Gave the kid the welder, sawzall and nippers!



Cleaned out the panel, and cut out the rot. He welded in pieces to the rear of truck (no picts) and is ready to close up the floor.





He also did a little rust inhibitor and por-15 painting. No picts (yet)

 

That's cool! Your son looks like he means business! Come on, post the pics of the finished patch work!!



Holy huge tubs batman!! I never noticed those big ol rear wheel tubs before. That thing must of had some huge meats on the back some time in the past.

 

Great to see your son helping on the project. Gives them something to do and if your son is like mine he soaked this stuff like a sponge and loved every minute of it. He does look like he means business. Step back and let me weld.

 

Panel trucks are so cool. Shame about the engine. I'll never understand why people insist o putting chevy engines in things that aren't chevys, especially a lowly TBI 305. I've owned lots of chevys, and my DD is an '84 K5, but the SBC is nothing magical.

 

Those tubs are indeed huge. Any plans on reducing them while you're in there??

 

Thought about it, but haven't made a decision. Trying to get some time to finish the floor, console and install seats, gauges, and rebuild door mechanisms.

 

I just found and read this build thread and I am impressed with how much you have gotten done. I saw your '47 thread before, so I am doubly impressed because you have more irons in the fire than anyone I know.

 

Thanks..

Right now buried in crap, between work, gettin' the '50 inspected. (Brakes-rear, new donuts, replaced lower steering shaft and knuckles, converted to disks in front and still have to do kingpins! 3 weeks ago basement of shop took 8" of water and 1/8" of muck. Got partly cleaned out and hope to finish that today. This is where the '51 & '47 live. My son was also doing rear brakes, shocks and new gas tank as well on his car, so couldn't really clean agressively.

We kid is done and out, so another 1/2 dumpster of old wet laptop parts, wood and cardboard, hosing and brushing. Then I'll put the '51 back in, do the '50s Kingpins and maybe, just maybe... get back on the '51.

On a brighter note.. Have put 250 miles on the '47 going to a few cruises .

 

Finally getting back on the '51....

Kingpins on the '50 a bitch, finally pulled axle and took to machine shop. Went back together great.

Did have a little fun going to some cruises:



Anyway..

Got the floor zipped up and POR-15'd



New seat in background. Also made the seat/console support:



Cleaned up the dash and door jambs, then shot them with some primer. Figure I'll paint that, drill holes for seat and console, lay carpet and install gauges and make sure stuff works electrically before I mount seats (but laying on the carpet will be so much better on the back! )

 

Got a little "truck time" and sprayed the dash and door frame and also stripped both doors. The door isn't rusted at bottom, it's silicon from the PO sticking on some foam rubber house door seal.. Need to buy some silicon remover as its all around the door and a pain to get off.

 

Little more time...

Had some SoundDeadenerShowdown material left from the '47 and put it on the floor, put in carpet and started mounting console/seat support.

 

Looking good!

 

Had some time over the weekend and got the doors shot and started reassembly. PO put in not 5-star lock mech. on drivers side. (Put in vent windows with new rubber, door latch and lock) In the midst of getting the correct one (with keylock). Also installed guages and got oil, water and voltage working. Haven't replaced gas tank yet.









Wasn't paying attention and now have a little overspray to clean up.

 

Looking good.

 

Started working on the doors. Put in new stuff, installed window and made door panel out of individual panel pieces and stained them to sort of match the seats. (still need to poly the panels) Did the upper panel in black and after looking at it, I'm gonna 2-tone the dash (with black under trim - like a real 5-star should look.)






Also got the lower door seals installed. Waiting for the door lock mechanism to come, so I can't do the driver door yet.



Next I'll do dash and console. Then the lock should be here and I can do driver door.

P.S. I hate when you put in new door rubber seals and then the door thinks it's too fat to close. (at least for a couple days.)
I'm gonna do the panel's interior with the same wood that's on the doors.