Dutch '59 Fleetside Longbed

[RockinKees]

Jim, I think it's a lot stronger this way

Steve, I don't know if I need two shocks at each side.
I mount them, if it's too stiff I can always leave the back shocks at home...
There's gonna be some large propane tanks at the outside of the chassis just before the IRS and the fueltank is in the back, so that's quite an extra weight.

[RockinKees]

Rear section boxed







Off couse I have final welding to do, but this is the meaning of it all.

Then I was thinking about how to make rear shocks work between the framerails.
Wanted it to be adjustable so came up with this drawing:



Was thinking, three tubes with a long nut welded in at each side, so I have three different places to mount each shock. That way I can adjust the rideheight a bit.
Or make one tube for each shock and bolt to the x-member, and so that I can move it at the x-member....
Any suggestions?

[RockinKees]

I think I've got it...
I make four brackets to mount the rear shocks, each bracket is going to be fastened with two bolts. I drill more holes in the x-member so that I can adjust the shocks by mounting the bracket more or less to the inside.

Started today on the lathe to make the bolls and pipes ready for welding to the plates:

First the bushings to get the distance right, the bolt was 1/2" too long where there was no thread.



This is what I have in mind:



When you bolt all of this together this is what you get, the long nut is welded into the steel pipe.
The small black pipe is where the shock mounts.



Now I have to make the steel plates and weld them to the shockmounts, drill where I have to drill, bolt everything together, and we have a new IRS

It's fairly easy you see?

[oldman3]

Nice looking pieces, and the design ideal is great...Jim

[Kim57]

That should work out real nice.
Kim

[Advanced Design]

Really good idea. Love the lathe work.

[mr48chev]

Subscribed, you are doing some well thought out and excellent work on this one.

[RockinKees]

Thanks guys!!

And remember, its on very low budget.
So I have to think and ask a lot

[RockinKees]

Being buzzy with my buddy The Grinder



I don't have a plasmacutter, so I have to work with my buddy
It takes time, but I get there!

Tried to make the shockmounts, I think it's going real well with I had planned.
The 8 pieces were grind out of a 1/4" plate, drilled, and I test fitted the first parts





Here you see what I have in mind:



Have to make some extra gussets, and weld everything.
The mounts are bolted through the x-member, I drilled various holes 3/4" apart from each other, so I can make little adjustments to the shocks.

[reaper71]

Look's really good Kees!!

[Kim57]

Nice job.
Kim

[Advanced Design]

Very nice!

[RockinKees]

I had a day full of grinding and welding...

Finshed the shockmounts.
These are the rough ones:



After I completely welded the mounts, I made them a bit prettier with the grinder and testfitted them on their places. I think they will do the job.





Also I did get the IRS in place and at the right angles, welded the hole bracket and tacked the complete diff bracket in his place.



I made all the neccesary gussets to hold the IRS at his place and the last ones to box the rearframe completely around the x-members.
When I'm in the neighbourhood of the truck again, I shall weld those steel parts in place

All in all a nice day in Truckland!!

[oldman3]

Kees, shock and diff. brackets look great, nice job...Jim

[Kim57]

Very nice fab work.
Kim

[RockinKees]

Thanks Kim and Jim!!

Is there someone who is willing to help me out with wheel studs?
I've got a 1 Moroso part #, and two NAPA part numbers I can use.
Shippingcosts to the Netherlands is way above I expected

I did get much more from the states, but this is above normal for 10 bolts
Is there somebody who is willing to check for me what the real costs are??
If you are willing to, please send me a PM?

Thanks in advance!!

[Advanced Design]

Work looks great Kees!
PM sent.

[RockinKees]

Thanks!!!
PM sent back to you

[RockinKees]

Wheel bolts has solved itself

I want to thank Advanced Design for his very quick replay and willing to help me out.
At the end it wasn't neccesary..... I sent A.D. to work and finally did nothing with all his work

So BIG thanks to Advanced Design!!!!

[Advanced Design]

Originally Posted by RockinKees

Wheel bolts has solved itself

I want to thank Advanced Design for his very quick replay and willing to help me out.
At the end it wasn't neccesary..... I sent A.D. to work and finally did nothing with all his work

So BIG thanks to Advanced Design!!!!

Very welcome! Any time I have a chance to try to help another car guy out I am happy to. Just a few phone calls and google work. Always interesting to look for car parts!

[RockinKees]

Did some small work on the lathe.
The new x-members are ready to the the diff, so now the diff must be mounted again for the fabrication of the torque arms and radius rods.
Have to think about how I going to make that.
Sure I have my ideas

On the lathe I turned some long nuts, so that they fit into the pipes of which I make the rods.
I do this to make the rods adjustable.

This is what I stated with:



This is what it became:



I think you see what the intention is.
Probably have to make an extra x-member to mount the radius rods...

[Advanced Design]

Love home fabricated pieces! Looks good.

[Kim57]

Nice.
I'd love to have a lathe.
Kim

[oldman3]

Looks great...Jim

[RockinKees]

Thanks guys!!

Made some progress on the IRS.
Welded the open ends of the x-member to the framerails, made gussets to the "diff hanger" and welded it all. That's ready!





All open ends closed like this:



"Diff hanger" also ready:






Hanged the diff in it's place and made the front and rear tie bar.



Tie bars from 1/4" steel plate:





Front tie bar, this has to take the torque bars at the sides.



Rear tie bar, ready.



An overview, just because I like it



Next on the list is to make the Torque bars and the Radius rods. The last ones need an extra x-member at about 3 foot in front of the IRS.
We'll see how that's gonna work out, unfortunately there is also a driveshaft in front of that same IRS