Dutch '59 Fleetside Longbed

[Kim57]

Glad you got your leak figured out.
Dash looks real nice. love the Sun tach.
Kim

[deejaaa1]

your truck is coming together and looking real good. your attention to detail is paying off.

[oldman3]

Glad you found the problem. Moving right along...Jim

[tommys72]

Just read the whole deal cover to cover! Awesome fab work! Gonna have a amazing truck there.

[RockinKees]

Originally Posted by tommys72

Just read the whole deal cover to cover! Awesome fab work! Gonna have a amazing truck there.

Thanks for checking me out, appreciate it!!

And ofcourse thank a big Thanks to Kim, Deejaaa1, Jim and Mark!
Always nice to see people reading along

Yesterday I got my new rack and pinion, mounted it today.
This time I used the original joint from Jaguar to mount the the rest of the column. I welded the Jag joint to the u-joint I already had, so no more drilling in the pinion tower
Also I had to shorten the DD shaft a bit to take the length of the extra joint.
Plan is to get the steering finished tomorrow, set the tow-in, put door weatherstriping in and hopefully get the truck on its wheels finally

And then maybe Friday, after setting the front at rideheight, drive the truck a little....
Then all construction work is done, interior and all other small things I will be doing along the way.
Unfortunatly I have to leave the little Hot Rod Shed, because the owner wants to park his oldtimer camper (1979 Dodge) in the shed...

[reaper71]

Looking better and better every day!!

Mark...

[Advanced Design]

Getting close! Too bad you have to leave the little hot rod shed and it was very nice you were able to make use of it. Hopefully you have a place for keeping your truck Kees.

[RockinKees]

Yes, getting real close Doug!
I don't have a place besides in front of my house.
It's meant to be my daily driver, that's also why I didn't have a $8000 paintjob

Today I did do what I planned to do:
steering works, no leaks, it starts, shifts, brakes, runs on petrol and runs on propane
This all on the axle stands...
I even made an adjustable stick to set the toe-in

I thought I had to set the rideheight on the front, because the springs are so stiff from a Jag XJ 12.
But I didn't have to, it's right where I wanted it
Not too low and not too high:





When I started, I built in a rake, but as those English Top Comfort cars are built with comfortable suspension, it's just 0 degree rake now.
The rear suspension is a bit weak, I will make a few miles to see how it works out. Maybe I have to raise it a bit.
Those 1.5 degree rake isn't there anymore now.

Tomorrow I will put new stainless steel bolts in the front suspension and try if it will move under its own power...

Wish me luck!

[lower50's]

Wow that does look great. You just proved once again you don't need a expensive paint job to make a truck look amazing. I love all the little things you did to set it apart. Congrats on everything working so far, I'm sure it will move without a problem.

[Kim57]

Stance looks real good.
Good luck with the test drive.
Kim

[Clarance J]

Hello RockinKees. So the time to take its first test ride is getting closer. All the work that you have done and shared with us has been great. Your truck has turned out beautiful. All we need now are some on the road pictures. Thanks for sharing. I know you will be smiling.

Earl

PS Does your truck have a name or what do you call it? Just curious.

[dug224]

Take some video when you roll on the test ride! Man, every time I see how straight your bed is I have bed envy!! Good job. dug

[oldman3]

Kees, truck looks great, and as a daily driver it can't be beat. Looking forward to update on the first drive...Jim

[Nut Case]

Kees

Strong Work, I enjoy the total build..

Great daily driver.

Looking forward to all the up coming items to be completed

Enjoy

Nut Case

[reaper71]

Look's really good as it sits Kees!!

Drive the wheels off the old girl!!

Mark...

[ChuckDriver]

Looking good! Will look even better going down the road!!

[deejaaa1]

that is gonna be a smooth ride for a DD with the Jag suspension. nice job so far.

[RockinKees]

Man o man, long time no see!!
I did get a question on Whatsapp where the updates went....
Well, first let me thank you all for all the kind words!!
I am far from finished yet

stevespg
kees, did you use any jag shims on the front springs?

i have xjs springs which seem to have a good spring rate, but just a little too high

Steve, I took all the shims out, I had three per side. Don't know the rate of a XJS, mine is from the heaviest XJ12. It sits great as it is.
It's you I have on the mail right? I thought you had it mount in the original rubbers? I welded the subframe to my chassis, maybe that's the difference?
Mine was only this way after I put all the sheetmetal on, oil and water in, so basically a complete frontend.

ptc
Kees, it looks GREAT man!!!! ---- glad to see youre getting on the road with your truck.

Congrats to a fine job! -- I wish you were here in US to do my pinstriping!

Thanks PTC!!
I'm in Curacao in August, maybe we can meet in the middle
Sometime soon (in the next couple of years...) we will going to Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender, I can drive that few miles South... We were planning, after the weekender, to make a roadtrip to So Cal. If you still want stripes then, it's all my pleasure!!

