Seems like I've learned all kinds of things since I've gotten my 48. For example:

* Floor pans can be patched with road signs. - I had no idea, until I crawled under my pickup and saw "ROAD WORK" staring me in the face. (Ok, I"m assuming it's road work. All I really see is "AO OR")

* Body filler needs no shaping or sanding. - I have to admit, I was intimidated by the idea of trying to do any body work, but after seeing what's already been done on my truck, patching must be easy. Just slop it on and stand back. PERFECT.

And todays lesson:

* If it doesn't fit, just wrap in masking tape until it (sorta) does.

 

There was a lot of the same in and on my truck. Who knew that this stuff was so easy to do?

 

I learned: Roofing tar can be used on fenders and running boards as a rust preservative.

 

I learned that funky green **** carpet makes a great headliner. And it really looks good once it has a little age(make that rotten).

 

I learned that 6 layers of Mobile Home Siding is
a great substitute for a real metal floor. Also that you can rebuild your entire bed using shelf brackets to hold the sides to the floor.

Ben in Austin
1950 F1

 

I also learned that if you don't have the proper nut to put on the back of your ignition key switch, you can always slather a big gob of bondo behind the dash and then just use it to hold the key switch in place.

 

Hose clamps work when your clutch shaft bushings wear out (surprisingly well, actually)

 

Big gobs of plumbers putty makes the heater work better, in theory.

 

Romex can be used to wire the entire truck. Wire nuts are pretty handy also!

 

I found out that the best way to treat the bed wood is to cover it with old carpet and keep it wet for a long time...

 

I learned that a gallon of Bondo, no matter how thick it is applied, doesn't really stop or fix the rusted out area around the two part front fender seam. Also that having a piece of angle iron as a transmission cross member, with one bolt to the bottom of the trans and no other fastener of any kind is not the correct way to do it (it was just resting on top of the frame rail). Also that having a steel bar bolted to the front of engine and welded to the frame with NO rubber anywhere doesn't make the best motor mount.

 

BTW, this is a great thread! I needed some good laughs to start the day.

 

Now come on be honest . How many of those things actually worked ? There is a old saying [ it is only cob when it doesn't work ] . I would like to have a $ for every car or truck running the roads with road sign floors . Or spray foam to fill cab corners ,1/4 panels, and door bottoms . To be honest I have done this type of thing in the past , And so have most of you . I even painter a truck with porch and deck enamel ,when I had little $ and needed to get it one color . Road signs have saved my feet and legs from falling through the floors on a few junk cars and trucks , when I could barely pay the rent . Then there is the learning curve , the older you get the better you get .

 

My 70 F350 came to me with some Romex wiring with wire nuts of course and also an orange heavy duty extension cord for some wiring..... He also used wire nuts on the usual truck wiring.

I have replaced some of the wire nuts, and put electrical tape on the rest. I spray painted the orange wire black under the flatbed so it didn't look so stupid.

 

Truthfully, I don't mind the road sign floorboards so much. They'll do until I'm ready to weld in a replacement.