51 Ford

[idrivejunk]

Not nit picking, just asking.
The flow for the bumper seams like it would flow better if the insides were straight like the plate rather then at an angle to the plate. Was there a reason for it?

How 'bout I meet you a third of the way? On the inner end of the right pan half I didn't leave enough metal but this is what I had in mind... going flat at an upright bend alongside the tag-



That a little more like it? Like I say it does look ugly on the right half and that should be less wierd. I see things in my mind not giving much thought to outward appearance. Was focusing on a straight bumper. Planning to create the center section last and I can fill in then.

Before I could put the left half fully in place, had to do the hinge and mount mod and thats where I left off-

[idrivejunk]

[idrivejunk]

See how bent the top of the tailgate is here? 



Its not, its arrow straight. Thats all camera distortion. No wonder I'm having trouble getting pix that look like the truck.

Top right quadrant of pan needs to come off and get squared up plus make the very top bend look like the left. Other than that, so far so good-

[chimp koose]

 

[416Ford]

How 'bout I meet you a third of the way? On the inner end of the right pan half I didn't leave enough metal but this is what I had in mind... going flat at an upright bend alongside the tag-

Much better.   

[idrivejunk]

[kb426]

Is the are marked on the left fender where the tail light will be?

[idrivejunk]

Is the are marked on the left fender where the tail light will be?

Nope lights remain a wild card. Those marks indicate a fender widening estimate from early on.

Cut on left vertical mark, scoot that section over to vertical mark on right, fill in between.

It roughly reflects the white piece taped on the other fender, and the widening is not unlike on the '30 in that it is to center the fender bottom over the tread better from behind.

[idrivejunk]

Rear bed cross brace mounts via big L brackets and by whatever unattentive means I've allowed it to become all bent up. She sits with the rear face angled down. Its something I have to fix before welding bed corners together or finishing the ends of the pan. I say pan, not pan half, because I did get the centering and leveling of halves like I want and tacked to center portion. After lopping off the top left quarter off and improving match of bends at top of that.

So thats what I am up to now, getting the rear cross brace out for doctoring. It will correct the tucked under looking angle of it and hopefully the big L brackets can then sit flat on the rail or spacer there.

[idrivejunk]

Got the cross brace in, fixed. Did some weld prep first-

[idrivejunk]

[kb426]

It's getting there.

[idrivejunk]

I am fairly confident of an acceptable result but not in my ability to get a picture that doesn't lead me down a side road to nowhere. Have the pan back on with bumpers tacked temporarily and while I am in the 90% satisfied range, taking a pic to reflect that is like spitting into the huge wind blowing thru the shop today. So, maybe later...

[idrivejunk]

If anyone goes deeper than a glance on these same-same type pix, heres the highlights of this one. A flawfinder's keen eye will be drawn to the left outer bumper end. I ain't doing ends yet.

With that being said, what I would if I may call your attention to is the silver line under the gate-



It goes all the way across. Thats close enough for me.

If perhaps you are indeed an avid onlooker, today's meat-n-taters is the new, full height, center tag panel and the dessert observation one might make is that I trimmed 7/16" off the inside end of the right pan half. That unscreweyed it a lot, and gave the opportunity to recenter pieces from the middle outward.

A guy can lay straightedge or level on that ^^^ anywhichaway, as it sits, and she checks out. The bends are all a little south of perfect but that'll wash out in the mud, I believe.

[kb426]

Do you have anything for the ends other than being rounded?