Dutch '59 Fleetside Longbed

[Step-Ed]

Originally Posted by RockinKees

What's with Lelystad, Ed??

I thought thats wat you mean by " Dutch freight shop"

Nice project, looks great

[RockinKees]

Thanks Ed,

Our own Dutch Harbor Freightshop is called Hornbach

[RockinKees]

Small update, due to my health problems nothing heavy has been done.
I only took the new/old steeringcolumn apart and painted it.

In primer:



And nice black paint:



Hope I can get at it again tomorrow, I want the rear axle out and set the truck at rideheight.
Then I can measure the IRS in.

[Clarance J]

RockinKees. Get better first. We'll wait. Really like what you have done so far. You gave me some ideas about the wiper linkage that I am going to try to solve my problem. Thanks for that and the posts. Hours of good reading on this forum.

[RockinKees]

Thanks for your kind words, Clarance J, but I have to live with this problem.
I manage
I have good and bad times, it'll work out

And it's sure is good reading on this forum!!

[Kim57]

Looks real nice.
I know what it's like to have chronic health problems. I deal with my back on a daily basis.
Just do what you can and you'll get there.
Kim

[oldman3]

Sounds like a bunch of us are in the hurt, take it easy and slow...Jim

[RockinKees]

Thank you guys!!
I'm taking it easy and slow.....

Today I got a little help so we got the rearend out and the front springs out (again...)



Took the frontsprings out, because I first want the truck at rideheight, chassis leveled front to rear and left to right.
Put on the frontwheels, set the Jag IRS in his future home.

Now I can measure everything up.
If that's done, I temporary put the engine in to set the pinion/trans at the right angle.
Everything must be done in one "flow", i think, to get things right.
A straightaxle is much easier...but I love a challange now and then

Tommorow afternoon I get back to it, stay tuned

[reaper71]

Looking forward to it Kees!!

[Advanced Design]

Good progress Keys!
Seeing less floor space right now too...

[RockinKees]

Well, it took a bit longer to get back at it....
Today I got the IRS measured in, and figured out how I want to do it.

First got the truck at static rideheight



It looks a bit high, but I solve that when all parts are in. It's now 3,5 inch lower as it was. I want it a bit lower than that.
I set the static height at the Jag stock height, under the frontend you've then got 6 3/4", from there I set the frame level and measured the height of the IRS.







I measured the height of the low profiles under the bed, so that I know how much I can come up with the IRS without modifying the bed.



The yellow level is where the underside of the bedprofile sits.

This way I can mount the IRS a bit higher in the frame, so the truck comes down, easy does it

I will make a "H" in between the framerails where I mount the diff at two angled pieces, so that I can set the pinionangle.
Does it make sence??



The front X-member looks like this, I grind it in so it fits around the framerail, the other one gets the same threathment.
To get the back x-member in I had to take out the shockmounts x-member.





When this all fits the way I thought, I tack it together and measure a few times more, put the driveshaft in and try to get the engine at its place.
If that all goes to plan, I can weld the pieces together.
Then I have to find a place to mount the shocks...
If I set them angled to the inside, I must modify the framerail at the lower-inside, or I can mount them at the outside of the frame....any suggestions?

When you read this and you have any tips to do it different or in a better way, please say so.
I learn from critics, and I'm sure I'm not the only one

[Kim57]

I've got to say it's looking good.
I have no experience with IRS so I can't give any advice on what's the best way to mount the shocks.
Kim

[bogape]

You're getting on really well here. Puts me to shame, but I have started on mine.
I was thinking when i install my Jag IRS i would not put the diff too high as i don't want to notch the frame rails but want to have the truck low with some travel. Perhaps it doesn't matter that much as the IRS allows a lot more travel than a live axle with the pivot point being so close to the frame rail.

[reaper71]

Angled inside would be just fine....just beware of clearance for the exhaust, if you plan on running over the axle.
The outside may be a bit better choice, again be aware of clearance for the bed..

