Lost and Forgotten 51

[PurdueSD]

I'd been trying to figure out how I wanted to handle repairing this little odd spot of rust out in the middle of my floor pan. The floor underneath the stock seat riser was rotted out.



I had contemplated removing the stock seat riser when i installed the new seat. But, I prefer the looks of retaining it and hiding the modern seat frame. So a couple days ago, i started thinking how nice it would be to be able to utilize the area under the seat for storage. Towels, tool bag etc. Lightbulb!








Now all i need is a simple latch. Any suggestions?
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[skymangs]

Awesome work! I am a fan of static suspension, nice to see one without bags for a change!

[99 to Life]

hey man, looks great. I used the same style seat out of an 80's silverado, but I cut the original seat frame out and just bolted my seat to some risers. It moves back and forth and the best part aside from having more room is the back folds forward so you can actually utilize behind the seat. Love the 5 window, but too bad the didn't make them windows flush with the back window so you don't see the seat through the windows. Just a little nit pick, but hey man it looks great and I really dig this truck. Ohh just seen the pics of your hidden compartment, great idea. Utilize all the space you can.

[PurdueSD]

Originally Posted by skymangs

Awesome work! I am a fan of static suspension, nice to see one without bags for a change!

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

hey man, looks great. I used the same style seat out of an 80's silverado, but I cut the original seat frame out and just bolted my seat to some risers. It moves back and forth and the best part aside from having more room is the back folds forward so you can actually utilize behind the seat. Love the 5 window, but too bad the didn't make them windows flush with the back window so you don't see the seat through the windows. Just a little nit pick, but hey man it looks great and I really dig this truck. Ohh just seen the pics of your hidden compartment, great idea. Utilize all the space you can.

Thanks guys, i appreciate it! 99, You and i are kinda on the same page as far as vintage style. I love the era specific look. I would actually love to have mine bodyworked and painted, but i dont want to spend another 2 years and 10 grand befofe i can get this on the road. Ill have to settle for fresh paint inside the cab and maybe at some point down the road, find somebody who will do me right. I hate bodywork!

[PurdueSD]

Boom Shockalaka!

[99 to Life]

hey man, its looking great. nothing wrong with a nice patina, and you got one. its coming along nice.

[skymangs]

Couple questions... I went back and looked, but didn't see what IFS kit you wound up using. Also, how far from the ground is the front fender (behind the wheel) at ride height, and did you use stock spindles or 2" drop?

Thanks,

[PurdueSD]

I used a scotts hotrods coilover ifs, regular spindles. I am not sure on the measurment, Ive got a month or twos work or so before im back at the point of having fenders and a cab on the frame. I would say maybe 5 or 6 inches with a 28" tall tire.
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[skymangs]

Nice. looks like a really sweet setup. My upcoming build already has a Camaro stub, but the next one I want to do IFS. Thanks for the info.

[PurdueSD]

Kinda been dealing with a setback lately. This was one i wasn't anticipating. Ugly little surprise when i pulled the front glass.





patch panels from an AD graveyard.



This all was pretty discouraging because it was destroying my "run what you got" paint theme. So, i decided to salvage it as much as i could and it actually suprised me how well it turned out. Dont get me wrong i'd love to have nice, paint, it just isnt in the budget or time frame i am shooting for right now...maybe one day...

Some, body filler, sanding primer , blue rustoleum, maroon rustoleum... sanding away the shiney... in progress.




Finished up... Its not perfect but beats the hell out of what was there before.

[dubie]

nice repair job man. You'd really have to look hard to tell you did anything to it.

[99 to Life]

yeah looks good, nothing wrong with some fauxtina in the mix to keep it looking the way you want it. I might be doing the same thing on my 49' as I need a few parts to match the current patina.

[PurdueSD]

Thanks guys!

