1954 Chevy / S10

[BlueJeep]

Originally Posted by xpickup

So with learning as you always do, I would shear out a 1 inch wide strip and I would start at the back of the hood and use a slitter wheel the cut out a 1 inch wide strip out of the hood about half way down the hood(where the valley is). Then weld in the strip skipping around . Then you do not have the double thickness. Then work from where you left off and work to where the valley stops. I think trying to do it in 1 piece would be a pain. I would just weld the seam in the front. Then I would grind BOTH sides of the hood that way you could hammer and dolly it and make it flat again because it will warp a little.

This is how I've seen it recommended on metalmeet to join the two sides, for the reasons mentioned. Lots of work though, as you already know.

[xpickup]

Kabwe, Thank you

BlueJeep, Yes alot of work but worth in the end. When I first started to do sheetmetal I would use flanging pliers that put a step in and you can not dolly it because of the added thickness. I recut the seam on my doors (my panel truck) by welding in a strip now and the doors need a lot less body work on them now and they have 2 welded seams. You never stop learning.

The brown trucked santa claus stopped yesterday with some more parts for the 1954 so back on to that. I will get the headlights done and then should be able to put the epoxy on. Can not what to see it in one constant color.


Shannon

[xpickup]

Well I got the bumper mounted and started on the headlight buckets. I am welding on the ss headlight trim rings and making custom buckets that the adjustment will be on the back of the bucket. Cut out the headlight area to 8.5 inches and made a bucket with a 3/4 inch flange and welded it to the fender. Tomorrow I will make the adjuster pieces and weld on the trim rings. And soon it will be epoxy time!

Shannon

[xpickup]

Well I have both headlight rings and fender buckets welded on now. I made the rings that the adjuster brackets will be welded to. I ordered the stock headlight rings that went to the stock buckets because I did not have any of the buckets. I used Hagan ones on another project and did not think they were worth the money so I figured I would make my own and will have a whole lot less $ in them, only the time to make the stuff. I bent a piece of sheet metal and then stretched to make the diameter of circle I wanted and the headlight retainer ring will screw to it like they do on the stock ones. It will have 3 adjusters so I will be able to dial the headlight where I want it. I should have them all done by next weekend.

Shannon

[oldman3]

Shannon, looking forward to see how you finish this up. I have the Hagan unit and don't care for the look all that much....Jim

[xpickup]

oldman3, It wasn't about the look, I think they look nice it was the way they used plastic to hold the headlights and the way the adjusters were. The ones I used were on a 1939 buick and those did not come with the bucket the way the truck ones do. The way I am doing it they will still retain the factory look but will be smoother looking.

Shannon

[xpickup]

oldman3, Here are some pictures of the F!@# panel I am working on too. I work on it 8 hrs a week for a buddy of mine. He owns this and a 48 F!@# COE so I ussually toggle back and forth between the them. He wants to finish the panel and then back to the COE. As you can see it has alot of metal work too.

Shannon

[oldman3]

Shannon, I always thought the 48 F**d truck front ends where hard to make look good, but bro you have proven me wrong (happens alot). That front end looks great, what headlights did you use? Really like everything you've done to this one, great work......Jim

[xpickup]

oldman3, Think it around a 1998 explorer which is cut into 3 pieces for the width to be right. There are alot body mods done on it. Flip front end, suicide door with hidden hinges, the running boards are all custom, the rear doors open the way the excursions open, but with hidden hindges ,and on and on. I am doing the body work now and figuring a paint job/graphics. I think I am painting it a medium blue and a light silver with some kind of graphics. There are three of us with panels, one with a Dodge, one with this Ford , and me with the Chevy. Should be neat with all 3 one the road.

Shannon

[hotrod1]

what make flip front end did you use?

[xpickup]

hotrod1. I just fabricated one up after tacking the front fenders and sheet metal together. The frame work is made out of square tubing and ties into the sheet metal.

Shannon

[xpickup]

Well I just finished up the headlight buckets. It work out great and all of the adjustment are inside the fender. All you need is a 7/16 wrench. All you have to do is loosen the jam nut and turn the adjuster and lock back down the jam nut and finished. Now onto the fender brackets. Here are some pictures.

Shannon

[xpickup]

Here is one more of both of them in. I am getting closer to spraying epoxy primer.

Shannon

[oldman3]

Shannon, very clever set up on the headlights, simple and effective, way to go. Can't wait to see the front end in primer, should look real clean.....Jim

[xpickup]

oldman3, Thank you. I really did work out well.

It was a good day I also finished making the front fender braces. I have a plate that bolts to fender at the factory holes and I drilled and tapped a plate to weld to the radiator support. It uses 2) 3/8 bolts to hold it on. It seemed to stiffen up the front fenders. The round piece with the bolts is the back of the headlight bucket. I have just 2 sheet metal screws in it now but when I take the fenders off to prime I will drill for 4) 1/4 bolts.

Shannon

[xpickup]

I have not got too much done lately. I have been working on my house due maybe buying another one. This one has a single car under the house and a 3 car detached ( I will be in heaven). So everyone keep there figures crossed. I should be back in the garage next week after the long weekend of work detail.

Shannon

[oldman3]

Good luck on the new digs. Never enough space for us car guys.....Jim

[Intimidator]

Cool. Very close to what I've drawn up for frenching my lights into the fenders and losing the outter ring.

Looks great.

I can't justify the $400 for the kit when I could make it for around $50 in parts and materials. And of course some time, but hey, I like fabrication, so it's well worth it. Just wish I had the right tools for the job at home.... so much slower when you have to run around to different places to do things

Truck is great! Well done!

[xpickup]

oldman3, You never have enough space. I just have to pray our place sells. There are houses all over the place for sale.


Intimidator, I was the same way it just seemed like too much money for what you got. I had hardly have any dollars into them just time and the new rings. The adjustment works great and it was simple too.

Shannon

[Intimidator]

Yeah, I just don't have proper tooling to flange the buckets and stuff so it's gonna be tough.

[99 to Life]

man I can't imagine what you could do with that garage space. I hope it all pans out for you.

[xpickup]

Intimidator, you would not have to flange it. You could just put some tabs on instead. I just did it that way because I have the tools to do it. I have the back come off so you can center it in the hole and if you have to change the bulbs.

99 to Life, I am crossing my fingers. The added space will be great.

Shannon

[AUSSIE54]

Gday Shannon,

Just chipping in as well on the new house venture and want to wish you the best of luck as well. Unfortunately though as we all know, those walls on the 3 bay shed will rapidly creep in and you'll wonder where all the room has gone! They can never be big enough!!! (I know thats a little bit tounge in cheek of me as I know that you know how much room I've got to play in.)

Great work on the headlights too man. They look sweet!

Trently.
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[xpickup]

Trently, I know you can never have enough space . I can feel the walls creeping in already. There is at least space that I could add on or put a pole building up at a later time. I would get lost in that building your working in. Have a good one.

Shannon

[xpickup]

What a s!@##y past couple days. This weekend the roof started to leak (we were going to sell our house) THEN this morning 12 inches of water in the basement. And I am still pumping with a gas powered 2 inch trash water pump and it is still coming in. THEN I found out that I will only be priming the 54 truck and the owners are taking it back because of tight times. I understand, I know how things are , this is a luxury. Then the Durango my wife drives, died in which it only battery. So we are now not moving because of all the bad stuff , I think it was a sign. Hopefully it will be better tomorrow although we are still to get more rain the next couple days. I think tomorrow I am moving my metal working tools out of the garage and moving the wood working tools in. I am trading in the trucks and I am building the ARK.


Shannon