52 Project

[wigadore]

How you have it setup is exactly how I saw it in my head. Now I just need to find or build a cross member for this on my truck and the chassis will be complete.

[pgf545]

Originally Posted by wigadore

How you have it setup is exactly how I saw it in my head. Now I just need to find or build a cross member for this on my truck and the chassis will be complete.

.

This is the kit that we got. http://www.classicperform.com/Store/...ks/4754RLK.htm It includes the springs, hangers, shocks and shock mounting brackets. I didn't see it separate but you might give them a call and see if you can buy it separately.

Bernie

[WIDESIDE72]

Maybe someday I will be this far along...

[pgf545]

Originally Posted by WIDESIDE72

Maybe someday I will be this far along...

I have been working really hard to get it this far....it is beginning to seem like it is never going to get done...lol. We ran into some health problems with my dad through the build but he seems to be better now. Also I am only able to get to his place once a week so it has taken longer than we wanted it to but it is starting to show some promise. Hopefully he has all the paint stripped when I go down this week and I can start on the body work. Once we get it painted I think it will come together pretty quick since I have been planning the final draft all the way along. Thanks for the encouragement guys.

Bernie

[wigadore]

I love your thread and I am I learning alot and I thank you for your time so far. I am rebuilding my Ford 9" rear end right now and so far all I have is a housing and center that has been rebuilt. Did you buy a kit to include axles, brakes, bearings, etc...? Your setup looks awesome.

Thanks for the CPP link. I talked to a sales rep and they ship to Canada where TCI does not. One step closer thanks to you.

[pgf545]

Originally Posted by wigadore

I love your thread and I am I learning alot and I thank you for your time so far. I am rebuilding my Ford 9" rear end right now and so far all I have is a housing and center that has been rebuilt. Did you buy a kit to include axles, brakes, bearings, etc...? Your setup looks awesome.

Thanks for the CPP link. I talked to a sales rep and they ship to Canada where TCI does not. One step closer thanks to you.

Thanks for the compliments. I am not sure if it was a kit or not but everything came from Moser. Those guys build a lot of race stuff and we were familiar from that. all we had was the center section and we got everything else from them. Good luck and if you need anything else let me know.

Update: Right now we almost have all the old paint stripped off and dad was hoping to have it in primer this week. Once he gets it primed I have some touch up work to do and then some body work. The weather has been so nice this past week dad has been able to get out and work on it some. I am not sure exactly how much time the body work is going to take me but I have had it in the back of my mind this whole project so I am hoping that I don't' need a bunch. I tried to get the panels lined up nicely so that it wouldn't need much filled etc. Once some real progress starts to happen I will post some more pictures. Stripping paint doesn't make for good pictures...

Bernie

[tobins 52 gmc]

Keep us in the loop .

[wigadore]

Moser is who I called three days ago. THey are working together on getting me something put together so I can get this section built.

[CAL 58 GMC]

It's looking really good Bernie. I love those fat wheels in the back.

[ChuckDriver]

Bernie, I really like what your are doing to your truck. It's look good so far.

I did notice something in post #392. I'm not as familiar with Big Blocks, but it looks like you have the distributor CAP installed 180 out. I mean the plugs for the battery feed and Tach should be on the drivers side opposite the vacumn advance canister. There should be a locating tab in the cap that mates to the distributor housing.

Good luck with the rest of the build, hopefully you'll be riding soon!

[pgf545]

Originally Posted by ChuckDriver

Bernie, I really like what your are doing to your truck. It's look good so far.

I did notice something in post #392. I'm not as familiar with Big Blocks, but it looks like you have the distributor CAP installed 180 out. I mean the plugs for the battery feed and Tach should be on the drivers side opposite the vacumn advance canister. There should be a locating tab in the cap that mates to the distributor housing.

Good luck with the rest of the build, hopefully you'll be riding soon!

Yes you are right, the MSD distributor has 4 keys so you can put it anyway you want. I kinda screwed up but I think it will help clean up the wiring by bringing it from that side. I could flip the cap around but then I would have to redo the wires that I have already built. Plus it is a little tight to the firewall on the drivers side. The motor doesn't care which way it is keyed anyway....thats my story and I am sticking to it...lol.

