These last couple of runs of days off I’ve been sanding the cab - a little on the back and corners, but mostly the roof. Last night I was at it until midnight and tonight when I came in for dinner after 9 hours I decided not to go back out - too much to eat I guess

I was shooting to get some color on it tonight, but even before I came in I knew it wasn’t going to happen. It’s not where I want it yet. I’ve still got another full day or two of sanding before it gets hit with my custom blended “ever”green.

About the only other thing I’ve done to it was to start to modify the air filter housing.  I was looking at some pictures of the engine the other day, and even after I rebuilt it in its previous configuration I didn’t like the looks of the air cleaner. So I did what anybody would do.

I cut it up:

(Click the Images to Enlarge.
Also available in the gallery.)

 Original, Stock and Functional but Ugly

Cut the center out of the top and bottom

Insert a circular plywood “buck” that’s the same inner and outer diameter as your air filter

Flip it over and start planishing for a nice, finished, 3/8″ lip around the edge

and keep at it until you’re done.
I’ll post a picture when I am.

Curiosity got the better of me and I looked up the price of a stand-alone, air-powered planishing hammer. Nothing special. You know, just one that’ll do from 0-4000 strikes a minute. Let’s just say that I’ve got another tool to build added to my project queue.  

I’ve been working on the doors these last few days, so here’s a shot of some of my recent metal work. If you look you can see a small nick towards the rear of the post, but considering the entire post had 4″ removed vertically and was welded back together, the filler will be minimal. More pictures in the gallery.

Understand that I’m doing this project for myself - my own enjoyment - and I respect that a lot of people don’t even understand why someone would chop a truck, much less build something as “non-mainstream” as a hotrod farm truck. That’s okay, a lot of people I know do “get it” and I don’t understand everybody else either. Continue Reading »

Although I’ve still been going at it, there’s just not too much exciting to post. I’ve been doing a lot of sanding lately inside the cab and some pictures are updated in the gallery. In addition to working the compound inside curves of the ‘B’ pillars, I’ve filled the dash holes that will not be used any longer and now have the modified brake pedal mounted.

The ‘58 originally had pedals that went through the floorboards and the newer chassis with power disc brakes uses pedals that swing from under the dash. In the later model truck, the brake pedal would swing down along the right side of the steering column, but due to space constraints, I had to mount it along the left side of the column. This placed the brake pedal a little too far from the accelerator for my liking so I stripped it all back out and modified it. As of tonight, it has been remounted and works like a charm. While there, I also mounted the (modified) brake light switch mounting bracket.

Now I get to sand the dash some more and repaint it.