Tami's 51 build - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

skip99 · 11-01-2010, 06:43 PM

The shop is finally empty enough to start on the wife's 51.
This should be interesting !!
We bought it as an unfinished project. and yes , it was screwed up. we have to remove the front cowls because they were not measured right. but other than that, it's not that bad. We decided to start off with the chop, so just in case I really screw up, I haven't wasted any time or money...so... here we go !!

Kabwe · 11-01-2010, 07:30 PM

Welcome to the site and its looking good man. Keep postings we love pics.

OrrieG · 11-01-2010, 07:34 PM

Good start. Welcome from out West.

skip99 · 11-01-2010, 07:36 PM

BY the way, this is Tami, she tells me what to do to HER truck, and she takes all the pictures, I started the thread for her so she could ask questions and help make up her mind about the build....She is a woman afterall !!

Tri5Nerd · 11-01-2010, 07:56 PM

Welcome to the forum, It appears that you have the skillset to make a really nice truck, hell; you chopping the top is hard enough and take a lot of knowledge and skill.

BTW: Your wife is beautiful (compilment)

Tri5

jimig1 · 11-01-2010, 09:48 PM

My wife is the reason that I have my 55.5 pickup I wanted something pre 64 and we were at a car show and she decide that she likes trucks so that is what we got. Although she really likes my dads 56 Nomad but he wont give it up.

Fat Mike · 11-01-2010, 10:20 PM

How much of a chop is that? Please post pictures of the welds on the chop and if you could please show the backside to see the penetration on the sheetmetal. I am a novice and enjoy pictures. Thanx!

av8tr33337 · 11-02-2010, 11:53 PM

Welcome and very nice start. Hope to see more progress pics soon. I'm subscribed.

skip99 · 11-03-2010, 10:47 AM

hey FAT MIKE, will do !! this is chopped 3" in the back and 3 1/2 in the front, me and the wife are both tall, and that's about all I could take..going out to work on it now, pics later tonight..

Fat Mike · 11-03-2010, 01:04 PM

Thanks for the info! I plan on doing a 3" chop and relocating the rear window.

nickp51chevy · 11-03-2010, 02:46 PM

Sweet truck, but I am partial to the '51's

av8tr33337 · 11-03-2010, 04:13 PM

Oh by the way, she's a looker........ your wife is pretty easy on the eyes too!!!

skip99 · 11-03-2010, 06:21 PM

This is all we accomplished today, take your time and get it straight, we even went as far as to go ahead and cut the top frames off the doors and hold them in the door opening just to check for straightness,
the top 1/2 of the window was tacked into place, and then each rear corner is fitted, you can see that the corners move out about an inch.
I used thin cutoff blades to "run" in the crack between the panels to straighten them up, and the result is a real nice fit ready to butt weld.
You'll notice that the only thing welded is the rear window, thats because I am doing a 3" rear, 3 1/2" front chop, and when I fit the front corners, I might have to take a little more metal out of the front of the rear corners( side, right next to door) so the roof can basically tilt forward. trim, fit, measure, repeat! don't weld til its ready..

Kabwe · 11-03-2010, 08:00 PM

Looking good. Keep up the good work.

solidaxel · 11-03-2010, 11:43 PM

That sure makes for a nice project.
What are you using for a seat, after you lower the roof?
My wife was the excuse for my current build, and she picked the colors and upholstery and this one had to be a auto !

skip99 · 11-10-2010, 06:13 PM

Let me start off by saying.."HOLY CRAP !!!"
It's a good thing I have patience..this has been a monster to line back and get straight...I'm not real sure which way is better of if it really matters... some choose to simply chop the top, make relief cuts and bend the post back and make it fit, the advantage to splitting the panel is that the angles stay correct, the front windshield does not lean back, and the doors will be wider at the top, in other words, it does not come to a point quicker. BUT, it was a pain to line up all the cut panels..so if I had to do it again?...
well, here's where we are...maybe I'm being too picky..
I really like the way the rear lines up, hardly any filler at all, the rest would also use no filler if I used a cutoff blade and made the filler strips butt to each other, but all I had was 1/32 blade and it seemed like a big gap, so I decided to just overlap the strips underneath and lap weld.
As it turns out , that was a good choice, because the roof seemed to want to flex down, so I just pushed up a little while welding, and now it has a nice stiff roundness to it that does not give like a lot of roof panels do..

Fat Mike · 11-10-2010, 06:39 PM

Looking very good! You have to have alot of patient I am sure to chop and put 10 billion little tack welds. Keep the good work and please so the penetration on the inside of your welds. THANX!

Kabwe · 11-10-2010, 06:48 PM

Looks great. Keep it up man.

skip99 · 11-22-2010, 02:25 PM

Well, it's been a hell of a week, didnt get a lot done, if any of you watch the news..you know what's been going on in Mt Vernon, Ohio...
neighbors of mine...

