1952 F-6 Build

[Torchie]

Ain't bondo fun ??
I've been playing with it for 40+ years and still feel like I'm in college performing at a grade 5 level...
More ends up on the floor (and everywhere else in the garage) than stays on - wish you could re-use all that dust...[S

You know it ZZ.
Put it on and take it off....and off....and off. Whoops. Put some back on.
40 years for me as well. Including about a 6 year stint doing it for a living. Time flys.[S
My wife knows when I'm doing filler work as I go out to the shop in my undies and put on my shop overalls to do the work.
She says that it is quite a sight.
About the only thing as bad as filler dust is drywall compound dust. But I wet sand that now. Too bad we can't do the same with filler.
Torchie.

 

[christcrusader13]

Ain't bondo fun ??
I've been playing with it for 40+ years and still feel like I'm in college performing at a grade 5 level...
More ends up on the floor (and everywhere else in the garage) than stays on - wish you could re-use all that dust...[S

Bondo dust does great for absorbing moisture... Don't ask how I know....

I accidentally kicked over some paint on a floor that was covered in bondo dust... paint never touched the floor... just stuck to the dust... pretty weird, but made sense at the same time.

 

[Torchie]

Much better......

Finally got a chance to finish up the roof re-do today. Don't let the splotchy primer throw you. Ran out before I could recoat it. I most satisfied this time.
Finished the vent area and the rear window panel also.
Also took the time to unwrap this dash. Thinking about using it in the custom.[[; Any opinions.......... Mostly complete. Needs one of the chrome spear ends and the ash tray.
Thanks for looking in......
Torchie.

 

[Old Iron]

[cl[cl[cl
[dr [dr [dr [dr

 

[icebox]

I like the dash. It will make it stand out in a crowd. What is it out of ?

 

[Torchie]

I like the dash. It will make it stand out in a crowd. What is it out of ?

1950 Ford custom IB. And even with my budget the price was just too good to pass up.
The big thing is going to be the fact that the dash fits a car with a V windshield while the F-1 has flat glass of course.
I may take a break from body work tomorrow to give my hands a chance to rest up. If so I may do some messing with the dash.
Torchie.

 

[smallfoot]

With your skills you shouldn't have any problems refitting that cool dash! looking good man...

 

[christcrusader13]

I love that dash!

cab looks to have turned out sweet.... I vote that you rest your hand and play with the dash

 

[Torchie]

I love that dash!

cab looks to have turned out sweet.... I vote that you rest your hand and play with the dash

So it shall be CC......
Stripped out the 50 custom dash today

Pic 1-2. Lots of stuff to pull out.

Pic 3. These Ford dash bezel nuts usually require a special tool to remove. But if you are patient you can use what you have to remove them.

Pic 4. Gauge faces are in real good shape.

Pic 5. Reverse lock out I think as it was wired into the ignition switch.

Pic 6. This is what passed for an under dash fuse panel back in the day.

Pic 7. Wonder if adding 10% kerosene to your car oil still works.[cl

Pic 8-9. 50 dash layed over the f-1 dash just to get an idea. It's goning to need a lot of mods.[ [ [
That will be it with the dash for now. Once the cab is back on the frame and I can install the steering shaft for alignment I will do the dash transplant.
Thanks for stopping by.......
Torchie.

 

[Bamamav]

Torchie, If you want to use the clock, you can do what I did. I took mine apart, cleaned it inside and out, and replaced the movement with one of those AA battery clock movements from Hobby Lobby. I used my original hands on the new movement. They have different shaft lengths, so the thickness of the face is no problem. You could even rig up a remote battery holder down lower on the dash to make it easier to change the battery. I left mine on the movement since mine was easy to get to.

 

[Torchie]

Torchie, If you want to use the clock, you can do what I did. I took mine apart, cleaned it inside and out, and replaced the movement with one of those AA battery clock movements from Hobby Lobby. I used my original hands on the new movement. They have different shaft lengths, so the thickness of the face is no problem. You could even rig up a remote battery holder down lower on the dash to make it easier to change the battery. I left mine on the movement since mine was easy to get to.

Great idea Bama.
Thanks for the tip.
Torchie.

 

[Torchie]

Todays installment....

In an effort to raise some project capital I am going to list some spare parts on CL. So I pulled out my seat choices for the custom to pick the one that I am using and hopfully convert the rest.....

Pic 1 and 2. Very nice set of 62 Olds Cutlass buckets that I would love to use but after having tried them I have decided that they just don't fit that well. Interesting to note that the drivers side seat is the only one that was adjustable.[S
And the original bench seat from the truck. Took off the track to lower it about 4" in hopes that it fit . It would be very period appropriate to use it but it is HUGE and it would take a lot of mods to make it work.

Pics 3-6. Plain Jane 1980's Mini van GMC buckets. These were in my 50 GMC panel truck and then they got replaced by a captains style bucket.
These are the seats that I used during the original mock up. You can see how much I removed from the riser.
With the right tuck and roll pattern they will look good.
Planning on getting back to the body work tomorrow.
Thanks for visiting.......
Torchie.

 

[soltz]

The GMC's seem to fit the best and the price is.right [S

 

[Torchie]

The GMC's seem to fit the best and the price is.right [S

Yeah they do and it is soltz.
The Olds seats are cool Chrome trim and all. But they are thicker and dont fold straight forward.
The original bench seat is just a beast. Big and heavy.
I may have to modify the toe panel and planned pedal set up as my current fake leg is not as flexable as the one had when I did the mock up.[S[S

We will see once I get the cab back on the frame.
Torchie.

 

[smallfoot]

Hope that Ford don't go to buckin and jumpin with those GM seats...heheh! They do look like they fit pretty good...
Question Torchie: what is your finished inside width on that cab?

 

[Torchie]

Question Torchie: what is your finished inside width on that cab?

smallfoot............

Rear door jamb to rear door jamb inside measurement is 58-1/4"
Door jamb at the cowl inside to inside is 49"
Should be pretty close to stock unless I messed up when I fixed the DS cab corner. I don't think that raising the floor changed those dimensions much if any.
Seats backs have 9" of space between them at the narrowest point.
I did put an indent in the floor at the door area to allow for clearence for an upholstered door panel as well as carpet on the riser and to make sure the when i raised the floor there would be no door contact when closed.
Hope that answered your question.
Torchie.

 

[earthman]

An all 'round heck yeah. [P

 

[smallfoot]

Thanks for the details Torchie! Looking good. Way to think ahead on shaping the sill...

 

[klink]

The mini van and olds seats look similar so it's really just a matter of trim.

 

[Torchie]

The mini van and olds seats look similar so it's really just a matter of trim.

Yes and no klink.
When you look at the pic you can see that the Olds seat bottom is much thicker than the newer GMC. And even though the backs are about the same thickness the Olds are wider. With this cab being chopped and channeled every inch of space counts.
I really want to run a bench seat but am using what I have. If I come across a older mini van 3rd seat for cheap I can still switch them out as mounting and upholstery are a ways off yet. And the mini van seat won't really change the seating position much if any.
Thanks for looking in......
Torchie.