Mark..

[OneOffStroker]

I would not run your shocks outside, because they might bind. They should be installed at the same angle that they were in the Jag cage. Because the arc of motion on the driveshaft will swing in instead of out, I think the shocks angled the other way, they might bind. Does that make sense?
It is this exact problem that made me put the Camaro suspension in mine until I build a wider frame to mount the IRS the right way.

[1958Warrior]

Glad to see you felling better ,pace yourself so not to make me look too bad.

Looking good so far , interested in seeing how the IRS goes in.

[RockinKees]

Kim57

I've got to say it's looking good.

Kim

Thanks Kim, appreciate you saying that!!

reaper71

Angled inside would be just fine....just beware of clearance for the exhaust, if you plan on running over the axle.
The outside may be a bit better choice, again be aware of clearance for the bed..

Mark..

Mark, the bed isn't in the way of things, thats above it all, exhaust is a problem that will be solved later...

bogape

You're getting on really well here. Puts me to shame, but I have started on mine.
I was thinking when i install my Jag IRS i would not put the diff too high as i don't want to notch the frame rails but want to have the truck low with some travel. Perhaps it doesn't matter that much as the IRS allows a lot more travel than a live axle with the pivot point being so close to the frame rail.

Thanks! You don't need to notch the frame if you don't want a slammed truck. It will be lower but not that much. The IRS has about 4,5 inch travel.
You mean the pivot point at the diff side of the LCA? That is about 10 inch from the frame.
And you also make sure you make a build thread!!

1958Warrior

Glad to see you felling better ,pace yourself so not to make me look too bad.

Looking good so far , interested in seeing how the IRS goes in.

Thanks! When I'm feeling good, I'm at the right speed
I don't mean to make you look bad...you have to work a little faster to keep up

I went to see how it will turn out, both ways, regarding the shocks.
OneOffStroker, you are right about binding.

The Jag-angle is 70 degrees to the inside, I think I can put them at 65-60 degrees with a little grinding in the lower framerails. If I grind about one inch out, I should be able to mount the shocks at that angle. If I box that section, it must be good?

I took some pics of it, but forgot to take back my camera

[RockinKees]

Did grind a lot today

This is how the rear X-member is going to be:





I set the pignion angle at 3 degrees, my old driveshaft is a direct fit with the Jag joke, only had to press the U-joint over.



The diff is hanging at two angled strips, which later on will be welded at the cross member. I will have some extra brackets welded on aswell.

After some brainstorming what to do with the rear shocks, I choose the angled inside way.
This because I then can adjust the rear ride height a bit. If I mount them outside the chassis, the shocks will stand straight up and I can't adjust them any more.
So I cut about an inch out of the lower framerail, so that the shocks are somewhat upright.
I will make two or three different pipes where the shocks will be mount at, so its a bit adjustable that way. Only have to think how
The framerails going to be boxed into the new cross member.

This is a small problem, without cutting a piece of the framerails:







I took this part away, later this is going to be all boxed and welded in:

[reaper71]

Looking good Kees...very beefy I like it..

[Kim57]

Real nice work.
Kim

[oldman3]

Looks great...Jim

[RockinKees]

Thanks Guys!!

Today I tacked the new X-members in place and went ahead with more pieces of the puzzle.
Trying to get the x-members boxed in...



Made two templates (left and right) and grinded them out of steel:



Tacked those in aswell:





I will box the rear section around the x-members, maybe a bit overkill, but if it works for me, it works for the truck





Going to do the front of the x-member in the same way.
I think it will be strong enough.

[Kim57]

That looks to be plenty strong.
Kim

[Steve-W]

I see you're going for dual shocks on each side, how did you figure out you would need that? ..or did I miss it in a post?
and will it be adjustable coilovers?

[oldman3]

Kees, I agree boxing in frame front,center and rear of crossmember is a good ideal...Jim