im gonna install one hidden in my 56, like them new fangled ones have ,,,,

 

Was going to do that, but figuring that my wife may drive this once in a while it would be better to keep it simple with a modern ignition switch on the dash. At least that is my thinking today, it may change in a few days!

 

Dave and Ben, Thanks a lot for the help. It was a great day, I really appreciate Ben letting me get behind the wheel of his truck for a quick spin. Dave thanks for the help on the pan hard bar, got me motivated to get moving on the truck again. Looking forward to the next visit and following Dave's build.

 

No problem, glad I could help! You need a build thread so I can keep track of your progress, going to be an awesome truck when completed.

 

Yeah if your wife may drive it, then a regular modern ignition switch on the Dash would be allot more Familiar to her than a Push button. Understood

 

Everything old is new again! My folks have a couple vehicles where you don't put the key in it, and there is ONLY a push button switch. Some of the new stuff just lets you keep the key fob in your pocket and senses it when it is close.

 

Back in NY from TX, missing that 80 degree weather. This is the snow piled up outside my garage and it is frikin cold.



Went out for a bit and started on the left front corner, more rust.



and more hidden rust




Before starting the repair I saw I could get to the lower door mount from here. It had a broken hinge bolt so this was the time to fix it.



Heated it up and took it out easily with a vice grip.



cleaned up and cleaned all the threads with a tap.



Reinstalled and cut a patch. This was as far as I got before it was just too cold to work. Will weld it in on my next free day.

 

I had to do the same hinge bolt extraction on one of mine. Don't know your plans, but I went to a local hardware store and got some hardened 5/16" flat head screws with allen heads instead of the stock phillips screws for the door hinges. Went in much easier and I am sure will come out much easier if needed.

 

Thanks, I went similar, found a seller on ebay with stainless allen head style bolts to replace the originals.

 

left front done

 

Man that is some crazy snow piled up outside your garage... Rust is always an issue and you take care of it as you go along..... The Patch looks Good......

 

Cab work continues, working down the drivers side first. Rocker patches are done, time to move to the rear floors and rear cab corner. This is the worst part of the truck, rust ate through 3 layers of metal in the rear corner so lots of layers to peel back before I can even start fixing anything.
Pictures show why it is best to start with the best cab you can, this one is rough but I consider it pretty good compared to some stuff I have found for sale.

Rear floors have surface rust but some heavy pitting with a lot of pin holes, chasing them all with the welder would be a waste of time.



First cuts that I could do from the top



Had to move to the bottom to get to the rest of the panel.



Once I got a good look at it all it was obvious that I had to do not only the floor but rebuild the whole inner corner as well. All layers were rotted through and all tied together. Cab corner view from the outside



Inside rocker view



lower cab corner cut away. This is what is left of the rocker panel, panel that goes over the rocker to the cab corner, and the inner rocker to the floor.



rusted panels cut back. Next will be to remove the inner cab mount and the rest of the rusted floor.



You guys on the west coast are missing out on this kind of fun

 

Hey Dave,
That looks like a pretty hard slog! Geez - something just ate your back corner completely - that's impressive. What are you storing up there in the rafters just behind your cab?

Looking good up there in New York - I hear you get more of the flaky stuff this week - sorry.

Ben in Austin
1950 F1

 

Wow, pretty hard slog is right. I'm not sure what would be harder, fixing all that rust or wading thru all that snow. Keep up the good work.

 

Hey Ben,
I would bet road salt ate up the cab, but could of been dirt and mud as well. Whatever did it did it right, but this nothing. Check out the bottom of this 1950 GMC cab I was going to restore and then came to my senses!



Cars visible in the air are 1970 and 1972 novas, future projects after this truck..and the other truck..and the T bucket. My first car was a nova, always liked them.


I wish rust was as easy to get rid of as the snow. But in the end the cab will be good to go, just takes some work.