Dug's 1959 Fleetside

[dug224]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

wow!!!...that's a lot of fab work you had going on..looks really good

Thanks Greg! Wife is out of town for 2 weeks so a lot is happening!

[dug224]

Getting a lot of the small stuff completed. Ended up using the tachometer signal from the PCM (white wire, green plug, pin #10). After exhausting what we thought were all of the easy solutions, Jim researched what others had done. Ended up simply adding 12V power and a 10,000 ohm resistor to the circuit and then scaled the gauge until we matched the OBD reader. Good thing I pulled a handful of spare wires from the engine compartment to my panel. All we lack now is the water temperature sending unit to be 100% complete on the gauges. If this gauge were a bit larger, it would be perfect.


Still not sure I'm 100% happy with the stance so I gathered up about 500 lbs of weights and blasting glass and dropped the rear 2" (rear wheel opening went form 24.5" to 22.5"). Somewhere between 24.5" and 22.5" is the correct answer. My license plate dragged when I entered my driveway. So, for about $50 I can buy some factory air bags that were used for load leveling. I can replace my springs and add a small compressor and a switch and I can then select whatever I want. Future refinement project.

[mongocanfly]

Looks better low !..

[dug224]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

wow!!!...that's a lot of fab work you had going on..looks really good

Agree. After seeing what you did on the IH 4x4 bumper, I should have hired you to do my bullets!! Great work.

[mongocanfly]

haha...lots of determination went into that bumper...its still a long ways from perfect...im gonna use it at first but am already thinking of building one after I get it all going

[dsraven]

I like it sitting level.
the stock air bags would work and you could connect a simple air spring leveling valve from a big truck if you wanna do it on the cheap with no electronic leveling or remote controls etc. they bolt on and have an adjustable rod to the frame and a little peg that is used to center the valve for adjustment at ride height. connect the airline to the valve and pull the peg out when adjusted. the air bags should stay at that height. one valve per axle is all that is needed unless you want to do a side to side leveling as well. the envoy frame has the electronic leveling switches but they are spendy and need some sort of electronic valving arrangement as well. the stock compressor set up is also pretty spendy. anyway, just a thought. if buying some used bags check them closely for cracks in the rubber

http://www.plazafleetparts.com/air-s...ol-valves.html

[dug224]

Originally Posted by dsraven

I like it sitting level.
the stock air bags would work and you could connect a simple air spring leveling valve from a big truck if you wanna do it on the cheap with no electronic leveling or remote controls etc. they bolt on and have an adjustable rod to the frame and a little peg that is used to center the valve for adjustment at ride height. connect the airline to the valve and pull the peg out when adjusted. the air bags should stay at that height. one valve per axle is all that is needed unless you want to do a side to side leveling as well. the envoy frame has the electronic leveling switches but they are spendy and need some sort of electronic valving arrangement as well. the stock compressor set up is also pretty spendy. anyway, just a thought. if buying some used bags check them closely for cracks in the rubber

http://www.plazafleetparts.com/air-s...ol-valves.html

This is good stuff and, as usual, I'll do it on the cheap. All I want is the ability to raise and lower the rear of the truck with the flip of a switch within roughly a 3" range....or I could find 300 lbs of tractor weights to permanently haul around. Would help with traction for sure.

[dug224]

The '59 spent the night away from the house at the glass shop. When I pickup today or tomorrow, it will have a front and back window. Had to drive it about 5 miles at 35 mph to get it there. Interesting how nerve racking that is having never driven it more than a few feet in and around the neighborhood. Nothing broke or leaked as far as I can tell.

Getting down to a pretty short list. Installed the spray nozzles in the hood. The unit sprays the water so hard through the 4 nozzles it hits the tail gate!! This is after pumping it through 10' of tubing. Water temperature sending unit and windshield wipers are next. I'll get a tag after that.

Over the years, I've kept pretty good records on what I have spent on this project which is usually not a good idea. Early on, I projected between $10k and $12k. The only labor I remember buying is tire installation, media blasting, driveshaft shortening and glass installation. I did not track man-hours.

$9,614 Spent to date
$2,430 Projected remaining expenditures
$12,044 Total

Projected expenditures includes stuff like side glass, A/C, seals, sound deadening, door repair sheet metal, etc...

[dsraven]

that will be awesome to get the glass installed. it's like a big hurdle you have passed.
that washer nozzle thing reminds me of a guy I know who hates tailgaters sooo bad that he (at one time) had installed a small tank and washer pump on his roof rack which he could fill with tap water (he always has something on his roof) and a spray nozzle up there as well. it was aimed to go over the roof and wet down the car who is driving so close behind him. it worked like a charm, according to him. the tailgater would either back off or simply pass him.
do you plan on painting the truck with the black color?

[dug224]

Originally Posted by dsraven

that will be awesome to get the glass installed. it's like a big hurdle you have passed.
that washer nozzle thing reminds me of a guy I know who hates tailgaters sooo bad that he (at one time) had installed a small tank and washer pump on his roof rack which he could fill with tap water (he always has something on his roof) and a spray nozzle up there as well. it was aimed to go over the roof and wet down the car who is driving so close behind him. it worked like a charm, according to him. the tailgater would either back off or simply pass him.
do you plan on painting the truck with the black color?

