My 50 roadster pickup build

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by lower50's

At least you are getting some labor. Do you have full coverage insurance?

Lower, yes I have full coverage. I'm fine with the pay out I received, and can make all the repairs, just will take awhile...Jim

[oldman3]

Ok folks, just a little update, nothing major, these were taken last month.

Pic 1 headlight still worked after the accident, glass was broken.

Pic 2 I had cut off part of fender, so I could move the truck around without cutting the tire.

Pic 3 Another view.

[oldman3]

I pulled the truck into the shop late this afternoon and started taking it apart.

Pic 1 up on jack stands, ready to go.

Pic 2 Removed bumper, splash apron, grill, and got some of the bolts to fender removed. Lot more work that it looks. I can save the lower radiator apron, just may need to pull to line up all the holes. I washed the front of the inner fenders to remove 13 years of bugs, and cleaned the ac condensor.

Pic 3 Hard to show how bad the upper part of inner fender is bent. Will see if I can save it after fender is removed.

Hope to update more tomorrow, but I'm not sure, have a bunch of stuff going on this week...Jim

[lower50's]

Well Jim Glad you can save the lower rad apron. I hope you don't find anything else wrong when you get farther into it.

[RockinKees]

Jim,
I hope it isn't as beat up as it looks.
Sometimes you have luck, but often you don't see whats underneeth the visible damage, before you tear it down....

I'm sure it will come out better (if that is possible )
That's not very hard to do with your skills!!!

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by lower50's

Well Jim Glad you can save the lower rad apron. I hope you don't find anything else wrong when you get farther into it.

Thanks lower. I agree, it doesn't look to bad, but we will see...Jim

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by RockinKees

Jim,
I hope it isn't as beat up as it looks.
Sometimes you have luck, but often you don't see whats underneeth the visible damage, before you tear it down....

I'm sure it will come out better (if that is possible )
That's not very hard to do with your skills!!!

Thanks Kees, if necessary I'll buy a repop, and cut off what I need and weld to my current inner fender...Jim

[oldman3]

Well, no update on the pickup, but I did receive my new car. I ordered it late September and it arrived today. It's a 2017 Buick Regal GS (grand sport). It's a really nice car, and has a different front end than the regular Regal. It has 19" rims and sits lower that regular Regal. Here's a couple pics. Hope to update more on the pickup soon...Jim

[Advanced Design]

Very nice! That Buick is one good looking car. Enjoy!

[Indian113]

Nice looking car Jim! Does it have a Turbo?

[Kim57]

Nice car.
Kim

[DeanTX]

Nice GS Jim! I like Buick's. Here is a picture of my GS.

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Very nice! That Buick is one good looking car. Enjoy!

Originally Posted by Indian113

Nice looking car Jim! Does it have a Turbo?

Originally Posted by Kim57

Nice car.
Kim

Thanks guys. Yes it does have a turbo. It's the 2.0 4cyl with turbo, puts out 259 HP, and 295 torque. Runs really good. It has 3 driving modes, regular, sport and GS. Sport tightens up the shocks for better contact to road. GS
increase stiffness in shocks for body control. Gas pedal react quicker to accel and decel. Power steering is reduces for better road feel. It is fun to drive in the GS mode on the roads here in the Ozarks...Jim

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by DeanTX

Nice GS Jim! I like Buick's. Here is a picture of my GS.

Thank you, nice looking GS, those were overlooked back in the day, it surprized a lot of Fords, Mopar and Chevys, they ran really strong...Jim

[oldman3]

Got a little time in the shop today, here's some pics.

Pic 1 Fender brace will need and little work to align.

Pic 2 Inner fender, Mark and I talked and I will keep about 3/4 of my inner panel and replace the front part with a repop.

Pic 3 I also had to remove my running boards because of how they attached to the front fender. Anyway, front fender and board removed.

Pic 4 Ready to move truck to upper garage, so I have room for Wed night guys meeting.

Hope to update more soon...Jim

[ptc]

Wow Jim, kudos to you for getting going on this again, I am getting to know how 'setbacks' can kill a mans inspiration! -- lol But it looks like you have the will and the time and the cash now to get it all done "again".

