Dutch '59 Fleetside Longbed

[RockinKees]

Originally Posted by Rods57

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

Thank you!
Manual boxes, I did hundreds of them on big trucks, but I've never tackled a automatic trans neither
But with the right friends who put you in the right direction...
Trans is great now, it shifts like new!!
I thought, what's all the hassle about?? It's easy!!

Advanced Design
Have fun with the tran's Kees! I've never seen the drain plug install process on a trans before.

They say everybody did it in the Ol' Days, if they can, why not me??
(Don't try this at home!! Mine came out great )

lower50's
Looks like it has seen better days for sure. Good thing you where at home when it died.

Yeah, was very lucky!! It could have happened when I was at the gasstation, but I think I've become good friends with the truck

Nev68
Well done on getting it moving under its own power, even if ti didn't last long.

Good luck with the trans build.
I bought all the parts (I think) to rebuild my T700, should be fun.

How is the handling and steering with the Jag front end?

Paul, who helped me with the trans, said the 700R4 is a bit more difficult then the TH400, much more parts in it, but it's do-able at home
I drove a few miles today, the front is a bit stiff in the suspension (XJ12) but it feels good. It has to be aligned in the near future. I must say, it drives a lot better then stock suspension!!
I've never had such good brakes on an American car!!
Stance is just right!
Pics are coming soon...

reaper71
I guess it wouldn't be Hot Rodding without some Drama!! Sorry to here the trans was shot...
I have no doubt you can make it better than new!

Mark...

Exactly!!
Far from finished, but now I can drive whenever I want!!
Happy!!!!

[Advanced Design]

Have fun with the tran's Kees! I've never seen the drain plug install process on a trans before.

[lower50's]

Looks like it has seen better days for sure. Good thing you where at home when it died.

[Nev68]

Well done on getting it moving under its own power, even if ti didn't last long.

Good luck with the trans build.
I bought all the parts (I think) to rebuild my T700, should be fun.

How is the handling and steering with the Jag front end?

[reaper71]

I guess it wouldn't be Hot Rodding without some Drama!! Sorry to here the trans was shot...
I have no doubt you can make it better than new!

Mark...

[reaper71]

That came out really nice Kees!!

Like the wood as well I think it looks great.

Mark...

[RockinKees]

Originally Posted by reaper71

That came out really nice Kees!!

Like the wood as well I think it looks great.

Mark...

ChuckDriver
Nice!

Thanks Mark and Lower!
Yes I keep it as is, I'll rely on Mother Nature, she gonna make the wood grey

Advanced Design
I like the wood Kees. It looks good. The pictures in front of the house are very nice. Saw some similar ones on FB.

I've never came across a starter mounting boss that needed milling.
07-21-2016 10:20 PM

oldman3
Re: Dutch '59 Fleetside Longbed
Looks great, that's a way to solve a problem....Jim

Yes, problem solved by milling starter boss, I also never heard of this, but it worked!
Those pictures were made by my wife, Doug, I think she made the pics of the flowers....

ChuckDriver
Nice!

Katrina/10
Way cool.

Thanks Chuckdriver and Gary!!

A lot of people find it way cool, when I drive around, always getting thumbs up!!

So on with some small updates.
I wasn't really happy with the wipers.
I got on my back under the dash and came to the conclusion that it had to be modified again.
First I made the circle smaller, so that the turn or revolution of the wipers is smaller. That's way better!!



It's hard to see maybe, but at both sides it's 8mm shorter.
Next I found out that the right side wiperrod came at 180 degrees, thus right at, the connection, which made a bad sound. If it was going any further, then I was in real trouble, the rod would go the other way and cause damage.
So I lengthen the rod by an 1/2", problem solved again



Only have to buy some wiperblades from an old Bug, the modern flexwipers are no good on this Ol' Truck

After driven a few miles now, being adjusting the trans the way I want to shift it, I also found it time to get my much needed Rockabilly tunes in the truck.
I had saved the old sheetmetal glovebox, build by the PO, modified it a little, and made a "Radio Mount".
So when time allows, I mount it in the truck, so no finished pictures yet.

[Katrina/10]

Way cool.

[Advanced Design]

I like the wood Kees. It looks good. The pictures in front of the house are very nice. Saw some similar ones on FB.

I've never came across a starter mounting boss that needed milling.

[ChuckDriver]

Nice!

