1951 F16

kb426 · November 09, 2021, 07:17:32 PM

O&S spent more time on machine setups than working today. I removed the 88 F150 steering wheel and cut the hub from it. I don't care for those cheap aftermarket adapters and aren't too crazy about the $100 billets ones for this truck. I put the hub in the lathe and trimmed the plastic back to a minimal covering. I took a piece of 3/16" plate and cut a circle out of it. I have a spindle adapter I made decades ago that has been my go to lathe holder. I chucked up and turned the od of the plate until it was concentric with the arbor. I aligned the plate with the steering wheel and center punched holes to mount to it. I put the plate in the rotary index fixture and drilled the holes every 60 degrees. Then I did some measuring to index the wheel with the spokes how I wanted them to be at straight steering. I used the 2 holes that are for attaching a puller to the hub for removal to hold 2 stubs that locate the adapter plate and keep it from free rotating on the hub. I tapped the plate holes for the steering wheel mounting bolts. I have a hole on one side to feed horn wires through. The center nut holds the plate onto the stub pins and the whole assembly to the steering shaft. I now need to come up with something for a spring loaded hub cover. I got started going through the wiring box to see what I had left over. About 4:30 the UPS driver left the high pressure fittings and hose for the power steering. I had to pull the pump and remove some more material from the mount to clear the fitting. I expected that.

There will be some more machine work on the fitting for the steering rack. Nothing just bolts on to this assortment of components.

kb426 · November 10, 2021, 05:29:14 PM

Light day for O&S. I started by finishing the high pressure hoses for the power steering. I machined the fitting for the rack and cut the hose and installed the hose ends. Simple process even though it does take time.

I have return springs on the door handles now. I have the wiring out of the sniper box and I'm going to compare requirements of the equipment needing wiring and start laying out a wiring diagram. There will be lots of small stuff in the next couple days so until there is enough to make a decent update, I won't update the thread.

kb426 · November 11, 2021, 05:57:17 PM

O&S changed directions today. I had this idea for a battery holder when I couldn't sleep last night. It took way too long to fab but that's all my fault. I used button head bolts from the inside of the firewall. They have a fairly large diameter head. The bolts are jam nutted so the bracket can be removed without disturbing anything inside on the firewall. I used 1/8" x 2" strap and bent it in the press break for the back and front. The floor of the mount has a step so the battery can't get into the fasteners. I'm thinking about options for a hold down bracket. The next time the primer gun is in use, this will get turned black. I'm using a group 75 battery. Every truck I have done has had the battery under the bed. I wanted this one to be easily accessed.

kb426 · November 12, 2021, 06:18:33 PM

O&S started the day by finishing the battery mount. I welded pieces of 3/8" .058 wall tubing to the angle parts. I used 1/4 all thread and a piece of 3/4" tubing for the top plate the ends are radiused and I used wing nuts on top. I moved on to sheet metal panels. I made kick panels and door inspection covers. There is a hump at the bottom of the door post. I used the bead roller and some dies I made to match a 32 Ford bed roll to roll the bottom of the panels. I used an offset die and made a recess around where the speakers go. I cut the holes for the speakers and used nutserts to fasten the panels to the cab. The door panels were gone on this cab. I have the panels cut and the edge rolled. The corners need more work and the holes need drilled. These parts will get primed the next day it warms up enough to do that.

jaybee · November 13, 2021, 12:14:16 PM

I see you maintaining the pace of your work by moving constantly from one part of the truck to another. It's working, all the work is top quality, but how do you keep it all straight? I assume you have some punch list or organizational structure behind it.

kb426 · November 13, 2021, 06:16:08 PM

Jaybee, there are many factors that drive what I'm doing. This time of year, the weather is involved. The forecast had a couple of warm days so I did the panels and anything else that will need primer.

Included in the list is some days, I'm low on brain power. The last 2 weeks on fighting the cold has dealt me some days that I'm not sure I had a brain. I'm sure age has something to do with that. The punch list is in my head. I've been doing a project per year for a while and I think the repetition in tasks helps the old mind some.

Thank you for all the comments, guys. I'm appreciative that someone would take time from their day to see what an old guy is doing.

O&S had a variety of tasks today. I finished up the door panels. In the pic you will see some heat discoloring. If you drill the holes in the wrong place, you get to weld them up. More blind old guy stuff.

I'm pleased to say that the rest of the power steering hoses arrived today and I powered it up with a drill and there are no leaks.

I was using the Siless brand thermal mat on the firewall and it wouldn't adhere. I don't know why. I tried several times and gave up. In the past I have used Low-E brand insulation. I wasn't able to find the exact product but this stuff is very close. It arrived today and I have the firewall glued in place. The ac evaporator is in place for what should be the last time. The bulkhead fittings are in place for the ac. I made some small spacers that allow the ac fittings to tighten up. Otherwise, I have to machine a lip off the fittings. I installed the gauge cluster to see if there are clearance problems. So far, everything is clearing.

jaybee · November 13, 2021, 07:38:23 PM

I enjoy every bit of it, even though I don't always comment. What's that instrument cluster? I like it very much.

123pugsy · November 13, 2021, 07:47:25 PM

Good stuff.

A can of spray adhesive may solve your sticking issue.

chimp koose · November 13, 2021, 08:33:06 PM

I watch every day , reply sometimes.

kb426 · November 14, 2021, 08:44:11 AM

Jaybee, that is a Dakota Digital VHX universal. In the last year going to shows, I've seen cars that I have seen for years and they have changed out the cluster to either a New Dakota or a Classic Instruments unit. The new units do lots of stuff. Not cheap but good. 123pugsy, you are correct, a good adhesive probably would have solved the problem. The shiny insulation is far superior to any of the other products I 've used in insulation qualities. I've tried to be very careful with component selection as to not have regrets when this goes down the street.

idrivejunk · November 14, 2021, 10:34:46 AM

In other words: Keeping it trendy!

I'm just curious... saw some white.... wondered if you ever came up with a color. Nice progress on aspects covered since my last reply.

kb426 · November 14, 2021, 11:09:55 AM

Matt, the answer is no. I decided on black and white for the interior because of compatibility.

idrivejunk · November 14, 2021, 01:26:04 PM

Cool. I was hoping that was the case and understand painting the firewall probably with stuff on hand. It is in my mind to offer further assistance via imagery but man, I been so dipped in F1 and shown the futility of the imagery so often in recent times that... ugh.

Keep up the good work.

kb426 · November 14, 2021, 06:30:05 PM

O&S walked out the door this morning with a plan and some resolve. I decided to finish the doors. As you all know, if you mess up with glass, it breaks. This is not my favorite part of a build. I was doing good until I got to a vent wing. I tried 3 times and couldn't get the glass into the frame. The other frame had a cracked original glass in it held by a wire.

I removed the glass and compared it to the new glass. The old one is smaller. I don't know if that is the only problem but tomorrow, I'm taking the vent wings to a glass man along with the original and let him install them.

I have the rear window channel in place. The power window regulators are installed and both goin the correct direction. I installed sun visors and the wiper arms are on. This morning I found a puddle of red on the floor. I removed the pressure fitting on the rack and looked it over. I installed a small oring inside of the copper sealing washer. I hope that solves that problem.

kb426 · November 15, 2021, 07:31:06 PM

The weather god smiled on O&S today. Not only did it get warm enough to prime, it was warm enough to paint those parts.

The brake caliper kit arrived and is installed. I have a leak on the tee at the front that needs attention, now. I'm going to replace the tee and start over with it. The vent wings are in but I didn't get any farther on the doors. It was 82 degrees here this afternoon.