New life for the '30 Chevy

[MercuryMac]

I second that.
It's better to put that shoulder strap anchor in now than much later when the interior is done and you think of seat belts at that late date.
Good show.

 

[Old Stuff]

Almost kinda caught up on pics from previous work. Here’s the tranny cross member I made. Wanting to make it a tad different I welded on some "caps/covers" for the joints!

https://ratrodsrule.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=170626&stc=1&d=1642590050
https://ratrodsrule.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=170627&stc=1&d=1642590050
https://ratrodsrule.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=170628&stc=1&d=1642590050
https://ratrodsrule.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=170629&stc=1&d=1642590050
https://ratrodsrule.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=170630&stc=1&d=1642590050

 

[MercuryMac]

Wow, heavy duty, and I'm glad to see that you made the cross-member removable. You'll like that down the road when you have to remove the trans for some reason. Good show.

 

[Torchie]

[cl
[P [P [P
Torchie

 

[Old Stuff]

Thanks guys! Now if I can only muster up enough fortitude to go outside and work on it some more. I have the day off but it's 31 degrees outside and I don't have a closed in shop!

Wait....... welding keeps you warm right?

 

[Old Stuff]

Sounds like it was cold for several folks today. I did manage to get outside for about 15-20.......... But I did that twice!

On the upside I did cut out 6 small pieces to close off the ends of my bed frame, the boxed in frame rails out back, and the dropped portion of 2x3 that the receiver hitch will attach to. While it doesn't really seem like much, I did get to accomplish a little bit- which sometimes is good enough

 

[Old Stuff]

Been spending some time on the back end. I moved the original rear cross-member 12” back to the end the frame rail. That will give me more gas tank clearance behind the rear end, wanting as big a tank as possible, and make the back end just look right. It will also catch 3 running lights, remote jumpers, and backup camera for hooking up my trailer.

https://ratrodsrule.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=170712&stc=1&d=1643165393
https://ratrodsrule.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=170713&stc=1&d=1643165393

The 2x3x3/16 for the receiver was cut, tacked, and looked at a few times before I fully welded it out. All I need to do now is cut in for the actual receiver. Everything was V-notched and some of the welds look better than others but it’ll hold, I've no doubt. Had to remove the spring shackles to weld part of the diagonal but that was simple enough.

I also capped the end of the frame rails, the end of the bed frame, and ends of the 2x3x3/16.

This was a good milestone for me…

https://ratrodsrule.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=170714&stc=1&d=1643165393
https://ratrodsrule.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=170715&stc=1&d=1643165393
https://ratrodsrule.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=170716&stc=1&d=1643165393
https://ratrodsrule.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=170717&stc=1&d=1643165393

One thing I have noticed about crawling under the truck to weld or whatever- I don’t zip in and out like I used to. My movements seem to be more…. …methodical….

 

[Tripper]

Really nice work!!! You're really making progress! [cl

BoB

 

[DozerII]

Very nice , it looks more than strong enough. I hear ya on the getting up and down stuff not a lot of fun.

 

[Old Iron]

Looks good.
I too waller around getting up off the floor. I do 99% of my work under the lifts standing up.

 

[Old Stuff]

Thanks guys. Working on this truck, trying to be creative and different is a "happy place" for me for sure. And being the new guy here-how cool is it to be on a rat site that is so.... undead! So many cool builds, ideas, and rides to look at is inspirational!

 

[Old Stuff]

Here’s a small add to help keep the excess hoist chain nice and comfy. 3/16” plate is what I had on hand and it looks right to me. I did the ‘ol cardboard template thing, cut it out, torched the hole to hold the hook, then made 3 slits where it needed to be bent. Sparked up the torch again to heat it up and put a 90 in it. Welded up the bend. I held it up getting ready to tack it in and… wait- it’s too tall. Cut off a full inch. Wait- it’s still too tall. Cut off another ¾”. Finally right, welder in. I’m keeping it up about 1/8” off the frame to let water and such get out.

https://ratrodsrule.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=170836&stc=1&d=1643897338
https://ratrodsrule.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=170837&stc=1&d=1643897338

