The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts progress on my Big Bolt project

Here is a link to a site with some pics I have uploaded of my first BIG BOLT project.

http://rides.webshots.com/album/573567191xiTfam

Willy

Lookin' good Willy, doesn't seem that long ago you were just having it shipped over!
Good luck with the rest of the build and of course,
keep us posted with plenty of pics.
There cant be many Big Bolts in New Zealand,it'll be different for sure.

Thanks Jock, I will be uploading more pics as I progress. There are not many Chev COE's in NZ we did get a lot of Thames trader and Commer COE's back in the fifties. Most of the American big trucks that came to NZ in the fifties were the conventional cabs and big army trucks. Some more came in via the American Deep Freeze Antartic base in Christchurch.

Well after shipping the donor Duallie and COE cab home it is now full steam ahead on project '48 COE. Check out the pics of progress so far

http://rides.webshots.com/album/573567191xiTfam

Willy

lookin real good man, keep it up

I'll second that. Real cool...

Looks like some fun to me! It's a nice project. A few yearsback saw someone do a build with the same type of cab but they extended it and made it a crew cab. Definately different!
Finding old bolts like that has to be a challenge in NZ, had a hard enough time finding decent parts for my early model Austin Mini when I was in Chrstschurch, cant imagine chasing down bits for one of those old beasts!

All the big bolts that came into NZ back in the 40's and 50's were conventional cab models, I don't know of any GM cab overs coming in but there were a lot of English Commer and Thames COE's.
A lot of trucks came in through the Americans based at Christchurch for the Antartic Deep Freeze project. These trucks were allowed to retain their LHD steering whereas now any truck with a gvw of over 7715Lb MUST be converted to RHD.

Coming along nicely, looks good.

Looks like you are doing the same COE and Frame as I am doing. Mine started out as a standard frame dually but I had to lengthen it to fit the 454 big block and 4l80E tranny behind the cab and leave 15 inches for the drive line.

just re-mounted the engine and trans 6" lower and further forward
as well. Lower center of gravity should make the truck handle better.

Hi Willy,

Good project. Layout is well done.
Cab, frame and driveline look good.
Are you going to have any steering shaft issues, going from the steering box near straight up to the wheel in the COE?

I'd think you would still want power steering, will you need to change the steering box to get an upright input? I had something similar on a mid '80's Chevyvan. Hope you can still keep the LHD.

-Rick

Hi Rick,

Steering may need some brainstorming as I have to convert the truck to RHD. The reason being that in NZ you can only get LHD exemptions for light vehicles (under 7700Lb)and as the donor duallie has a gvw of 10,OOOLb it must be converted.

If I can't find an upright input steering box the other option may be to use one of the late model Chev pickup steering universals that can go to 80deg but they are expensive US$380

Willy

Hi Willy,just another thought.....How are you going to convert the dash??
I do know the AD series trucks were built in RHD,maybe you could track one down,there is a South African built AD over(up?) here with factory RHD.
So they are out there.

A Schnapps company was using it as a promo vehicle,but unfortunately it is too good to cut up!

They never actually sold AD's here in 'Blighty' or else I would happily help you find one!

Hi Jock, There are plenty of AD series trucks here in NZ both full size and pickups. I have got onto someone with a spare pickup cab that is parting it out but if that doesn't work out I will have to call on all my sheetmetal skills and convert it myself.

I want to keep the dash layout as close to original as possable as opposed to customising it I love those art deco dashes.

Just need to find some suburban rear fenders for the rear and that will be a LOT harder. At least I think they are suburban or panel fenders. Check out the pic below

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2885465480101009564hshAvY

Willy

Hi Willy
Now that's the way to turn up to a show!
Not sure about the F*rd on it's back though!
Might have to substitute it with a 'little' 3100 AD!

The rear fenders do look like burb/panel ones as you say.
I'm sure the guys here will be able to help,but you face the same problems as me....getting the dang things shipped!

They look like panel or 'burb fenders to me.

[quote=jockbolter50]Hi Willy
Now that's the way to turn up to a show!
Not sure about the F*rd on it's back though!

