My panel truck build.

[hotroddaddy]

Well i guess now that were back at full speed, i will start this again.

For those that missed the last thread, i will start over. I traded the merc for a 53 ford panel truck. Once home i commenced to tearing into her real Quick. There is lots of surface rust on everything ,so i thought i would do it right and take it down to the frame. I was happy to see that the truck was built right the first time, so redoing it will be a breeze!

Im down to the frame now ,and am in the process of cleaning the frame up. I have cut the subframe off, so i can lower everything without the hassles of cut springs and bad rides.My ideal goal is to get my ride height set at 6" to the running boards, that should set the frame bottom around 12" which is plenty of clearance, but it will still ride lower than stock.

Here`s the pics up to date.

[hotroddaddy]

More pics, after i got the frame out.

[hotroddaddy]

Now i have cleaned up some of the frame, and started to c-notch the rear, so i will have more room. Let me know if im doing this wrong, or i need to add more metal somewhere.

[hotroddaddy]

Before you say anything about the welding, i know, i need to practice, it`s been awhile since i have tig welded. Give me a couple of weeks and ill be back on top of it!

[hotroddaddy]

And some more from today.

[Itoldyouso]

Tigging can be a little challenge, huh? Every so often Dan pulls his tig out and does something with it then ends up going back to his trust mig.

The C you did looks good.
Are you gonna keep the door art? Kinda cool.

Don

[hotroddaddy]

I dont know yet don, i thought about keeping it the way it is now, with the side graphics, but then i kinda want it standard black with lotsa flames! Another thought i have been having is doing a 70`s style. My dad had a chevy van when i was born, that had a big desert mural ,that my uncle painted, the van was a metalic burnt orange, with this mural that wrapped all the way around, so i thought it would be cool to fly my uncle out and have him paint the same thing on my truck. Its one of those sentimental things.

[hotroddaddy]

Heres an old shot.

Hey i got it removed! woohoo! Thanks bluestang for fixing it for me.

[hotroddaddy]

Maybe someone can fix that please.

[bluestang67]

best i could do

[Mike P]

It's a disease ya know. Man there is sooooo much potential in this project. Nice score. But I am getting whip-lash looking at the pictures.

[Gastrick]

It's lookin good HRD. Did you weld the front frame section back on yet? I'm not sure what I missed from the thread that vanished.

[Itoldyouso]

Yep John, that desert mural is much better and will be a family history kind of thing. Very cool idea.

Don

[hotroddaddy]

No i have not got it on yet, im still working on the c-notch. I added another plate to the out side of the frame to stiffen it up. i still have a little more welding, then i will get a finished pic.

Yeah Don, i really like the idea of that, i have not told my dad about it yet, if i decide on this i will keep it a suprise.He will be highly amused. Its funny how we dislike our parents growing up, but when we grow up, we turn out alot like them. I grew up in that van, i kinda wish i knew where it was, i would like to get it back.

[brickman]

Nice truck HRD, very good score. I can see that you have a great plan, air bags? I always had a soft spot for the old panels.