Dutch '59 Fleetside Longbed

[Kim57]

Nice fab work.
Kim

[oldman3]

Kees, "Cheap @ss" is what made this hobby what it is today. We all try to save wherever we can....Jim

[Advanced Design]

Originally Posted by RockinKees

No, not blue.
I'm in love with this one:


I believe it's won the truck of the month contest on this board back in 2008?

I've doubted a very long time about colors, but I now go with semi gloss black and high gloss red, with some small white striping.
I'm not sure about the inside tho, thought about gloss black and only the front of the dash red.....Any input would be appreciated here!

Wow, I like that! Me, I would be partial to all black for the interior.

[RockinKees]

Thanks Kim and Jim!!

Yeah, I'm not sure about interior yet....

To show you the finished part, the left cab corner:


Then to the right side corner. There was only a small hole I thought fill it up and we're ready.
False....
There was a lot of bondo, at some points more than 1/4"thick.
So I took the whole part out and made a new one.
Here's what I did:

First, grind a hole in your car:


Then make a piece of steel thick enough for the coming 55 years:




Then tack the new piece in his new home:


Make a new loower section:


Weld and grind smooth:




Then on to the backside, measure and grind:


If it fits, weld and grind:


Now you have a new cabcorner, twice as thick as aftermarket stuff, and it also looks good


That was the Howto "How to make a cabcorner from scratch"

This was also the last part to repair, now it's on to construct a swing pedal and brakebooster.
I'm getting there...

See you next time!!

[oldman3]

Super nice job...Jim

[Advanced Design]

I agree, great work and explanation. I predict that will last 155 years!

[ChuckDriver]

That looks nice!

[RockinKees]

Thanks guys!!
I'm happy with it

[Kim57]

Awesome work on the cab corners.
Kim

[Steve-W]

damn, that is really impressive Kees! to make the curve, did you roll it, or just tack it on one side and then bend it while you move forward?

[RockinKees]

Steve, it's just hammer and dolly work, and a big block of wood
After hammering and bending it's pretty much in the shape you need, just take your time with it.

If you look very closely at some of the pics you can see where I hit the metal. The bumps you make when hammering are so small, you can "grind" them away.
You just need a little filler to make it really smooth.

That's all....

[reaper71]

Really nice metal work Kees!!

[ptc]

Originally Posted by reaper71

Really nice metal work Kees!!

DITTO!!!!! this is what custom building is all about....

[RockinKees]

Thank you guys!!
Why buy if you can make it, or at least try to make it.
When it won't go as planned, you can always buy it then

Always done it this way, also with my bikes, I love making things (especially when I can't afford it )
I think that's true Hot Rodding, back yard building at his best!!!

Thanks again!!

[RockinKees]

First, I got new headers, pair number 3:


When I bought the truck there were some long headers on it, too long and too low.
I exchanged them for original Ram Horns, but they are so small...1/3/4"
These I came across on the national Dutch "CL", made an offer and got them fairly cheap. The are new and it's a complete set.
Hope they fit nice!

So, on to the brakebooster and swing pedal.
Bolted the inner fender on and measured where I wanted the booster, and cut a square out of the firewall


Next I tackwelded the prefabbed 3 mm steel plate onto the firewall and testfitted the booster.
All looks good to me:




Then I broke my head over the swing pedal, and began to make a reinforcement to the inside, from firewall to the column mount:


This isn't ready yet.
I have to find a way to get the pedal in and at the right proportions.
I think I have enough on a ratio of 1:6 ( or maybe 1:5).
Must make some sort of bearing which holds the pedal with enough strenght to push it in....the hard way! Oh, and I want the original parkingbrake lever in use too!
Have to sleep this one over

[Kim57]

Nice looking headers.
Nice fab on the brake booster.
Kim

[Nut Case]

Kees, great work. Something to consider since your working in the area. Step reinforcement, something to firm up the steps on the TK series. Mine are bent up and soft. I'm going to try to run some 14 gauge c channel on the underneath side to firm them up. Just a thought. Just keep on keeping on. Nut Case

[RockinKees]

Thanks Kim!!

Nut Case, you mean the steps to get in the truck?
There is some C-channel underneath, which I tought I weld some square tube to it.
I have modified the steps a little, there a bit shorter now, feels stronger allready.
If you mean the floor area itself, that's a lot stronger now with 14 gauge steel plate welded in.

[Nut Case]

That's exactly what I was referring to. Keep up the good work, love the photo's, keep them coming. Nut Case

[Steve-W]

Kees, everything ok? I'm going cold turkey man!...don't cut us off like this

[lowrodderchev]

Dude great job on the cab corners man u got some skillz

[RockinKees]

Thank you, LowRodder!! Appreciate you saying this!!

Steve, I'm not okay at the moment...
Haven't been wrenching for over a week now, my body let me down.
I have to have patience, just like you guys
I even got to get the last pics on my computer....
Just give me a few days and I'll be back!!!

I wanted to drive the truck to the Rumblers CC BBQ, end of May (maybe you know that meeting?) but I don't think I'll manage that.
If I don't get to the Rumblers, then I'll try to get to the Kustom Kulture meeting in Herten (June, the "old Bottrop" meeting).
We will see how my body is going back to normal within the next couple of days....
Sorry guys!

[oldman3]

Kees, know what your saying, the mind is willing, but the body say's NO. Take care and get well...Jim

[Steve-W]

Sorry to hear that Kees, your health is more important than a truck, so take time to get well!
Take care!

[RockinKees]

Thanks guys!

It's difficult sometimes.....