Another update... Feeling a little out of steam, there is always a lot going on around the household and as focused as I have been on the truck, I feel like I am missing out in other areas. Progress has slowed a little which I suppose is adding to my frustrations. The last day I worked on it, was a 1 step forward, 2 steps back kind of day. Oh well, a friend of mine once asked me how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Which is good advice, I am not sure it was here or another website on building, but some good advice I heard was to set smaller goals. Rather than set a lofty and vague goal of finishing the truck, set a smaller goals for things that can be completed in a day or week... The sense of accomplishment completing these small goals fuels you onward for the next step, and the next, and the next....one bite at a time.
Since my last update, I have completed: front and rear bumpers mounted, Installed the hitch, which is now the rear frame support and started the bed wood install. I have started the fuel tank, the pieces are all formed up and stitched together. I have selected a gauge package, ordered a radiator and have chosen to move the battery to the engine bay.
The front bumper install went well, I mocked it up in position and then stated to fab the brackets. I used 2" x 1/4" mild steel and a press to make the bends. I am going to have a filler panel covering the brackets so I did not bother to arc the brackets as it was faster. I still like the way it turned out and they are very strong...I can stand on them and they don't flex. Completing the front brackets gave me the confidence to jump right into the rear bumper brackets too and got those done also. Before I could do the rear brackets, I got the hitch tacked into position which helped me to locate the height of the rear bumper. The hitch install was a little time consuming getting the angles and fitted up, but all turned out well I think. I will also have a filled panel for the rear bumper too, so again the brackets were made same as the front.
Welding in the hitch allowed me to remove the rear frame support, which is where the fuel tank will go. The basic dimensions will be 24" wide x 26" long and 8" deep. The volume will be about 85L or 22 Gallons which will give me a good range between fill ups. I could have gone a little wider, but needed to allow some room for the exhaust to pass through to the rear bumper. Pictures will follow once it is in place. I have selected the gauges, I am going with the Vintage 5 gauge set from Classic Instruments. The dual speedo and tach in the 3-3/8" gauge was the deciding factor as the Autometer set did not have the dual gauge. I will include the drawing made for me and if anyone wants a copy, PM me and I can email it to you.
I ordered a radiator, and am very excited for it to arrive. I was researching modern rads that I could modify to fit and then found the one I ordered which is a Aluminium 3 core rad with the transmission cooler and designed to fit my truck so it will fill the space better than anything I was going to fab up. A little more expensive, but worth it in the time saving for not having to modify something to fit.
The last thing to update on is the box bed. I had pretty much decided I was going to use composite wood and had reinforced the bed with that intent. I am also intending on using the truck to haul my motorcycle, so I wanted the bed reinforced for that purpose as well. Anyways, when I really looked into the composite wood, I learned that the coefficient of expansion for the material is quite high so the gaps would need to be pretty big to allow for that. The finish and colour was also factors in the decision, but I looked into hardwoods and decided on a natural wood rather than a composite. I chose IPA ( pronounced EEPA ) which is a Brazilian Ironwood. Good lord the stuff is solid, very dense and heavy. In the picture the white painted strips will be brushed stainless to closely match the tie-down rails.
Well that is enough for now, my hands are sore from typing. Later folks, Steve
1946 Chev 1/2 ton - 6V/+ground/Bias-ply original - shake/Rattle and Roll! (SOLD) 1940 Chev 1/2 ton Franken/Restomod
