We had some time to work on "Mrs. T" (still no name really). With the days getting longer and more time in the afternoons, things are progressing. Getting the truck dismantled is the plan for now, and assessing the areas that need work and parts.
We pulled the bed off and found some serious issues with the frame: rot and rust, rust and rot (The Ugly). As said earlier, the truck was a farm truck. Hauling a hog pen and loads of peanuts had really taken its toll on the bad and rear frame. The frame rails from the rear shock mounts to the bumper are shot. Just removing the bumper called for my trusty die grinder cutoff wheel. At one time, the spare tire had been mounted under the bed. The tire was there, but no wheel. Even the trailing arms are beyond help. The center crossmember has some rust, and is pretty thin in some areas. The bed itself has some rust in the side panels, tailgate and front panel. Almost all of the bed sills will need to be replaced along with the wood flooring and bed strips. I told Linda "I just see dollar signs."
The bed fenders are going to need some love. They are not bad, just some small areas to be repaired. The steps are pretty much the intact, just a little worked needed there. The side panels are another story. There has been some attempt at repairing them in the past (The Bad). The patch work was done with fiberglass matting prior to a repaint. Most of the lower panel will need to be repaired on both sides. As this is a flat panel with very little detail, I believe I can handle this myself. The tailgate could be repaired. It has evidence of been welded on a time or two. I'm not sure if it is cost- or time-effective to repair it. Replacements are available everywhere. Linda, however, has vivid memories of bouncing along thorough peanut fields on that tailgate. It may become a porch bench as some others here on the BOLT have done.
As we were this far into the teardown, the "While we are in here Bunny" stuck his head in. I was trying to focus on one area at a time. It didn't go as planned. Linda started poking around on the cab, so the cab got a quick look over. Other than the roof, as described earlier, the cab is SOLID (The Good). The rear cab corners are almost perfect -- even the rock guards are still there. I think the cab will clean up easily.
Sometimes it's good to have more than one project in the works. Even "Thor" was involved with this one. Having a bed-mounted crane really came in handy. Lifting the bed off of "Mrs. T" was a breeze. Through this whole process Linda has been involved. As she says "Her Truck" -- and it is.
~ Craig 1958 Viking 4400 "The Book of Thor" Read the story in the DITY 1960 Chevrolet C10 "A Family Heirloom" Follow the story in the DITY Gallery '59 Apache 31, 327 V8 (0.030 over), Muncie M20 4 Speed, GM 10 Bolt Rear... long term project (30 years and counting)
If you don't like driving yourTruck, you won't drive yourTruck..| Living life in the SLOW lane