Seeing a Ford being towed or transported by a Chev
must be good. Mind you it was probably a plastic
replica '34 coupe not a real one

Thanks to Stovebolt member Jay in CA I now have a pair of panel rear fenders on their way down under so I can finish off the bed on my truck.

You're a talented dude! Looks good.

Thanks Ron, I would love to do this type of work full time.
Rebuilding bigbolts that is. I have done a few pickups for other people but getting you teeth into something this big is GREAT.

There is an advertisement on TV here in NZ for a nationwide business similar to Home Depot and their motto is BIG IS GOOD
I agree with that statement.

I have managed to borrow a pair of Panel rear fenders off fellow Kiwi bolter Roger Kemp so that I can setup the mounting system for them while I wait for my fenders to arrive from California

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2629758860104889838hcLEFd

Willy...I just checked out your pics. I can't wait to see this truck when it's finished.
If you keep going at the pace you are,it won't be long!
Keep up the good work.
Dont you just hate having to wait weeks for parts though? :mad:
It's a bit like that here too....

You can't wait to see it finished !!!!!!
I can't wait to drive it.Progress may slow a little if my work gets any busier and also the truck will need some serious $$$ throwing at it in the not too distant future so that may slow
it down a bit too.

Lack of $$$$$$$...... ain't that always the problem!

more progress shots on my COE. '48 panel rear fenders look the part fitted to the deck and yesterday I converted the dash from LHD to RHD as heavy vehicles in NZ are not allowed to be kept LHD.
http://rides.webshots.com/album/573567191xiTfam?start=48

Firstly...Happy Birthday Willy!
You sure are a busy guy....
Did you just flip the speaker panel,if so don't all the ciggie butts fall out when you open the ashtray!

As usual,you're doing a great job.
Keep up the good work,and I look forward to the next installment!
Jock

Indeed! Many happy returns, Willy!! And good progress on your project. Thanks for the update!

Jock -- No, they're upside down down there so it works -- the ciggie butts just fall back up right into place

John

Outstanding workmanship. Will the fender panels be removable for access to the the wheels?

Good point John!

yep you guessed it...... DUH! lucky I don't smoke aye

Yep rear fenders are removeable but I should not have to remove them to take the rear wheels off. When the truck is jacked up to replace a rear wheel the rear axle will drop down far enough to remove the wheel.

RHD Steering box installed and new firewall well on the way to being installed also.

http://rides.webshots.com/album/573567191xiTfam?start=60

That is a very nice looking piece of work Willy. I always admire good craftsmanship and you appear to have it.

One small thing I'd like to suggest if you'll allow me, is to mention that I see no gussets from the crossmembers to the longrail of your body. It appears to be aluminum tubing and the stress of a cars weight might very well cause cracking along the top of the longsill or up the side of the crossmember. It is considered a standard structural part on all such weldments. You may wish to consider adding them.

That in no way detracts from the really nice design and well thought out project.
I love it.

I presume you are talking about the rails under the new floor?
They are made using what we call zintek which is a zinc coated steel.
When I took the pics the floor was still not finished and since the pics were taken I have added gussets from the ends of the cross rails to the inner rocker/sill panels. I presume this is what you are talking about?

Yes, that is the area I was looking at. In the photos it looks like aluminum tubing but your zintec material should be even better. I have used similar material but am unfamiliar with that name. Does it require a zinc chromate primer?

You can use a zinc chromate primer but any etch primer will do as good a job.

After a bit of a break including some fishing during the holidays check out the catch here
http://travel.webshots.com/album/576168891XSQzMd?start=144

It's back to work on the truck. Got the steering almost sorted and also the brakes. I'm using as much as I can from the donor duallie for the braking system but this required sideways mounting of the master cylinder on the firewall so I needed to design and make a right angle system. Seems to work Ok.

http://rides.webshots.com/album/573567191xiTfam?start=60

Now this is what you call a challenge! what to do under the hood to make it a usefull place to carry something, bags? tools?
beer?

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2802093060104889838vBTbyP