Thread: Shop truck build

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Great work! Someday I want to build an old semi too! I used to work in a heavy truck frame shop and we built a lot of old trucks with new suspension setups. It was hard to not go buy an old truck and start one of my own.

Nice work on the rear cross member. Are you going to be lucky enough for it to be the correct width to fit inside the new frame? Or will you have to cut it down? We used to have to cut them all the time when we sleeved frames. We'd cut them in the center remove what was needed, bolt it in place, then clamp the center together and weld. Again, keep up the great work! I'm also interested in the bed work. We have a 47 Dodge 1.5 ton truck that is my Dad's that will be getting an eaton 2.5 ton rear axle with air ride, a 12v cummins and a 1000 series allison trans. He's still waiting to get the title for the truck before we start on it.

Originally Posted by 34_40

Awesome project... I've read the whole thread 3 times.. can't wait for the next installment.
do you already have the bed?

No, I'm leaning towards a Hodges Ramp Bed, as I think the side skirts of that bed look more period correct than a roll back. I'll get the drivetrain and body squared away before I get the bed for it...

Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

Great work! Someday I want to build an old semi too! I used to work in a heavy truck frame shop and we built a lot of old trucks with new suspension setups. It was hard to not go buy an old truck and start one of my own.

Nice work on the rear cross member. Are you going to be lucky enough for it to be the correct width to fit inside the new frame? Or will you have to cut it down? We used to have to cut them all the time when we sleeved frames. We'd cut them in the center remove what was needed, bolt it in place, then clamp the center together and weld. Again, keep up the great work! I'm also interested in the bed work. We have a 47 Dodge 1.5 ton truck that is my Dad's that will be getting an eaton 2.5 ton rear axle with air ride, a 12v cummins and a 1000 series allison trans. He's still waiting to get the title for the truck before we start on it.

The 52 F7 and the 2007 Freightliner both had 34" wide rails, or within a 1/4" anyhow. Sounds like you'll have a nice project to get started on as well...


Tonight I went to my BIL's and borrowed his plasma cutter to put the new holes in the mounting flanges of the crossmember. After all that welding, drill bits do not play nicely. Holes added....





Used a washer with a 1-1/4 hole, which worked just about right as a template for the plasma torch to provide a 3/4 clearance hole....





And now some progress you can actually see, the crossmember installed. Still need to lay out and drill the other passenger side.











And now, just to show some eye candy, here's a truck that a high school buddy is restoring, it was his father's as we were coming up, and he inherited the truck a few years back when his father passed. He and his brothers have been working the past couple years to get it back together, and this weekend marked the start of its shake-down season...