Scott's '51 Build

[Scott2]

Originally Posted by solidaxel

Good idea on the Ebrake

How much will you need to trim from each axle?
I wonder how the machine shop alinges the flanges on the axle tube when welding?

This shop does a lot of narrowing and rear end setups so he has a big jig to set it up on. There's a good rear end shop here (Western Drivetrain in Aurora, CO) and this guy apparently does all their cutting and welding. The best I could do was to sight down the rear end and everything looks great.

He also trimmed the axles - 1" each side, same as the rear end narrowing.

[solidaxel]

Sounds like a good choice.................that was easy !!!!

What does that operation run in Colorado?

[Scott2]

New question - I got the engine wire harness back for my LQ4 6.0 motor. I am looking at mounting the PCM in the area of the left inner fender but there's obviously not much room there. Has anyone mounted the PCM inside the front wheel well on the inside of the inner fender? Or maybe better - made a recess in the inner fender for it to sit in? I think that may be the best way but would like to see how others have done it.

I've been searching all over and most PCMs seem to end up either crammed under the dash or under the seat. I'm not excited about either and don't have enough harness length to do that but I also don't see how to get the harness and those giant PCM connectors through the firewall or floor without fabbing a screw on access plate to make a big hole.

My harness is set up to ideally mount the PCM in the left inner fender/firewall area, but again there's no firewall real estate with the column and booster over there and inner fender space is scarce too. Thoughts?

[steve aleve]

I mounted mine in the drivers side kickpanel. I made a removable panel to the interior as well. I'll try to get some pics for you

[Scott2]

Originally Posted by steve aleve

I mounted mine in the drivers side kickpanel. I made a removable panel to the interior as well. I'll try to get some pics for you

Thanks Steve!

[Scott2]

A little catch-up - late in June I picked up the rear housing from the machine shop, dropped it at the powder coat shop and left to vacation/camp a few weeks. Had a blast in western Montana, I could stay there until winter shows up! Idaho was great as well. Finally got back home, cleaned and reassembled everything and the fit is great! I have a good inch clearance now inside each fender lip.

I barely finished the rear end and then took a break for total knee replacement (left) surgery. Damn thing was just worn out and always giving me issues. It's been 2-1/2 weeks now and I'm walking circles around the cul-de-sac, enduring the torturors at PT, and can't wait to get back to projects and real activities.

One of my next steps is assembling everything under the dash before inside-cab paint. I have the wiper motor in now and need to assemble the a/c and do a mock install. I decided I also should fit the radio in so I ordered a RetroSound Long Beach radio and a couple of USB ports. Now I just need to get healed up enough that the wife will let me back in the garage.

Scott

[Scott2]

I do have a bodywork question: I have the original '51 doors for the truck but wanted one piece glass so I picked up a set of '49 doors in good shape. The originals are all rusty to match the truck, the '49's are well aged white for the drivers side and a painted brown for the pass.

I keep looking at them and thinking about transplanting the '51 door skins to get both one piece glass and my matching finish.

However, I don't see any info in my searches about installing door skins - just replacement doors or partial patches here and there.

Any thoughts?

[Scott2]

I do have a bodywork question: I have the original '51 doors for the truck but wanted one piece glass so I picked up a set of '49-signs doors in good shape. The originals are all rusty to match the truck, the others are pretty well aged white for the drivers side and a painted brown for the pass.

I keep looking at them and thinking about transplanting the '51 door skins to get both one piece glass and my matching finish.

However, I don't see any info in my searches about installing door skins - just replacement doors or partial patches here and there.

Any thoughts?

[Kodiaks53]

Scott2,
I had both my knees done back in April, best thing I ever did ! When I got back in the shop before my short term disability ran out I was able to get my 53 in road worthy condition. That PT can be rough but its worth it in the long run. Truck's looking good and you'll be back at it soon...... carry on !

[mongocanfly]

" I do have a bodywork question"...haha...I thought you were going to ask about bondo for your knee scar..
truck looks great but I think trying to reskin the doors might be a nightmare..can't you just transplant the window track and mechanism from the 47 to the 51

[Nut Case]

Scott2

Where's the grease zerk?????

Build is looking good, strong work.

Keep on keepin on

NC


It's not long before in need both knees replaced.

[Scott2]

Originally Posted by Kodiaks53

Scott2,
I had both my knees done back in April, best thing I ever did ! When I got back in the shop before my short term disability ran out I was able to get my 53 in road worthy condition. That PT can be rough but its worth it in the long run. Truck's looking good and you'll be back at it soon...... carry on !

You're a tough guy to do both at the same time! I'm looking forward to getting back in the shop.

