Dutch '59 Fleetside Longbed

[OrrieG]

Good trans is working, I'm with Ogre, as long as I can keep finding good used TH350's for $50 no rebuilding. I have two spares in the garage right now.

[RockinKees]

Yes, that's one way to do it, OrrieG.
But here in the Netherlands you won't find "good" used automatics for $50...

I think a good trans stays good with normal maintainance and normal use. I don't plan to dragrace the truck or do other crazy thinks with it, besides drive the heck out of it

So, with my use, it will last I think, although it is a mechanical thing, everthing can happen, right?

[RockinKees]

Nice view this morning, standing with his little nephew (1966 Dodge 200):



Transmission is still okay, didn't drive it yet but it sounds good and it still shifts

Had some chassis issues that must be done, first welding the front crossmember









As you can see, my upside down weldingskills are not up to date, but who cares, this is going to be deleted afterall

Next the removal of the two pieces of the gearbox crossmember, leftside I had help from my buddy the Grinder, all went wel, except for grinding in a brakeline.
No problem, just make a new one!
Right side went of with a drill, didn't know the rivets were made from such a soft metal.

Left side:


Right side:


Right side drilled:


And try to make it old look (to fool the officer ) Paint is still wet...


Whats left of the gearbox crossmember, I had to take it out for the Dutch title, the officers may say it is a damage to the chassis...now it isn't anymore



I also took the driverside door out, for repair of the hinge.
Gonna tackle that Friday.



All in all a wonderfull day in Truckland!!

[Kim57]

You're making nice progress.
Kim

[RockinKees]

Thanks Kim!

I have to, because I have to drive 45 minutes to get there...
When I have my title, I'm gonna move the truck to a friend close by where it can stand without being in the way of things.
I'm very lucky to wrench the truck where it is now, having acces to a car ramp, and having a roof over my head! But I am taking space for other cars.

Tomorrow we unload a new container from the states with three oldies. Thats why I have to speed things up.
But your right, I'm making good progress

[Katrina/10]

Looks like a nice workshop you have it in. I like the old Dodge, too.

[RockinKees]

That workshop was a greenhouse in his early days, too bad it isn't mine....

I have repaired the driverside doorhinge pocket, it opens and closes now.
I have grind a whole part out of the door, because I thought it was in a very bad shape. It was bad, but not too bad.







For me this was the easiest way to make a repair, and get a good look inside the door. The PO had allready made repairs to the underside, this is very rough, but solid.

I made a patch from 2mm thick steel, that follows the shape of the backside of the hingepocket.



I tackwelded it in the part of the door and testfitted it on the hinge





It fits
After welding it completely (sorry no pics) I welded it back into the door.



I haven't made pics of the finished product, forgot about that...
Next was mounting the door and set the gaps, it's not easy!!
What I find is that you have to slam the door shut to get it into it's "second" lock. I've tried almost everything to get it to close softly, but that aint gonna work.
Tips regarding to this are most welcome!!

When I got the truck, the doors wouldn't close at all, so one point for me!!
The truck came also without any keys, is this a keynumber on the lock?
Can I go to a keymaker with this number and he or she can make me new keys??

[Katrina/10]

A greenhouse makes a good garage! Nice work on the door, I have to shut mine pretty hard to get it to close all the way. Not sure about the lock, though.

[Kim57]

Nice fix on the door.
Kim

[47 Fasttoys]

Not sure if they will do a key using that number, but if you bring that part to any good locksmith they can make a key to match it. ClassicParts or LMC can sell you lock cylinder or set with matching keys for all the locks (doors, ign., glove box).
Rob

[RockinKees]

Finally started on the rewiring.

First I did the taillights, soldered new wires at the sockets and at the fuel sender. Took all wires to the front and inside the cab.
The fusebox and relay holder will be inside under dash.

Fusebox will also be homemade:


Something like this, tommorow it will be ready...I hope.

The blowermotor is repaired, so I can try and make the airhoses fit their box again. It's all broken off, I have to engineer something to make it work again.





What's importend for getting a Dutch title is working windshield wipers.
Mine doesn't work.
I tried to fix it, soldered a few wires back on, still doesn't work, then took the wipermotor apart...








Didn't know if I did the right thing

To get the brushes back in I used two blind rivets, to hold the brushes in place. They're under spring tension so they wanna be out of their places!
I then put the anchor in first, took the rivets out and then as a hole part into the motor.
You always be short on helping hands, but this gets the job done


Here you can see the rivets.

After putting it complete together the motor does turn, but only one turn, until the small pin that activates the relay inside.
I did not get it to work normal, I think the the relay is defective.
Of course no wipermotor in the Netherlands that I know of.
I then managed to get it working by override that relay, took the pin out, and made a switch between the yellow wire at the bottom and the green wire at the right of this picture.



