Re: Dutch '59 Fleetside Longbed
 

Thanks Kim and OrrieG!!

Gary, it's not only that a bunch of us couldn't effort the classic cars they like, but also the government brings down a whole industrial branch!!
I think the half of parts suppliers for Classic is gone broke by the new rules.
BIG mistake!! Hope they learn from it.

Oh, you also see it on the meetings we have here, much less American cars from the 70's and 80's, there goes the historical inheritage....

Re: Dutch '59 Fleetside Longbed
 

That's too bad for the people who have lost business, at least it seems the older trucks like yours are safe for now. Good fix on the dash!

Re: Dutch '59 Fleetside Longbed
 

Thanks Gary!

Tomorrow a big meet/swapmeet, let's see what amount of crowd it pulls...

Re: Dutch '59 Fleetside Longbed
 

Have fun and take some pics!

Re: Dutch '59 Fleetside Longbed
 

Meeting was fun!
Only the pics I took are too dark, so it's difficult to see the nice things.

Tried to get a speedocable, didn't get it
So, I made my own from the original and a Chevy Van cable. Hope it works...

I only got the outer cable of the truck and a complete one from the Van.
You can turn the white drive square of off the cable, thus you can make the innercable at the right length.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-M...o/P1250803.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-J...o/P1250805.JPG

Plan was to grind the nut or swivel of off the original cable and connect it to the one from the Van. I connect the two to push a 8mm rubber hose over the two parts and set them with hose clamps.
I did it so that I could slide the original nut to the desired length of the inner cable. Not too tight or too loose.
Next to the truck it works okay ;)

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-1...o/P1250806.JPG

So it looks like this:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-U...o/P1250809.JPG

Screwed into the speedometer:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-a...o/P1250811.JPG

The speedometer was turning a bit heavy, so I used WD40 to get it loose.
Don't know if it can hurt the speedo, but it went into the drive unit where the cable connects...

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-S...o/P1250807.JPG

Did not test it yet, we will see if it works.

Re: Dutch '59 Fleetside Longbed
 

Question for you all:

I'm going to run 15 inch steelies, front are 6 inch wide, rear are 7 inch wide.
What is the most common tiresize you would use?

I was thinking, front 205/70-15 and rear 235/70-15.
Does that make sense?

Re: Dutch '59 Fleetside Longbed
 

Today at home working on the heaterbox.
The heater core seems to leak, pipes are not what they used to be, so decided to buy a new one, only this one is from a European car. If it can heat up a four door sedan, then it can heat up a small pick up too :devil:

That's why I had to change the heater box to get the core fit into it.
Also the connection of the hoses of the blower are somewhat crispy...

From this pile of parts I have to make a working heater again:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-p...o/P1250812.JPG

I first welded a small piece of the box together, so that the mounting bolts for the heater stay at same place. The I grinded the box loose from the mounting bolt
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-y...o/P1250814.JPG

Next I drilled the underside of the box loose and made steel plates to make the box longer
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_...o/P1250815.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-c...o/P1250816.JPG

One side of the new heater core is held by two aluminium pieces that I riveted inside the box

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-i...o/P1250817.JPG

The other side is bolted to an aluminium angle piece, that bolts into the original holes of the box

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4...o/P1250819.JPG

Of course I ran out of weldinggas, so I finish this tommorow.

To get the window defrost hoses connected again to the box I used PVC pipe, that we normally use for plumbing in the kitchen, bathroom etc.
I took two end stops and drilled and turned the nuts on the lathe to get a hole for the much needed air:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-E...o/P1250820.JPG

To get the hoses connected I had to make a new, metal plate for the box, the old plastic one is broke into many pieces...and I don't know how it originally looked like, so I must engineer something, that I think will work ;)

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-n...o/P1250821.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-s...o/P1250822.JPG

After filing the two holes from 30mm to 40mm, the PVC end stops finally fitted into the plate.
Time to stop here, because my body hurt so much I can't do no more.
Hope it's get better in the morning so we can build further with a new, fresh sense :mm:
I will take the whole bunch to the truck tommorow and will make it all fit and working.

To be continued....

Re: Dutch '59 Fleetside Longbed
 

That's a heck of a lot of fab work. Nice job.
Kim

Re: Dutch '59 Fleetside Longbed
 

After a short brake I went full on it again :metal:

A bit of Japanese Metal Origami and you have a working heater again.
The PVC pieces are fitting like a glove!!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-n...o/P1250823.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0...o/P1250824.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-u...o/P1250825.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y...o/P1250826.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-p...o/P1250827.JPG

After test fitting I sprayed the heater black, don't know what to do with it yet.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-p...o/P1250829.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-w...o/P1250831.JPG

To bolt the heater into the truck I had made a template, because the heaterpipes are in a different place:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-F...o/P1250832.JPG

As you all know: measure twice drill once...it works ;)

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4...o/P1250833.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-q...o/P1250834.JPG

When I went to a friends place to get his '46 Chevy dash that has to be pinstriped, I said I wanted a "new" old bench and get rid of that pimpseat that I have now...My friends buddy said "I have one for you, a 1955 original, take it, don't use it anymore!"
Well, you understand, I am as happy as a little kid!!

