1941 1/2 ton project Hannah

[joedoh]

yeah that guy. I heard a rumor, when they were building the new inspection station he didnt want to drive out there for work so he retired. then registrations of out of state vehicle and inspections just started just flying through the office, and revenues went down. so they hired him out of retirement to continue putting bureaucracy through its slow and profitable paces.

here is the stock coloring on the doors vs my added color on the roof. you can see all the colors represented.
IMG_7734 by Joe Doh, on Flickr
IMG_7733 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

the rear of the floor was next today. it has this weird multi layer sandwich of metal for the body mounts and only the top layer was rusted, but what I DIDNT want to happen was for the layers to collapse when you tighten the body bolt down. I devised a plan to cap the rusted part with some 11ga, and use tubes to weld all the layers together, making it crush proof and give a good tie to the rectangle tube I put in yesterday.
IMG_7738 by Joe Doh, on Flickr
IMG_7739 by Joe Doh, on Flickr
IMG_7740 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

instead of welding the patch in the back way I decided to screw it in for now, in case I need to adjust some of the floor I made. that hole was convenient to get to some areas I wouldnt have been able to otherwise.

IMG_7741 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

I would have put the cab back on today but I took a long time designing the repair for the front body mount, so tomorrow.

[joedoh]

haha man I think those prices are just for the beds! although the second one looks like he priced the frame and the rear end at 100 each, so 200 for a roller still isnt bad money

[joedoh]

well it aint gonna fix itself. after staring at the body mounts for a couple days I decided to jump right in, complicated planning wasnt going to fix it. The problem was the mount was a channel and the outside of the channel had rusted off, so the body mount was just flat steel, and the weight of the cab twisted it this way and that. I looked at cutting it all off and rebuilding it but I will be honest, that was a lot of work for a truck I just pieced the floor back together on. so I went simple, flat steel under the mount with a hole for the bolt to pass through, and rebuild the outside channel by welding it to the cowl for support. now the repair is under compression (instead of tension if I had cut the old mount off) and the bolt clamps the repair together just like my rear mount repair.
IMG_7765 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

quickadiddle and done. I broke my tacks and put the rear body mounts in the correct place (they were 2" off) and dropped the cab on again.
53265410022__4A06A139-F0B2-4142-9290-3A0700E8DD13 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

the engine move worked out perfect, the dizzy has room, the valve cover is an inch off the firewall, the shift lever is in the perfect place. I dont think this one will even need a trans bump.
IMG_7767 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

and the state was quick as usual, tagged it monday, title in the mail friday. DO YOUR HOMEWORK. the DMV appreciates it
53265482534__4B0ED89F-5FA0-4924-94BF-8D075259A336 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

[mongocanfly]

nice progress. ...and a title!!!

[Old57]

Good to see it moving along. Thats always a good feeling when you get the title... some people wait until they're about done with the truck/car before they apply for the title. I always do that first. I want to make sure its official before I put any time and money into it.

[joedoh]

me too, everything up to this point has been mostly focused on deconstruction and the drivetrain but I got the title before repairing the cab.

and of course this week bowtie bits listed a cab thats light years better than this one on craigslist for $300

[Old57]

Thats a nice price. Jeff said a while back that he was getting rid of his used parts and just planning to sell the new stuff after it was gone. But I imagine that he has a lot of used parts still.

[joedoh]

well lets just make some more steel upgrades to this frankencab shall we?

pedals day! I started by marking a bunch of dimensions for the dash and center of the original steering collum then whacking a fresh section of 76 year old steel from the firewall.
IMG_7797 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

I wanted to see if my offal cut from the s10 firewall had a chance of lining up.

well I'll be dipped
IMG_7798 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

that triple hole on the left is the clutch master hole, and it looks like it will fit. there may be something to this...

IMG_7800 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

the steering column needs to be at 12.5" to be centered on the gauges, its at 13", would YOU notice the 1/2"?

IMG_7801 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

not only does the clutch pedal look to be about right, the big brace for the clutch pedal and steering support will fit in the dash with only a couple modifications.