It works now at one speed, I only have to stop the motor at his starting place by switching the motor off.
But for the title I have a working wiper motor
That's all they are asking for.

If someone has any tips to get this working as it should, please tell me, thanks!

[RockinKees]

Well, the wipermotor doesn't work when it's mounted in the truck
It only makes a buzzing sound, connected to the rods. I think the motor is too old , it has retired
Now I have to look for something that can be made to fit.
Any ideas??

A new stock one takes to long to get here, and I find them way to expensive...

So, on with making a mess of things:


Looks good already , hope it works as I planned...


Tonneau cover mess...


Car mess....

First you have to make a mess to get it working an pretty again!

[Katrina/10]

I was able to use a Dodge Caravan rear window wiper motor in my 55. You make be able to adapt a similar one. Was that gauge cluster hard to get out?

[RockinKees]

That gauge cluster is pretty easy, three screws and some fort and back movement and it comes right out.

How did you get your wiper motor in, I mean that it moves the same way as stock? Did you make your own rod system to make it work, Gary?
Do you have pics of it?
I am looking for European cars that has the same movement, but they all use a "normal" wipermotor....

[Kim57]

Your fuse panel is looking real nice.
Kim

[RockinKees]

Thank you Kim!!

[Katrina/10]

I hope the 59 motor mounts the same as 55. If so, it is not hard to do. You need a motor that has a 90 degree movement instead of 360, as most modern ones do. But, since the rear motor drives a single blade, they are the usually the right ones.

I cut the pivot off the original motor and welded it straight to the shaft of the Caravan motor, and made a small bracket to adapt it to the truck dash. It works great, has 2 speeds and even parks the wipers in the correct spot! I do not have a picture, but I will try to take one.

[Katrina/10]

I took the 3 screws out of my gauge cluster to fix the speedometer, and it would not move! Maybe I did not pry hard enough.

[RockinKees]

Okay. Didn't thought of the 90 degree movement. But I don't get how you get the wipers go to each other instead of going the same direction (hope you understand me??) The wipermotor is pictured in post#61 above, maybe you can see if it is the same?

The cluster is a tight fit, I first do left upperside, the the bottom and then after some movemet the right side. That works for me.

[Katrina/10]

It has to do with the rotation of the motor shaft, since the arms are connected to the little pins on the ends of the cross bar, when the shaft begins to turn, essentially the connecting linkages both move towards the center of the truck, drawing the wiper blades up from their resting position. It really works the same way as the original one, you just have a modern motor with the old linkage attached to it. I tried to take a picture under my dash, but the radio completely blocks the view of the wiper motor!

[RockinKees]

I was thinking, if I get a wipermotor with 360 degree movement I could make something like this:



If I could make this, then the rods won't interfere with each other.
I only have to see how I can get strenght in the pin at the rightside wiperrod.
Maybe just weld it together?

If you can get me a pic Gary, that would be great!!
I have more options to make it work then!

[RockinKees]

Oh, and Gary, what kind of switch are you using?
Mine original one is not on this earth anymore

Can you hook up an aftermarket switch to a modern wipermotor?

[Katrina/10]

Good concept drawing you have, I think that will work. I don't think I will be able to take a picture of the 55 without removing the radio. But I put the same motor in my 51, and I can see it pretty well. I'll try that one, it is similar. Or, I may make a drawing. I remember I used the Dodge wiper control knob, I believe.

[RockinKees]

I got hold of a Volkswagen Golf wipermotor, I think it will do the job.
Took the original wipermotor out and testfitted the VW motor, that's a bit smaller so I should be able to get it to work.
The drawing I made is now reality...


The VW item, left, first grinded the ball link off, drilled a hole at the right place. The hole is threaded, put a bolt in it and tack weld it so it cannot move.


Because you can't get there anymore when it all is welded together, I made a new bronze bearing. The rod goes over this bearing and then the other, upper rod connector, that one is also threaded.
Screw the rod connector on, put on a nut and tackweld this all together so that this also can not move.


Rod connector in the making


For the upper rod I used the original pin.

The long bolt has to be cut to size and weld to the nut and connector.
Welding has yet to be done, I need the truck for that
This should work......I think......

Also went on with rewiring, made brackets to put the fusebox in.





Maybe it has to go to another location when I start working on the axles and steering, but it's ok for now.

I got the truck without any keys, so I bought an universal ingnition lock.
It's only too small for the original hole in the dash.
No problem for this Rocker
Take a piece of aluminum and make yourself a little adapter!



And the finished product:



Measurements on the drawing are in millimeters...



I love it when a plan comes together

[Kim57]

Nice fab work.
Kim