Bob, I have several shot scraps of aluminum I beam, I used a piece to machine the bracket out of. I use a Bridgeport manual mill with a Newall digital readout.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...98573c5bbd.jpg
Aluminum angle would have been easier, but this is what I have. I also machined a bracket to mount the two flashers under the dash out of the same material.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...0bfddfdf40.jpg
Actually both pieces are fairly simple mill work.
Thanks for your reply and kind words, Mark

Well, that 'splains it perfectly. Yeah, a ball head cutter. It's always nice when you have the right equipment too. :-jammin

I temporarily mounted the bed clearance/marker lights today. I mounted them on pieces of flat belting left over from my milling machine. I will remove them and paint the belting black and repaint the light housings.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...a75112be44.jpg
The amber front corner.
Mark

Adding photos one at a time.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...5f1e6b8330.jpg
The inside of the front showing the rubber mount.
Mark

The back corner.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...26e0715fbb.jpg
I need at least one more of these red Cats-Eye lenses.
Mark

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...e2c14be1f5.jpg
Inside back corner.
Thanks, Mark

I love those lights. Most people call them beehive lights. I just went to eBay and searched "Vintage red beehive lights". I found several.

Your bed looks great, by the way.

Cool looking lights. Looks like "watermelon" glass lenses. Did you get them from United Pacific?

Thanks, Abe and Bob. I bought the lights at a local flea market/antique mall. I bought 5 NOS in the original boxes, all amber. They have 6V bulbs and fabric covered wire pigtails, so I would assume that they were from the early '50s. I really like the shape of the lense.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...d1d52b94c4.jpg
I found this red lense at a swap meet, but I need at least 1 more.
Mark

Here is a photo of the box and one of the lamps up close.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...0300d46c1d.jpg
I would actually love to find 4 red lenses. I have an ICC light bar with 3 amber lenses in it that I would like to mount on the rear of the truck.
Thanks, Mark

Thanks, so they are not beehive lights. I never heard of Cats Eye lights. Good luck in your search.

Here's one on eBay for $35 :

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Cat...ty!17745!US!-1

Here are 2 red lenses on eBay for only for $39.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/PAiR-CATS-E...QAAOSwpcxbLTiZ

Here is a red cat eye light on eBay for $35

Here's a red lens Mark, or did you need the whole light assembly?

https://www.ebay.com/i/202434895511?chn=ps

Thanks Abe for the links. I saw those, but I am a tight, err, thrifty Dutchman also. :) I only paid $2 for the 1 red lense that I have and about $5 each for the NOS lights.
Mark

Thanks Bob. They are close, but not quite a match. I have a red lense to use for now until I find another Cats-Eye lense.
Mark

Cats Eye is the brand name of the marker light, and "Hot Spot" is the lens design. I think it will be awhile before any red lenses turn up, if ever, but good luck anyway.

I'll attempt to clarify the basic lens types in spite of the colloquialisms and the variations associated with it.


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...44353410b8.jpg
Beehive lens style.


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...1e41ea7a91.jpg
Bullet style lens.


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...19376982fc.jpg
Watermelon style lens.


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...d21a7c6786.jpg
Cat's eye lens. It actually refers to the light assembly shape rather than the lens type.

Thanks for the clarification, Bob. Yes, the Cats-Eye I'm looking for is the brand and was made by Columbus Metal Products. I didn't realize that Hot Spot was the lense shape, I thought it was their trademark. I did notice that if you don't specify Columbus Metal Products in the search, it does bring up the cats eye shaped lights.
Thanks again, Mark

While I was out a couple of days ago I finally remembered to pick up some 3/8-24 nyloc nuts to finish bolting the rear of the inner fenders to the cab. As most of you know, the '48-'51 trucks were bad about breaking the lower mounting tab off of the inner fender. Mine were cracked badly but intact. I decided to bolt them on in a way to allow some movement. I made longer studs that bolt to the frame and used a pair of Bellville (spring) washers on top and bottom to allow some movement. I'm not sure it is the best approach, but it should be better than bolting the fenders to the cab solid without any chance of movement. Here are a couple of pics if they will load.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...512e205fde.jpg
This is the passenger side top. I have a piece of antisqueek welt between the fender and cab.
I will post the second photo in another post so I don't loose this one and all the text.
Thanks, Mark