IMG_7802 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

the steering shaft will come out just over and right (from the front) of the valve cover. what the heck this is working better than I ever hoped. should be a straight shot.

the only thing that even made me a little apprehensive is how far the steering column sticks out from the dash but since its a 4 bolt mount column I can just move the brackets up to 6 inches and it column will move into the dash that much.

my only regret? I didnt think it would work at all so I didnt sand the paint off the piece for welding. now I have to take it back out and sand it haha

[joedoh]

a little "udder der wedder" (say under the weather with a cold), thanks beeps. still got a little done. I thought if maybe I had a small sander I could sand the pieces without removing them, so I dug out the angle grinder and roloc discs. but I was out. I went to the yard to pick some up and they had these for a buck each.

IMG_780G by Joe Doh, on Flickr

they work amazing, worth the buck!
IMG_780F by Joe Doh, on Flickr

drilled the holes for the clutch master and popped it on for a look

IMG_780E by Joe Doh, on Flickr

started making the jigsaw pieces to close out the firewall and I cant believe how nice this is working.

IMG_7806 by Joe Doh, on Flickr
IMG_7807 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

that torch cut is ancient, they must have cut it to get the trans out? or the engine? I dunno.

more this week, I am not cooking thanksgiving for the first time in a hundred years so I can work all day thursday and even some friday

[rusty76]

I can’t wait to see what turkey day serves up for you.

[Diesel46]

Wow some nice progress. Doing a stickshift is always more work but it should be worth it, it will be more fun for you to drive.

[joedoh]

I think so too!

I ordered a steering wheel today, on the last truck I put on a steering wheel that I liked, but everyone else was MEH. so this time I ordered a more custom friendly steering wheel, 15" diameter and only a 2" dish so I might have to cut the turn stalk down a little. I will show a picture when it shows up.

I am almost ready to put the column in, need to do the big inner brace but I have the plan. I am pretty happy that chunk of firewall worked out because it takes care of the brake pedal and booster, clutch pedal and master, gas pedal, and column all in one swoop.


SWOOP
IMG_7808 by Joe Doh, on Flickr
IMG_7810 by Joe Doh, on Flickr


look at all those tacks. I have sunburn on my forehead.

[OutlawDrifter]

Originally Posted by joedoh

I have sunburn on my forehead.

I typically have this same problem. I'm not always the best about wearing my PPE.

Coming along nicely, hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

[4msfam]

I'm again really admiring your build! A quick question. What year donor are you using again? I thought the second gen trucks all have the big aluminum pedal brackets (like you used in your first two builds). Does this one have it too? I'm not figuring out how it would attach to the piece you welded to the firewall and have left. Or is this some kind of early year / second gen truck that has it all in sheetmetal.

[joedoh]

outlaw I used my welding helmet... mostly. when I was setting things up I just closed my eyes, you can feel the stickout sitting on the ledge of the panel in between tacks so you can do it pretty well without opening your eyes. Trying to fit under the dash and look up with a helmet on is another problem. easier just to tack and go.

Originally Posted by 4msfam

I'm again really admiring your build! A quick question. What year donor are you using again? I thought the second gen trucks all have the big aluminum pedal brackets (like you used in your first two builds). Does this one have it too? I'm not figuring out how it would attach to the piece you welded to the firewall and have left. Or is this some kind of early year / second gen truck that has it all in sheetmetal.

its a 95, as far as I know the 94 is a unicorn (one year only) 95-97 use a sheetmetal pedal support assembly, and 98+ use the aluminum pedals.

I knew the steering wheel would stick out a bunch but since its the 4 bolt bracket and there is a metric ton on room below the column, I figure to just move the brackets.

IMG_7811 by Joe Doh, on Flickr
IMG_7812 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

I dont know how far to move them though till the steering wheel comes and I have the seat in, so I popped the seat in for a looksee

IMG_7813 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

the seat needs to drop a couple inches, there is a bracket/wheel assembly on the bottom I need to take off and it will sit better in the cab. This is with the steering column all the way "in", I cant hold it up and take a picture but you can see there wont be any problem with joedoh the hutt fitting in this one.

IMG_7814 by Joe Doh, on Flickr


theres my helmet outlaw!

