SGTUSMC '59 build

[sgtusmc]

Originally Posted by Woodbutcher

Nice little trick there, Sarge. the simplest of ideas usually work the best.

ERRR...I'm a bozo! After flipping the perch I noticed my pinion angle was WAY off. I had to flip them back and weld up the holes. So now I'm back to head hunting ants on the black top.

[OrrieG]

Couldn't you wedge the perch between the spring and housing? Done on lifted 4wd trucks...

[britnjc]

yeah just get get a pinion angle corrector. they are made for dropping or lifting applications. They are like a drop block but a wedge. I's sure you have seen them..

[sgtusmc]

I have a couple wedges that came with lowering/lift kits that I didn't use and a few angled drop/lift blocks. On the rear I used a flip kit. I just don't like the idea of adding a wedge or block to it. I'm sure it's safe but I had a block shatter on me in the 90's in a Nissan truck. When I pull the rear-end for paint I'll yank out a leaf or two. They also make drop hangers for the rear perches that I could use to get lower. Since my wife will be doing most of the driving I want her to still be able to drive it home if there's a bag failure. I must be getting old if I didn't notice the pinion angle facing the sun. I'm just glad I caught it and not someone else.

[OrrieG]

I ran 4" Rancho lift blocks on my rear with couple of degrees angle built into them from 1985 to 1998 without any problems. Drove it daily and on some pretty knarly off-road stuff, fording streams, etc. Mine are solid cast steel with pin and hole for locate on the spring and housing. Speedo didn't work but I estimate it was about 50 K miles because I went thru 1.5 sets of tires.

[sgtusmc]

Mocked up the front end today. I'm surprised how it all fell together. There's only one bolt per fender holding it all together. I will have to fab up a rad mount and cut the sheet metal for access to the rad filler (going to use the 88 rad). Doesn't look like I'll have to cut the frame horns. I'll have to join the 88's bumper brackets to fit the 59 bumper. It looks to easy...I think I just jinxed myself!

[Kim57]

Looking good.
Kim

[bjcaldwe]

Coming right along.

[sgtusmc]

I've been giving the wife some welding lessons for about a week now. I tacked the old tailgate to the bed. To keep it somewhat square while mocking up mounts and such. I ordered a new tailgate & hinges. I spent the good part of a day removing the broken tailgate hinge bolts and welding in new cage nuts.
I left the wife out in the garage for a while. When I came out, she said she finish welding the tailgate up for me. She welded both sides, also laid a fat bead on the inside. It took all I had to keep from cry'n. Here's her handy work. Not to bad I guess...hahaha

[bobinbc]

She did a good job! ROFLMAO

But really, a little careful grinding and you'll be good as new....

The best part is at least she's interested in it! Mine doesn't like to go in the garage when I'm welding and grinding because "it smells awful" , sigh

[sgtusmc]

I guess I bought a new tailgate to mount to my garage wall. Were just gonna have to go tailgate-less now. As much as I wanted to scream and yell...those days are over. (lucky her!)

[Panelman55]

Now its time to teach her how to grind a weld off. I have trouble getting my wife even close to my truck. There is no way she'd ever consider working on it.

[Kim57]

I honestly like the tailgates welded up. I built a custom bed for mine and eliminated it.
Kim

[sgtusmc]

Originally Posted by Kim57

I honestly like the tailgates welded up. I built a custom bed for mine and eliminated it.
Kim

Yeah, I like em to. It's not like I was going to have a deep bed to work with and use it as a real truck. I just wish we could have used the new gate. The old one is in pretty bad shape. I gave her the ol "that looks great honey" the last thing I want to do is make her feel bad out in the garage...haha
I did some sanding & grinding between the bed and gate that needs attention (paint). I have no clue how to get paint in there now.
I did mention to her that the new front bedside will not see any welds. I have to remember not to tack the doors. Last thing I want is to "Dukes of Hazzard" my way in every time.

[CAL 58 GMC]

Hey Sarge, It's been some time since I was on your build thread and I got to say your truck is really coming along nicely! I like the flip hangers and your wife's welding! Keep up the good work man, I can see it's paying off so far.

[bobinbc]

By the way, cool pics. I sure wouldn't want to be a 18-20 yr old on the receiving end of that....

[sgtusmc]

Added a floor today.

[nickp51chevy]

I'd swear that you're a pro builder with the thing that you're doing on this build.

[sgtusmc]

Originally Posted by nickp51chevy

I'd swear that you're a pro builder with the thing that you're doing on this build.

Naw Nick, not even close my man!

[OrrieG]

What is the donor for the bed floor? I've always wondered if a later model metal bed floor would work. You are making great progress.

[sgtusmc]

It's the bed from the donor truck (88 Silverado long bed). The inner width is almost perfect. The bed has floor cross braces welded in. If my frame rails weren't so high I could have used the whole thing. On a stock 59 bed I'm sure it would fit nice. Let me know Patrick if you'd like some measurements and pic of the 88 bed.

[Woodbutcher]

A 58 parts tgruck that BobinBC and I parted out had a welded in box floor out of a later model. Looked pretty good. To the uneducated it would look stock. Not a bad idea if you are allergic to wood.

[sgtusmc]

I finally got my white walls buffed and mounted to my rims. Tires are BFG 155/80/15 on 15x5 rim and BFG 205/60/15 on 15x7. Hope to get them mounted sometime tomorrow. They came out pretty nice. Now I need to find some beauty rings and some sort of caps.

[nickp51chevy]

I'm thinking about getting some of these for my truck, and I'm sure they would look just as good on that one

[LEEVON]

pass on the spider caps, they are overpriced and fit like crap. bullet lugs and shannon cones look about the same and are easy as pie.