One thing I notice in seeing the truck being torn down again is the road dirt accumulation. I know when we rebuild these trucks we want them to stay pristine (even underneath) because we spent so much time on making them so nice, but I guess its just inevitable that they get DIRTY if we drive them!!!! ---

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by ptc

Wow Jim, kudos to you for getting going on this again, I am getting to know how 'setbacks' can kill a mans inspiration! -- lol But it looks like you have the will and the time and the cash now to get it all done "again".

One thing I notice in seeing the truck being torn down again is the road dirt accumulation. I know when we rebuild these trucks we want them to stay pristine (even underneath) because we spent so much time on making them so nice, but I guess its just inevitable that they get DIRTY if we drive them!!!! ---

ptc Thank you, and yes it will be DONE again, just takes time.

I used to clean underneath, but I'm 70 now and laying on my back just doesn't cut it anymore. Now if I had a lift, maybe I would thing about cleaning. Driving them is what it's all about, no trailer queen here....Jim

[youngrodder]

Jim-

I'm late to the party (if you want to call it that). I love the GS, those are great looking cars. Sorry about the deer, but I'm confident that you will have the truck standing tall in no time.

Marc

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by youngrodder

Jim-

I'm late to the party (if you want to call it that). I love the GS, those are great looking cars. Sorry about the deer, but I'm confident that you will have the truck standing tall in no time.

Marc

Thanks Marc, I'm real happy with the GS. Little by little the truck will be back on the road...Jim

[youngrodder]

Jim

Question for ya. Did you use the Hagen frenched light kit on your truck? It looked like it in the one pic. How do you like the way you adjust your lights? I have never liked mine. My lights point down too much and the adjusters seem very cheap and have little adjustability. Just my opinion but I thought I would see if you liked yours.

Marc

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by youngrodder

Jim

Question for ya. Did you use the Hagen frenched light kit on your truck? It looked like it in the one pic. How do you like the way you adjust your lights? I have never liked mine. My lights point down too much and the adjusters seem very cheap and have little adjustability. Just my opinion but I thought I would see if you liked yours.

Marc

Marc, yes I used the Hagen system. I was like you and never liked how they were set up. My son Mark came up with different plates that make them easier to install and adjust. I will try and remember tomorrow and have Mark show what changes he made...Jim

[reaper71]

Marc, Dad told me about the issue you were having on your Buckets. The shots here are from the first one I modified.

Pic #1. In this shot if I can explain it clearly...1. You have the tabs welded to the bucket.
2. I made rings that the screws (between the nylon) that are your adjusters I have springs under the ring between the tabs this will give you up/down/left/right adjustments

3. the nylon rings I also made and are riveted to the steel rings (for spacers) If you notice there is 3 studs sticking out they are welded to the steel ring this is to be used with your stock rings to hold the light in.

Pic #2. A different angle.

Pic #3. The lights and bezel mounted.

Let me know if you need anything else or have questions.

Mark...

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by reaper71

Marc, Dad told me about the issue you were having on your Buckets. The shots here are from the first one I modified.

Pic #1. In this shot if I can explain it clearly...1. You have the tabs welded to the bucket.
2. I made rings that the screws (between the nylon) that are your adjusters I have springs under the ring between the tabs this will give you up/down/left/right adjustments

3. the nylon rings I also made and are riveted to the steel rings (for spacers) If you notice there is 3 studs sticking out they are welded to the steel ring this is to be used with your stock rings to hold the light in.

Pic #2. A different angle.

Pic #3. The lights and bezel mounted.

Let me know if you need anything else or have questions.

Mark...

Mark

Thanks, so basically you added a steel ring between the springs and plastic ring. This provides more strength when adjusting. It looks like you also added the mounting studs like you mentioned to easily align the top (out plastic ring) to your modified ring.

Did I follow correctly? Thanks for the pics. BTW i have a soft spot for 46-48 Ford coupes..

Thanks
Marc

[reaper71]

The plastic and steel rings are riveted together (the plastic was used as a spacer) the springs are between the steel ring and the mounting taps that are welded to the buckets. In the 2nd pic on the right side you can just barely see the spring.
hope this helps.

Mark...

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by reaper71

The plastic and steel rings are riveted together (the plastic was used as a spacer) the springs are between the steel ring and the mounting taps that are welded to the buckets. In the 2nd pic on the right side you can just barely see the spring.
hope this helps.

Mark...

It does greatly....thank you
Marc