My 54gmc build

[ratty 46]

Hey Troy ... have you considered 20" all around? You can get late model dodge pickup spare tire wheels for under $70.00 each. I saw them on this board. Goodle them ... it's a cheaper alternative for a 20" wheel.

Ratty 46

[troy54gmc]

Hey Ratty. yes im gonna half to do something alot cheaper than that. yes ive seen the dodge wheels. I believe Cajundragger has them on his truck. its also the cover of this months street trucks, very Sweet! I remember reading his build thread and i think he ended up spending alot more cash getting them modified than he wanted. that kid is a amazing builder and only 21 to boot. I guess im just gonna keep looking till i find something i like thats in my budget.. $00.00 ha ha. this is the only bling i can afford i can always dream big.

[ratty 46]

My '46 coupe stalled at the wheels too .... so I bought some 15" (real) PANTERA magnesium wheels .... only issue is tire sizes are VERY limited in 15" wheels. I've opted for the dodge trucks spares in 20". When I sell the mag wheels I'll have enough for tires too!!

Good luck.

Ratty 46

[troy54gmc]

Well i had time to work on rear frame today. got it all welded. then ground welds and put a few fish plates on. i couldnt decide if i wanted to put the plates in line with the corners or make them all diamond looking. i went with the diamond look. whata guys think?????

[troy54gmc]

This was first idea of placement of plates and then the second idea i went with.

[troy54gmc]

Gotta call it a night. i know this may sound funny to you back east boys but i have to get up early cause im taking the family up to the snow for a sledding and play day. Yes here in AZ we actually drive 2 hours to play in the snow. hopefully i can finish welding plates early next week.

[troy54gmc]

Come on guys i need some input on the new fish plates???? keep em this way or do it differently??

[Fat Mike]

Those fish plates look good. Have you finished welding in the frame where the old and the new tie together. I am very interested in the tie in and did you use fish plates on the inside?

[troy54gmc]

Hey Mike. Thanks for the response buddy. No i havent finished the tie in completely. i do have them welded together but not done all the way yet. Yes i plan on doing fish plates on inside and outside of frame. i just dont want this sucker ever failing, its probably overkill but i dont care. better safe than sorry. As soon as i get the frames finish welded together ill shoot you some pictures.

[Fat Mike]

Since you are running 22" on the rear what is the height of the top of the c-notch to the bottom of the original frame?

[troy54gmc]

I have a questions for you guys. I was sitting in the garage today staring at the truck and dreaming and had a idea. What if i connected the side windows with the rear window and made one big rear wrap around window? Kinda like the big windows on the 55-59 series trucks. Has anyone done this before or attempted to? could i get glass made for it? How would it look when done? Dont get me wrong i love the 5 window look. just want something different from everyone else and i really dig the big wrap around windows.

These were all the thoughts goin thru my head. I only have the one cab so if i started cutting it and didnt like it i would be screwed.... I dont think it would be very hard to do. i took some before and after pictures and used black paint for where the new window would be.

What do you all think??? am i crazy??

[Fat Mike]

That would defintely be different and would look cool. When you cut that section out send it to me. LOL!

[BlueJeep]

My biggest question is where are you going to get glass to fill that hole?

[Kabwe]

I've seen it done before and it looked okay. I use to hang out at a hotrod shop and the guy that ran it son did one like that. I thought it was cool because you did not really notice it, but you knew something was different.lol I like mods like that. But I don't think it was done on cab like yours I don't remember his window opening being as large. I think to make the center window even with the outer windows would be a cooler mod.

[troy54gmc]

Since you are running 22" on the rear what is the height of the top of the c-notch to the bottom of the original frame

Mike i have over 10" from where the original frame was to the bottom of the new step notch, i should have plenty of room to lay it on the ground.

That would defintely be different and would look cool. When you cut that section out send it to me. LOL!

Thats what i was thinking, unfortanetly if i do it i have to use the parts that i cut out to make new window edge..

My biggest question is where are you going to get glass to fill that hole?

Hey bluejeep, that is my biggest worry if i could get glass made to fit the whole. i would definatley research that before i started cutting up the cab.

[troy54gmc]

Hey i figured out how to do the quote box finally. ya

Kabwe Re: My 54gmc build

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I've seen it done before and it looked okay. I use to hang out at a hotrod shop and the guy that ran it son did one like that. I thought it was cool because you did not really notice it, but you knew something was different.lol I like mods like that. But I don't think it was done a cab like yours I don't remember his window opening being as large. I think to make the center window even with the outer windows would be a cooler mod.

Hey Kabwe, i have looked everywhere and couldnt find a picture of someone doin this to a 5 window cab. I have seen someone make the center window bigger to match the sides, thats actually where i got the idea from. here is a picture of the truck.

[troy54gmc]

dang it with all the excitment figuring out the qoute thing i forgot to add picture. here u go.

[troy54gmc]

All right im just not happy with the way the fish plates i made look on the frame, so i messed around today and made a new style. the only thing im not sure of is the holes i drilled in it. i had planned on boxing entire frame and putting holes similar in it just to brake up all the plain metal and make it look cool. the problem is im worried about rust getting into the inside of the frame via the holes. i can paint original frame before i box it but the new rear box frame is allready completely boxxed and i cannot get to it.

so if i dont drill all the way thru plates into the frame and just leave holes in the plate and weld all around the outside of plate do you think rust and moisture will get in holes and behind the plate? i plan on getting ot powdercoated when im all done. man i sound crazy..

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by troy54gmc

dang it with all the excitment figuring out the qoute thing i forgot to add picture. here u go.

yeah I saw that truck before and it is sweet and that window looks like the way GM should have done it imo.

[troy54gmc]

ya man i couldnt agree with you more. why did they make the middle window a different size? there has to be a reason.. right?
Hey whata think of the new fish plate?

[troy54gmc]

Ok i took a couple of better pictures today. the first one is the old plates and the second one is the new plate design. whata think? which one?

[BlueJeep]

It's really just your personal preference on the plates. Personally, I'd use the second one but drill bigger holes, say 2", and weld the circumference of the hole to the frame. But then again, I don't use plates...

[ratty 46]

I vote #2 .... the one large plate & I'll agree with BlueJeep .... enlarge the holes.

Ratty 46

[Kabwe]

I think you are having too much fun working on this.lol But I'm the same way. So what are you leaning towards doing with that rear window. Keeping the way it is, wrap around, or making it the same size was the others?

[troy54gmc]

Kabwe Re: My 54gmc build

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I think you are having too much fun working on this.lol But I'm the same way. So what are you leaning towards doing with that rear window. Keeping the way it is, wrap around, or making it the same size was the others?

Man you are right. i spent an hour today and went thru 4 cutoff wheels removing the triangular plates so i can replace them with new style. luckily i only welded 2 sides of each one. Next time im gonna just spot weld till i make up my mind. at least i know my welds are getting good penetration.
As for the window im gonna do some more research first to see if i can get glass made for it. i definately like the big wrap around idea though.