A different approach to a LWB to SWB conversion

[Ed F]

Originally Posted by 65standard

7/8"

I marked two lines, the fold line is 12" from the front edge.
The cut line is 11 1/8" from the front edge. This leaves 7/8" to fold over for the hem joint.

Please give us an update, with pictures of course.

[tommys72]

Yes sir Tony, we most definitely need to see some more pics

[paulkaminskijr]

Originally Posted by 65standard

7/8"

I marked two lines, the fold line is 12" from the front edge.
The cut line is 11 1/8" from the front edge. This leaves 7/8" to fold over for the hem joint.

Perfect. Thank you for the reply

[65standard]

The truck has been in climate controlled storage ever since the city forced me to. Since it has a non registration title, I can not get current tags and the city put a big orange sticker on it saying it was an abandoned vehicle. It was in my driveway at the time. I had 14 days to get registration or remove the vehicle or the city would come and remove it.

Here it is currently inside our fabrication shop.

[65standard]

Here is the truck as found.

[flashed]

Would you be interested in selling that truck ,no title needed down here ?

[JoeinT.O.]

Thank-you so much Tony for taking the time to show everyone the amazing skills you possess. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this thread. I also noticed you fixed the cab corner as well.

[saxart]

Originally Posted by 65standard

"... I had 14 days to get registration or remove the vehicle or the city would come and remove it." .

So, they tagged it IN YOUR DRIVEWAY and threatened to take it right out of your driveway just because it didn't have tags on it? What a bunch of BS!

[Boog]

Wow Tony. Coal City, Illinois has some tough local laws. I guess you have explored registration options already?

[El Dorado Jim]

what a great job on your truck, you are an artist with metal, just look for another old junk truck and use the title from it....i cant believe that you cany get a title for it.....also, i have been a welder for 40 years, a certifified pipe welder for our gas company for about ten of those , i have alot of experience, but not with sheetmetal, i have used my mig to weld up holes on my truck and want to weld up old mirror holes,etc...but i get soo much warpage, i cant grind it smooth, what is the trick?

[saxart]

Originally Posted by El Dorado Jim

what a great job on your truck, you are an artist with metal, just look for another old junk truck and use the title from it....i cant believe that you cany get a title for it.....also, i have been a welder for 40 years, a certifified pipe welder for our gas company for about ten of those , i have alot of experience, but not with sheetmetal, i have used my mig to weld up holes on my truck and want to weld up old mirror holes,etc...but i get soo much warpage, i cant grind it smooth, what is the trick?

Jim-
The obvious stuff first: (I'm guessing you already know this part)
1) Turn welder down as low as possible
2) Use a thinner wire in welder

Maybe not so obvious part:
3) Use multiple short bursts to close up the hole letting it cool between each one. Same thing with the grinding afterwards. Don't try to grind down the weld in one shot. Hit it for a bit, then let it cool. It's very tedious, but can be done.

[El Dorado Jim]

Originally Posted by saxart

Jim-
The obvious stuff first: (I'm guessing you already know this part)
1) Turn welder down as low as possible
2) Use a thinner wire in welder

Maybe not so obvious part:
3) Use multiple short bursts to close up the hole letting it cool between each one. Same thing with the grinding afterwards. Don't try to grind down the weld in one shot. Hit it for a bit, then let it cool. It's very tedious, but can be done.

thanks for the tips!

[Bagd72Chevy]

This has got be one of the nicest LWB to SWB conversions I've seen on here.


Can you give us youngsters some advice on metal finishing? Are you using flap discs, rolocs, DA, etc.? Thanks!

[DarkFlounder]

Ok, you just need to stop posting here.

You're making the rest of us look bad.

j/k Amazing work. Sorry for the city/registration issues. How can they ding you when it's not on the street?

[72_swb]

Originally Posted by El Dorado Jim

what a great job on your truck, you are an artist with metal, just look for another old junk truck and use the title from it....i cant believe that you cany get a title for it.....also, i have been a welder for 40 years, a certifified pipe welder for our gas company for about ten of those , i have alot of experience, but not with sheetmetal, i have used my mig to weld up holes on my truck and want to weld up old mirror holes,etc...but i get soo much warpage, i cant grind it smooth, what is the trick?

I take a wet paper towel and surround the hole with it tightly. Only spot weld for a second or two then wipe with the wet paper towel to cool. Stopped my warpage problems.

[ABHaulR]

I went through the whole tread to see the work on the rear of the bed and nothing. Very nice work. a different way to do the same ol process. Its nice to see others work. If you have more pics of the rear attachment I would love to see them.
Thanks Dwayne

[nicklear36]

Did you ever take more pictures of how you shortened the 12 inches off the rear section of the bed panels?

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by 65standard

The truck has been in climate controlled storage ever since the city forced me to. Since it has a non registration title, I can not get current tags and the city put a big orange sticker on it saying it was an abandoned vehicle. It was in my driveway at the time. I had 14 days to get registration or remove the vehicle or the city would come and remove it.

Here it is currently inside our fabrication shop.

= abandoned

Originally Posted by 65standard

Here is the truck as found.

= not abandoned

It's intuitively obvious to the most casual of observers.

I'm so glad we don't have laws like that around here

K

[Boog]

Isn't that just totally rediculous? The whole city council ought to be fired for incompetence!

[rustytruck50]

It's intuitively obvious to the most casual of observers.

I'm so glad we don't have laws like that around here

K[/QUOTE]

Well, as I tell some faux-know-it-alls, it must be great to have everything in your life perfectly in order so that you can concentrate on complicating mine!

[Coley]

So is the truck...somewhat in limbo right now?
ie: not possible to license it and drive it?
What is the future of it then?....noting that it is a shame because it is not only a great example of some excellent restoration work..but also just a really nice looking truck.
It would be a real shame if it is 'shop bound' forever.

Again...great thread on the build! great work!

all good
Coley

[cdngearhead]

Saw this post when it was first started,
Finally found it again.
I'm going all in Tony.
I have sets of longbox sides to play with.
I already have a few questions.
U still al8ve on this post?

[made2drag]

Great fab work. I'm loving this.

[Coley]

...I don't think we ever found out what happened to this truck.
The last thing communicated was that it couldn't be re-titled for some reason relating to it being 'abandoned' or?

Hopefully that was all resolved and its on the road.

Coley

[BCOWANWHEELS]

Time for retag... Get a titled junker