48 5 Window air ride driver

[reaper71]

Very slick ride I like it!!!

[docrock]

very nice truck!! I like the dash alot

[geardrvn]

Hey, nice work man! Looks good! I have rectangle stainless exhaust tips too I was going to run through the running boards like yours. I was curious how you mounted them? I was thinking about mounting mine directly to the running board so it doesnt rattle. Love these trucks on the ground!

[oldnslow]

I mounted the rectangular tips directly to the U shaped tunnel that I welded into the running board. I added a 10"-12" section of stainless "flex" to allow some movement so nothing cracks. There is about a 3/16" gap between the tip and the notch in the running board to allow some air movement for cooling, it didn't discolor the primer, hopefully won't hurt the paint either. I am going to Locktite the four 1/4 -20 bolts that hold the tips on as they loosened a couple times last year.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by oldnslow

I mounted the rectangular tips directly to the U shaped tunnel that I welded into the running board. I added a 10"-12" section of stainless "flex" to allow some movement so nothing cracks. There is about a 3/16" gap between the tip and the notch in the running board to allow some air movement for cooling, it didn't discolor the primer, hopefully won't hurt the paint either. I am going to Locktite the four 1/4 -20 bolts that hold the tips on as they loosened a couple times last year.

Good idea about adding the flex piece. I learned the hard way after a cracked tailpipe mount, I went back and added a couple of flex joints.

Looks great
Marc

[geardrvn]

Originally Posted by oldnslow

I mounted the rectangular tips directly to the U shaped tunnel that I welded into the running board. I added a 10"-12" section of stainless "flex" to allow some movement so nothing cracks. There is about a 3/16" gap between the tip and the notch in the running board to allow some air movement for cooling, it didn't discolor the primer, hopefully won't hurt the paint either. I am going to Locktite the four 1/4 -20 bolts that hold the tips on as they loosened a couple times last year.

Awesome thanks! I made the u shape inserts and got my running boards cut this weekend. Hopefully get the exhaust on soon..

[Advanced Design]

Originally Posted by oldnslow

I mounted the rectangular tips directly to the U shaped tunnel that I welded into the running board. I added a 10"-12" section of stainless "flex" to allow some movement so nothing cracks. There is about a 3/16" gap between the tip and the notch in the running board to allow some air movement for cooling, it didn't discolor the primer, hopefully won't hurt the paint either. I am going to Locktite the four 1/4 -20 bolts that hold the tips on as they loosened a couple times last year.

Your truck came out spectacular!

Would you have a picture of the U shaped tunnel? Planning to go this route with my build and any help is greatly appreciated!

[oldnslow]

As I bought this truck as a basket case, I didn't know how poorly the original worn out door latches worked. After reading about the "quality" of the available repop replacement parts I purchased a pair of Altman latches. They work perfectly, other than the fact that you can only lock the passenger door. A pair of 1942-1948 Chevy car (keyed alike) door locks, a template taken from the passenger side and some drilling, cutting and filing and now I have functional locks on both sides. The amount of time that I spent on making the doors latch, lock and the windows roll up and down properly seemed like an eternity, but it's done now and I hope that I won't have to reach into the doors again for a while.

[99 to Life]

yeah I feel you man. I wanted to keep original 51' handles that turned down and opened the doors, yet have locks. Cheapest way was I left them alone (though would like some bear claws) but I built a separate keyless lock that will lock the door and has nothing to do with the latches. I like what you did though, nothing wrong with having a lock on the drivers side, looks good.

[oldnslow]

All of the glass is now installed so is the cab windlace, I left off the glue on door weatherstrip until paint is done. Getting it ready for the interior, the seat will be upholstered like a 55 Chevy convertible in red and white vinyl. The door panels will be as similar to a 55 Chevy as possible. I tried to use the metal "moulded" looking BelAir arm rests, but they are way too big and wouldn't look right if I cut them down as much as they needed. Found a neat pair of old Pontiac (1955 ?) arm rests at a swap meet that are small enough to fit well and they are upholstered so the interior guy can re-cover them to match. Red "loop" style carpet will be used and I got a ABS moulded headliner which will be covered with white vinyl I will post some new pictures soon.

[oldnslow]

The truck is going to the upholstry shop in a couple weeks, man there's a bunch of details that need to be done first! Gaining on it though, heres a pictire as it looks today.

[oldnslow]

Made the kick panel pods for the 6.5" speakers utilizing the "strech a T shirt and add resin" method, worked great. You gotta love the internet!

[oldnslow]

The interior guy sent me a cell phone shot of the under construction door panel, should look great with the handles and arm rest. I wanted the interior to look like a 55 Chevy convertible, while the truck proportions aren't the same as a car (the stainless trim had to be shortened about 5") I like it.

[53 292]

Originally Posted by oldnslow

Made the kick panel pods for the 6.5" speakers utilizing the "strech a T shirt and add resin" method, worked great. You gotta love the internet!

Love those! What did you use as the base to get the curve to match the door?
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[youngrodder]

Looks really good. I always look forward to your updates...
You should be crusing down the this spring...(sorry I don't mean to jinx you)

Keep up the progress.

Marc

[ChuckDriver]

That looks nice!!

[Kabwe]

Great looking truck, great fab work what more is there to say. It wasa pleasure to checkout the build thread.

[oldnslow]

Thank you for the kind words, I stopped by the interior shop yesterday for a look at the truck. Man, it's great to see my idea of a 55 Chevy guts in a 48 pickup starting to come together. It should be finished tomorrow, if we don't get the snowstorm (yes, that does suck) that they are predicting, I will bring it home.

[Chevette]

That is awesome! Good choice on the interior. Works great.

[ratty 46]

That's looking very sparkey. Finished product will be kick ass.

[Wheelie]

Dont know how I missed this build. AWESOME!!

[jmsaunders]

Awesome work you're doing on there!!!!

[99 to Life]

coming to together really nice. Can't wait to see this one out.

[Fountain]

Oldnslow

Awesome job! Everything is spot on and it looks great. I have a 56 car dash I want to install and was wondering if you have any photos of the installation? Or could you post some close ups. Thanks
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[oldnslow]

I don't have any pictures of the dash installation, it is not sectioned, just cut down at the ends. I left about 2" of the original dash to keep the windshield moulding fit and defrost duct locations. I didn't keep any measurements just go slow and don't cut too much at one time, Good luck with the 56 dash, Fountain. 53 292, I think you are asking about the speaker pods, I made a paper template of the curvature of the kick panel shape and cut 2 pieces of plywood to the same curve as the kick panel. I cut 1/8 Masonite to the shape of the kick panel and stapled the Masonite to the plywood to form the curve. After 2 coats of resin on the T shirt and a layer of mat and 2 more coats of resin I let it harden over night and cut it at the seam with a cut off wheel in a Dremel, pried off the plywood, ground the edges and the shape fit the curve of the kick panel area well. I hope this helps. I picked up the truck from the Interior guy today and I love it, can't wait to get it on the road.