Pimpseat finally out!!
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-U...o/P1250835.JPG

Original '55 benchseat in!!
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-c...o/P1250836.JPG

Much better!!
Maybe a new seatcover in the future, but for now, it's just right ;)
And that happend in Holland, just 14 miles away from my house...miracles happen!!

Re: Dutch '59 Fleetside Longbed
 

you really got lucky finding that seat!

Re: Dutch '59 Fleetside Longbed
 

Nice job.
Kim

Re: Dutch '59 Fleetside Longbed
 

Great score on the seat, nice job on the heater...Jim

Re: Dutch '59 Fleetside Longbed
 

Thanks guys!!
You must have a little luck sometimes ;)

Did you all see my question about tiresizes in post #106?
I am about ordering some tires but want to know what looks good on these lowered trucks...
Thanks in advance!!

Re: Dutch '59 Fleetside Longbed
 

Today I had a little fine tune on the engine, set the timing right, tried to tune the carb, but I need a digital tachometer to do it right.
But then again, I'm going with LPG instead of petrol, so then I will be doing it again....
It's running fine now, hope it stays that way to the inspection next week :uhmk:

Before you forget. I'm working on this thing :lol::lol:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-y...o/P1250837.JPG

At home I started with the Jag hubs, machined them down to take a Chevy rim. The center hole of a Chevy is 2,4 mm smaller then the one from the Jag.

I set the hub in the lathe and fixed it, I had 0,1 mm swinging at last. Couldn't get it better.
Thats fine by me ;)

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-6...o/P1250838.JPG

Finished it looks like this:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-V...o/P1250839.JPG

That's all :waah:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-7...o/P1250840.JPG

Tomorrow we go testdrive the truck, check the steering, brakes, e-brakes and what else we come along.
Then it's waiting for the inspection.....fingers crossed....you'll never know how they look at old cars ;)

Re: Dutch '59 Fleetside Longbed
 

That's pretty slick.
Must be nice to have a lathe.
Kim

Re: Dutch '59 Fleetside Longbed
 

Thanks Kim!

Yes I'm very happy with the old lathe!!

Re: Dutch '59 Fleetside Longbed
 

The tire sizes you mentioned should work fine, but I think a 7 inch wheel is a little narrow on the back. I have 15x8 wheels and 235/70-15 all around on my 55, and think it looks good.

Re: Dutch '59 Fleetside Longbed
 

I now have 6-lug 8 inch in the back with 255/60-15.
I think that's too wide for a Jag IRS setup.
It just fits right now...

If it's too narrow, I always can widen the rims later, but now I have to work with the ones I have. That's why the question...

Re: Dutch '59 Fleetside Longbed
 

Kees, if I read that correct, then the Jag has the same bolt pattern as Chevy, except center section in different?...Jim

Re: Dutch '59 Fleetside Longbed
 

Yes Jim, that's correct.

Jag has the small Chevy bolt pattern, 5 x 4,75.
Only the Jag center is 74mm, my Chevy rims are 71mm, so I machined them down with 3mm.
All fits good now ;)

Re: Dutch '59 Fleetside Longbed
 

Re: Dutch '59 Fleetside Longbed
 

Thanks Mark!!

Not much to report today.
Went on a little testdrive around the block and everything goes well.
We're ready for inspection next tuesday.

While driving I had a feeling the rearwing doesn't help much :lol::lol::lol:

So took it off...

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-l...o/P1250844.JPG

And modified it a little:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-T...o/P1250845.JPG

No way back now ;)

Nice picture of the '59 next to his big sister the '58 Panelvan:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-a...-no/image3.jpg

Without that rearwing I have less downforce, I noticed it at once :haha:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-S...o/P1250843.JPG

Or..... is it my rightfoot.....:burnout:

I'll be back on tuesday, hopefully with good news...

Re: Dutch '59 Fleetside Longbed
 

Well, I got my Dutch title :metal:

I had to go twice because the first time it was no good....
I had orange parkinglight up front which are not allowed in Holland (must be white, I didn't know that), dimlights had not the right image/pattern and one rearbraken didn't do it's job.

New headlights with internal parkinglights mounted and fixed the rearbrakes, and off we went again!
Now it was good :smoke:


Just had to wait a few minutes....
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-i...04b9bd5540.jpg

First time in, here I'm happy!!
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-y...f566f81bb3.jpg

Finally inside, VIN check, is okay!
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-3...15b5dda9aa.jpg

Measuring wheelbase
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0...c465f5aafd.jpg

Well, here it went wrong.... The second inspection was good!
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y...b8e065cb28.jpg

My buddy Niels was with me, he had a great view with me behind him!
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-z...dc80400e8c.jpg

Nice pic!
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-u...b2622358ad.jpg

At the second inspection, this was waiting also:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-s...o/IMG_2353.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-1...o/IMG_2354.JPG


With my title on hand, I can help my other buddy. He has the '58 Panelvan with broken leafs all around, so he gets mine. I don't need them anymore ;)
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9...o/IMG_2356.JPG

So now the fun begins!!
We are building a little shop where I can work on the truck. As soon as it's ready, I'm going to change axles and do all the other stuff that I need to do!
At least no more stress to get a title....I'm happy!!

Re: Dutch '59 Fleetside Longbed
 

Congrats on the title.
Kim

Re: Dutch '59 Fleetside Longbed
 

Congrats, that has to be a big relief, knowing it is now OK...Jim