Project "Popeye"

[99 to Life]

Glad to see you back on the horse. Are you buying patch panels or making your own?

[BlueJeep]

Originally Posted by LEEVON

Any tips or experience to share with replacing the kick panels and toe boards?

My tip is decide how far you want to take it and stick to that. Once you cut into it, you'll likely find more rust... Only cut out what you need, and aftermarket kick panels don't fit on the bottom 4" or so. I cut that off on mine, fitted and welded the upper piece, then re-shaped the bottom 4" and welded it on last.

[mknittle]

Originally Posted by BlueJeep

My tip is decide how far you want to take it and stick to that. Once you cut into it, you'll likely find more rust... Only cut out what you need, and aftermarket kick panels don't fit on the bottom 4" or so. I cut that off on mine, fitted and welded the upper piece, then re-shaped the bottom 4" and welded it on last.

I made mine from scratch out of 18 guage. i made a forming tool that fits in a 20 ton press(overkill) out of 2" tubing and a piece of angle iron. after hearing storys about buying patch panels an rebending them I thought i would give it a try. I had to do a bit if hammer and dolly work to blend to the slight bend at the door post. It was pretty easy really.

[99 to Life]

For toe and kick panels, I'd just make my own. buy a bead roller and some metal and have at it. I think there is a time and place for some replacement panels, others I think just make more sense to make yourself.

[mknittle]

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

For toe and kick panels, I'd just make my own. buy a bead roller and some metal and have at it. I think there is a time and place for some replacement panels, others I think just make more sense to make yourself.

I agree about making everything you can. i have a bead roller but I didn't bother using it on the kick panels as I will cover them.

[mknittle]

forming tool

[mknittle]

oops

[RocketKing]

Just read through the entire thread and I wanted to say great job! I can't wait to see where you go with this. Maybe if I ever get mine done I will come back up and see your progress in person again!

[ZUBZ]

Good thread, coming nicely. Love the whitewall tyres on the earlier trucks...

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Any decisions on the rust repair yet?

[LEEVON]

Nope, just that it needs to be done. Thanks for all the tips...I got some motivation this weekend from the Ol Marais River Run in Ottawa, KS. 1600+ wicked cars and trucks.

[mknittle]

Originally Posted by LEEVON

Nope, just that it needs to be done. Thanks for all the tips...I got some motivation this weekend from the Ol Marais River Run in Ottawa, KS. 1600+ wicked cars and trucks.

That will do it every time!

[LEEVON]

I haven't started on the cab rust yet, but I did get the last "big" chassis task done today, which was shock mounting. I used the stock trailing arm lower mount brackets, flipped side-to-side and forward. For the uppers, I used some shock tabs on the '50 parking brake bar which has the nice driveshaft bump that clears the rear end housing perfectly. The shocks are Monroe light truck, or maybe Jeep I don't recall but they have exactly 1/2" travel after full air and dump. Plus they were inexpensive. It was a great day for fabrication, my apprentice is a little bossy though, at least when she wasn't busy squirting everything (including me) with water.

[LEEVON]

So I was thinking, how many cars and trucks are represented in this build?

• 1950 chevrolet 3100 body
• 194_ chevrolet 3100 frame
• 2002 chevrolet ? engine
• 198_ chevrolet ? transmission
• 198_ chevrolet ? bellhousing
• 199_ chevrolet ? driveshaft
• 2000-ish f-body accessories
• 1979 pontiac trans am rear end
• 1972 chevrolet C20 trailing arms
• 1968 chevrolet C10 4 speed pedals

That list doesn't include NEW parts manufactured for other vehicles, such as:

• Mustang II suspension
• GM car rotors and calipers
• Corvette LS7 throwout bearing
• Silverado flywheel
• C10 clutch and pressure plate
• Jeep? shocks

I could keep going down to nuts and bolts, this is fun. The list will keep growing!

[99 to Life]

looking good, great when you have a good day on the truck. makes it so much more worth doing.

[chevyboy73]

sweet truck, watching this! the truck I am looking at hopefully has patina like this!

[LEEVON]

Found a perfect bumper sticker

[OrrieG]

I'm a fan of "Keep Honking, I Am Reloading"

[50-MO]

Looking good Leevon, I've decided that I am going to go the same route with the trailing arms so I am sure that I may have some questions for you. Heck, maybe you can come out to the house and share your expertise if you have the time. My brother in law works for Hendrick Motorsports and I am trying to see if he will score me a set of NASCAR truck arms first and now I am on the hunt for a crossmember.

[LEEVON]

Good plan, easy as pie. Come on over and take a look.

[LEEVON]

I drug the bed out of a barn in pieces this weekend and will be mocking it up right away, so I can set the rear wheel center line for good. I have a new front panel, 2 crossmembers and 1 rear stake pocket which is rotten where the tailgate and crossmember attach. Pics soon.

[NewType72]

So subbed been checking out all three of the projects of yours tonight and I gotta say I'm digging all of them keep up the great progress man!

[LEEVON]

Originally Posted by NewType72

So subbed been checking out all three of the projects of yours tonight and I gotta say I'm digging all of them keep up the great progress man!

Thanks! Great Progress is a generous description, but I'm trying!

[LEEVON]

I drug the bed out of the barn a couple of weeks ago and put it together yesterday. I had to use a replacement front panel, front support and rear stake pocket. I also rebuilt the rear support and stitched up several tears in the fenders and bedsides. I'm not going for pretty of course, just need good and solid. I plug welded the rear pocket, turned out pretty nice after some tweaking. I enjoy this kind of work, it was hard not to get carried away...remember PATINA is part of the deal!

If I can get a hand this afternoon I'll throw it on the frame.

[LEEVON]

Bed is on...digging the look.