Plus Five

[84blaze]

Good God you do nice work

[tiddlar]

Originally Posted by donandal

the rear is just a front bumper cut into two
sections. I used a stainless steel one so I could cut
it down and polish the edge. No chrome needed.

The center folds up for trailer hitch access. Stainless
steel spring pins hold it open or closed.

ok thats cool...

[donandal]

Originally Posted by RockinKees

Eye for detail is short said....

Would you be so kind showing how you did the hinges on the licenseplate, between the rear bumpers??

Thanks for sharing!!

OK,
took some pictures of the license plate holder.
In the first picture you can see a threaded hole with
two dimples along a radius around that hole. That piece
is painted but is stainless steel.

The spring pins mount in the plate holder that pivots. the pivot
is just a shoulder bolt and stainless bushings.

you can see the pivot hole and spring pin threaded hole on the
back of the plate holder.

[mongocanfly]

Man....me likey that color..

[donandal]

a spare bedroom full of parts...

[II_Slow]

This thread started out so innocently......
"It doesn't need to win awards."
"I am going to drive it."
"I'll also soon be getting into some areas outside my comfort level, so will be
asking for some help."

Yeah, whatever. It has morphed into some of the cleanest, sickest fab work on the site. Great job!

[donandal]

Originally Posted by II_Slow

This thread started out so innocently......
"It doesn't need to win awards."
"I am going to drive it."
"I'll also soon be getting into some areas outside my comfort level, so will be
asking for some help."

Yeah, whatever. It has morphed into some of the cleanest, sickest fab work on the site. Great job!

Thank you so much,

I meant every word of it. I love fab work, and you guys don't get to
see the piles of scrap and mistakes. My wife says no shows, she's driving it!
which is all right with me. I like the thinking and fabricating.

I am just about done with the work I am good at.

When I start the electrical, power steering, air conditioning, fuel lines,
and basically all of the systems, I'll be doing all the asking.

Thanks again!

[Flysocal]

you are one talented fabricator. I wish I had half your skill.

Can I get some info on your fuel door on the rear fender? I've been going back and forth with grafting a fuel door or using a motorcycle pop up gas cap.

[donandal]

Originally Posted by Flysocal

you are one talented fabricator. I wish I had half your skill.

Can I get some info on your fuel door on the rear fender? I've been going back and forth with grafting a fuel door or using a motorcycle pop up gas cap.

I made the fuel door from flat stock, and hand formed it on a bean bag.
I couldn't find a donor fuel door shape that I liked.
Plus, I wanted the finger pull to stick in, not out like a lot of cars.

The hinge mechanism and latch are custom also.

If i did it again, I'd try harder to find a donor. It was a lot of work
for such a minor part.

[mongocanfly]

Chip Foose..is donanal really your alias?..come on..you can tell us..ha ha

[RockinKees]

Originally Posted by donandal

OK,
took some pictures of the license plate holder.
In the first picture you can see a threaded hole with
two dimples along a radius around that hole. That piece
is painted but is stainless steel.

The spring pins mount in the plate holder that pivots. the pivot
is just a shoulder bolt and stainless bushings.

you can see the pivot hole and spring pin threaded hole on the
back of the plate holder.

Thanks man! I think I've got the image in my head
Now put something simular together for my plate.....

I like your shiny stuff in your bedroom also!!

[Nut Case]

All hale "Grand Don" you sir are the best in our little world, you might consider building rides or customers, your that good. This build has given me about a dozen photos for me to pirate them away. Wow Wow, and Wow. Just a simple the "7/8" tapered in the rear cab, what is that for? Thanks for sharing ALL This information. Gets me wanting to get moved and set up to continue my 57 Jimmy 1/2 shorty. you sir are a natural, please keep building and posting you stuff, its out site. Keep on Keepin on Nut Case

[mongocanfly]

Nut case that 7/8 in the back is to account for the small ammount of taper the cab has.

[MIKESAD50]

Wow! this truck is looking great. Very nice work and look forward to seeing it complete.

[donandal]

Thanks every one, I'm really thankful for your comments.

Today was a big day!

I had friends, an uncle, a son, and a brother up to help put the
cab on the chassis. It went perfectly without a scratch.

I had previously made alignment pins from 5/16 round stainless steel
that mated cab to chassis, so the alignment should be exactly as it
came off. I lifted it on with an engine hoist. The guys had to balance
and guide it on.

[Advanced Design]

Very nice! I would be all smiles too.

[donandal]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Very nice! I would be all smiles too.

The young man leaning in the driver side door opening is my son.
My brother is far left. Two friends in the middle, and my
Uncle next to the other door.

They didn't get any pictures of me...

But I was smiling and relieved!

[donandal]

Originally Posted by RockinKees

Thanks man! I think I've got the image in my head
Now put something simular together for my plate.....

I like your shiny stuff in your bedroom also!!

I'll try to get some pictures of it when it goes back together.
I don't think I showed it very well in those pictures.

[Flysocal]

Fabricating is not short of amazing. I can't make my own fuel door. Since my truck will have Camaro drivetrain I'm gonna try and graft a late 90s Camaro fuel door. The finger tab sticks out and there is plastic involved (yuk) but the shape looks close (in pictures).

[Flysocal]

BTW the more you post the better. Many of us will benefit from it.

[RockinKees]

Originally Posted by donandal

I'll try to get some pictures of it when it goes back together.
I don't think I showed it very well in those pictures.

I thought I had the image, but if you manage to get more pics, that would be great!
Thanks!!

[MarKist]

you my friend have got MAD SKILLS!!

[donandal]

Thanks everyone,

I am going to try and post in the order that things go back on, so
here is this weeks progress.

Before the cab went back on, I installed the engine harness. Plugged
it all in and tossed the rest on top of the engine.

I built this skid plate to protect the oil pan. Since the factory cats
were just about as low as the pan I just stayed with the factory
truck pan. The skid plate frame is 1/8th wall 1" square tubing. The
plate itself is .080 brushed stainless.steel.

It hangs just about 1/8 inch below the bottom of the pan.

[donandal]

this is the skid plate. The dimpled holes keep the screw heads
from protruding, so anything that hits can just slide past.

The mount tabs are threaded and recessed the depth of the
dimples so the frame carries all the impact loads. (that hopefully
never happen! )

[donandal]

The battery box is made from .060 stainless steel. I made
the box a little bigger than stock ( 2" longer ) to carry a
bigger battery. The back lid has a lip on the inside and outside
to capture the bottom of the box to seal it up, prevent sagging
and hold the lid from sliding down.

The top lid is .100 thick stainless steel to prevent sagging.

The two latches are stainless, and allow the battery to be slid
out the rear, or lifted out the top if necessary.

Once the carpet goes down, it will only be serviced from the bottom.
It doesn't hang lower than the running board brackets, and it is
completely hidden once the boards and gap filler are installed.