Project "49 No Buck$"

[solidaxel]

Did your gear shift lever clear the brake peddle and go all the way to L1

[kustombrad]

Funny that you should ask. I was looking at that yesterday and realizing I need to do some fab work on the rod to make it clear! Glad it wasn't just me...

[Daniel U]

Very cool concept. With as much as I have into my '54, I wish I was driving my truck.

[kustombrad]

I put this on Sunday Afternoon to keep myself motivated. I'm feeling it now! Can't wait to cruise this thing out to El Mirage and Bonneville...

[kustombrad]

Here's what I did with the brakes. Starting with unbolting the factory bracket (sorry about the bad pic. I had to find one oneline 'cuz I forgot to get a pic.) I put the pedals off to the side and after sandblasting it clean, I mocked up the bracket with a late 60's Corvette Manual brakes master cylinder. I set it up so the master cylinder was about an 1/8" lower, because I wanted to drill the hole on the pedal rod lower to have a bit less brake pedal travel. I hope that makes sense. I wanted the pedal closer to the floor after it's all set up, instead of sticking out a foot. After cutting up the bracket, fit it with all my 3/16" metal plates and gussets, (I moved the master cylinder 1 1/2" closer to the frame than stock) I tacked them up and then had a friend of mine TIG it all together (I wanted it welded really well!) and then bolted the master cylinder up so I could fit it in place. Now I did something a bit different with the pedals, because of how I ran my exhaust. I ran it up high because I knew the truck was going to be slammed, but mounting the master cylinder in the stock location made it a bit to close to heat for my taste. I cut the upper part of the clutch arm off and lined both lower push arms up. I beveled the edges of both pivot parts (after sandblasing clean) and TIG'd both of those together as well also re welded the original stuff because after 50 years I figured I'd add a little insurance. I did this because I mounted the master cylinder an 1 1/2" closer to the frame and figured I would just re-engineer the original pieces to work for me. After I drill my hole in the clutch part of the lever that's a bit lower down than stock on the other side, I'll cut the old bracket off so it looks clean. Now I have my brakes like I need and still kept it cheap!!!

[STOUTE]

Mad skills man

[OrrieG]

A man of my own heart! I did the same, but built the bracket from scratch and adapted it for a 8" booster too. Could not justify $250+ from the repro places for a few pieces of metal welded together. Cardboard templates help a lot. Are you going to have enough leverage with the repositioned pivot points?

[kustombrad]

I'm going to drill 3 different holes in the bottom arm to have some adjustment. I won't really know until I have it running and brakes hooked up to see where I like it.

[kustombrad]

Just finished my shifter rod from the column to the lower linkage. The linkage I started with was from a 72 Camino. After getting the the pivot positioned and the bracket on the frame side connected, I needed to figure out the rod from the column to the lower bracket. The rod that I had from the camino wasn't close enough to work, so I bought a 3' piece of 3/8" cold rolled. I used a piece of welding rod for my template and had to make it clear the the brake pedal when in was in low gear. Column in Park Column in Low gear It shifts smoothly and clears the brake lever by 1/2"! Just need to put my 2 clips up top where I drilled a 1/16" hole on each side of the column to hold the rod in place.

[kustombrad]

While I was inside the truck messing with the brakes, I took a break and fabbed up my throttle pedal & bracket. Cool, huh?!!

[solidaxel]

Thanks for the update on the shift linkage. I guess I will look at some stock linkage parts for the transmision.

[mylow53]

love the gas peddle. kinda makes me want to drive barefoot!
GT

[kustombrad]

I had to shorten the lower linkage between the transmission and arm that goes to the shift rod about 1/2" so the arm would clear the frame rail when it is all the way down. Does that make sense?

[kustombrad]

I'm always trying to make sure I work on this thing a little every day. That way, I stay motivated and it will get done! Last weekend I was going to start taking the truck apart to start sandblasting and painting all the underneath stuff, but since I had no help with lifting the cab or bed off (everyone was busy) I decided to keep moving forward and knock one more thing off the list. STRIPING & LETTERING!!!! I knew once I started this, it was going to change the whole look of the truck, so I got busy. I washed the truck with a sponge and Comet to clean all the oxidation off the 40 yr. old paint job. Once it was rinsed off, I started laying it out. I knew it needed to be an old "Speed Shop" truck, so I followed that whole motife... Starting on the doors, I made a pattern and pounced it on so both sides would be the same. A little silver paint and some varigated gold leaf was the base. a little red and it's looking like I wanted Doors are done! Now to the tailgate... using varigated gold as a base outlined and striped! I kept the paint thin and transparent for the old look! More lettering (Yeah I know the bald spots glare makes it tough to see the pic!) The truck all striped and lettered Now I'll sand the stuff I just put on with 2000 grit and rub it out to make it look like it's 40 years old too! This weekend the body comes off and it gets stripped!!!

[GRIMSS]

Cool logo.

[bensimmons_05]

Awesome striping!! I would love to learn to do that one day, truck is looking great

[stan3018]

waoooo you are the man

[Daniel U]

That's one of the coolest things I've seen in a long time!

[68c10owner]

That truck is awsome and is very inspirational. I`ve wanted a 47-55 for a long time and when I find the right one I`m going to do it as low buck as possible. In my opinion I wouldn`t take it apart unless it`s a saftey issue. Drive it the way it isand enjoy your hard work. It`s perfect in my opinion.

[sgtusmc]

Spot on my friend. You nailed that font perfect. You are a true artist!

[kustombrad]

Wow!!! You guys made my day! Thanks for the compliments, I mean it!!!

[hotrod386]

your pretty handy with a brush nice work!

[LOW DOUGH]

neat truck

[kustombrad]

I worked on my wiper system yesterday and it works great! I'll post pics shortly and show everyone how a Blazer rear hatch wiper motor works great! I designed the whole setup with simplicity in mind and keeping it easy to work on. I may offer to sell the brackets (2 and they would both be laser cut and pre-bent w/holes) if I can keep the price low enough. Anybody interested?

[sson20s]

the truck looks awesome ,true artist