rookie 48 restoration

[Atommik]

Hey Bill,

The frame looks great!! Sounds like the suspension work is coming along nicely too!! Keep up the awesome work!
Tom

[BILL48]

Thanks Tom, i got some time tonight to get the rest of the spring kit in an it looks great , only had to drill a few holes for the shock mount and a couple for the front spring mount. I did grind a notch in the front mount to help mount the running board as the one hole would have been covered up. I hope you can see it in the pics. A friend called me tonight and i have to go down to his shop and look at a 1950 cab he picked up, says its in better shape than mine and already has cab mount brackets on the rear and the floor is better so fingers crossed its ok. but its not a 5 window so I would still have to switch the roof. I've got my heart set on the 5 window so i'm willing to do the extra work.

[99 to Life]

looks good. I think you'd be way better off just finding a 5 window. Do all the moch ups and prep work with your cab now, you can still do mounts. That way you'd have time to work on everything else in hops of a cab popping up. JMO though.

[oldman3]

BILL48, like what I'm seeing with your build, will keep an eye on it...Jim

[txrdnek]

While I know pictures can be decieving, are you going to have enough axle travel there, looks awfull close to the frame, you wouldn't want to be bottoming out, while I know the rear of a truck is lighter than the front, I know I mocked up my wood bed on mine and when I pulled the wood back out I notice the leaf springs decompressed about an inch. Just a thought, looking very nice.

[BILL48]

thanks guys I appretiate it, it is very true that finding a 5 window cab would be better . i never stop looking and i even have my name on a waiting list for over a year now for a california cab. it will come along sooner or later but until then i will keep working on mine. i did go and look at the other cab this past weekend but ,lets just say mine is still in better shape. didn't get any work done at all this weekend the woodstove was fired up, the munchies were out, the beer was cold and nascar on the tv. full weekend of championship racing and beer drinkin.............Bill

[99 to Life]

yeah that cold weather and holiday season is like having cylinder blocks on your feet. Hard to stay motivated. Having heat is critical. I'v gone years with no heat, but this year is a different story. You'll find your cab. check out a place called budd's auto out of ohio. He has tons of AD cabs, and he goes out west to get them, so maybe you guys can link up.

[BILL48]

thanks 99 to life, I did check out Budds web site, looks like a interesting place i dropped them an e-mail so hopefully they have something, might just have to do a cross border road trip before the weather turns bad.

[99 to Life]

yeah really cool place, alot of stuff is beat, but there is still some cool stuff and usable, they got tons of AD stuff. Cabs with doors and interior go for 500 so really good deal. I mean you might gotta do the usual patches, but he does have quite a few 5 windows. He reups in the spring time I think, but def would have a lead, and would trade cabs with you. heck if you went there, I'd trade you something and meet you over there.

[BILL48]

Well i got a bit of work done this weekend, I started installing the front end parts, got the control arms ,spindles and steering linkage all installed. I did put the old steering box on so I could move and steer it for now. I used some 1/2" threaded rod through the control arms and up through the shock hole in place of the springs so i can see the ride height i will get some tires mounted at work monday so i can take it off the jacks and see where it sits.

[99 to Life]

lookin good, nice to see some more clean parts on her.

[BILL48]

Thanks 99... yes putting on new parts does feel good until you see the bills lol, of course the new part buying has to slow down for a while because Christmas will be here soon. I will just have to ask Santa for some needed parts on my wish list, I did get a couple things done this week i mounted some tires and set the frame on the ground to get a rough idea what my ride height will be, with the frame level with the front end set my running boards are 6 1/2 inches off the ground, of course i know its only an approximate measurement and will know better when all the weight is on it but i'm diggin it. this weekend i'm going to try getting the box on so i can see how the rear axle fits and whether or not i have to put a wider housing in or what rim back spacing i need...Bill

[oldman3]

Really looking good...Jim

[BILL48]

Thanks Jim..I appretiate that, sorry not much progress lately between work and winter coming the garage work is on hold for bit. getting things winterized and packed away till spring. but i did get the box out from behind the garage and striped it down, it had a piece of steel welded in for a floor over top of the old wood. got that cut out and the old boards removed, set the box on the frame, now just trying to get rid of a cold before christmas.

[6BT 56]

Hi Bill

Nice build. Im up in the white ( ok not so white now ) north with you . Near Orillia

The guy that bought my 235 is near you and building a 46 . Lots of good stuff on this site. Good people too. Some sites are just full of keyboard tuff guys trying to vent . lots of fun on this site.

Have fun with your build .

My 56 build is in the builds section but I dont know how to post the link Ha Ha.

6 BT 4X4 cummins build

[oldman3]

Lived in Michigan for 30 yrs, I know how cold it gets up the way. Nice job on removing the metal from bed...Jim

[BILL48]

thanks guys I appretiate that, this site is very friendly and everybody comments each other on their progress and offers advice and suggestions that really help.

I would like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy new year and wish you all the best in the new year ....Bill

[1952]

I dunno Bill
I think that the rear shackles look a bit off
You may have the leaf spring mounts on the wrong side of the frame
Try moving them and you may find that they will in fact adjust the angle on the rear shackles more up and down vs the way they are now
Yes moving them will still allow the holes to line up perfct on the frame just on the other side ( put the right side on the left and vise versa) ok Ill shush now as im confuzin myself lol

[BILL48]

thanks 1952.. but the pictures may be a bit confusing both rear shackles are the same but in the picture the frame was on jack stands and the rear end was hanging down so it did look like they are backwards but with the weight on them they are proper. thanks...Bill

[99 to Life]

yeah luv the wood in that bed. You gonna try and fill in the pieces or get new wood? Weather blows right now in PA too.

[FarmerSid]

Originally Posted by Atommik

Welcome to the forum, from the not as far north as you, Minnesota!! There are alot of creative, knowledgeable and helpful people on this site. Your truck looks to be in pretty good shape!! Enjoy the build process!!

Tom

Might wanna check a map Tom! You are actually farther north. LOL!

Nice truck you got going Bill48. Any updates?

[Atommik]

Yeah I guess a little geography refresher class would do me some good!!

[BILL48]

Thanks farmer Sid , sorry its been a while, not too much accomplished for a while between work and winter not much time spent in the garage. I did get the box set on the frame to check clearances and it all looks good a friend of mine brought me out some cab mounts and rear bumper brackets so I'm going to see how they fit, not much else but am planning on getting back to it very soon and will post some picks and more updates ..thanks guys Bill
Posted via Mobile Device

[BILL48]

Well here is a couple pics with the box sitting on every thing lines up good and wheels are centered in wells, but the nova diff is a little narrow. i did aquire a 78 trans am with a posi and 4spd so i will swap it out for that one, unfortunately I will have to wait till the ground dries up a bit or if we get another deep freeze so I can get in to pull it out. I'm not in a hurry so I can wait till it dries up (done with the deep freeze part haha), next I am going to tackle the box going to make new box sides I can reuse the 2 middle cross braces but will have to get new front and rear one as the old ones are rotted too bad ......Bill
Posted via Mobile Device

[BILL48]

Posted via Mobile Device
Posted via Mobile Device