Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England

[ibrown50]

Paul,
Coil "wire" is a shade over 21mm, coils are 10 1/2" with the truck sat on them, 11" with the truck on the jack.

[Paul Y]

Thanks Ian,

I mistakenly took your 10 1/2 measurement as the free height.

Looks like they are the ones I need then!

P.

[ibrown50]

I got the outer rocker removed today, as expected there's a bit of rot to repair.



What I didn't expect was the bottom of the A pillar. Once the outer rocker was removed I found a suspect looking patch, a good poke with a screwdriver and "hey presto" a hole, oh b****r.



I got these from Martin a while ago, looks like I'll be needing then all.
Any advice on what to do, or what to avoid would be greatly appreciated

[Johnny_Lamebridge]

It must be body work season in England.

It's a bummer that you never find a "good" repair under a thick layer of Bondo. Seems that its always a cobbled-up mess. I'm sure I'll find lots of suspect body work once I dig into mine. Keep up the good work!

[MacQuigley]

Im just about to start the same work Ian. Turns out I may need to order up a couple of additional patch panels. If I do is there anything you need?

Definitely body work season, though Im in Scotland - close enough!

[Johnny_Lamebridge]

Correction... it's body work season in the UK.

[Grizz1963]

I have yet to start m bodywork repairs, and I know my bedside is boogered, as well as many other patches, but every time I see anyone else like you, Paul, Martin find bodges, I just want to spit feathers.

I am sure you will deal with it as well as you do everything else Ian.

[MacQuigley]

I guess this is just the "joy" of owning old vehicles. At least these trucks are reasonably easy to work on, compared with some old cars.

Mind you it would be nice to find one one part that needs less work than was expected.

[ibrown50]

Originally Posted by Johnny_Lamebridge

Correction... it's body work season in the UK.

It certainly appears to be Johnny Mind you I live much closer to Bill than Martin, Paul and Rian (I'm about 50 miles due South of the Scottish border) and Rian, Martin and Paul are so far South they're almost in France

Originally Posted by Grizz1963

I have yet to start m bodywork repairs, and I know my bedside is boogered, as well as many other patches, but every time I see anyone else like you, Paul, Martin find bodges, I just want to spit feathers.

I am sure you will deal with it as well as you do everything else Ian.

Thanks Rian I hope so, there is definately no shortage of help and support on here (including recently from your good self)

Originally Posted by MacQuigley

I guess this is just the "joy" of owning old vehicles. At least these trucks are reasonably easy to work on, compared with some old cars.

Mind you it would be nice to find one one part that needs less work than was expected.

Indeed Bill the joys of restoring old trucks. I've replied to your PM, will definately need some extra patch panels

[mjh1965]

It looks like parts of my Truck are going far and wide . I am so lucky that I got a rust free cab , even luckier to find one in the UK . Good luck Ian , just take your time .

[Johnny_Lamebridge]

Originally Posted by ibrown50

It certainly appears to be Johnny Mind you I live much closer to Bill than Martin, Paul and Rian (I'm about 50 miles due South of the Scottish border) and Rian, Martin and Paul are so far South they're almost in France

Ian, I was thinking about why I never considered how much distance there could be between you all. Is it because we assume that European countries are geographically small when compared to the US and Canada? Or is it because I myself have a London, Stratford, Essex, Exeter, Norwich, Rochester (NY), Newcastle, Durham, Sheffield, Ayr, Scotland, and even Paris... all within a couple hours drive.

FYI, its a beautiful day here. Work is quiet, so I'm away from my desk. I'm just heading out to the shop to do a little job on a "Colchester" lathe.

[clemdaddy]

It looks like typical truck rust that we see a bunch of over here. No big deal,
you'll get it done with no problems. Keep the doors handy to check fitment and hopefully the floor braces are in decent shape. Rock on Ian… you got this.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by clemdaddy

It looks like typical truck rust that we see a bunch of over here. No big deal,
you'll get it done with no problems. Keep the doors handy to check fitment and hopefully the floor braces are in decent shape. Rock on Ian… you got this.

True.

