My 50 roadster pickup build

[oldman3]

Sorry I didn't post yesterday, friends over.
Here I have removed paint from left rear fender, ready for hammer and dolly work.

[oldman3]

After getting the metal close as I could. I had removed all the old crap from the inside of fenders, blasted and coated with encapsulator paint.

[oldman3]

Pic 1 This is the fender after a little filler, primer sanding and reprimer.

Pic 2 Both rear fenders ready for paint.

[oldman3]

Pic 1 This is the final layout of my console. Got the radio and AC control openings cut and units installed.

Pic 2 Another view.

[oldman3]

Need to tell a little story here. I'm no different than most home builders on here, things get in our way and work on our trucks take a back set. At this point I was about 1-1/2 years into the build. The next 5 months hardly anything got done. This will happen a couple of times during my build, just wanted everyone to know, no build goes as smooth as we want. Jim

[oldman3]

Pic 1 Here I have installed Alan Grove brackets and installed the alternator and compressor.
Pic 2 Started running AC lines and heater hoses. Spent hours trying to figure out the right layout (don't think I ever did).
Pic 3 Fabing the hard lines for the fuel system.
Pic 4 Inside view of bulk head and AC lines.

[oldman3]

Pic 1 Starting to fab up my exhaust system, mandrel bends from J.C. Whitney.

Pic 2 For over rear axle.

Pic 3 Making up hangers and fitting to mufflers (stainless steel Borla).

[oldman3]

Pic 1 From header back toward mufflers.

Pic 2 From mufflers to the end of pipes.

[oldman3]

A couple years, YES YEARS later, they were taken apart. I drove to HPC in Oklahoma City, observed their parts check in system. Toured their facility and left my parts to be coated to match my headers.

Well thats today's post. Next post is on the aluminum lift off top. If I get clear I may post that later today, no promises. Jim

[flatbed51]

Originally Posted by oldman3

By mounting the latch in the body it allowed me to make up this manual button system for opening the doors. A hole was drilled in the cab corner, pipe welded to the hole in corner, and a threaded rod thru the pipe with a knob on the end. Push up on the knob and the door pops open. Part way up the threaded rod is a tee mounted, to this I added another rod that will stick out passed the interior panel for inside use. The top of the threaded rod is secured to the lever on the latch.

Jim, I have to see more about this install. I just got home after spending four days at Pate Swap Meet in Ft.Worth Tx. and fell fell in love with this door handle install I saw on a 51 for sale. Don

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by flatbed51

Jim, I have to see more about this install. I just got home after spending four days at Pate Swap Meet in Ft.Worth Tx. and fell fell in love with this door handle install I saw on a 51 for sale. Don

Don't know how this one is set up, but it is neat looking. Was that whole cab chrome, or some type of chrome paint??

[flatbed51]

Originally Posted by oldman3

Don't know how this one is set up, but it is neat looking. Was that whole cab chrome, or some type of chrome paint??

No the truck was a very very slick Black,I guess it was my camera or something caused it to look like that.

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by flatbed51

Jim, I have to see more about this install. I just got home after spending four days at Pate Swap Meet in Ft.Worth Tx. and fell fell in love with this door handle install I saw on a 51 for sale. Don

I've been asked to give a little more detail on my door latch system. I'm not a mechanical engineer, so I'm sure there is an easier way. I have a tendency to make things more complicated that they are, so I'm sorry in advance. I would have taken pictures of the set up, but I would have to remove the interior, and that I don't want to do. As mentioned earlier this is for a manual button system.

[oldman3]

I will break it down from the top of latch to the bottom of cab. The latch is mounted upside down so that it works as a push up (an not a pull down) latch.

[oldman3]

Sketch 1 shows the top part that is attached to the bear claw latch arm. I welded a 1/4X20 bolt to the latch arm, then I added a 1/4X20 nut, then an eyelet fitting, another 1/4X20 nut. A 1/4X20 threaded rod also screws into the bottom of the eyelet fitting that will go thru the pipe in the cab body.

[oldman3]

Next you will need to thread a 1/4X20 nut up on the threaded rod. Find a location for mounting a brake line holder (mine is on the exhaust tube brace). Mount that holder so the nut rest on top of holder. This will allow you to keep the latch arm in a netural position, when door is closed (see sketch 2).

[oldman3]

Depending on where you want to mount your inside lift handle will determine how far you thread the tee fitting up on the threaded rod. The tee fitting is made out of two 1/4X20 1" long nuts (you can get this at the local bolt place). Weld one up to the face of the other to form a tee (see sketch 3 "A". Add 1/4X20 threaded rod to length and put knob on the end.

One you have a location for the threaded rod, drill a hole in the cab corner, large enough for your pipe, and weld to cab. Insert threaded rod thru the pipe, and cut to length, and add the knob (see sketch 3 "B").

[oldman3]

Pic 1 shows my inside lift handle, near floor, easy to reach while in the seat.

Pic 2 shows the knob at the bottom of the cab corner coming thru the pipe. Push up and the door opens.

[oldman3]

With everything in place adjust the nuts at the latch to have a little play between the eyelet, once you have everything lined up and working, put red locktite on all the nuts to keep them from moving. If anyone wants more just PM me and we will work in out.

Be back in a few for my regular daily post. Jim

[oldman3]

Had not worked on pickup for about 4 months, helping friends with their rides, etc. Anyhow, I fabed up a wooden structure to mock up the roof. Here the wood is covered with white poster board. Gave me a good look at how the top might be.

[oldman3]

Here are three views of the wood structure, nothing fancy, just for mockup.

[oldman3]

Somewhere during this time I had also worked on the hood, primered and installed.

[oldman3]

Started making up the aluminum angle across top of header.

[oldman3]

Bent the 3/4" x 3/4" aluminum tubing to match the outside shape of cab.

[oldman3]

Here I have bent the aluminum tubing to match the shape of main upright support.