Clarance J
Hello RockinKees. So the time to take its first test ride is getting closer. All the work that you have done and shared with us has been great. Your truck has turned out beautiful. All we need now are some on the road pictures. Thanks for sharing. I know you will be smiling.

Earl

PS Does your truck have a name or what do you call it? Just curious.

I didn't stop smiling when I knew it was coming to Holland. The grin just keeps growing bigger and bigger
The truck hasn't got a name yet, I'm open for suggestions....
With all we've been through: Mayhem '59 , but then you get all those questions about the '58 trim...

Okay, about the lack of updates...
I managed to get the truck at my home. My son and I drove that 20 Km almost without any problems.
I could feel the trans was slipping just a little bit. I put some gas in it and drove further to my home, parked at the side and we went in for a cup of coffee.
After that 30 minutes or so, we were going to get some propane in the tanks, started, put it in Drive, but no motion what so ever...
Tried some, but only would go at about 4000 rpm, sounds great, but I do not think that's normal
End of testing...
That was on Monday, last week.
My son has bought his first motorbike, so we first took care of that, replace the brakes, maintainance, all that stuff.
So last friday I took a look at the truck again, and let some oil out of the trans:



Fresh oil, doesn't look good to me....
Looking for a fresh trans I'm afraid.

[ptc]

Looks a little 'sparkly'.... you doing a metal flake paint job with that???

Something got a bit 'o wear on it.....


Hey if youre coming to vegas in a couple years.... i'll meet ya there! I should be done by then!

[stevespg]

kees, yes, it was my mail; I did use what i think is xis. the springs are shorter than all the other jag ones i have seen by 2 inches, and stiffer as the coils are thicker.

i used all 3 shims, but i think i can remove 2 or maybe all 3. the truck sits just a little high at the front. I think there is 10 inches under the front bumper to the floor. If i measure the angle of the front wishbones i can drop the height by 3/4 inch and still have a good angle on the wishbones and the subframe

I was very impressed with the drive when i took the truck for its first proper journey. it rides very well, the springing is firm but comfortable, damping was very controlled. I found i have a front anti roll bar from a jaguar with sports pack, it is i think 7/8 dia. the truck is quite flat on corners, though with a bench seat it is not easy to stay in a good position on the seat. I did find the rear springs (i used all 4) were a little too soft, and the truck sat lower than i wanted to keep the wishbones parallel. i used AVO adjustable shocks now, with 4x350 lb springs and adjustable base and damper. i still think i could do with firmer springs, so i may swap out 2 of the 350 lb for 2 500 lb....maybe

for now it is safe and stable at 90mph....but a little (ok a lot) of wind noise so 75 mph is comfortable.

[RockinKees]

Originally Posted by stevespg

kees, yes, it was my mail; I did use what i think is xis. the springs are shorter than all the other jag ones i have seen by 2 inches, and stiffer as the coils are thicker.

i used all 3 shims, but i think i can remove 2 or maybe all 3. the truck sits just a little high at the front. I think there is 10 inches under the front bumper to the floor. If i measure the angle of the front wishbones i can drop the height by 3/4 inch and still have a good angle on the wishbones and the subframe

I was very impressed with the drive when i took the truck for its first proper journey. it rides very well, the springing is firm but comfortable, damping was very controlled. I found i have a front anti roll bar from a jaguar with sports pack, it is i think 7/8 dia. the truck is quite flat on corners, though with a bench seat it is not easy to stay in a good position on the seat. I did find the rear springs (i used all 4) were a little too soft, and the truck sat lower than i wanted to keep the wishbones parallel. i used AVO adjustable shocks now, with 4x350 lb springs and adjustable base and damper. i still think i could do with firmer springs, so i may swap out 2 of the 350 lb for 2 500 lb....maybe

for now it is safe and stable at 90mph....but a little (ok a lot) of wind noise so 75 mph is comfortable.

You can lower the front also by lowering the pan where the spring seats, I was told if you lower it by a 1/2" the front drops about an inch. They make plates or bushings between the pan and the lower control arms.
I didn't try it 'cause mine sits great as it is.

I find the rear a little soft too, I had to weld 2 inch pieces in my shock brackets to get the right height. I also use all four of them.
Where did you get the coilovers?
I haven't gone much faster then around 60mph, feels good though!

I helped my son with bringing him a lounge set for in the garden, there was not even a floor in the back
So yesterday and today I got in the bedwood, but as I'm still on a budget I did it my way. I know some pieces are not sitting as it should be, but it works for me as it sits.







Few days ago I was at my mothers house and wanted to go home....starter didn't worked right, as if I was grinding the flexplate... Thought I had the wrong starter because there always was a metallic sound when you started the truck.
Found out that the starter stood too far away from the flexplate.
Earlier I had made a fillplate between the starter and block, but that made it worse and removed the fillplate again.
So i had the starter checked, it was the right one, flexplate was good, no bearing play at the cranckshaft... what could it be???
I give it a good thought and I milled 3 mm off of the starter where it bolts to the block...
Got back at my mothers house where the truck stood (without the starter ), bolted the modified starter on and it never ever had started so nice!!!
Anybody else had such a problem with a remanufactored starter? It came on the truck when I got it.
Normally you put fillplates in, but I had none and had to mill the starter...
So for now, problem solved

On to the next problem!!

