1945 dodge pickup

[45ramrod]

The frame is shorted that was fun crazy and I feel like a b.a. , I still have to weld the 3/16 plate metal fish scales on both sides of each side, I was going to do a Z cut, it was just to complicated for me, so the 4 fish scales should be plenty strong enough, and if it's not then that would suck, and I'll learn the hard way lol

 

[kenny c]

Hey, you work area looks like my floor does! Good job on shortening the frame.

 

[45ramrod]

I work best in chaos [ddd

 

[smallfoot]

I work best in chaos [ddd

I understand that sentiment. I know it's time for a cleanup when I keep going to the tool box for tools that are still laying on the floor.....

 

[45ramrod]

[cl[cl[cl yes

 

[45ramrod]

Lots done today, finished the fish scales, put the cab backback on, and mocked it up looks good I think, I am going to end up widening the bed to clear the front leaf spring mounts, the bed will not extend past the width of the cab, I'll probably shorten the height of the bed about 2 inches as well,

 

[willyD]

Man, you're cruizin on this build! [cl When you say shorten the height of the bed, do you mean that you are going to channel it over the frame to drop it down or are you thinking of actually cutting the bedsides down? I personally wouldn't cut the bed sides down as I feel like the proportions always look off if the bed is too "thin". Just my 2 cents.

 

[smallfoot]

I'm interested in the hows too! I'm hoping when you widen the bad sides to hide the springs, maybe you'll add an apron to drop the sides and leave the tops of the bed where they are. They look like they're where they need to be up top. Then move the fenders to match the wheels and tires...

 

[45ramrod]

Channeling the bed just like you suggested!! [cl

 

[akatao]

I agree with smallfoot bed top rail looks right, fender needs to be moved

 

[45ramrod]

Yeah it needs to move towards the front a scooch, made the pickup bed frame, out of 4 c channel 1"legs and 2" wide, and some 1"1/2" x1"1/2 angle iron, bolted that in place also welded the rear cab mounts in place.
One picture shows how the side walls covers the frame just a little and the other shows the hight, it will stay even with the cab line.
That's my 70 year old grandpa that gave me this truck yes they were both made in 1945, the truck is his birth year, probably one of the last most fondest memories I will have before he goes will be spending time on this truck with him, he practically raised me.


Ps look at the last picture that was were the fender was hanging, it was holding it self up so I left it there so I could take the picture, if I moved it forward it would fall.

 

[skull]

are you boxing the frame on the inside anywhere? l boxed mine 4 inches on each side of the cut we made just to make it that much stronger overall.

Later

 

[smallfoot]

Cherish the pic of grandpa! It will grow in importance as you age...

 

[45ramrod]

I want to box the frame in, just not sure if I want to spend the money /time lol

 

[45ramrod]

Left overs lunch and 2x6 poor man's wood bed!!!
Iv decided to make new bed walls the bottom is just to rusted and it won't cost to much for me to make new ones

 

[45ramrod]

So far I'm about 1000$ in to this build if anyone was wondering, $450 for the 89 chevy, sold the radiator 75$ then the rest is cost of metal / grinding disks and cutting blades,I think by the time I'm done I am going to be sitting around 5k invested, not including my time and labor lol which is invaluable.

 

[skull]

lunch

yore lunch is better than mine, l had a ghetto jam sandwich, 'cause in the ghetto we to poor to put anything in the middle so just jam two pieces of bread together [dr

good choice on the bed boards, stain'em and call it done.

l used a bunch of left over waterbed frames for mine--cost=free[cl

Later

 

[45ramrod]

I thought a ghetto sandwich was just two pieces of bread put together and rugar was it
Here is me holding the fender
Should I widen the fenders to cover the tires? it would take about 3" I'm thinking, I might just widen it like 11/2"to 2" 3" is a lot!!!

 

[soltz]

The bed wood looks great. Making the fenders wide would be nice, imho [S

I'm with your grandpa, Starting point for my willys build was we were both born in 45. That was a good year, ask your grandpa [cl

 

[willyD]

Another vote for widening the fenders. Also looks like some lowering blocks would help get that tire up in the fender better. The bed looks like it's where it should be but it looks like the whole thing needs to be lower.