[ibrown50]

Originally Posted by Johnny_Lamebridge

Ian, I was thinking about why I never considered how much distance there could be between you all. Is it because we assume that European countries are geographically small when compared to the US and Canada? Or is it because I myself have a London, Stratford, Essex, Exeter, Norwich, Rochester (NY), Newcastle, Durham, Sheffield, Ayr, Scotland, and even Paris... all within a couple hours drive.

FYI, its a beautiful day here. Work is quiet, so I'm away from my desk. I'm just heading out to the shop to do a little job on a "Colchester" lathe.

It's amazing how many places share the same names, I have both Quebec and Toronto about 20 minutes drive from me!

Originally Posted by clemdaddy

It looks like typical truck rust that we see a bunch of over here. No big deal,
you'll get it done with no problems. Keep the doors handy to check fitment and hopefully the floor braces are in decent shape. Rock on Ian… you got this.

Thanks Clem I think this will definately be a case of measure twice cut once

[ibrown50]

I've managed to make a bit of progress on the rust repairs this weekend. Most of the time has been spent playing "find the spot weld", (drill - cut - repeat ).
The bottom of the front pillar was rotten which is a "blessing" of sorts as cutting if off makes fitting the repair section easier. In doing this I have found yet more filler and fibreglass cunningly disguised as steel.



I trimmed the floor to give me enough space to fit the repair section, one of the floor supports needs a repair, but nothing to worry about.



What I did find was that the bottom of the rear pillar sort of gets in the way, which is a shame because with the exception of a small repair it's in really good shape.




Plan B cut it off carefully and then weld it back on once the floor is sorted, I've cut it below the crease where the outer rocker sits so it will be an easy fix.



The repair section is currently clamped in place, I need to mark cab floor for its final cut and then it will be good to tack in place.

[Paul Y]

Didn't realise how far North you were Ian.

Looking forward to your updates.

P.

[Grizz1963]

Ian, At the pace we are all repairing these trucks and all the past 50+ years worth of bodges, there will be a bunch of decent trucks out on the UK roads soon.

I am shocked at the amount of ****e repairs you are finding on your truck.

Guess we all have our own demons to fight with these trucks.

Thank goodness for this forum and the members on here.

[mjh1965]

Looking good Ian . You'll soon have it done at the rate you are going.

[MacQuigley]

Nice job Ian.

Im glad your ahead of me with this. Now I have a good reference for starting the same job.

Seeing as the weather was OK over the weekend I spent it outside working on the chassis. I'll update my thread tomorrow.

Couldn't agree more Rian, this forum is a god send!

[Johnny_Lamebridge]

Ian, you're brave man cutting off the bottom of the pillar... but I see you logic in doing so. I'd be afraid of getting things out of position, but I guess you'll have straight edges to mate up to again. Your repairs are looking good.

[ibrown50]

Before I can finish the passenger side floor I need to deal with the rear cab support first. The tin worm had been gnawing on it a little.



Rather than replace the whole thing I thought it would be better to replace the rusted out bit, that way I could save the mounting flanges which are the datum points for the inner rockers and rear pillar.

I cut out the rusted part plus a bit to get back to good sound steel



And then welded in the new piece in





Next the inner rockers

[mjh1965]

Looking good Ian . I know the pain you are going through , but with your skills it won't be long before you have it all back together

[ibrown50]

I had a couple of jobs to do before I could fit the inner rocker/floor.

The tim worm had been chewing on the bottom of the pillar, I'd cut it off for access so it was easy to repair,



I repaired this with a piece of steel scavenged from something else I'd cut off (it was the right gauge)



I also put a repair section in the bottom of the kick panel

The PO had done the usual fibreglass and bondo repair, The repair panel isn't the greatest fit, but with a bit of cutting and jiggling (that's a technical term ) it ended up ok





Didn't quite get it finished though, my welding mask decided to throw in its hand. Boy that arc is bright when your screen doesn't go dark. So that's me stuck until I can get a new mask next week

[mjh1965]

Looking good Ian . I know this is a silly question but did you check the batteries. I had to change the batteries on my mask the other day , as that stopped going dark one minute it was working then the next ti wasn't , with no sign or hint the battery was going . 2xCR2032 batteries later and it was fine .

[Paul Y]

Add another to the growing list of welding hats throwing the towel in.

Mine did the same thing last week, seems that if you are going to have one that is solar powered it occasionally needs to see the Sun....who would have thought it.....

Keep going Ian!

P.