Since it wasn’t right the first time, why stop there? The hole for the hoist hook: simple would have been to hook it on the ½” gusset at the bottom of the headache rack. Trouble is, it would be too far to the left and in the way of the air tank I’m putting right there close. The hole that I put in the 3/16” ends up hanging too far to the right- wouldn’t hang parallel with the headache rack 3x3. I’m not considered anal about much but that just bugged the heck out of me.

https://ratrodsrule.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=170838&stc=1&d=1643897338
https://ratrodsrule.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=170839&stc=1&d=1643897338k

To the rescue was a sliding support (1/2” round bar) from an old Rigid miter saw that I took off over 20 years ago. I modified that a bit and it made for the perfect holding position. Rat daddy is happy. [cl

https://ratrodsrule.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=170840&stc=1&d=1643897338
https://ratrodsrule.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=170841&stc=1&d=1643897338

 

[Old Iron]

[cl

[P

 

[Old Stuff]

It's great being able to work on and post stuff real time now. Over the last couple of days I've got to do the chain hoist thing and work on the bed a bit also. I'm glad because it's headed down to the low 20's with "feels like" temps in the single digits tonight- a tad cold to be working outside!

Internet keeps jumping in and out last night and this morning. Got a fire going in the fireplace!

 

[Old Stuff]

Originally the wood on the bed was going all the way up to the cab.

https://ratrodsrule.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=170862&stc=1&d=1643980195

Then the winch idea came along.

https://ratrodsrule.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=170863&stc=1&d=1643980195

Then the air tank came along, the idea of a tool box followed, etc., Ended up thinking the best way to go was to shorten the wood up and add a “stop” for it to kill in to. It’s not permanently down yet because I still have lots of things to do under the bed.

https://ratrodsrule.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=170864&stc=1&d=1643980195
https://ratrodsrule.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=170865&stc=1&d=1643980195
https://ratrodsrule.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=170866&stc=1&d=1643980195

 

[kenny c]

Looks great. That's the nice part about having no real rules. You can make it up as you go.[P[P

 

[Old Stuff]

Thanks Kenny.

Along with working on the hoist and bed, over the past couple of weeks I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about the lighting on the back end of the truck. After doing miles of looking around I decided that I’m going with all clear glass lenses which will be a little non-typical. Finding clear glass is a challenge to some degree,not to mention more pricey than plastic, so if when I find the "right fit" style wise, I might have to run with plastic until I can find glass lenses to replace them with. I’ve also got some LED projection bulbs headed this way that Old Iron told me about. (Thank you sir!)

Layout wise, here’s what I’ve come up with so far… And yes the center triple is not centered.

https://ratrodsrule.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=170893&stc=1&d=1644150740

The outside lights are pre-’59 tractor headlights (tear drop style) that will serve as tail and turn signals after I swap out the single pole socket bases for double pole. Before capping the end of the frame rails I drilled a hole and welded a nut on the inside which gives me some flexibility with the in-out mounting location of the light. Right below that I have a mounting tab for the backup lights. ***And I do mean 'light it up' back up lights!

https://ratrodsrule.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=170894&stc=1&d=1644150740
https://ratrodsrule.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=170895&stc=1&d=1644150740

Inside of the x-member are TBD tail/brake lights, and the triple cluster running lights in the middle. (The 'ol truck driver comes out in me once again LOL.)

oh- it's very possible tail/brake/turn lights will end up on top of the headache rack.....

 

[Old Stuff]

Current overall look in the sun shine!

Nice weather today!

https://ratrodsrule.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=170910&stc=1&d=1644187049
https://ratrodsrule.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=170911&stc=1&d=1644187049
https://ratrodsrule.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=170912&stc=1&d=1644187049
https://ratrodsrule.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=170913&stc=1&d=1644187049
https://ratrodsrule.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=170914&stc=1&d=1644187049

 

[DozerII]

Lots of thought and planning going on here.

 

[bob w]

Nice to see some over all shots of the truck. Very cool.