[lower50's]

Very nice. Are you leaving the bed like that? I think it suits the truck the way it is.

[oldman3]

Looks great, that's a way to solve a problem....Jim

[RockinKees]

Okay, Thanks Steve!
I'll wait on what you'll find out about the rating.
Then I will sent them an email for a quote....

[RockinKees]

Music is in



Also made new kickpanels:







Put in the largest speakers that would fit
I also want to make speakers in the back, just have to think how and where exactly.

Today I was hauling stuff around:



Is the truck so big or is that motorbike so small????



That thing won't start, he asked me if I wanted to take a look at it

[Advanced Design]

Truck looks great Kees! And it is cool to be using it like a truck!

[RockinKees]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Truck looks great Kees! And it is cool to be using it like a truck!

Thanks Doug!!
That's what those trucks are built for

If the weather stays nice today, it will be Lettering Sunday
Trying to paint the letters on the tailgate and paint the Fleetside emblems on the sides.
And if I get really hungry, I might even pinstripe the Spears a bit

[RockinKees]

Well, the weather was bad yesterday.
But today a lot better, so I mananged to get the first stage done.
Putting up the paintbooth
When I parked this way, a little boy with his dad walked by:" Look dad he needs three parkingspots!!"
Well, in Europe they drive only small cars



Lettering done, only must do the outlines in white:



I also painted the Fleetside enblems on in Ghost style, gloss black on satin black.
The letters are the original font, only at 80%:





Now it's waiting for good weather again for the outlines, and then clean all of it.

Also a question for the Task Force owners:
Where did you mount your fire extinguisher?
Can you show me??
Thanks!

[reaper71]

CAME OUT REALLY NICE Kees

Mark...

[Flysocal]

Good looking truck. Love the fleetside.

[lower50's]

The lettering looks great. The ghost Fleetside will be cool.

[RockinKees]

Thanks guys!!

Are there transmission guru's here?
I got a problem, but this time I don't trust the torque converter....
As you might know, we repaired the trans itself a few weeks ago, the frictionplates were separated from their steel plates, probably due to coolant in the trans (see the pics a few postings back).
Is there a possibility that this could be the case with the internals of the converter also? If there is such a clutch in there....

What I find is that this trans is very soft when you put it in gear, you won't feel it shift from P to D or R. Also there is no change in rpm from P to D or R. My TH350 was much "stronger" when you put it in gear, plus you saw it drop in rpm and felt it was pulling, you had to put your feet on the brake.
This TH 400 never did that, never felt it shift in gear, also in D the gearchange was very smooth. I could adjust it a little by turning the little screw in the vacuummodulator. The changes were noticable.

Now the truck stood for two days and have almost excactly what I had before. Must give way to much throttle to get a respons.
Oil level is good, smells not burned, looks bright red.
If I have some time I will let some oil out to see how it looks.

So my question, could this be a converter failure??
As the trans itself has maybe 50 miles on it after repair....
Also no strange sounds heard while driving or idling or when charging gears.
Please help??

[RockinKees]

So, I'm back from vacation.
Had a great time with the family!!

I just looked at the trans, tried a few things, nothing seems to help...
After three weeks standing still it shifts like never before.
Seems no one has an answer to this trans problem, I think the converter is broke, but I also found very dirty oil after some 50 miles.
I don't trust it anymore, so I got myself a TH700R4 trans.
Some things have to be changed, have to make a new a new driveshaft also.
The trans is from 1991, out of a Caprise hearse with almost 80000 miles on it.
Hope this one is better....

Here we go again...





It's almost two inches longer than a TH400 and just went in without unbolting extra stuff!



Now have to buy or make a bracket for the TV cable, make the shiftlever at the trans, change oil and filter and find a driveshaft we could modify to fit.
Then I hope the trans troubles are history!!

[Katrina/10]

That should work out nicely, you'll get some highway speed out of that one. Don't forget to hook up the lockup converter clutch. What ratio is your Jag rear?

[RockinKees]

Jag rear has 2.88 with limited slip diff.

I was looking for a diagram to make the lock up work in 2, 3 and 4.
Handy when you tow something. Ofcourse brake release!

[Katrina/10]

With a 2.88 and overdrive you should get good fuel mileage! There are some kits that use an engine vacuum diaphragm switch with power run through the brake light switch. Not sure which gears you can lock the converter, mine just does it in third or overdrive.