Kabwe's aka Bam's build

[chevyrestoguy]

Kabwe-
The next time you're at Pick-A-Part, take a look at the early 70s Chevy and Dodge van rear bumpers. They are perfectly flat from side to side, and the edges are usually square and parallel, which makes them a very good candidate for our trucks. They don't have the recess for the license plates either, because the plates were always bolted to the rear doors. They are too wide to be used in stock form, but you can make a slice in the middle and cut them to size.

Alex

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by yukon ratrod

in regards to your bumper issues, what about using a 65 mustang front bumper and nip and tuck it for a super clean look! clean, simple to look at, and the only down fall is the hours its going to take! but your crafty.

Originally Posted by chevyrestoguy

Kabwe-
The next time you're at Pick-A-Part, take a look at the early 70s Chevy and Dodge van rear bumpers. They are perfectly flat from side to side, and the edges are usually square and parallel, which makes them a very good candidate for our trucks. They don't have the recess for the license plates either, because the plates were always bolted to the rear doors. They are too wide to be used in stock form, but you can make a slice in the middle and cut them to size.

Alex

Thanks for the suggestions guys I will have a look and see what my imagination can up up with. I'm a long ways off on deciding what to do but it certainly will not be stocked. It looked like GM just slapped it together with out any thought in stocked form.

Once again thanks for the suggestions and I will keep them in mind when the time comes to decide.

[Kabwe]

Well she's here, my new Miller Diversion 180 Tig Welder. Its so nice getting a new toy to play with. It only weights about 50 pounds which is cool because I need something small and mobile, I simply don't have much room. I never weld anything thicker than 3/16 and thats what its rated for, if I have to weld something thicker I will mig it. Oh happy days.

[hotrod1]

NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Welcome to the world of TIG. Whole different creature. I'll bet that you are already good at it.

[Rods57]

OHHH new toys are always fun. I tried tig and did some aluminum tubing, it was great for the first two inch's, then it blew up in my face and it was UGLY. fun though...

[jjjmm56]

Showoff you called me a showoff!! I don't show my tool off to everyone!

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by hotrod1

NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Welcome to the world of TIG. Whole different creature. I'll bet that you are already good at it.

Yes it is a whole different creature, but a beautiful one. Once you've tig welded you are hooked I've been wanting a tig for years.

Originally Posted by Rods57

OHHH new toys are always fun. I tried tig and did some aluminum tubing, it was great for the first two inch's, then it blew up in my face and it was UGLY. fun though...

I'm like a kid a xmas. I'm just waiting on my new cylinder for gas and man its on.lol

Originally Posted by jjjmm56

Showoff you called me a showoff!! I don't show my tool off to everyone!

LOL new tools don't compare to you driving and showing off your truck, cut me some slack and let me be happy about something.lol

[Kim57]

That is really cool.
Kim

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by Kim57

That is really cool.
Kim

Thanks Kim and yeah its really cool. I never owned anything with the blue label before so I guess I'm moving up in the world, even if it is their entry level tig. I wanted to get the inverter tig a step up, but my wife would kill me.

[yukon ratrod]

nice new toy!!! I have a tig that my father bought because he was going to build an airplane, but come to the conclusion he would rather be flying then building a plane so hes never used it, and bought a super cub on floats instead. Ive wanted to drag it out, but truth is Im burned in on the mig and cant seem to take the time to learn to master the tig right now. kabwe I went and checked on my 57 and the box of the truck was right full of water from the tarp. was thinking pool party, but to much ice in it. lol. should have grabbed a pict i guess. but Im sure wanting to spend some time on it, but restoring a 72 road runner for a customer so no real time to play.

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by yukon ratrod

nice new toy!!! I have a tig that my father bought because he was going to build an airplane, but come to the conclusion he would rather be flying then building a plane so hes never used it, and bought a super cub on floats instead. Ive wanted to drag it out, but truth is Im burned in on the mig and cant seem to take the time to learn to master the tig right now. kabwe I went and checked on my 57 and the box of the truck was right full of water from the tarp. was thinking pool party, but to much ice in it. lol. should have grabbed a pict i guess. but Im sure wanting to spend some time on it, but restoring a 72 road runner for a customer so no real time to play.

