1951 F16

kb426 · August 11, 2021, 05:52:21 PM

O&S had a short day. The steering column is in. The pedals are mounted but that's half the job. The register for the hydroboost hasn't been cut yet and I usually make a firewall doubler plate to spread the stress of the pedal assembly over a wider area. I haven't started that yet. The extra pin was removed from the spare brake pedal. It is slightly under 9/16". The hole will have to be bored to size. I had the original seat in for setting heights on the pedals and column. It's an inch higher than what I have been used to. The brake pedal is close to the steering column. I will put it in the press and do a little bending when it's out for the other pin to be installed.

Crosley.In.AZ · August 11, 2021, 07:17:37 PM

Ya... the 2nd and third pedal look close to the column . Or is it an optical illusion?

kb426 · August 11, 2021, 07:59:04 PM

You are correct, Tony. H.F. press to the rescue. I used to use an assortment of methods but having the press break dies does allow me to have more precision with bending.

idrivejunk · August 11, 2021, 09:41:14 PM

That vat looks to be a good friend to have.

kb426 · August 12, 2021, 06:19:00 PM

Matt it is. I found out by accident that you need to heat all the double seams and braces with some kind of a torch to remove all of the residue and moisture left over from the process. I have streaks of red rust coming from seams on some of the parts on the 51. I didn't know why. I found a video of a shop that has been dipping bodies for a long time where they showed an employee using a propane troch to heat those areas.

O&S plodded along today again. I machined the brake pedal for the new pin and pressed it in and welded the back side just as the original was. The pics show that as well as the new pedal spacing, a simple brace for the pedal hanger to the dash and the firewall backing plate that isn't installed yet.

kb426 · August 13, 2021, 06:51:23 PM

O&S was greeted by a somewhat cooler day today. The high was 82. There was considerable humidity. I started off the day with fabbing a frame for the tailgate. The uprights were cut to length in the mill. The round tubes were faced off in the lathe. The top tube is 2 pieces welded together. After completing that task, I made a post office run. The new u joint for the steering arrived. I got to looking at what I had and ended up taking a stub shaft that has the 36 spline end and turning into a dd shaft. It's stuck in the end of the column for an extension. Then I had some steering shaft left over from possibly the 53 chevy that donated it's 3/4" round stock. I stuck it in the mill and turned it into dd also. The top u joint and the shaft will be drilled for a center shoulder bolt. The other parts have set screws in them. This gives me around 5/16" clearance on the header. I will have to remove the engine crossmember again. The set screw on the front side doesn't quite clear it. I will machine some from that side and weld the hole on the cab side back up. I believe that will finish off the steering column. Steering wheel choice is left. That hasn't been easy to do.

idrivejunk · August 14, 2021, 11:11:06 AM

I like how you made the gate frame so much I'm not gonna quiz you on the part not made yet. Be interesting to see what you come up with. Steering shaft looks nice too, both thanks in part to your other friend, the mill. Or lathe, or drill press or whatever you call it. That thing seems mighty handy.

kb426 · August 14, 2021, 06:19:50 PM

Matt, if the tools left, I'd quit.

O&S got a few more items accomplished today. I started off with drilling the last steering u joint for a shoulder bolt. The new clutch cable arrived and it looks correct and will work with all the parts I have. One less thing on the list.

I welded up the cracks in the inner fenders and repaired the lower bolt mounts. The bolts had been ripped from them. The rear mount has a u shaped channel for a doubler. I put a straight edge against them and chuckled. A few minutes later with a 3 lb sledge and a solid block of steel, they were pretty straight again. I bent up some .125" strap to make lower mount attachments for the inner fenders. They're welded in place and the inners are ready to be removed again. Tomorrow I will look everything over to see if there is anything left to do with the cab on. When that's done, I have tail pipes and mounts and possibly some brackets for fuel lines and brake lines and a drive shaft loop.

kb426 · August 15, 2021, 05:39:36 PM

O&S started the day with yard work. I spent some more time working on the inner fenders fitment. After looking and measuring for quite a while, I figured out that the cowl isn't symmetrical from side to side.

That makes the left inner different from the right. At least on this truck. LOL. I did more removing than any thing else today. The cab is back outside on the cart. The bed is disassembled and inside the shop. I pulled the engine up and removed the crossmember again. I cut a patch for the back side of the cut out area and welded it in. I put a simple brace inside to offer a little stiffness. I stuck the crossmember in the mill and removed some where the locknut on the steering u-joint was hitting. It's back where it belongs again. T.B. set in so I quit.

Crosley.In.AZ · August 15, 2021, 11:52:39 PM

I'd hire that yard work out..

Looks good.

kb426 · August 16, 2021, 06:57:47 PM

O&S has 1 part to share today. Lack of planning has left me waiting on more parts for the tail pipes.

I thought I could make them work without ordering more bends. Not so exhaust breath. I fabbed up a driveshaft loop. It's made out of 3/16" plate welded to saddles and attached with t-bolt clamps.

idrivejunk · August 17, 2021, 01:41:34 PM

Nice loop, exhaust breath.

I was kinda studying the inner fender stuff. I think you have more parts than I do, I'll be making the lower sections. I believe you are right that they need a sturdy connection at bottom rear. It sounds like your asymmetry is reverse of the 51's. Watch out for those inner fenders, a lot lot of variation appears to be the norm on them.

kb426 · August 17, 2021, 06:49:37 PM

O&S spent the morning placing an order for resto parts. I went outside 3 times trying to make sure I didn't forget some 5 dollar item. I wouldn't say I got it all but it won't be from lack of effort.

The UPS man dropped off the exhaust bends after lunch so I got after tail pipes. I had to order some hanger parts that won't be here until tomorrow so everything is supported by a jack stand. The pipes end before the back of the bed. After I build a roll pan, I don't think they will be visible.

kb426 · August 18, 2021, 06:46:16 PM

O&S got in part of an afternoon today. I had to run to Garden City this morning. I was going to pick up a few bags of blasting media while I was there. Their inventory was incorrect. They only had coarse, not fine. I have the tail pipes hung. I'm not pleased with my mid mount but I haven't had a better idea. I drilled a hole in the crossmember tube and welded a bolt in to attach the hanger to. Functional but not cool. Nothing is clamped down yet because everything is about to be removed to paint the frame. When the rear end is removed, I will drill the 2 holes for the rear hangers.

kb426 · August 19, 2021, 06:57:10 PM

O&S spent most of the day laying out fuel line runs and ordering parts for such. I'm going to use ni-cop for the hard lines and use hose to connect to the throttle body. The only fabbing done today was a bracket for the fuel filter. I wanted it to be accessable without taking something apart. There is less heat exposure at the back rather than the middle of the truck next to the exhaust. There is an adequate amount of room to get into the area between the frame and bed rail to facilitate a change out if necessary.