My 63 farm truck build thread

[Tx Firefighter]

Thanks Cap'n, for the link.

[LOW DOUGH]

So, it looks like the spare tire mod has disapeared. The rack is looking good and the box is good too. Just needs to look old IMO. or one that dosn't sit on the bed rails.

[daverod]

The rack is looking good. I'm putting some rust in the mail for ya. You can use it to fix up that tool box.

[SCOTI]

I understand the need for the toolbox. That being said, we (guys from this site) need to research our resources & find you something that's below the bed-rail so it's 'hidden' while hopefully being period correct.

I was looking for a box that resembled a "lean too" type of structure since that's what an 'old shop' would have for additional space. I had a box like one in the bed of my 64 that I had back in high-school. It was the width of the bed floor, prob 18-24" deep, & was just below the top of the bed-rail in height (19"?). It was prob .125" steel plate, piano hinged full width lid, w/a pivoting lock on the drivers side made from solid round stock to keep SMF's out.

[Tx Firefighter]

I finished the rack today. One thing I can guarantee you is that it is plumb and square. I did struggle with some of the welds though. I did the project outside and there was a periodic breeze to give me issues while welding. Plus I ran out of .023 wire in my smaller welder so I had to pull out the Millermatic 250, which has .035 wire in it plus a big, cumbersome gun. I should have just went and bought another spool of .023 and continued to use the smaller Lincoln machine. But, never the less, it's finished.

I have taken some flak for the tool box, and rightfully so. It's too clean looking. To help with that I did the entire project without covering the box. All of the weld boogers and splatter landed on the box. Plus I stood on top of it in my big old boots while welding the top of the rack. I'd say the tool box is aging nicely after that. I did pull the Tractor Supply emblems off of it too. If the newness of the box continues to wear on me I will strip the powdercoat off of it and give it some artificial aging.

And, I have decided not to paint the rack. I want mother nature to add some character to it and make it match the truck better.

Awful pictures...



For the fellow who asked for pics of the angled posts. I just held the first one in place and tweaked it until it flowed with the cab when viewed from behind. That was 8 degrees canted in. So, I set the saw at 8 degrees and sliced each post to give it that cool gangster lean look.



Front, I built it as low to the cab as I dared and still allow for frame flex and cab movement.


Look, my truck has a telephone post growing out of the cab roof.


Sorry for the poor pictures. I must be pretty tired or something.

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

I understand the need for the toolbox. That being said, we (guys from this site) need to research our resources & find you something that's below the bed-rail so it's 'hidden' while hopefully being period correct.

I was looking for a box that resembled a "lean too" type of structure since that's what an 'old shop' would have for additional space. I had a box like one in the bed of my 64 that I had back in high-school. It was the width of the bed floor, prob 18-24" deep, & was just below the top of the bed-rail in height (19"?). It was prob .125" steel plate, piano hinged full width lid, w/a pivoting lock on the drivers side made from solid round stock to keep SMF's out.

Scoti, I agree that I need something more vintage looking. The object of me selling the Toyota was to free up a lot of money that I can spend on other stuff. I vow this is the year that I get a Miller Synchrowave 200 TIG welder and a Miller Spectrum 375 plasma cutter. As soon as I get the plasma I will likely just build something old and funky looking from scratch. I simply don't have a way to cut that much flat plate with decent results right now.

If you come across any pictures of old style, funky boxes, send me a link please. I need I dears.

[LILRED66]

Congrats on TOTM.

Photos are great and the rack fits the theme.

Thanks for sharing and keep us posted on your next improvement.

[Primered_69]

If I find a good old vintage one in my junkyard therapy times I might just snag it for you...

[ERASER5]

The "smaller Lincoln machine," what size is it? I am considering the SP-140 or the SP-180. It sounds like you like the smaller unit better than the larger welder, so I would like to know why. Just collecting information.

[Tx Firefighter]

My Lincoln is about 15 years old. It's a 120 amp machine.

I also have a big Millermatic 250 amp machine.

For almost all jobs, the Lincoln does what I need. It has a small gun which is easy to get into tight areas. I keep it loaded with .023 wire. It's so easy to use on most anything automotive. I can sew just about anything together with it.

The big Miller can weld 1/2 inch plate in one pass. It's an absolute monster. It's ideal for heavy duty fab work like frame splices, building trailers, etc. I keep it loaded with .035 wire. It's not that great for thin stuff like this 14ga on this project. Plus the big gun is impossible to get into tight areas.

In my shop, I have a place for each of them, but for old trucks, the little Lincoln is tops.

[SCOTI]

Tx... I've got a Hobart (Miller) Airforce 625 plasma you can use if you're itchin' to start sooner.

[joe231]

the finished product looks very nice Kevin!

[JohnC]

The end result looks awesome Kevin! Nice work as usual!

[lakeroadster]

Kevin,

Great job on the rack and, as has been said by others, congrat's on the April 2010 Truck Of The Month.

As for the tool box how about shooting it with some rattle can red-oxide primer? That should tone it down a bit.

[LOW DOUGH]

Looks really good. Thanks for the pic from the back. Now we need to see it in action.

[ERASER5]

Kevin, so do you think the SP-140 will be fine for most of my truck needs? Body panels, and stuff like that.

[tommyd241]

Rack looks great! Excellent work as usual.

[Bugeyev8]

Originally Posted by ERASER5

Kevin, so do you think the SP-140 will be fine for most of my truck needs? Body panels, and stuff like that.

I had a SP140 for ten years, great welder and works perfect on body panels with 0.23 wire and argon/co2 gas, welds the thicker stuff well with the flux core 0.35, I used the flux core to build a trailer with 1/8 and 1/4 tubing...works great

I sold it and bought a Hobart 170 220v machine and it too is an excellent unit, the gun on the Lincoln was better and smaller than the Hobart but I changed the gun to a tweeco gun

[ERASER5]

Looks like I will be scraping money together for an SP-140.

[63sbssbbw]

That turned out awesome Kevin,it absolutely fits theme and period
Like Lake said,or even do your faux finish over the pc on your toolbox.
Are you considering any additional signage? like maybe a 1x6 plank just under the top main frame, that might look neat (tho' it dos look great just like it is).
T

[Tx Firefighter]

I've started to gather parts for some changes.

I got a different style of grille at the swap meet yesterday. It's different than you might think. I'm going to try age it a bit and swap it in to the truck. Different wheels coming soon too.

I'm also trying to pin down an ongoing engine issue. It's been giving me issues since day 1. I just ordered from Summit hoping that I have guessed right on the problem.

Pics of grille soon. Pics of wheels once installed.

[ruffrida2005]

Truck looks good as always Kevin. any hint on the grill?

[joe231]

bump for the anticipation of new parts

[Tx Firefighter]

I spent the afternoon fixing the truck. It's been fouling the spark plugs on all 8 cylinders and generally running awful.

When I removed the carburetor there was a lot of sludge inside the intake manifold on both sides of the divider. Since this is my only means of transportation now, I had to fix it no matter what. So, I ordered a new intake manifold from Summit and it arrived today. My old intake that I like so much is cracked internally and sucking exhaust from the crossover port up into the plenum to be burned in the engine. So, I put an Edelbrock Performer RPM on it. I didn't take pictures of any of it though. You've all seen new intake manifolds a million times without me adding another picture.

[Walts_restoration]

Dude, ive never seen a new intake before!

Wait, just got a sbc edelbrock preformer RPM air gap in the mail yesterday for the camaro...

Loving the truck man, the rack looks perfect. Then again, im a fan of "Work" trucks, i dont like anything that cant be used.