SO.... here's where we are now, mostly just finishing up on the roof chop, it is definitely a PITA, doing it this way, but I think the outcome will be better? I don't know 6 of 1,,, 1/2 dozen of the other. I do think I like the look better when the pillars and post have not been cut and bent, ( and the roof skin stays the same dimensions) as opposed to the path I chose ( section the roof skin and the door, window frame) It might take less time to just bend the posts and make relief cuts on the cab corners, not sure, But I can say it takes a LOT of time to fit the roof skin back together and use filler strips, the areas where it is able to be butt welded turned out great, I was having trouble keeping the round shape to the top of the roof, while at the same time getting it all clecoed? together.
so I built a little rounded brace for under the roof to help and then I decided to just lap weld the joints, since it was in the shape I wanted.. I think I should have taken the time(more PITA) and butt welded the whole thing, but all I have is a MIG and even on the lowest setting, it was tough to keep from blowing through.
everywhere there was a butt weld it was easy to work the metal flat.. this also means there will be just a small skim coat of filler on the lap welds. not a lot, as I went ahead and hammer and dollied them close to flat too.. here's a few pics...

FAT MIKE, there was a small gap even on the butt welds , so I just held a copper spoon behind the gap as I welded so it pretty much penetrated all the way.. close up for ya!

Butt welds at the cab corner

area just above the rear window

front pillar post

skip99 · 11-22-2010, 02:32 PM

we took all the drip rail off, any opinions as to leaving it smooth, ?

what about the windlace strip that runs around the inside of the door opening? mine was all screwed up.. so I cut it out.. is it really needed?

Spackle100 · 11-22-2010, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skip99

we took all the drip rail off, any opinions as to leaving it smooth, ?

what about the windlace strip that runs around the inside of the door opening? mine was all screwed up.. so I cut it out.. is it really needed?

Ask Kabwe. The guy is a master. Check out post #4 on his build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=318301

Spackle100 · 11-22-2010, 04:42 PM

Sorry, I just realized he has a 55 and you have a 51...

britnjc · 11-22-2010, 05:07 PM

I shaved my drip rail. Is it needed? well i dont know I havent really driven it in the rain I would suspect it will be fine. As far as the inside windlace I think is a waste of rubber. I put mine in and it is a pain in the rump to install. It doesnt even really seal anything very good either. It is more cosmetic than anything and not really good at that.

Pop's C-10 · 11-22-2010, 05:10 PM

nice work on tha chop

Fat Mike · 11-22-2010, 10:22 PM

Thank you for the pictures! It really helps us novice welders to see both the front and backside of a weld.

11-01-2010, 06:43 PM	#1
skip99 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: mt vernon, oh Posts: 868	Tami's 51 build The shop is finally empty enough to start on the wife's 51. This should be interesting !! We bought it as an unfinished project. and yes , it was screwed up. we have to remove the front cowls because they were not measured right. but other than that, it's not that bad. We decided to start off with the chop, so just in case I really screw up, I haven't wasted any time or money...so... here we go !!

11-01-2010, 07:30 PM	#2
Kabwe Certified Car Nut Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inglewood, California Posts: 3,118	Re: Tami's 51 build Welcome to the site and its looking good man. Keep postings we love pics.

11-01-2010, 07:34 PM	#3
OrrieG Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Idaho Posts: 8,800	Re: Tami's 51 build Good start. Welcome from out West. __________________ 1959 Chevy Short Fleetside w/ 74 4WD drive train (current project) OrrieG Build Thread 1964 Chevelle Malibu w/ 355-350TH (daily driver) Helpful AD and TF Manual Site Old Car Manual Project

11-01-2010, 07:56 PM	#5
Tri5Nerd Tripple Five Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: USA Posts: 658	Re: Tami's 51 build Welcome to the forum, It appears that you have the skillset to make a really nice truck, hell; you chopping the top is hard enough and take a lot of knowledge and skill. BTW: Your wife is beautiful (compilment) Tri5 __________________ 1955 Chevy Stepside/LS1 drive train http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=371513

11-01-2010, 09:48 PM	#6
jimig1 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Elk River, MN Posts: 614	Re: Tami's 51 build My wife is the reason that I have my 55.5 pickup I wanted something pre 64 and we were at a car show and she decide that she likes trucks so that is what we got. Although she really likes my dads 56 Nomad but he wont give it up. __________________ 55 2nd series Chevy Pickup 2019 Chevy Equinox(Daily driver) 2011 Chevy Malibu (Wife's car) MSRA Member I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, "Where's the self-help section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose. -George Carlin

11-01-2010, 07:36 PM	#4
skip99 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: mt vernon, oh Posts: 868	Re: Tami's 51 build BY the way, this is Tami, she tells me what to do to HER truck, and she takes all the pictures, I started the thread for her so she could ask questions and help make up her mind about the build....She is a woman afterall !!

