Dutch '59 Fleetside Longbed

[ptc]

no problemo! -enjoy being of help!

Now that C5/C6 setup would be the cats meow for a pickup truck for perfect weight distribution.... Not like its a new idea.... I dont think there are any more "new ideas", all it takes is money!!!!

This is a 57 Truck with a transaxle:

[RockinKees]

If you go Pro Street you want horsepower...
How much do you want ptc?
Corvette is not enough?

[RockinKees]

ptc, I saw your pic just now, looks awesome!
It just screams Horsepowerrr!!

This afternoon I started the bodywork.
Began with all the 10.000 holes that the PO had drilled to get that very nice interiour in...
Also the floor under the seat has some drilled airconditioning.
So, I thought let's start at the back and work my way to the front, start with the easy things

This is the back as you see, interiour srewed in through the back...



The most screw holes are inside, I will weld them all.
And I welded the gasfiller opening just as everybody else, made a piece out of 16 gauge steel, welds perfect!



Tomorrow a new day, hope I get all the holes closed, so I can get on with real important work

[Kim57]

It's amazing how much work we do to these trucks that goes completely unnoticed.
Kim

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by Kim57

It's amazing how much work we do to these trucks that goes completely unnoticed.
Kim

That is so true. It's also amazing how much work we do to fix something, that they (PO) thought was OK...Jim

[RockinKees]

You're absolutely right Kim!
You know it, I know it and we keep going on

As Jim said, we do what we think is right, if we do all the same, well, we got ourselfs a boring hobby

[Advanced Design]

The po screwed the interior in through the back panel? Or the screws went through the back panel from the inside? Either way...wow.

[RockinKees]

From the inside out....
In post #2 you can what it looked like when I got the truck.
The pics don't do it justice

[RockinKees]

Today I cleaned the inside of the cab, took all out what's in the way, such as all electrics, loose insulation, bolts or whatever there is.
Also took the windshield out.
I'm glad the metal is in good shape!!





The metal under the old insulation is also in very good shape



So, what's left to do is welding all the holes the PO had made and make new floor parts.

The passenger side:


Driver side is in better shape, but has issues as well:


Passenger lower cowl is really bad, and misses parts:


Driver side is reasenable (I hope...)


With all these repairs in the near future I first welded all the holes inside the cab and a few on the firewall:








I must say, I have seen some firewalls on this board that were a lot worse..
Maybe I'm just a lucky guy

[Kim57]

It really doesn't look too bad.
I would remove the small plates that the factory has at the bottom of the cowl drain areas.
IMHO that's what ruined plenty of these cabs in those places because debris would just sit there and hold water.
Kim

[oldman3]

Kees, not to bad, I've seen alot worse myself. Your moving along...Jim

[RockinKees]

Well Kim and Jim, you're right about it, it aint so bad.

I welded all the unneccesary holes the PO had made, welded some in the firewall too that I think I don't need.
After that, I cleaned the passenger side Lower hinge and cowl to see how bad it really is.
The main rot is at the inside floor and lower hinge pocket.





The outside of the lower cowl is pretty good.



I took off that good part to make room for the repair of the floor and hinge pocket, the inside of the cowl isn't so bad either



I think I make my own parts to get this repaired.
I've seen some of you have done it, so I should get it done also

But to make sheetmetal parts you must have the tools. I don't have all of them...
Well then, I try to make a metal brake:
Difficult to see, but this is real steel, 3 feet long, 5 mm thick angled steel, 10 mm thick strip steel. I hope it bends 14 gauge steel plate at 3 feet length.
If it does this, I'm going to make my own rollpan also
Yeah, I know, I've plenty of plans....





Only thing needed now is some hinges and we can try the new tool
I'll keep you updated on this one!

Last week I made a bending tool for brake lines, that works great!!
Set up for 3/16" and 1/4" lines.

[ptc]

Originally Posted by RockinKees

Last week I made a bending tool for brake lines, that works great!!
Set up for 3/16" and 1/4" lines.

Are those aluminum screen door rollers?

[Kim57]

Those are some nice tools you made.
Kim

[RockinKees]

No PTC, those are real Dutch Homemade Steel Rollers
(turned on my lathe )
One of a kind


Thanks Kim, hope it works fine....

[Advanced Design]

Hey, I like the tubing bender! Nice work Kees.

[oldman3]

Nice looking stuff...Jim

[reaper71]

You have got alot done Kees!! (I have been super busy with other things) so I have missed updates from your build and it is really looking good...

Mark...

[RockinKees]

Thanks guys!!
Appreciate it!!

[RockinKees]

Finished the metal brake, looks like sh*t, but it works fine!





With that done, I began to grind all the rot out.



The first two parts...lower hinge pocket:



I made a new piece for the hinge out of 2 mm steel plate:



Tacked it in again:







With this in place I can make the inside, a piece of floor and a piece of the lower kick panel. After that I will try to make the outside of the hinge pocket and lower cowl....
Sounds easy...

To be continued....

[Steve-W]

Originally Posted by RockinKees

Finished the metal brake...

Hi Kees...what is this?

[Kim57]

Nice job on the brake and repairs.
Kim

[oldman3]

When it works, it works, don't need no fancy stuff. Sheet metal repairs look good...Jim

[bogape]

Cees,

Do you know of Prins Truckshop?
He's up near Zwolle and has most of the repair panels. He's fairly well priced, and much cheaper than importing yourself.
I know it does all add up though. i bought lower cab corners and the cab cowl piece, but made the other small parts i needed. I suppose it depends if you want to be 100% factory or don't mind some slightly alternative bends and shapes in there... I'm in the latter catagory if it saves money!

[Steve-W]

Originally Posted by bogape

Cees,

Do you know of Prins Truckshop?

as a reference, I ordered my both front fenders there and some other stuff, reasonable priced and fast delivery if in stock.