Yeah Yukon its really nice having new toys. I have not been able to play with it, I just order a cylinder and I have to get it filled with argon then its on.lol A friend taught me how to use a tig and man once you tig you have to have one. I've been wanting one for a while, but they are expensive. I just broke down and went for it. I can't wait to crank that baby up and start using it.

[JML55]

Good for you man, sometime you just have to go for it.

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by JML55

Good for you man, sometime you just have to go for it.

Yeah man sometimes you do.lol Hows your truck coming along?


Not much to report on the truck expect for I fabricated a piece for the interior cab corner were trash can collect. I don't know why GM left this open like this, I guess it was a nice storage area back in the day.

[Kim57]

Nice fix Kabwe.
I plan on doing mine also when I get back on it.
Kim

[oldman3]

Nice repair, yeah I think all the old farmers stuffed everything in there, then when it got wet, rust.

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by Kim57

Nice fix Kabwe.
I plan on doing mine also when I get back on it.
Kim

Thank you Kim57. Man I'm plan on getting some serious work done on the truck soon, I tired of looking at it sitting there wasting away. BTW are you going to Brothers Truck Show this year?

Originally Posted by oldman3

Nice repair, yeah I think all the old farmers stuffed everything in there, then when it got wet, rust.

Yeah man I can see that area being used as storage.lol

[Kim57]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

Thank you Kim57. Man I'm plan on getting some serious work done on the truck soon, I tired of looking at it sitting there wasting away. BTW are you going to Brothers Truck Show this year?


Yeah man I can see that area being used as storage.lol

I'll be at the show and look forward to seeing you and the other guys there.
Kim

[Barney Rubble]

Kabwe, inspirational stuff mate! Love how this is all laid out for us to see.
Very tempting to want to fast forward to the end result though.
Keep up the great work.
Barney

[jjjmm56]

Hey Kabwe : Looking good as allways. If your looking for some more things you can practice on with the new welder, shave those bumps on the floor were the gas tank mounted. These things raise hell when building a back peice and when fitting carpet.

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by Barney Rubble

Kabwe, inspirational stuff mate! Love how this is all laid out for us to see.
Very tempting to want to fast forward to the end result though.
Keep up the great work.
Barney

Thanks man for stopping by and checking it out. I'm glad you find it interesting.

Originally Posted by jjjmm56

Hey Kabwe : Looking good as allways. If your looking for some more things you can practice on with the new welder, shave those bumps on the floor were the gas tank mounted. These things raise hell when building a back peice and when fitting carpet.

Oh so now you are looking for things for me to do huh? See that's just like someone that has their truck on the road.lol

[jjjmm56]

I hate to say it but I'm one of those guys that won't take it out unless it's finished. Because once I'm driving it I'll lose intrest and not finish it. I hope to get the bed finished this weekend. The seats will go in to be covered next week. AND then I'm done. I then will be building a frame for a 36 Ford, Doing a s10 swap on two 53 chevys, and am trying to work out a deal on a Shelby Cobra kit car a buddy has had for around 5 yrs that he lost intrest in.

[Kim57]

Kabwe
When you did the sectioning on your hood how did you handle the inside bracing?
Did you remove it and then re-install or did you just cut it all at the same time?
The cross piece on mine in the front is only attached at the sides and loose in the middle.
I'm trying to work up the nerve to do mine and was curios on that part.
Thanks
Kim

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by Kim57

Kabwe
When you did the sectioning on your hood how did you handle the inside bracing?
Did you remove it and then re-install or did you just cut it all at the same time?
The cross piece on mine in the front is only attached at the sides and loose in the middle.
I'm trying to work up the nerve to do mine and was curios on that part.
Thanks
Kim

I removed all the bracing before I sectioned it. Once I sectioned it and done all my hammer and dolly work, I then had to section the bracing. You don't have to worry about that rear brace it will allow the hood to be lowered to the front.
Here is a pic of when I finished the section and with the brace removed.


This is the only pic of have on my computer of the under the hood bracing. The brace running the across was sectioned on both sides (weld are already metal finished in this pic) and the hood latch brace was section and you can still see the welds.


I hope this helps.

[VDOG]

Thats one right nice new toy you got yourself there Mr Kabwe.

Dont worry, im just check out the progress on your ride. Not trying to put you to work,.....this time.

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by VDOG

Thats one right nice new toy you got yourself there Mr Kabwe.

Dont worry, im just check out the progress on your ride. Not trying to put you to work,.....this time.

Trouble maker that's all you are.