49' Patina bagged in PA

[steve aleve]

Thanks man that helps a lot! I think I have an idea of what to do now ha ha. Also I wanted to get your opinion on using a 2" Beltech drop axle with 3" lowering springs up front? I have the spindles and I was able to purchase some 3" lowering springs for super cheap. Will this sit or ride too low?

[steve aleve]

Woops sorry 2" drop spindles not axle... that's confusing lol

[99 to Life]

steve, I can't comment on the lowering springs with the spindles if that is what you are asking. To me its run one or the other. I'd go with the spindles and 3" drop blocks in the rear. the drop springs are probably going to mess with ridabilty and travel, yeah cheap way to lower but prolly not the best ride. The drop spindle keeps stock shock and spring the same, but lowers the whole unit as one.

Here is a decent link on understanding some important stuff when lowering
http://djmsuspension.com/works/alignment-important/

on my 51' with say 4" body off frame and a 2/3 static drop, I'm as low as I'd wanna go. My running boards are like 5.5" off ground.

[99 to Life]

5-31 another month down. Not too much to show but I'v been getting my 51' out and man I can't wait to get a cool shot with all my AD's. just need to rearrange alot of whips.

So I had the body back on to readjust a few things, now that its all in order its coming back off and I'm going gunhoe on the frame. I got my radiator/core support ironed out and will get some better pics once body is off.

Made some custom straps for my fuel tank, I still want to add skid plate and I have to finish up some more straps and bracing in the back.

Still chipping away on engine, have a little list of things to buy. I'm also still reworking my heads which has been a minor setback, so it's all getting buttoned up soon. I'm hesitant to bring it up and clutter my garage as i wanted to put it on my start stand to fire it up. We'll see. hoping to bring it up and start it this month, crossing fingers. Then maybe july I can have frame and engine done and in.

[oldman3]

Really like the first pics, looking good...Jim

[IWanna49]

Love the b/w pic. Looks like a friend dropping by to check in on his buddy. Nice work as always, great link for alignment.

Greg

[IWanna49]

Love the b/w pic. Looks like a friend dropping by to check in on his buddy. Nice work as always, great link for alignment.

Greg

[99 to Life]

6-2 monday, got a little time in today. power went out cause of a storm. I buttoned up a few things up front with the rad mount. Got cab off frame and started welding up some loose ends. Next weekend should be alot of stripping cab and frame, final welding and maybe laying down some chassis saver.

[99 to Life]

6-5 Been putting in some hours on the engine, long story short I got behind with it. had to mill down my stud bosses. I got the heads done and ready to bolt on. I'm going to transport it up north where my truck is. I'll then just put it on frame for start up rather than using my start stand and cluttering up my small garage. So I'll be bringing it up next weekend and that will give me a little time to finish getting stuff like WP, alt, dist. Here is shot of my custom timing tape I make. I have some for 8" and 7.5" balancers. I got the timing cover on and balancer. Just need oil pan and top end put on. This thing has been on and off for way to long, need to fire it up soon.

[FarmerSid]

Right on 99!

[skymangs]

Sweet timing mark brother.

[99 to Life]

6-9 got a bit tied up this weekend but I am close to being on track. Got front end blown apart, stripped and coated. Still gotta finish up the back, then the bottom of frame. Gotta do shock mounts up front too but I'll worry about that down the road. Might wait one more weekend to bring engine up. Still undecided on what to put over this chassis saver. I still have a good bit of aluminum paint I might coat it with but I'v been liking the black.

Oh and I managed to strip the top, do some final welds and coat in about 4-5 hours. I used some cheap flap discs for angle grinders, 40 grit. Got 20 or 25 of them for like 30 bucks off amazon. I used 4-5 discs so far. So still cheaper than sandblasting. As much as I don't like taking the time to strip a frame, this method is way better than using a wire wheel. been there done that, never again.

[oldman3]

Looking good 99....Jim

[Sssingo]

Great work!!!! good to see someone bringing these old girls back to life.

[99 to Life]

thanks guys, got another truck hot off the northwest. but..... It's not mine, but....I'm the one building it so its cool. I'll get on this next year along with bouncing around on a couple of my other trucks. This year I got the 49' to finish and my buddies 54' panel that is coming in next weekend. Had the 51' out of some pics with her. I still want a pic of all my AD truck and ones I'm working on, but its gonna be tough cause there are alot of them to line up.

Anyway, the patina is staying, shooting for some crazy hp with an LS turbo or two!!! (be a learning experience). Ford 9", maybe a scott's IFS , lowered and coil overs in back, reinforced frame and the list goes on.

[oldman3]

I'll be around to watch you work...Jim

[IWanna49]

X2!!!

[Billys68SS]

Nice truck. I wish I had your luck in finding them.

[99 to Life]

6-16 Billy, I didn't find this one, my friend did. He's gonna be giving alot of business by the sounds of things. He finds the best patina I swear. Just sent me a link to two killer COE's patina's.

So I didn't get much of anything done on my project due to fathersday weekend and moving a bunch of projects around in the compound. What you see outback is just a few of them. I'll be expanding that lot very soon with fencing and gravel and hope to line up most all my projects. I still alot of stuff to move around. Should be getting my friends panel this weekend if all goes well. So I'll be working on that every monday, he has a thread on here already.

All I go done was some stripping of frame and some final welding. Gonna box in some of the rear and coat next weekend. Still gotta take rear apart flip frame and do underneath. So another day or two on frame and it should be covered in chassis saver. Then I gotta figure out what I'm putting over that. Wanted to do silver since I had some left, but I'm just liking the black frame.

Also traded a ford 9" for a 4x4 60's truck frame and a decent bed I can use for my 55.1 series.

[FarmerSid]

Nice update 99.

[Advanced Design]

99, cool patina on the new find...sounds like it will be an interesting build.
Apologies if you mentioned..what is the coating on the frame? Looks really good!
Thanks,
AD

[99 to Life]

thanks guys, the coating is called chassis saver, I think I got the antique satin black, I'll have to double check. Its just like POR and all them other brands. Here is their site. I got it off ebay though. Its the best/affordable stuff I'v used.
http://www.magnetpaints.com/underbody.asp

[99 to Life]

6-23 Didn't get much time in this weekend either. Friday I went up and helped my friend with his belair. Sat I took a fam day, Sunday I got a little time in. Some final welds, started making boxing plates, and redid my gas tank mounts. Started stripping frame more. Got the bottom front coated, need to finish up back half, then paint. Should be bringing engine up and firing up soon. Drove back up to erie and got some parts for my friends panel, he will be bringing down this week, so its gonna be a full house finishing that up for him and trying to get my truck done this year. crossing fingers

Oh, put about 150 miles on my 51' this weekend, drove it all weekend.

[Advanced Design]

Looking good 99. Progress is progress and the family days are important. Thanks for the lead on Chassis saver.

[oldman3]

Driving the truck makes for a GREAT weekend...Jim