51 F1 Rat Rod

[roddguy1]

Well it's been a long time since I've posted any updates here. So here it goes. The main thing I've been working on is the box, which as you already know is based around using parts of 58 Buick 1/4's, chrome and tail lights. This is where I started.

I had the fab shop down the road from our shop roll a couple box side panels for me and I picked them up today. I started fitting my 58 Buick fins and tail lights into them . The first thing I had to do was lay the oringinal 1/4 panel over my new box sides.

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I laid out all the pertinent points that need to be delt with and then started triming off what I don't need.

 

[roddguy1]

These two pics show what I had left of the original 58 panels once I was happy with the fit. next I will mark out and trim off what I don't need from the new panels that are under the Buick fins and then tac weld them into place. I have some really cool ideas for this box so stay tuned.

 

[roddguy1]

It's really funny, the company I work for has two shops and the one I'm at I work with two other guys. The one German fellow can't wrap his head around this stuff and says it's way to wild. the other says it's way to much work. I think there both missing the point.
So what I've got done so far it to get the fin section tack welded into place on one of the new box sides. Ok now I'm gonna let you in on some of the neat features that I'm putting into this box. On the inner edge of the new box side I have also tacked on the inner fender edge from a 69 Buick Wildcat. This provides a curved edge that will be used to frame the opening in the top of the box. I will then be making a deck cover using a roof section from an old Benz.

 

[roddguy1]

While I was measuring and designing for the box I made the desicion to shorten the frame by 5" on the truck so I can make the box a bit shorter to. I think the proportions will look better in the end.

Ok, so here is what I've done so far. I started with triming the box floor (from a Dodge truck) and I changed the braces to shorter units so I could gain as much space as posible inside the box. I now have about 11" of usable depth inside the box. Then I mocked up the side panels and built the panels that make up the front of the box. I made them up in three peaces, Lt / Rt wings, and center panels. I will take pix of the individual panels when I break it down again. Right now everything is just screwed together for mock up.

 

[Gastrick]

NEATO! Rodguy. Nicely thought out and executed too.

 

[roddguy1]

Thanks man, wait till you see the rest that I have done so far.

 

[roddguy1]

Here are a few pics with the front panels in place.

 

[roddguy1]

You can see some 1x2 tubing that has been put in place to stiffen the structure and keep everything square untill all the inner structures are built and in place. Then they will be removed. You can also see in these pics I've been working on adding some of the inner structer. I had originaly planed to use pieces from a cut up 69 Buick bumper to make the tailgate, but the more I looked at it the less I liked it.

 

[roddguy1]

So I've decided to change the way I'm doing the tailgate. I kept thinking about the piece that I started to make and I just never liked it so I made one that follows the natural contour that is already there.

The first thing I started with was to trim up the deck lid panel that I cut from a Mercedes roof. It has the proper curve in it to match the box sides.

 

[roddguy1]

Once I knew the length of the deck lid I could start to make the tailgate frame.

 

[roddguy1]

Then it was time to make the skin for the tailgate.

 

[roddguy1]

Now that the skin was in place it was time to install a set of mini bear claw latches and make a couple of recessed areas in the frame for the GM tail gate hinges. I also intstalled The corresponding hing on the jamb panels

 

[roddguy1]

Time for a test fit now. It looks and fits great. I still have lots to do on the tailgate. I need to install the GM style gate hande on the inside panel that I have yet to make. I also need to figure out some kind of latch system that will hold the deck lid down and will be operated by a remote popper.

 

[roddguy1]

I got a little more done on my box. I added some more bracing in the tailgate to stiffen up the frame and around the latches. I also have one side of the jamb made and taced into place. I'm really liking the way this is turning out now.

 

[Plymouth rat]

you know what, im really liking the way this is turning out too..great work, i have been to the barrie swap meet and your right, its 3 days of parts, its great walking around there, never know what your going to find. keep up the great work and dont forget the pictures...

 

[Dvapteam]

wow

Randy all is look great!
We should be starting our Ford here in a few weeks so I will buggn ya!

 

[IAM-LDS-2]

I bought this truck around 1998 and had sat on it till 2002. At the time I was 39. I decided my path and started in the winter of 2002. The first thing I did was to lay out some tape on the floor just to get and idea of length and wheel base. Then I built a mock up frame from 2x4's. Man did I take a ribbing for that. Some guys in my club actually thought that was going to be my frame. Amatures . You may notice in the pics that there is some blue tape on the roof. I had been planing to make it a convertable originally, but later changed my mind to something I think you will find more interesting. More on that later. Here is a few more pics

just reading this thread for the first time-I think- and thought you might like this pic

 

[roddguy1]

Seems I'm not the only wooden frame builder in these parts........ Have you been spying on me?

Nice truck, I'll be watching for more on this one.

 

[roddguy1]

Thanks for all the kudos guys.
Hey Brian, whenever your ready I've got answers, and if I don't know it I'll just make something up.

 

[sixtall]

Did I read it's an Ontario truck ? What part of the province did you find it in ?