[Scott2]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

" I do have a bodywork question"...haha...I thought you were going to ask about bondo for your knee scar..
truck looks great but I think trying to reskin the doors might be a nightmare..can't you just transplant the window track and mechanism from the 47 to the 51

I've replaced door skins before, just not on an AD truck. Looks difficult with the window frame and there has to be a reason they aren't available. I think you're right that it would turn into a turd fest quickly so I'll look at the doors some more and figure something else out.

[Scott2]

Originally Posted by Nut Case

Scott2

Where's the grease zerk?????

Build is looking good, strong work.

Keep on keepin on

NC
It's not long before in need both knees replaced.

I'll need the other one done too, just not for 5 years or so. I tore cartilage in the left one playing flag football with a bunch of varsity players in college and it just wore out faster as a result. The new knee is already better than the old one!

[mongocanfly]

well...they are available. ..but pricey....http://www.brotherstrucks.com/51-54-...tinfo/OPWK100/

[Scott2]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

well...they are available. ..but pricey....http://www.brotherstrucks.com/51-54-...tinfo/OPWK100/

Mongo - that's very interesting! I'm still on narcotics for my knee and it took me a few minutes to process what I was looking at. Initially I thought the link was for a door skin, then just a simple one piece conversion, and it finally processed all the way and I realized it's a pretty clever kit with the conversion parts for one piece glass, plus new glass, and includes power windows.

It's still a little pricey but kind of temping. Power windows might be nice and run ~$350-500, glass is ~$100, which means the conversion bits and seals are a few hundred at the least. But - I could use my original doors.

I need to think about all this some more, especially after the drug haze clears.

Thanks!

[mongocanfly]

but it now!!!!...then you can always blame it all on a drug adled purchace and you didn't know what you were doing at the time....take some more drugs when you pay off the card and you'll never have any memory of it..hahaha...you'll just have a nice set of power windows in your truck....I'm nearly over the fence in buying a set for mine..

[NorCalGal]

I'm feeling you, I had to stop buying parts for my truck so I could buy 2 new knees. Been two years now and they continued to improve for the first year and a half. The truck is a good motivator. I look forward to following your build.

[OutlawDrifter]

Glad the knee is healing up! Both my knees and my right shoulder need repaired. Turns out, when my dad told me to take care of my body all those years ago, he knew what he was talking about.

I would look into matching the replacement doors before you go through the trouble of switching anything over. You may not get a perfect match, but what is perfect about patina?

[Scott2]

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

Glad the knee is healing up! Both my knees and my right shoulder need repaired. Turns out, when my dad told me to take care of my body all those years ago, he knew what he was talking about.

I would look into matching the replacement doors before you go through the trouble of switching anything over. You may not get a perfect match, but what is perfect about patina?

It was great fun being active and doing all those years of sports, mountain climbing, weightlifting, karate, etc. but there is a price for it. I've had arthroscopic surgeries on both shoulders, both knees, one twice, and finally had that knee replaced. Hopefully this will be it for a while.

There are several options on the doors -I just have to work thru them.

[Scott2]

Working on the cab now, doing the weld, grind, etc. routine. Trying to sort out some of the parts and have a question about the Inner Fender To Firewall Filler Panels. Mine have several staple holes each. I assume these were to hold on some kind of seal or sealing flap? Anyone know where to get those? I've searched but have not yet found them.

[solidaxel]

Yes there are seals on those fillers
Try Steel Rubber for the rubber seals

[Scott2]

Originally Posted by solidaxel

Yes there are seals on those fillers
Try Steel Rubber for the rubber seals

Thanks! I see a u-channel (http://www.steelerubber.com/splash-apron-60-0288-45) that is for fender splash panels?

My problem locating these parts was not knowing what they're called. I don't see them at all in the lmc catalog and tried all kinds of search terms until I blundered on them. They're probably in my Assembly Manual somewhere but my wife "organized" my desk and it's currently MIA. My fault apparently for leaving it out while I was using it! .

Any guidance on how the seal goes on - mine were rotted and gone?

[Scott2]

Found the manual stuffed in a cabinet in the garage with the car wash towels! I also found the picture of the parts and see where the seal goes. Thanks again!

[Scott2]

New question - I'm cleaning up the front fenders and painting the inside. At the rear of the fender there is an extra "reinforcing" strip (I assume that's what it is). It was pushed up and bent (pic 1) so I straightened it out (pic 2). Now it sticks down below the fender edge where it will get beat up again (pic 3). Anyone know if this is supposed to stick down like this or does it get flattened along the bottom of the fender?

Thanks!