SGTUSMC '59 build

[Rods57]

That is freakin awesome! Its always a great day when you can drive it under its own power! nice work.

[jsmithbm]

The build is looking great, was curious about the rad support. How did you tie the front end together.

[Kim57]

That looks pretty wild tooling around like that.
Kim

[sgtusmc]

Originally Posted by jsmithbm

The build is looking great, was curious about the rad support. How did you tie the front end together.

I'm using the 88's rad. So I cut the lower part of the 59's support and welded in the lower part of the 88. I wanted the 88 rad to sit in it's factory location. I welded 1"x1" .120DOM square tube to the frame (about 2.5" high) with a 4"x4" plate on top, bolted to the rad support. I ran some square tube through the 88's support then tied it all together with the V in the front. I'm sure there might be a better/prettier way of doing it. My frame horns slope down up front, so that's what I came up with.

[99 to Life]

There is definitely a feeling that can't be described when you get to that point in a build. I love the truck and man I love those fleetsides. I think it really makes this style truck. Love the tail dragging too. Too bad the wife wants paint, I like it as is. Yeah I don't think the buick headlights are a necessity either.

[53GMC]

Love your build! Awesome work man and keep it up Sarge...

[sgtusmc]

jsmithbm- I don't have any pics taken after I finished the rad support. I tried to send these pics via a PM, but it wouldn't allow me. The second pic is with the added plate on the side (yellow). The green plate will allow me to remove it later.

I was going to leave it as is (in the first pic). Once I mounted the fenders. I noticed I needed it to be a 1/4 higher. Thats where the green mounting plates come in.

[jsmithbm]

sweet thanks

[OrrieG]

Looking good Sgt. This is exactly what I am going to be doing next spring first nice weekend just to confuse the neighbors. Actually we have so many gear heads around here it probably won't even turn too many heads. I probably won't even have the glass in either.

[sgtusmc]

Thanks OrrieG. Make sure you get plenty of pics on her first trip out.

I have 14 houses on my street. All my neighbors have seen it come together. I think they were more shocked that it actually ran, then the lack of sheet metal it's wearing. I live on a cul-de-sac so I couldn't really open it up. I did get a lot of mean looks from "proper folks" on other streets. It has plates, registration and insurance. I guess if I had gotten pulled over, it would have been for no lights.

[sgtusmc]

I had planned on mounting the fuel door on the inner bed wall. However, the frame wouldn't allow it. I decided on the bed floor. I knew it had to be raised to keep the wife from filling the bed with fuel (learned the hard way on a past build). Also mounted my Hotrod air and bulkhead plate.

[OrrieG]

Good to see progress, I'm working on my fuel filler too.

[Kim57]

Looking good Sarge.
Kim

[56hotrodred]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

Good to see progress, I'm working on my fuel filler too.

Always good to see progress.

I am about to get back on my fuel filler on my 73 and these give me lots of ideas. Can't wait to see yours too Orrie.

Hey Sgt what is your filler cap and neck out of? Did you have to buy new rubber filler hose sections, use pipe or combination of...

This is my first complete winter with heat and insulation in my shop so I am hoping to get lots done on both my project trucks. Good timing because we are getting our first arctic blast with snow as we speak.

Keep up the good work guys.

56hotrodred (Barry)

[sgtusmc]

Originally Posted by 56hotrodred

Always good to see progress.

I am about to get back on my fuel filler on my 73 and these give me lots of ideas. Can't wait to see yours too Orrie.

Hey Sgt what is your filler cap and neck out of? Did you have to buy new rubber filler hose sections, use pipe or combination of...

This is my first complete winter with heat and insulation in my shop so I am hoping to get lots done on both my project trucks. Good timing because we are getting our first arctic blast with snow as we speak.

Keep up the good work guys.

56hotrodred (Barry)

The filler cap & neck is from the doner truck. It's cut down to about 5" tall. I used a 90 degree rubber filler bend to the tank. The box is 10 gauge with the doner fuel door welded on top. It should blend better once the spray in bed liner is done.

[99 to Life]

Man I love the garage pic. the trucks too of course but a good garage pick with the trucks is just priceless. It makes all the work worth while just sitting back and seeing how far ya come. The garage is the best tool a man can have
IMO.

[Rods57]

Originally Posted by sgtusmc

I had planned on mounting the fuel door on the inner bed wall. However, the frame wouldn't allow it. I decided on the bed floor. I knew it had to be raised to keep the wife from filling the bed with fuel (learned the hard way on a past build). Also mounted my Hotrod air and bulkhead plate.

Nice pic, looks like something I did...great minds think alike, red frames, cool pics...

[OrrieG]

OK here is my garage shot, it counts because the 59 is in the background.

[sgtusmc]

Cool garage pics guy's. However, what you guy's are lacking in the pics. Is a 200 pound killing machine like I have in mine....hahaha

[sgtusmc]

I decided to try my luck on turning my stock wheel into a smaller 15" version. I cut up an old 15" wheel for the frame. Used some 1/4 round stock to get some thickness. I only have about an hour into the wheel so far. Plans are to add some more round stock to the inside of the frame. That should get it to feel like a modern wheel. Then just grind it smooth. Repair the cracks in the original wheel, weld it together. Smooth, prime and paint. Hopefully it works.

[Barney Rubble]

innovative!

[Red Foreman]

When your done can I send you my steering wheel & do that aswell?

[Kim57]

Sounds like a great idea.
Kim

[Wheelie]

Looking good! I like the smaller steering wheel idea.

[sgtusmc]

I cut a little to much off the seat tracks. It fits me fine, but was a little to low for the wife. I added a 2x2 on both sides. My 11 year old son did all the welding. He's come a long way! Not the prettiest of welds. But I'm super proud of the lil guy.

I ordered a dimple die set. Once it comes in we plan on doing some nice speed covers on the seat tracks along with some other parts.