Scott's '51 Build

[NorCalGal]

They stick down like that. The best I can figure it's kind of a mud flap to keep stuff out from under the running board.

[Scott2]

Originally Posted by NorCalGal

They stick down like that. The best I can figure it's kind of a mud flap to keep stuff out from under the running board.

OK - I guess that makes sense. I wasn't thinking about the fit against the running board - thanks!

[Scott2]

My truck was covered with a lot of scaly rust. I decided to clean some of it off and try to expose the original paint. As the hood shows, somewhere along the way someone apparently stripped the paint off. I can only find little scraps left behind except for under the emblems. The firewall still had some paint on it and the back of the cab protected by the bed but thats about it.

I'm going to paint the inside of the cab and the engine bay with a similar paint. It's really close to a late '80's Chevy truck red/burgundy but has a little metallic in it. If the weather holds I should get that done this week.

Question - working on the hood I found a set of four holes toward the front where it curves down (circled in the pics). I have searched a bunch of catalogs and looked for anything that might have mounted there but no luck so far. Anyone have any idea what these may have been for? Maybe the old farmer wired a skull on there?

[NorCalGal]

Those are not factory holes. I can't imagine what someone would need hole there for.

[Scott2]

Originally Posted by NorCalGal

Those are not factory holes. I can't imagine what someone would need hole there for.

Thanks! I was pretty sure they weren't original. I suppose I should weld them closed but after the firewall Im getting tired of the weld and grind thing. Besides, it's not like it'll make the hood look any better!

[maxdog51]

Originally Posted by Scott2

My truck was covered with a lot of scaly rust. I decided to clean some of it off and try to expose the original paint. As the hood shows, somewhere along the way someone apparently stripped the paint off. I can only find little scraps left behind except for under the emblems. The firewall still had some paint on it and the back of the cab protected by the bed but thats about it.

I'm going to paint the inside of the cab and the engine bay with a similar paint. It's really close to a late '80's Chevy truck red/burgundy but has a little metallic in it. If the weather holds I should get that done this week.

Question - working on the hood I found a set of four holes toward the front where it curves down (circled in the pics). I have searched a bunch of catalogs and looked for anything that might have mounted there but no luck so far. Anyone have any idea what these may have been for? Maybe the old farmer wired a skull on there?

Perhaps a large hood ornament? Great looking truck BTW.

[oldman3]

I've seen lots of stuff mounted on the hoods, that shouldn't have been. Weld and grind...Jim

[Scott2]

I've been working on all kinds of stuff. I guess I'm at the phase of a million little things to do. Also need to catch up a bit as I worked a little here and there while the knee replacement was healing and I'm pretty much back to normal now.

First - replaced both cab corners - one twice! (I had to get it figured out) Oddly, the right one was a piece of cake and I went slow with the welding and planished along the way - no shrinkage. The left I did the same way but tried to go even slower and it shrank a bit.

Also welded up random holes in the cab, patched a lower cowl section, filled the gas filler hole, and replaced the righty cowl and vent.

[Scott2]

Once the cab corners were in I made inside fillers for the corners and I am pretty sure I didn't leave any trash or rattly stuff inside!

[Scott2]

New Aluminum Driveshaft - got it from Englewood Driveshaft here in the Denver area. Nice job!

[Scott2]

I also spent a lot of time trying to figure out where to mount the PCM cleanly. I finally settled on putting it inside the left inner fender well, up at the front close to the grill area. I dug out the stock PCM mounting thing and cut almost everything off of it except the base. I drilled a set of holes for mounting it and inserted elevator bolts as studs, then set it against the fender and tracked them in place, then more tacks to make them solid. Yes, I will put some kind of splash shield in there too - tbd.

I drilled a big hole in the inner fender and found a big fat grommet to insert and the honking engine wiring harness will go through there right at the front left of the engine and into the wheel well space. I do have to cut a slot to the hole since the connectors won't go thru it but I'm working on that. I also bought some weld on zip tie brackets to zip tie the harness to inside the wheel well.

Mounted my Derale Trans Oil Cooler too. It fit in on the chassis between a running board mount and the battery box. It's a stacked plate setup and can be mounted flush to the chassis side rail. It hangs down a touch but is not lower than the running board brackets.

[Scott2]

Oil cooler pic.

Also a pic of the power steering pump all hooked up. I'm using a standard GM pump with a Ford rack. I got a kit from TCI to connect it all with nice braided lines but the kit assumed you were using a nicer no-reservoir pump and a remote reservoir. Had to noodle thru that for a few days and ended up calling Bonaco for a custom 7AN braided hose connected up to a 6AN fitting and then used a fake 7AN fitting with hose clamp inside on the pump return. Simple fix but strained the old brain for a few days. Still need to cap off the extra return line on the pump - any brilliant ideas for that (trying to avoid the bolt hose clamped into a piece of hose approach...)?

