My 58 Fleetside

[Green 1959]

Drove the truck to the end of the block and back today.. Still a lot of work before it is ready to go on a real trip.

[Green 1959]

Got the driver's door on again, it took hours to get it just right and now I have to wonder if I should leave it on...... Also I am wondering waht happened to the top.. oh yeah.. And just a pict from the front of the truck.

[Green 1959]

Working on the left fender, shot it with sealing primer, filler primer and then a guard coat. Going to sand and shot hoping in the near future.

[OrrieG]

Assuming you have your final hinges on and the door is where you want it drill 1/8" pilot holes in the hinge to the body and hinge to the door so you can align them right up when you reassemble. I wish I had known this trick when I took my truck apart 12 years ago. I think I will be close, the original latch and hinges made some pretty good indents in the metal.

[Green 1959]

The left fender painted. I cleared it and the instructions said that it should be in a heated paint booth to 140. Lucky for me I live in.... well anywhoo my Raytec gun shows the right temp just sitting in the sun.

[Stephanie]

Originally Posted by Green 1959

The left fender painted. I cleared it and the instructions said that it should be in a heated paint booth to 140. Lucky for me I live in.... well anywhoo my Raytec gun shows the right temp just sitting in the sun.

Hahahahahaha!!!!

[Green 1959]

Ok 58-59 guys I need help! The fender is hung, now here is the questions what kind of screws/bolts are used in the third picture? In the last picture I talked Bigfoot into holding the hood hindge spring that I have been told is the right one twice but it seems to fall a little short.

[OrrieG]

I will need to get on my other computer tomorrow to look up my disassembly photos for the headlight to grill support bolts. That is the right spring. After you get the bolt thru the inner fender mounted you can 1)grab it with a pair of vice grips and strong arm it to the front clip or 2) stretch it like this photo and put wrenchs, etc. into the open parts to hold the stretch, mount the spring and take out the wrenchs to tension it up. The stretch also helps in painting it. I stole this tip from over at Stovebolts.

[dug224]

I believe you are looking for these. I polished the head so you could see the strange driver you will need. For some reason, I had one. I had never seen one before. Note that it has metal screw threads. Took the photos with my phone. If you need a better photo, let me know and I will use a real camera. Dug

[Kim57]

The paint is looking good.
Kim

[zellway]

I will have to stop in and check this out over the weekend. It starting to look like a truck!

[Daze57]

Green1959
that pict that dug244 put up of that type of sheet metal screw is called a ''clutch head '' you might be able to find them @ some of the vendors who sell the truck parts . obviously you will need a clutch head screwdriver to put them in -most old truck part vendors have them also - i believe 3-4 different sizes .
good luck - truck is lookin v v nice !

[_Ogre]

for the screws, get a short phillips head #12 screw
i got some ss ones from hd

i have a set of old school dent hooks that work well on springs
also handy tool for general shop use: windshield rubber, upholstery
i've had mine for ever from the cornwell truck, but they are available from amazon for under $10



to get the hood spring on, tie a 4 foot loop of rope, hook it over the loose end and pull it
have a second person push the hook into the slot with a pair of pliers (keep your fingers out of the way)

[OrrieG]

I looked at mine and it takes a sheet metal screw like Orge said. You can also upgrade to stainless with square recessed square head drive like mechanical contractors use.

[longbike]

Your making some great progress Green! looking great!!

I picked up one of those 55 to 59 chevy truck assembly manuals and it has all the info you could ever want on these trucks everything in it from dimensions to bolts and how it goes together. and there cheap on ebay!

[Green 1959]

What is the length of your spring? It looks different than mine with the longer lead on the one side.

Originally Posted by OrrieG

I will need to get on my other computer tomorrow to look up my disassembly photos for the headlight to grill support bolts. That is the right spring. After you get the bolt thru the inner fender mounted you can 1)grab it with a pair of vice grips and strong arm it to the front clip or 2) stretch it like this photo and put wrenchs, etc. into the open parts to hold the stretch, mount the spring and take out the wrenchs to tension it up. The stretch also helps in painting it. I stole this tip from over at Stovebolts.

[OrrieG]

If you are talking about the photo with the floor jack I just grabbed that off the net as an example, could be anything. If you need precise measurements I can dig mine out of the "finished ready to install" tote Sunday.

[Green 1959]

I was just wondering about the total length of your spring without the jack. And thanks everyone for the info!! I would be lost without it, when I got my truck it didn't have the front together so I am at a loose at times

[OrrieG]

My 1959 stock hinge spring.

[Green 1959]

Thanks Orrie, I measured my brand new one and it measures just a hair under 8 and 3/4, it looked too short. Thanks again!

[OrrieG]

Mine have about 250K miles on them so they may have stretched a 1/4" but they still worked just fine. Make sure you do not over clean your hinges, they need a little resistance to stay up, too much oil an you need to steal the wife's broom handle.

[Green 1959]

I didn't really clean them at all. So I think I'm going to be good

[OrrieG]

What is your paint color? I have been looking for a match to the original blue green enamel, but with some metallic in it, and yours looks close.

[Green 1959]

Nineties Dodge trucks and Caravans for the green and the grey is from a 2010 Toyota

[Green 1959]

The hood is now on. The next problem is that when it is shut the back on the drivers side sticks up. I was able to adjust the hinges down all the way down and the passanger side is good. So what gives? Also the front lines up good but the back has a half inch gap.