Dutch '59 Fleetside Longbed

[Kim57]

Nice mods on the column.
Kim

[RockinKees]

Thanks Kim!!

[oldman3]

Kees, nice job on the column, looked like a seasoned pro doing the work...Jim

[ChuckDriver]

Nice work!

[Advanced Design]

Yep, you made that look easy!

[RockinKees]

Finished welding the column.

Shifter pipe:



The 3" pieces going back:



And the last piece (you can see the mark I made to get the parts inline):



And finished it looks like this:



I now have a column build to my personal specs, what else do you need
It was easier than I thought, now comes the connection to the rack and pinion....

Put the column in place to see if I got it right, and yes, excactly what I wanted!





Again, one item off the list

[Katrina/10]

Nice work, you can grind a couple of flat spots on the end of the shaft to attach a u-joint.

[RockinKees]

Yes Gary, that was exactly the plan.
I may have to shorten the end a bit, we'll see when we have the parts...

[Kim57]

Came out real nice.
Kim

[59chev]

Thanks for the pics on shortening the column. I will need to do the same thing with the van column I plan to put in my truck.Your pics where the ah.. ha.. moment I needed.

[RockinKees]

Originally Posted by 59chev

Thanks for the pics on shortening the column. I will need to do the same thing with the van column I plan to put in my truck.Your pics where the ah.. ha.. moment I needed.

You're welcome!!

Thanks again Kim!

[ChuckDriver]

Nice work!

Mine is also a shortened van column and I machined it for the Double-D joint. I also modified the shift arm so the shift rod would clear the brake pedal!

[RockinKees]

That's good looking Chuckdriver!

I've made a swingpedal so I don't have to modify the shiftarm

[OrrieG]

Just a heads up. On GM for the shift indicator to match the transmission the distance from the center line of the column shaft to the linkage hole needs to be the same as the center line of the trans shift shaft to shift rod linkage hole. I spent some time on trial and error before I found a link with that nugget of information. So if you lengthened the one on the column you will need to do the same to the trans shaft lever.

[RockinKees]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

Just a heads up. On GM for the shift indicator to match the transmission the distance from the center line of the column shaft to the linkage hole needs to be the same as the center line of the trans shift shaft to shift rod linkage hole. I spent some time on trial and error before I found a link with that nugget of information. So if you lengthened the one on the column you will need to do the same to the trans shaft lever.

THAT is some good info!!
Thanks OrrieG!!

This probably saves me a lot of headaches

[rusty76]

Cool truck. Late to the build but I likes it.

[RockinKees]

Thanks Rusty76!

I've ordered the parts for the steering so that have to wait a few weeks.

Been thinking what to do with the towbar. Did a small mock up to see if it would fit:





Well it fits, but it's very thight. I also want the fueltank in that spot.
The towbar is from a '98 Trialblazer, and is just a little too wide.

I modified the towbar so it fits the framerails. I now can bolt it right under.
Ground off the original "ears" and made my own. Also welded in a gusset, that's being used as the rear mount of the fueltank. The front of the tank is bolted to the crossmember.









And in primer, tommorow it's all black
Next is mounting the fueltank and make the fuelline.
Then think about the fuelfiller, I want it at the rightside of the bed...
Lots to do!

[Steve-W]

Kees, your craftmanship is truely inspirational!

[55 Chevy Dave]

Great build you have going here, Kees.

I can see that I am going to need to go through all 24 pages!

[Kim57]

You're doing a great job on all the fab work.
Kim

[lower50's]

Nice job on the column. The hitch will be nice.

[ptc]

Nice Hitch work you did there!!! coming right along.....

[reaper71]

Looking real good Kees!!

[RockinKees]

Thanks guys!!

Small update...
Due to some physical problems nothing much is done.
But...fueltank is in, fuelline is in

Went ahead with the doorlocks again just before the body breakdown





I was filling the pillar to get it nice and clean before I had to stop. You see what this is going to look like when finished I think.
I have to use modern mathmatics to get the stock doorhandle work with the BMW doorlocks. I think I know what to make for this....

As I was at home, I took the ventwindow apart to put new weatherstriping in there.

As I took it out of the truck:





Apart and ready for primer and paint:



Primered and painted and baking in the sun:



I looked at U-tube to see what was the easiest way to put the weatherstriping in, and saw I was missing a few washers. One that was needed for mounting the spring at the right tension was not there, so I made one:



Put the new weatherstriping in, bolted all together and I have a "new" good looking vent window again



The list gets shorter and shorter

[Kim57]

Nice work on the vent.
Hope you feel better.
Kim