairly inexpensive build. I have never posted ant of my builds before but I enjoy seeing others projects, so I hope some of you will enjoy my build too. This is how the truck sits as of right now.
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Re: Got it one piece at a time... 51 chev
sounds a lot like mine. I just picked up a bed from one guy, and a cab and front end from another. I have a spare 2nd gen Firebird sub frame I was going to use and build rear rails for, and I have a spare 350, though mine's a Pontiac
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Re: Got it one piece at a time... 51 chev
Spent the afternoon cleaning mouse dropping, etc, out of the cab. Cab has some rust issues but not too bad. Hope to be able to spend some time on truck this week
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This is what I started with this morning. I know these pics are not that exciting,but I'm hoping that by posting pics from the start of my build, I will stay motivated and have pics to look back on. In my previous builds I never took enough pics during the build and was always sorry at the end
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This is where my day ended. Got steering column and firewall insulation out, a few shovels of dirt and debris, and most of the old wiring. Also cut out seat riser as I will not use stock seat. Found cab to be about what I expected. Will need new floor pieces, rear cab corners, and some work at lower cowl area. Not much progress, but progress non the less!
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Re: Got it one piece at a time... 51 chev
You have to stop and build one for yourself once in awhile. That's what I'm doing with my '48.
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Love your build Alaska gasser! My last truck was also an extended cab. This one I'm keeping simple, with a few custom touches.
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Re: Got it one piece at a time... 51 chev
low A D
o yeah !!!!!!!!! |
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That is sweet!!
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Re: Got it one piece at a time... 51 chev
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This is my engine/ transmission donor. Truck looks pretty tired, but the previous owner put in a new GM crate engine and GM rebuilt transmission about a year before he parked it. My sons had a lot of fun driving this truck in the field behind our house, they learned some things about driving that are not covered in a normal drivers training course! Now the power train will live on in my 51.
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Many years ago I built this dolly as a temporary way to roll a cab around. I built it out of scrap I had laying around at the time, thinking it would be a one time use dolly. I found it was very handy and have used it many times over the years for moving cabs, boxes, engines, and even used it to move my lathe and iron worker into place. I add welded brackets as needed for the current use. When I'm done using the dolly, it comes apart quickly for storage. Just thought this might give somebody a useful idea.
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Re: Got it one piece at a time... 51 chev
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Gues I can only attach one pic at a time? Here is dolly ready to use, it adjust to any width.
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Here it is taken apart for storage
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On your extended cab, did you keep your drip rails, or just weld in a bar for the raised look? It's hard to tell from the picture. I'm trying to decide which route I'm going to go. |
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I removed the drip rails and welded a 1/4 inch rod along the edge of the roof and moulded it in. Unfortunately I have very few pictures of the extended cab truck because the computer on which the pics were stored crashed. |
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Re: Got it one piece at a time... 51 chev
can't wait to see this unfold. My first truck build was a 51' so I got a super soft spot for that year. This site is by far the best compilation of AD truck builds on the web.
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Re: Got it one piece at a time... 51 chev
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So, about two years after my last post, I'm back to working on my truck! I often wondered what happens to people who start a build and then disappear. I now know life can throw you a curve ball and everything can change in a heartbeat. Right about the time I made my last post, my wife started to feel sick. Long story short, she kept getting sicker, after many trips to doctors we found out she had cancer. Within six months she passed away! So needless to say, my project was put on hold for a while. We did everything together, we were married for 32 years, almost to the day. I figured its about time to get back on my truck project, I find shop time to be good therapy! So the last few weeks I've started to figure out where I was at and got back on the build. I have been working on fixing rust on the cowl area and made some new floor pieces. I know you can buy new floors but I decided to make my own
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Re: Got it one piece at a time... 51 chev
welcome back, so sorry for your loss. words can't really describe it I'm sure. You've been married longer than i'v been alive. its a strange world and universe which I go nuts trying to figure out its meaning. Sometimes the simple things are the answer. I just told myself today actually. "you don't make your own life, life makes you". In a nutshell, life creates the day or the action and we create a reaction.
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Spent a few hours on my truck today , got one cab corner installed. I know this has been shown many times before but here are some pics. The corners were in decent shape, no rust holes, but metal was getting thin and the corner had been damaged at some point so I replaced it. The inner panel had some rot so I made a patch and welded it in so the outer corner had a solid lip to mount to. This is the patch for the inner corner
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This is the inner panel all patched up with a coat of paint
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Outer corner installed. I butt weld all my patches and try to get the metal as close to straight as I can. This corner of the cab had some old body damage that was repaired very poorly so it will need some straightening before I apply the filler. Not a lot of progress but I'm trying to do something on the truck every day!
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Re: Got it one piece at a time... 51 chev
nice patch, love seeing patch work, never gets old to me.
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Re: Got it one piece at a time... 51 chev
AD good to see you back here, and condolences to you Sir. You are so right in that working on these projects is great therapy for the mind and soul.
Good luck on your project. |
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Today I took off a good part of the day to run errands. I found some seats I liked at my favourite wrecking yard. I need the seats so I can start positioning my steering column, pedals, etc. I ended up choosing a pair of leather buckets out of a Cobalt SS. They are not power seats but they can be adjusted up and down manually and I like how they sit. The headrest will be removed. I'm not crazy about the embroidered SS emblem but I hope my interior guy can sew in a new panel to eliminate the emblem and cover the headrest mounting holes
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I did get to spend a bit of time in the shop. I'm tired of fixing rust so I decided to close off my gas filler hole. The area around the filler hole had been damaged and poorly repaired and had a long crack in the metal so I'm making a patch big enough to fix the whole area
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Re: Got it one piece at a time... 51 chev
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This is the size of patch I decided to make
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A little time with a shot bag and English wheel and this is what I ended up with. I'm happy with the results, will weld it in tomorrow
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Hard to see on the last pic but the patch did have a compound curve
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I also spent a bit of time fine tuning my new firewall. I had to make a deep recess for the engine because I set it quite far back on the frame. I did this so I can use the mechanical fan and leave the rad in its stock location. Im told the truck will handle better with the engine further back too, not sure how much difference that will make, guess ill find out when I drive it
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Re: Got it one piece at a time... 51 chev
great work, can't wait to get a wheel, bead roller, shrinker stretcher. I do everything the hard way!
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Thanks for your comments 99! I have enjoyed seeing your projects. Your doing a good job with basic tools. I've done a lot of stuff in cold, dark shops with little equipment. I'm thankful everyday that I now have a bright, warm shop with some nice tools. There are always more tools on my wish list though!! You can never have too many tools or a shop that's big enough it seems!
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oh no doubt, its a never ending quest for tools and knowledge. My problem is not only dingy garages, but the fact that they are spread out. I have two work spaces and then a space in pittsburgh. I may buy a house soon which has a nice garage but its small, so there I go again, another 1 car garage to work out of, to spread my tools out! I have three welders and need more, double of alot of tools but short on alot of basics too.
things take time I know. If you didn't work in the depths of the dark you wouldn't appreciate what you have now as much. keep it up and enjoy your space! |
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Another thing I did today, off topic I know, but I bought a nice 1962 Impala! Original paint and interior, runs and drives. Since I know my truck will not be on the road this summer, this will be my cruiser this year
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Re: Got it one piece at a time... 51 chev
Low AD, awesome work on the metal! Firewall and floor looks really good and the gas fill patch is spot on. Going to enjoy following along.
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Good therapy working on the truck and car. Glad life is happy again for ya.
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Real nice metal work...Love the Impala!! Drop her and drive it!!
Mark... |
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