My 50 roadster pickup build

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by Kim57

Looks like a cool get together.
Kim

Originally Posted by xpickup

Oldman3, sounds like it was a great cruise. I love your truck and I bet it is great running around with the top off.


Shannon

Originally Posted by Indian113

Hey Jim! I never get tired of seeing your truck, glad your having fun looking good.

Thanks guys, had a great time, I always enjoy driving my truck, with the top off makes it even better. Will try and get some more pics up now.

[oldman3]

I keep getting token missing if I try to load two or more pics. Tried loading one at a time and it said "load failed", I must be doing something wrong, will try again later...Jim

[onebadfivefive]

Truck came out M I N T!! Nice work! I'm new to the forum so im just starting to read everyones build threads and that's bad ass that you built a shop just to build this truck.. even more bad ass you made it into a mag with this beauty! That's a dream of mine. Congrats on a beautiful build! -Mark

[oldman3]

Thanks Mark for the kind words, and welcome to the site, their are some outstanding builds going on, and I'm amazed at all the talent....Jim

[oldman3]

Hey guys, just a little info on the truck. The daughter of a friend got married Saturday and had asked if she could use my truck as some background for the wedding. It was taking place at an old theater right off the square in town. Pics aren't that good and the date is wrong, but here they are...Jim

[oldman3]

Forget to show one that showed more of the old theater...Jim

[Indian113]

I never get tired of seeing pics of your truck Jim! Very pretty Lady, lucky guy! Thanks for the pics

[oldman3]

Thanks Ray, very pretty and very nice girl...Jim

[litew8]

Beautiful.

[xpickup]

oldman3, great looking pictures. Cool looking old theater with a great looking truck.


Shannon

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by litew8

Beautiful.

Thanks...Jim

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by xpickup

oldman3, great looking pictures. Cool looking old theater with a great looking truck.


Shannon

Thanks Shannon, had some fun times in that theater when I was younger (over 50 yrs ago)...Jim

[lv2tri2]

Read this for the first time today and your thread is certainly one of the best, if not the best I've seen. I'm building a 49 and your time with pictures and description will answer so many questions. Thanks for the time you spent for the rest of us.

[oldman3]

lv2tri2, I'm honored for the high praise you've given me. There are so many outstanding builds on this site. Welcome to the site and if I can be of any help, don't hesitate to PM me...Jim

[longbike]

Very cool truck oldman love the look, do you ever miss the 32?
Im dying to build a 32 sedan hotrod!

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by longbike

Very cool truck oldman love the look, do you ever miss the 32?
Im dying to build a 32 sedan hotrod!

Thanks for the compliment. Yeah every now and then I miss it, and wonder how and where it's at now. As I've said before your truck came out super...Jim

[oldman3]

Hey guys, wasn't going to post this, but after thinking I thought if might be beneficial to someone. Anyhow last week I decided to change my front shocks and springs. When I built my truck I started out with the stock style springs (see pic below). To make a long story shorter I changed the springs 3 times (275#,300# and 325#) and was never happy with the arm angle or the ride. So I installed coil-over springs and shocks. I used 600# springs and Pro shocks for MII. At the time Pro shocks had a tube over shock for spring collar, not a threaded housing for the MII. Installed them and was happy with everything. Got the arm angle level and the ride was good. Working with my son and on other rides we really like the QA1 adjustable shocks, so I decided to change mine out.

[oldman3]

This pic shows the old Pro shock and 600# spring.

[oldman3]

This pic shows the new QA1 adjustable shock and the 700# spring. When I talked to QA1 they said I needed the 700# spring because of the weight on my front end. If I used the 600# spring I would be going up to far with the collar to make my arm level and the ride would not be as good.

[oldman3]

When I built my truck I used Heidt's economy upper and lower A arms, they were about $100 a pair cheaper that the tubular ones and are plenty strong (see pic below) The lower A arms had the stock spring locating ring to lock spring in place. With the Pro shocks the ring was not in the way of the collar for adjusting the spring tension.

[oldman3]

With the QA1 shocks the adjusting knob for shock, was right where the rings was, so I had to cut it off (it's a plate below, so no change to the strength of the arm, just have my clearance) Pic below of ring cut off. I painted the area with black paint to keep arm from rusting and re-installed, see pic.

[oldman3]

After installing the new stuff I took it for a ride, came back and adjusted the spring to level the arm. I adjusted the shock for a medium firm ride. Shock has 18 points for adjustment, 1-6 for soft ride, 6-12 for medium to firm ride and good handling and 12-18 for firm ride and better handling. I have mine at 10 right now, and will drive it for awhile before adjusting anymore. Pic shows how the spring and shock look now, adjustment knob at bottom of shock. Man I need to get this front end cleaned up, I just drive it and don't think about the road grime, but it looks bad....Jim

[Kim57]

Nice work and write up.
Kim

[Bubba54]

Jim, QA-1’s are looking real nice. I hope to use a set on my Camaro clip someday. Glad to hear they are working out for you.

Shawn

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by Kim57

Nice work and write up.
Kim

Thanks Kim