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...f6577bf36b.jpg
This is the passenger side lower mounting tab that always breaks off. I slotted the hole to allow movement and I have a hardened flat washer on either side of the tab. I also added a little dab of grease on either side of the tab under the flat washers. I didn't use any grease on the top bolt as it has the welt under it. I made a double threaded stud like the original, but I think you could us a piece of allthread just as well.
Thanks, Mark

Why didn't I think of that when I did my F4? Great modification, Mark. I did mount the fenders to the running boards in a flexible fashion with rubber spacers between the two. When I fit everything together, it just seemed like the thing to do as I had a gap. Several thousand miles and all is as I put it together.

Thanks for the clarification Bob. So I have the bullet style, not the beehive style, on my 55 bed.

That's right, you have family in Lancaster county, right.

Thank you, Ray. I haven't mounted my fenders yet, so I hadn't thought much about the running board attachment. I have some rubber I was going to use between the fender and running board, I wonder if I should use the Bellville washers and lock nuts there also? As soon as I finish the wiring I will mount the fenders. It is amazing how much easier it is working under the hood without the fenders.
Thanks again, Mark

Actually, Lancaster, Lebanon, Berks, Bucks, and Montgomery. My family is from Montgomery, but some have emigrated to surrounding counties.
Thanks, Mark

I sandblasted, repaired, and painted an ICC cab light bar to mount on the back of my truck.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...65a1f4f7b9.jpg
I changed the lenses from amber to red and mounted it on the back of the hoist subframe.
I still can't load more than one photo to a post.:-huh
Mark

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...ef31f868fc.jpg
I temporarily wired them all to a battery.
Thanks, Mark

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...39b2666afd.jpg
One more.
Thanks, Mark

Beautiful!! Glad you found some red lenses.

Thanks! Bob The three lenses that I used in the light bar are actually too small. I had to machine a ring to center them and make them large enough for the snap ring to hold them in place. The right hand bed corner lense doesn't match the rest, but I will use it until, if and when, I find another Cats-Eye brand lense. I am very pleased with how the lights look.
Thanks again, Mark

Looks good! Hope you find the lens you need.

Thanks, Abe. I look at every swap meet and flea market I go to. Another one will turn up eventually.
Mark

Mark,

It has been a little while since I have been on here so I am catching up on my FTE perusals. Your truck is looking great!

Nelson

I have made a little progress on the truck in the last week. We have been doing some house remodeling, so I haven't had much time to work on it since Christmas. I have the mud flap brackets made and I finished the rear bumper/receiver hitch yesterday. Here are a couple of photos.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...06e175015c.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...dbf004b10c.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...9d19b01ec2.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...a2e3e73e94.jpg
The frame of my truck was shortened when the hoist was added in 1950, so I extended the bumper to get the hitch closer to the back of the bed. I used a 2 1/2" receiver tube. I found a NOS Napa tractor headlight at a flea market, so I mounted it for a back up light. When I get my front bumper cleaned up I will paint both bumpers and the mud flap brackets.
Thanks, Mark

Hey Mark. Thanks for the up-date. All the work on your truck looks first rate! When I do work on my truck, I think to myself, "My son, when it's turn, will probably have to do this particular little thing over again because it isn't quite right". I think you do things right the first time!

Jim

PS. My turn signals are working (sort of). There is a little glitch (wouldn't you know) in the switch itself. Both signal lights flash sometimes. There must be some corrosion or something on the inside. When (if) I get brave, I'll take it apart and have a look. In the mean time, I just have to giggle the lever a bit to make it work.

Thank you for the kind words, Jim. I do my share of rework also. These mud flap brackets are an example. I didn't like the size tube that I used the first time, so I cut it off and remade them. with a different size tube.
I hope you can get your turn signal switch sorted out, that is a really cool looking setup you have there.
Thanks again, Mark

Mark,

It looks real nice and solid too. Neat job with the mud flaps. I like the Built Ford Tough touch. Great job thanks for sharing.

Nelson

Mark, it's looking good. Your mudflap hangers look good.

Oh, and I like your backup light!
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...b887b2f007.jpg

Damn you do nice work!