I could use an opinion if anyone cares to weigh in. I plan to paint the firewall semigloss glack. Originlly, I was planning on leaving the patina and only painting the verical surface of the firewall black. Now i'm kinda leaning towards blacking it out all the way to the part ofthe cowl that shows on the outside... what do you guys think?

Im thinking it looks to busy with 4 different colors showing through the way it is.

[Rods57]

Originally Posted by PurdueSD

Thanks guys!

I could use an opinion if anyone cares to weigh in. I plan to paint the firewall semigloss glack. Originlly, I was planning on leaving the patina and only painting the verical surface of the firewall black. Now i'm kinda leaning towards blacking it out all the way to the part ofthe cowl that shows on the outside... what do you guys think?

Im thinking it looks to busy with 4 different colors showing through the way it is.

I love the idea of paint the insides of things and leave the outside rough...

[99 to Life]

I'v been pondering the same thing, I'm painting my engine bay again on another build, only I'm not doing black firewall and inner fenders again. Though that does look good. I was thinking white firewall and my paint color (metallic gold) on the inners and maybe the hood latch panel. But IMO, patina inside just clutters the eye, take away from a nice engine bay. I'm a huge fan of patina outside and nice interior and engine bay, and engine esp. I hate seeing junkyard greased engines dropped in a nice painted vehicle or patina even, you get where i'm getting at. its all about a nice balanced contrast.

[Katrina/10]

Like your work with the Rustoleum.

[LEEVON]

Frame is looking killer, jealous of your coil overs, they are going to ride nice. I would just paint the firewall whatever color you choose and flat black the inner fenders. Paint on those will just get dirty and might look out of place.

[PurdueSD]

Thanks fellas! I think semi gloss black on the inners and cowl is the direction im going to go. Now i just need to find some time and motivation.

[STOCKISH]

Nice repair work on the cab. I really like the patinad look its got going on. Looks great.

[FarmerSid]

Originally Posted by PurdueSD

Thanks fellas! I think semi gloss black on the inners and cowl is the direction im going to go. Now i just need to find some time and motivation.

I think so too. I use semi gloss on my 04 2500 GMC under body and I like the look.

[Root2812]

I like what you have going on here. I just ordered my IFS from Fatman and although its not installed yet I've shifted my planning to the rear. I like this TCI leaf kit you have. Would you use it again? I read online that there is a 4 inch drop built into the TCI leaf kit. My fatman IFS says that there is a 2-4 inch drop built in with the stock spindles used. Did you IFS set up similar? Did you have any problems with an uneven ride height? I also have the 8.8 explorer rear so any tips you can share will be appreciated.

[PurdueSD]

Keep in my mind i havent driven my truck yet so i cant comment on road manners...

Yes, i would use the tci setup again. I think it was advertised 3 or 4" drop over stock. I added 3" blocks and still need to rework my lower leaf plate to raise the shock mounts 3". Pretty minor fab stuff there... but welding required.

With a standard MII IFS i would say you are probably gunna sit tail high an inch or two. I am running a non mustang based ifs that is a 3" drop, may add drop spindles down the road may not. Just gunna wait and she where she settles to with all the weight back on her.

The 8.8 is a great way to get a cheap (almost 9") with disc brakes and 3.73 limited slip. They are axles are c-clip axles so that is a minor drawback. The e-break setup is easily adaptable and new cables are available and dirt cheap at rock auto. Keep in mind the 8.8 axle tubes are 3.25" not the normal 3" so you will have to open up the saddles a bit.

An 8.8 from an explorer is about 1.5" to 2" too narrow so you are going to need a baby tub, really low backspace wheels or some 3/4" spacers. I am going to run some spacers with my 15x5 wheels and 6.70-15 bias.

[wuss721]

Any updates???

[PurdueSD]

No updates unfortunately... Hard to find the time lately. Hopefully soon!

[99 to Life]

man its either time, money or space!!!!! you'll get there, its winter now and everything is twice as hard to do anyway. spring fever comes hopefully you got her on the road.