Thread: My panel truck build.

Tweet

Originally Posted by hotroddaddy

Yeah Don, i really like the idea of that, i have not told my dad about it yet, if i decide on this i will keep it a suprise.He will be highly amused. Its funny how we dislike our parents growing up, but when we grow up, we turn out alot like them. I grew up in that van, i kinda wish i knew where it was, i would like to get it back.

Hehe, I know what you mean. Do you find yourself saying things to your kids that could have come out of your Dad's mouth?? Every day I become more like my Dad and even my Mom, and I used to laugh at them for this stuff.

Your Dad will love seeing that mural.

Don

Well ive just about finished one side, still needs a little clean up, but pretty much done. I sure hope this will be strong enough! About the only thing i could add would maybe put another flat piece across the top of the frame rail.

You have done a real good job reinforcing the notched area HRD, but that's a pretty deep frame notch. It's the sides of the frame rails at the very top of the notch that will be the weakest link. Do you have room between the top of the chassis and the bottom of the body to weld something like a piece of 1" rectangular tubing to the top of the chassis over the area that is notched?

No i do not have enough room, but im pretty sure im going to have to make a hump in the floor to clear the rear gear housing, so if thats the case ,then i will add a brace at the top. I will not know until i rehang the rear end. The bad part is this area is the smallest part of the frame, the side rails are like 8".

Well it seems nobody is interested in this, but im gonna keep going anyway. I got the other c-notch about done, but i ran out of filler wire, and my tank is about empty, so it looks like restock time! anyway!

I set the rear under the car, so i could see how things are working out, and it looks like ive got about 4" of travel room, and im gonna have to make a hump in the floor. But i guess thats good, cause now i can add more support to the top of the c-notch. Well here`s the mockup shots.

Well, here's my idea!!!!! I'm going to try to save you a whole lot of time and work.... I think you should just stop right now and give me the truck!!!!! Just look at all the spare time and extra money you will have!!!!!!! Yeah, I know I'm a nice guy!!!!!!

Seriously, the truck is looking great! Some really nice work so far, keep it up!!!!!!! I've always wanted one of them to build, but everything around here is so far gone from rust..... That and the fact that I already have more projects laying around then I could finish in a couple lifetimes!!!

Keep up the great work, and keep all the great pics and info coming!!!!!!!

How can you refuse an offer like Dave's? What a guy, willing to take all that work off of you.

Looking good John, and we're enjoying the thread and updates. Sometimes we just aren't in a very talkative mood, so don't think we aren't loving it. The forum is just a little quiet right now in general...........in fact, it seems every forum is a little sluggish right now from what I see when I log on or lurk. Even the normally busiest ones have very little going on. Post Holiday/New Year stuff maybe?

You probably are going to have to make room for your pumpkin because of the lowness you are shooting for. Not a bad thing because it will give you room to do the reinforcing Gastrick is suggesting. Your boxing of that area sure helps a lot, that looks good. I'm still amazed you got that big ole truck dismantled so fast..........oh, the enthusiasm of youth !

Don

Looks like it's going to be an awesome ride when you're finished! What are you going with for interior? That huge open area has some great possibilities. There's a 66 Chevy panel that used to be at the local car shows that had a kind of modular insert in the back. It looked like the back of a conversion van with a couple of seats and carpet but the whole thing could be slid out in two pieces so you could use it for hauling.

Hotroddaddy im here and watching and learning from the fabbing work . I'll be here till your finished and it looks like a great head start to a low ride .

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

How can you refuse an offer like Dave's? What a guy, willing to take all that work off of you.


...........in fact, it seems every forum is a little sluggish right now from what I see when I log on or lurk. Even the normally busiest ones have very little going on. Post Holiday/New Year stuff maybe?

Don

I noticed Dave didn't offer to chop the top for John the way he keeps threatening to violate my Dodge. Must be chicken!!!!

As for quiet forums, those guys are all glued to the tube watching Barrett-Jackson.......................they'll just deny it though.

John, I'll toss my vote in for reinforcing the C notch area, especially if you might end up with the leaf springs, but either way. A nice tapered truss like arrangement would look good, add needed strength, and would allow you to make the "hump" in the floor flow front to back so it doesn't look so obvious.

I am also enjoying the thread, keep it going.

Careful what you ask for HRD, just when you least expect it, everybody is watching!!!

Everything looks great but I too would feel alot better seeing more reinforcing, we had a club member collasp that very spot on his 81 SWB Chevy and almost lost it with his family in it with him. So don't hesitate to go overboard, you won't regret it.

Ya Dave, what is it? Is it just because it's a blue oval that you don't want to chop it to pieces!?? Or is it that there is a sadistic side of you that loves to cut into chevys!!???HeHeHe!!

Hey, bring it by, I'll chop it!!!!! and maybe about a 5" section, a bit of the crown out of the roof, some reshaping on the wheel openings, and a few little other odds and ends.....

I was trying to save John a whole bunch of money.....just didn't mention the mods I would have to do to it once I owned it..... I just like sheet metal work, what can I say?????

Well, looks like we have a party now, i was starting to feel left out!

Well it appears that the general vote is more bracing, so it will be done!! I was most likely going to add more anyway, i was a little nervous about it anyways!

Dave, if i lived closer, we would have already started the sawzalls up, but i think im going to take it easy on this one, ill be ready to chop the next project up as soon as i start driving this one!

Falconvan, i have no idea what im gonna do for interior yet, ive been tossing around the idea of using removable seats from a minivan, so i can load up the family, but still use it for hauling stuff too.

I did not get any work done this weekend, but i did go get the thing from down south yesterday, then me and the misses went out for some adult beverages last night, so today i was completely worthless!! Man i tell you , five years ago i could drink a small army under the table, but now it sure does seem to hurt more the next day!!But it sure is fun hanging with 15 drunk nurses!!!

here`s pics from the new ride, im gonna have fun in this thing.it has two cool looking tires on the front, but they are rotted, i might have to find some more.