Bernie

[pgf545]

Yeah!!!!! Dad got all the paint stripped and primed the cab this past week. I went down today and did a little patch building. I want to fix the small rust holes before I weld in the vent patch. So you guys know I have been recycling card board in an effort to keep all the tree huggers happy. The only problem is it takes a lot of cars to equal one patch panel but I am game to keep recycling...lol

Bernie

[52 choptop]

hey bernie, your truck looks great! But boy do i agree with you, sometimes they seem like they are taking forever. the knowing you built it is so worth it when you're done and everyone asks you about it wherever you go.

[52 choptop]

here's how mine is lookin so far.......chopped, tubbed, shaved, coped, 383sbc (I envy the 572)

[pgf545]

Sweet looking ride!!! We are still a little while before we can get it on the road.

Bernie

[bensimmons_05]

Hey Bernie everything is looking great!

I say forget the metal, just glue the Miller Lite cardboard in place!!

[pgf545]

I was kinda thinking that but it won't fit the paint scheme...

[pgf545]

So I decided to do a little fill welding today.....things started out well....and then as my kids say, "Epic Fail Dad". The area I was working on is right above the cowl vent and it had some pin holes that needed work. My first attack was to drill some holes to get to some good metal. The smaller holes I felt like I could weld shut so I went that way. I had my dad hold a backer to try to help in filling the holes and that worked for the most part. Once I started grinding the welds I realized that I was not getting enough weld penetration and they were opening up again. So back to the welder and that is when I figured out that there isn't enough metal to even weld to. So I started building a patch panel but didn't get to finish it today so maybe next weekend.

Also Santa came a little early!!!!! Dad ordered rear fenders, running boards and and a chrome grill.

Here are some pictures that I took today of the fail.....and the parts.


Bernie

[pgf545]

Here's a couple more parts pictures.

[tobins 52 gmc]

hi Bernie , nice parts .Have you give any though of the E brake set up .Thanks ROBERT

[mylow53]

my dad mentioned that if you hold a piece of brass or was it copper behind your weld, you wont burn thru as much....
GT

[BIG CHEVY 3600]

Originally Posted by mylow53

my dad mentioned that if you hold a piece of brass or was it copper behind your weld, you wont burn thru as much....
GT

Copper, it won't weld and works good.

[pgf545]

Tobin, yes we have the rear brakes with the e-brake incorporated in them and a Lokar pedal assembly for inside the truck.

Greg, Yeah I tried that but the metal was still to think in some spots. It was pretty swiss cheesed in that spot. I might give it another shot this weekend but for now I am still thinking patch panel. For some reason there was lots of rust in that area. This was an old farm truck so I am sure it was open all the time and probably had grain packed in there...lol. There was lots of grain in this truck when we got it.

Bernie

[hotrodjoe1952]

i absolutely love this thread, recently purchased a 52 myself with a excelent body, it is all original but the suspension has been upgraded to a 3/4 ton 4x4 which i am going to change, also it is a long wheel base, not sure if i will change that yet but it is in my thoughts, thank you so very much for posting the great pictures and all the awesome helpful tips, i added some pics of my truck that i took the day i purchased it Dec 12*2010...Joey

[pgf545]

Ok I haven't vanished off the face of the earth...lol. I have been messing around but not to much on the truck. Dad got us a new toy and I have been messing with it and today finally felt like i had progressed enough to work on the truck with it. He got a Miller Diversion 180 TIG machine and a new welding table. The first thing I built was a cart for the welder and then did some practice on some thin sheet. Today I filled in the antenna hole, gas tank hole and finished with the cowl vent. All three of these will need filler etc. I am pretty close to done with the welding and it should be on to body work soon....I hope. One more good day like today and all the welding will be done. The only stumbling block seems to be hidden thin metal that wicks away when I start welding, that causes me to build additional fillers. Here are a couple of pictures of the machine, table and truck. Also wanted to show my son who is in Japan the truck since he hasn't seen it in a couple of years. I am planning on getting him to help when he gets home on leave in Feb.

Bernie