[4msfam]

Nice! Thanks for the explanation!

[joedoh]

had to get the harness pass through done, very interesting to do because on the S10 it came below the clutch pedal but there is a big firewall brace there. looking around and at the actual size of the plug, I drew out a couple locations and literally this was the only place where every component (clutch, brake, harness, radiator brace) would fit and not interfere.

IMG_7825 by Joe Doh, on Flickr
IMG_7827 by Joe Doh, on Flickr
IMG_7831 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

got the seat lowered and its not going to work. might have to find another set of buckets. just wont go back enough, needs another 4 inches rearward

IMG_7832 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

got the plate tacked in for the steering column brace, and holy schnikey, the column mount went from a wobbly mess to solid as a rock, and I havent even welded it all up yet.

IMG_7833 by Joe Doh, on Flickr
IMG_7834 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

got my steering wheel too. its a repop of a ford wheel but its sure nice. got a black friday deal on it but it was still almost 8 times what I paid for the cavalier wheel on the last truck

IMG_7828 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

[OutlawDrifter]

That wheel looks familiar...where have I seen that before?

Nice work, what is the seat out of? Looks similar in size to my Astro/Safari 3rd row in the '49.

p.s. do yourself a favor and don't forget the horn cap spring when you put it all together, I did, 3 times...and it was terrible.

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

That wheel looks familiar...where have I seen that before?

HAHA I didnt even realize you had that wheel, I thought yours was a 54 chevy style with the coves painted to match. Nice joerb! now if people dont like it I can blame it on YOUR bad decision

the seat is a third row caravan seat, its just too thick. I could move it back if I modify the rear brace, but even then I dont think it will work.

[joedoh]

this may seem like something I should have done a while ago, but I threw the hood half on to make sure the clutch master would fit. of course it did, I remember the clearances from doing fenix my last 41.

IMG_7852 by Joe Doh, on Flickr
IMG_7853 by Joe Doh, on Flickr

its hard to tell in the picture but there is at least two inches there, the only thing even remotely close is the latch rod to the line.

this weekend is blasted already, we got a roll off to start cleaning up for the new shop build.

[mongocanfly]

"new shop build"???...sounds interesting...

[Nut Case]

-Joe

New shop, details???? Spew!!!!!

This build has new challenges, good solutions., strong work.

Keep on keepin on


NC

[joedoh]

I thought I had mentioned it, we are putting up a 30x40 with a second floor for storage. learned from guys on here: doing attic trusses, in floor heat, and roughing in a bathroom.

I have been looking for a pneumatic tire forklift for a couple weeks now to get cabs and bed up to the second floor, I wish I would have found one already because all this cleaning I have to do I could sure use one right now.

[rusty76]

Shop? Wait a minute. You’re building me a shop? You shouldn’t have. What a Merry Christmas I shall have. Lol. Awesome that your building a shop. Now we are cooking.

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by rusty76

Shop? Wait a minute. You’re building me a shop? You shouldn’t have. What a Merry Christmas I shall have. Lol. Awesome that your building a shop. Now we are cooking.

yep, I hope you dont mind if I use it till you pick it up though!

Originally Posted by Diesel46

What keeps the seat from going back as far as the stock seat? Is the back to thick?

yeah, much too thick, and the seat angle isnt great for the cab either. I am going to chop up on the interfering bits a little and see what I can see, but I dont have high hopes.

Originally Posted by Diesel46

I love that steering wheel!

its outlawdrifters fault! oh wait, maybe I was preemptive with my blame haha.



edit: I didnt want to bump the project without any work being done but today we cleaned up the yard from all the junk left after the addition and dismantling 10 trucks and taking down a shed, etc, and I found the home planet of every brown recluse spider in 10 miles. there was a large pile of LP smart siding cut offs and ends that the contractor didnt think he had to do anything with and after picking up one or two pieces we noticed there were 10-20 brown recluse on every board. most people will SAY they saw a brown recluse because they see a brown grass spider but I know them very well, they are GREY spiders with dirt brown fangs. it took 3 times longer to get the boards up than any other pile of brush or parts and afterwards we were checking each other over. I had two on me and they werent very friendly, but no bites!