Also had fits with the fuel system hookups. (no pics) I used a Tanks rear tank and Russel fuel line and fittings. For some reason the little quick connect clips from Russel were turds and the fuel lines could be pulled off the fuel rail and filter/regulator. The Tanks guys were awesome and sent me replacements after we figured out the problem.

[Scott2]

I've been working on sheet metal a bit too. Stripped off the heaviest rust and grunge with CLR or Naval Jelly. Inside areas then got treated with Ospho, primer and paint. Outside areas got wiped down with Penetrol. So far I've done the hood, running boards, front bumper filler, apron thing below the grill, the hood latch panel and both front fenders. A few pics are attached plus there was a pic of the hood a couple of posts back.

[Scott2]

Next step was priming and painting the inside of the cab and the firewall. I did decent body work on those areas after filling holes, moving switches around on the dash, etc. I'm really not great at the bodywork so it's a good thing I am not building a show truck because there are clearly some waves in the firewall (should have gone matte!) although not as bad as it looks in the pic. I think the wrinkled plastic on the floor and the Dynamite is reflecting somewhat on the paint. I just wanted these areas to be reasonably straight and have some color, although honestly, if the wife hadn't insisted I would have left it all patina inside as well.

My truck was originally maroon or burgundy. I picked a modern version of that color with some light metallic. I'm a better painter than body man so I think it came out OK.

I did agonize about where to set the edge of the paint at the hood and door openings. I don't want the paint to be too visible when the doors and hood are closed so I set the tape edge to the first bend in the metal inside the jamb or hood opening. I think this will work although I suppose if I ever paint the entire truck it will make a little more work for me.

[Advanced Design]

Holy cow you've been busy. Nice work Scott!

[joedoh]

metal work and paint takes patience (and sanding ability) I dont have, but I can appreciate the work when its done right!


looks amazing!

[solidaxel]

For a breather on your P/steering can I have used a length of hose tucked up the core support and put a rear axle breather on the end

[Scott2]

Originally Posted by solidaxel

For a breather on your P/steering can I have used a length of hose tucked up the core support and put a rear axle breather on the end

Are you saying that extra tube on the p/s can is a vent? I know there are cans w/o those and I was thinking it’s an extra return. Missed that completely. Thank you!

[solidaxel]

If you are using a HydroBoost it is the return port.
I am just using it as a breather with 18"+ of hose to fit a breather in the end of the free end of the hose

[Desert1957]

Looks great, I applaud anyone who can do it and have it turn out nice.

[Scott2]

Thanks for the compliments guys!

I didn't mention coating the bottom of the cab, the outside of the foot area of the floor, and the inside floors, firewall, inside of the roof, and back wall. I sprayed Lizard Skin on these surfaces - both the sound and heat barrier coats. After the Lizard Skin set, I applied Dynamat inside.

On the bottom pic you can see the cross brace I put in between the rear cab mounts to make up for taking out the inside brace between the rear door pillars. Hopefully, this is beefy enough to keep it all straight and solid.

Next steps - starting to reassemble. I got the steering column and brake booster in yesterday along with the booster underdash support bracket and brake pedal. The bracket needed some love to fit - it was a little long for the space and was too bulky behind the dash for my gauges to fit. Plus the mounting holes didn't line up very well with my column hanger. A little clearancing, trimming and drilling and it's good now.

I picked up some 5/16" ID hard line last night at Auto Zone and will try and bend up lines between the trans cooler, trans, and radiator. Installed the Newport Eng wiper motor and original wiper arms too - no pics though. Now I'm bench assembling the Vintage Air unit and may install that today - although my wife wants Christmas lights up! This is the easy part, after this is the wiring!

[Scott2]

One more pic - a Colorado sunset this week!

[OutlawDrifter]

Your making great progress!

I grew up in western Nebraska, 20ish miles from the Wyoming border. Sunsets out west are just amazing. I live in Northeast KS now, and they just aren't as brilliant. Maybe it's the elevation? I imagine you're 6k+ and western NE is 4k, here in eastern KS we are maybe 1000ft where I'm at. Haha, long diatribe to say "thanks for sharing!"

[Scott2]

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

Your making great progress!

I grew up in western Nebraska, 20ish miles from the Wyoming border. Sunsets out west are just amazing. I live in Northeast KS now, and they just aren't as brilliant. Maybe it's the elevation? I imagine you're 6k+ and western NE is 4k, here in eastern KS we are maybe 1000ft where I'm at. Haha, long diatribe to say "thanks for sharing!"

We’re at about 6500 feet and just south of Denver.

[ChuckDriver]

Awesome build!