Jim and I were just discussing paint. Today's plan is to weld up the misc. door holes and paint it without doing any bodywork.

[dug224]

Front and rear glass are in! What a huge difference it makes driving it. I could actually hear the engine when the transmission shifted. I gave it a good bid of throttle when coming home and determined that the bone stock 5.3L 290 hp engine is pretty much all this truck needs....

[dsraven]

looks great. and headrests too!
all black will look awesome. hot but awesome, lol. gets it going and you can work out any bugs you find before doing any final bodywork, if thats your end game.

[dug224]

Originally Posted by dsraven

looks great. and headrests too!
all black will look awesome. hot but awesome, lol. gets it going and you can work out any bugs you find before doing any final bodywork, if thats your end game.

Hot is right especially without AC...for now. Get it on the road is the current end game.....

[dug224]

The last of the gauge connections are complete. Ended up with a two piece M12x1.5 male to M10x1.0 adapter for the water temp sensor. It had a crush washer between the two pieces and the threads that connected the two pieces are 1/8" British Standard threads. My first exposure to this thread. Adapter inner diameter was smaller than the outer diameter of the sensor so we had to drill it out only the M12x1.5 side. The M10x1.0 side was too small to drill so we ended up using only the M12x1.5 end of the adapter. We then re-cut the threads on the sensor to match 1/8" British Standard threads and it all screwed together nicely. By the way, the adapter came from Fitting Space out of Sparks, Nevada. I called and emailed them with questions and they responded via phone and email almost immediately. Great customer service.

[dug224]

The last item on the list was restoring the old tag before I attempt to register today. I felt like it was a bit too rusty in the "as purchased" condition so I blasted, sprayed and lettered it with a chisel paint pen. The paint pen was empty so I just used it to dip into puddled spray paint. It looks best from 10 feet away. I may fatten up the letter paint a bit and mask and spray the border if I successfully register it today. Also installed the old glass in the doors so it looks more complete and to give me some practice for when I get the new glass and seals.

[mongocanfly]

That turned out great!....

[dug224]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

That turned out great!....

Thanks! Was unsuccessful registering the truck today due to a state holiday here in Alabama....Jefferson Davis Day. I've been here 50 years and don't remember that holiday. Tomorrow! So, when I got home I masked off and painted the border. Adds that finishing touch. Hope they let me use it.

[rgunlock]

That plate turned out really well. Interesting that in today's environment where they are removing his statues, a government agency still takes the day off for his birthday. Good luck tomorrow!

[mongocanfly]

You can use yr of manufacturer tags in Al..theres a list of rules associated with it ...but you can get around that if you know what I mean...I've got a buddy with 6-7 trucks with yom tags...

[dug224]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

You can use yr of manufacturer tags in Al..theres a list of rules associated with it ...but you can get around that if you know what I mean...I've got a buddy with 6-7 trucks with yom tags...

That's good to hear. My motorcycle buddies say they use old tags all the time hence the reason I thought I could get away with it. Frankly, I'm more worried about not having windshield wipers. Ordered them 4 weeks ago and the guy finally responded and said ..."Hello Sorry for the delay We have an ETA of 6/12 to ship Thanks." Is that an ETA of 6/12 or is that when they ship? Anyway, at least it appears as though there is a human on the other end with my wiper kit. Hope the gal was telling me the truth when she said that they only look at the VIN.

[dug224]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

That plate turned out really well. Interesting that in today's environment where they are removing his statues, a government agency still takes the day off for his birthday. Good luck tomorrow!

Thanks.....like I said, especially from 10 feet away! I was thinking about fattening some of the obviously thinner letters/numbers but I'm afraid I'll do more damage than good so it will stay as is.

I've met a number of peopled who have moved here from over regulated states. Alabama, in my experience, has never been a place that governs too much.....

[mongocanfly]

Just make sure you got at minimum ,a bill of sale...you can read the requirements for using yom plates....http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.../40-12-297.htm
Also make sure you got insurance

[dug224]

Stood in line outside for 10 minutes while waiting for them to open at 0700. Was in my truck headed home with tag in hand at 0821. The two biggest challenges were the "dash" between the 5 and 6 what color I wanted to call it. She ended up disregarding the dash and she was nice enough to state "black" even though only 10% of it is actually that color at this time. Total cost: $72.88.

[dug224]

Ordered some factory style air bags (that clip right in), 1/4" compressed air tubing and schrader valves all for about $150 and achieved and adjustable rear suspension in about an hour. Pressure is about 31 psi on each side which gives me a stance about 2.5" lower. Really satisfied with the results. Will leave it here overnight to make sure it is not leaking. I still have to build a bracket for the shrader valves which will mount somewhere around the license plate. I will buy a compressor and additional plumbing in the future for more control. It's raining outside so no opportunity to get a shot from the side.






Also bought a 5.3 badge for about $6 which I will mount discretely inside the front grill much like the old square bodies.

[bobinbc]

Congrats on getting your registration done, plate looks good on there!