Some pics, just because





Last pic for today, made by my wife in front of our house:

[stevespg]

kees

truck looks great. so impressed with what you've done, and the support you've given me via mail - many thanks

AVO shocks were direct from AVO in UK. i found when i went to le mans that i had to take some camping stuff (ok....a lot of camping stuff as my 18 year old daughter came too), my rear wishbones were not quite level anymore, the diff was too low, so if the truck was ever loaded with weight, i am sure it would become worse, so i just fitted 450 lb springs to the rear. i could increase the ride height, but i think the ride height is about where i want t to be and the rear was pretty soft before.

I will remove a couple of the front shims too, which will drop the front 3/4 inch .....

when I'm finished messing with the ride height and suspension, i will get the geometry checked so it is better than i can achieve with string and a ruler!, but it feels good

[RockinKees]

Originally Posted by stevespg

kees

truck looks great. so impressed with what you've done, and the support you've given me via mail - many thanks

AVO shocks were direct from AVO in UK. i found when i went to le mans that i had to take some camping stuff (ok....a lot of camping stuff as my 18 year old daughter came too), my rear wishbones were not quite level anymore, the diff was too low, so if the truck was ever loaded with weight, i am sure it would become worse, so i just fitted 450 lb springs to the rear. i could increase the ride height, but i think the ride height is about where i want t to be and the rear was pretty soft before.

I will remove a couple of the front shims too, which will drop the front 3/4 inch .....

when I'm finished messing with the ride height and suspension, i will get the geometry checked so it is better than i can achieve with string and a ruler!, but it feels good

Thanks for your kind words, Steve!!
I'll help where ever I can, I got lots of help too from this board!!

Are you willing to give me the partsnumbers on those shocks via PM? Their website isn't very clear to me....

My ride height is now perfect, haven't touch the ground yet. I have it at Jag specifications now, had the raise the back a little. Front is good.
Already had a few hundred kilo's in the back and think the shocks are too soft too.
Try to get a few Miles every day to get all the bugs out

[RockinKees]

Just uploaded the videos my son took when driving home for the first time:

https://youtu.be/YM3CEpggkIc
https://youtu.be/3N2TRB4JuU8

Looking very serious at pumping gas....( well, it's expensive stuff )



Yesterday, after some phonecalls, decided that we could repair the trans ourselfs
I know some one who did a few of them, so out with the trans!



This morning took the trans apart and found the problem very quickly:





And this is the problem:



When you look closely you see that the frictionplates are seperated from the steel plates where they normally are glued to.
We think this trans had some coolant inside it somewhere in it's life.
In the time I have the truck I have already put in three new filters and new oil. Remember the problems I had when I was getting it ready for registration?
I was lucky to drive those 50 miles to the "DMV", and getting home this time!

Also this clutchpack was a bit warm in its life:



So, we cleaned the inside, all the parts, got the repair kit and went for it
Now it's waiting for the two bands, hoping to get them tomorrow.
Checked the valvebody again, checked the pump and all the loose parts that usually are in the transmission
Then it's all clean, again, and can build it up.
With a bit of luck and good wheather, it's all in on Friday evening...

Then to not start a discussion of good or bad, but to get the converter drained, I drilled a hole in it.
Let me explain how I did it:

This is the converter, big and heavy. No drainplug yet.



Take a hammer and centerpoint and hammer at the right place.
I did it under a mountingpoint for the flexplate:



First you drill a small hole, I took 4mm. Be carefull not to drill too deep, if you do it carefull, you don't hit anything inside.



Then, measure how deep you eventually COULD go drilling...



It goes in until my nail, straight ahead.
Measured it in mm:



The same in Inch:



You see, almost 3/4" deep before you hit the stator, plenty of room!

Drill further until you have a hole of 9 mm.
Tap thread 1/8 bsp, don't know if that is what you use nowadays, it's an old tap... The plug I use is a tappered plug, if you put it in, be sure you use Locktite threadlocker.





That fits
Now to get the discussion going...
I put the plug on a scale:



A whole 8 gramms!!!
Yes, there goes your balanced torque converter!!
But, when you drilled at the right place, you have some sort of nut above this plug.
There you drill a smaller hole, but not through the converter!!!!
Just a few milimeters deep is enough.
You take out material for the plug itself, now you take a bit extra, this makes up for the weight of the plug, conclusion: (almost) balanced
Some people make only the drainplug and drive for years without any problems.
I think this is better, but don't listen to me



Something else: there is little to none metalparts that falls into the converter, use a sharp drillbit, drill at good speed and you'll see most metal comes at you instead of in the TC.
The rest come out when you drain the converter



When drained, put the plug in with locktite and your ready to go.
Easy for further oilchanges!!

[Rods57]

Cool your brave, i have never tackled a trans. Good luck, cant wait to hear how it goes.