11-01-2010, 10:20 PM	#7
Fat Mike Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 540	Re: Tami's 51 build How much of a chop is that? Please post pictures of the welds on the chop and if you could please show the backside to see the penetration on the sheetmetal. I am a novice and enjoy pictures. Thanx! __________________ FAT MIKE My 59 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=400201 My 47 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=386848

11-02-2010, 11:53 PM	#8
av8tr33337 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Derby Kansas Posts: 564	Re: Tami's 51 build Welcome and very nice start. Hope to see more progress pics soon. I'm subscribed. __________________ av8tr33337 AKA Bartman Email av8tr33337@yahoo.com Bartman's Ad-S10 Chassis Swap http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=415418 My First Youtube Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6hSt...eature=channel More Pics of the 51 Project http://s668.photobucket.com/albums/v...hassis%20Swap/ 1951 3100 Pickup

11-03-2010, 10:47 AM	#9
skip99 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: mt vernon, oh Posts: 868	Re: Tami's 51 build hey FAT MIKE, will do !! this is chopped 3" in the back and 3 1/2 in the front, me and the wife are both tall, and that's about all I could take..going out to work on it now, pics later tonight..

11-03-2010, 01:04 PM	#10
Fat Mike Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 540	Re: Tami's 51 build Thanks for the info! I plan on doing a 3" chop and relocating the rear window. __________________ FAT MIKE My 59 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=400201 My 47 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=386848

11-03-2010, 02:46 PM	#11
nickp51chevy Registered Chevy Owner Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Snohomish, wa Posts: 1,557	Re: Tami's 51 build Sweet truck, but I am partial to the '51's __________________ Love is fleeting, but Chevy trucks are forever!!!! 1970 Chevy CST C10 long box 350/400 2008 Chevy Silverado short box 4x4 Had; 1951 Chevy short box 307/T5 1988 Chevy shot box 4x4 350/350 1971 Chevy C10 long box 4x4 350/350 1971 Chevy C20 long box 350/350 1971 Chevy C10 long box 350/350

11-03-2010, 04:13 PM	#12
av8tr33337 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Derby Kansas Posts: 564	Re: Tami's 51 build Oh by the way, she's a looker........ your wife is pretty easy on the eyes too!!! __________________ av8tr33337 AKA Bartman Email av8tr33337@yahoo.com Bartman's Ad-S10 Chassis Swap http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=415418 My First Youtube Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6hSt...eature=channel More Pics of the 51 Project http://s668.photobucket.com/albums/v...hassis%20Swap/ 1951 3100 Pickup

11-03-2010, 06:21 PM	#13
skip99 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: mt vernon, oh Posts: 868	Re: Tami's 51 build This is all we accomplished today, take your time and get it straight, we even went as far as to go ahead and cut the top frames off the doors and hold them in the door opening just to check for straightness, the top 1/2 of the window was tacked into place, and then each rear corner is fitted, you can see that the corners move out about an inch. I used thin cutoff blades to "run" in the crack between the panels to straighten them up, and the result is a real nice fit ready to butt weld. You'll notice that the only thing welded is the rear window, thats because I am doing a 3" rear, 3 1/2" front chop, and when I fit the front corners, I might have to take a little more metal out of the front of the rear corners( side, right next to door) so the roof can basically tilt forward. trim, fit, measure, repeat! don't weld til its ready.. Last edited by skip99; 11-03-2010 at 06:35 PM.

11-03-2010, 08:00 PM	#14
Kabwe Certified Car Nut Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inglewood, California Posts: 3,118	Re: Tami's 51 build Looking good. Keep up the good work.

11-03-2010, 11:43 PM	#15
solidaxel Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Cactus Patch So. Az Posts: 4,749	Re: Tami's 51 build That sure makes for a nice project. What are you using for a seat, after you lower the roof? My wife was the excuse for my current build, and she picked the colors and upholstery and this one had to be a auto ! Attached Images __________________ 53 TuTone Extended Cab 350 4-Spd 3:08 (SOLD) 53 Chevy Moldy pearl green ZZ-4 4L60E 9" 3:25 55 GMC 1st Black Mll (ZZ4) ZZ6 TKO 600 5 sp 3:73 62 Solidaxle Corvette Roman Red (327 340hp 4spd 3:36) C4 & C5 suspension tube chassis LS 3 4L70E 65 Corvette Coupe 327 350hp 4spd 4:11 78 Black Silverado SWB (350/350) 5.3 & 4L60E 3:42 2000 S-Type 3.0 (wife cruiser) 2003 GMC SCSB 5.3 4L60E 3:42



