Big Bertha build thread

[_Ogre]

and it still looks good

[Ratpin]

Incredible work! I love the combination stepside/fleetside design.

[Chevette]

Originally Posted by buggy5872

Worked on the bed this weekend. Most of the fab work is done at this point. Need to put it on the truck to figure out a couple more things. Still have two more camping trips so its tough to find time to put the bed on and take it back off in between trips.

That box/fenders looks cool. I see you've cut, modified and re-welded the wheel openings on your rear fenders. Was that for tire clearance and if so could you expand on what you did? I'm in the process of making more clearance on mine and could possibly learn from your experience.

[buggy5872]

Originally Posted by Chevette

That box/fenders looks cool. I see you've cut, modified and re-welded the wheel openings on your rear fenders. Was that for tire clearance and if so could you expand on what you did? I'm in the process of making more clearance on mine and could possibly learn from your experience.

I made the wheel openings bigger because the 9R-22.5 tires are almost 39" in diameter. I tried to match the wheel opening on the front of the truck. When I put the tire in the opening for mock up, it looked too small so I cut and moved the opening up and out with the tire in place until it looked correct.

[OrrieG]

I am warming up to the meld, I think the color difference is throwing me off. I see the body line matching, are you going to radius where they meet, might make the "flow" of the horizointal spear thru the fender more obvious rather than looking stuck on. I have seen fleetside wreckers that were removed to the top of the spear with a 3/4" pipe welded to the top as a crash bar.

This is inspiring me to maybe go another way with my 69 C30 dually I plan on making into a 5th wheel or tow rig for a future travel trailer.

[buggy5872]

OrrieG
Most likely where the fender meets the bed side it will have some sort of a radius. Some times the inital plan is not alwas the end result. I considered this project 50% planned and 50% free form art. The portions of the sides I cut down to clear the 5th wheel are going to be able to be put back on when not hooked to the trailer. How????? not sure yet, part of the free form art. The tailgate will be left alone and only used when not towing. It will be hinged on the side and when opened will lift off the hinges. I am thinking Jeep CJ door hinges for it and a bear claw latch to hold it shut.
Shane

[Rude Dude]

The bed is beautiful fabulous work!

[BLAZEtoBLAZE]

Originally Posted by buggy5872

Just found out GM did make a crewcab LCF truck. It was just on auction and I really wanted to get it but space at home and distance held me back. It was a 1956 GMC crew made for the the public library of DC. 1 of 1 made by GMC coach divison as a mobile library. the owner had all the documentation on it too. He even had the custom trailer GMC built for it.



So one did exist but it was a 3 door and I was not real excited about how the door looked. If I would of bought it....would of went back to all original along with the trailer.

i ended up with this truck.

[BLAZEtoBLAZE]

Buggy,

Big bertha is one nice master piece.

[buggy5872]

Originally Posted by BLAZEtoBLAZE

i ended up with this truck.

Glad to see someone here got it. I am very interested in pics of it as you work on it.

[buggy5872]

Went on our last camping trip for the season so I ripped off the wooden bed when we got home today and started working on getting the new bed to chassis fit figured out. Was going to start to finish some welding on the bed but forgot I ran out of mig wire last week. Sanded down one side and it looks even better all one color. I will start to grind down welds and then sand blast them.



I was approached this weekend by a promoter for the world of wheels car show they have at the convention center every January. Looks like big Bertha is going to be there. Gives me a new dead line to get everything done.

[Pop's C-10]

that is neat..

[Kim57]

Looking real nice.
Congrats on the show invite.
Kim

[JRANGER]

that thing is going to look beastly

[buggy5872]

Started fitting the bed to the truck and figuring the mounting of the running boards. Here are a few pics.

[cAlvis165]

Looking good!

[99 to Life]

dangggg beaver pa, you're in my back yard man. I'd s#$t if I seen this driving by. What's up with that apache in the background? Looking great.

[Kim57]

That's going to look real sharp when it's all finished.
Kim

[Larry Lindley]

wow thats something to be proud of,very nice.

[buggy5872]

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

dangggg beaver pa, you're in my back yard man. I'd s#$t if I seen this driving by. What's up with that apache in the background? Looking great.

It's neat to see the reactions of people on the high way. Gets tons of looks. The 59 Apache in the background I built in the 90's. Its a fun driver.

[_Ogre]

dang buggy, that is looking good
nice 59 too
i'm sure it has a lot to do with the angle
but your coe looks like a monster compared to your pu in this pic

[99 to Life]

love the 59' maybe I'll see it around. You got to world of wheels in january?

[buggy5872]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

dang buggy, that is looking good
nice 59 too
i'm sure it has a lot to do with the angle
but your coe looks like a monster compared to your pu in this pic

It is a monster compared to the 59. the roof of the 59 is not even as high as the hood.

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

love the 59' maybe I'll see it around. You got to world of wheels in january?

If all goes well, Big Bertha will be at the world of wheels show in January.

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by buggy5872

It is a monster compared to the 59. the roof of the 59 is not even as high as the hood.

i stand corrected
big bertha is a monster
a big beautiful monster
ogre like monster

[buggy5872]

Got the bed all assembled and in the first coat of primer. Put it on the truck and am getting everything finalized. Need the truck this week and next weekend so i needed a bed on it. Heading to New York to pick up my newly acquired 74 ElCamino SS.