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11-10-2010, 06:13 PM	#16
skip99 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: mt vernon, oh Posts: 868	Re: Tami's 51 build Let me start off by saying.."HOLY CRAP !!!" It's a good thing I have patience..this has been a monster to line back and get straight...I'm not real sure which way is better of if it really matters... some choose to simply chop the top, make relief cuts and bend the post back and make it fit, the advantage to splitting the panel is that the angles stay correct, the front windshield does not lean back, and the doors will be wider at the top, in other words, it does not come to a point quicker. BUT, it was a pain to line up all the cut panels..so if I had to do it again?... well, here's where we are...maybe I'm being too picky.. I really like the way the rear lines up, hardly any filler at all, the rest would also use no filler if I used a cutoff blade and made the filler strips butt to each other, but all I had was 1/32 blade and it seemed like a big gap, so I decided to just overlap the strips underneath and lap weld. As it turns out , that was a good choice, because the roof seemed to want to flex down, so I just pushed up a little while welding, and now it has a nice stiff roundness to it that does not give like a lot of roof panels do.. Last edited by skip99; 11-10-2010 at 06:24 PM.

11-10-2010, 06:39 PM	#17
Fat Mike Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 540	Re: Tami's 51 build Looking very good! You have to have alot of patient I am sure to chop and put 10 billion little tack welds. Keep the good work and please so the penetration on the inside of your welds. THANX! __________________ FAT MIKE My 59 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=400201 My 47 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=386848

11-10-2010, 06:48 PM	#18
Kabwe Certified Car Nut Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inglewood, California Posts: 3,118	Re: Tami's 51 build Looks great. Keep it up man.

11-22-2010, 02:25 PM	#19
skip99 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: mt vernon, oh Posts: 868	Re: Tami's 51 build Well, it's been a hell of a week, didnt get a lot done, if any of you watch the news..you know what's been going on in Mt Vernon, Ohio... neighbors of mine... SO.... here's where we are now, mostly just finishing up on the roof chop, it is definitely a PITA, doing it this way, but I think the outcome will be better? I don't know 6 of 1,,, 1/2 dozen of the other. I do think I like the look better when the pillars and post have not been cut and bent, ( and the roof skin stays the same dimensions) as opposed to the path I chose ( section the roof skin and the door, window frame) It might take less time to just bend the posts and make relief cuts on the cab corners, not sure, But I can say it takes a LOT of time to fit the roof skin back together and use filler strips, the areas where it is able to be butt welded turned out great, I was having trouble keeping the round shape to the top of the roof, while at the same time getting it all clecoed? together. so I built a little rounded brace for under the roof to help and then I decided to just lap weld the joints, since it was in the shape I wanted.. I think I should have taken the time(more PITA) and butt welded the whole thing, but all I have is a MIG and even on the lowest setting, it was tough to keep from blowing through. everywhere there was a butt weld it was easy to work the metal flat.. this also means there will be just a small skim coat of filler on the lap welds. not a lot, as I went ahead and hammer and dollied them close to flat too.. here's a few pics... FAT MIKE, there was a small gap even on the butt welds , so I just held a copper spoon behind the gap as I welded so it pretty much penetrated all the way.. close up for ya! Butt welds at the cab corner area just above the rear window front pillar post Last edited by skip99; 11-22-2010 at 02:28 PM.

11-22-2010, 02:32 PM	#20
skip99 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: mt vernon, oh Posts: 868	Re: Tami's 51 build we took all the drip rail off, any opinions as to leaving it smooth, ? what about the windlace strip that runs around the inside of the door opening? mine was all screwed up.. so I cut it out.. is it really needed?

11-22-2010, 04:42 PM	#22
Spackle100 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Cardiff, CA Posts: 131	Re: Tami's 51 build Sorry, I just realized he has a 55 and you have a 51...

11-22-2010, 05:07 PM	#23
britnjc Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Helena, Alabama Posts: 453	Re: Tami's 51 build I shaved my drip rail. Is it needed? well i dont know I havent really driven it in the rain I would suspect it will be fine. As far as the inside windlace I think is a waste of rubber. I put mine in and it is a pain in the rump to install. It doesnt even really seal anything very good either. It is more cosmetic than anything and not really good at that. __________________ 1950 GMC http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=335667 1965 Frd Stang http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=399891 1931 Frd Model A http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=496016 1954 Chevrolet Pickup http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=486183

11-22-2010, 05:10 PM	#24
Pop's C-10 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: memphis Posts: 2,537	Re: Tami's 51 build nice work on tha chop

11-22-2010, 10:22 PM	#25
Fat Mike Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 540	Re: Tami's 51 build Thank you for the pictures! It really helps us novice welders to see both the front and backside of a weld. __________________ FAT MIKE My 59 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=400201 My 47 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=386848

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