1947 Biederman Truck Fender Repairs

The flanges were TIG welded in place, welds dressed, and then worked to remove the remnants of the old filler panel. The old spot welds were removed using a cut off wheel in a die grinder. When the upper panel gets thin, the heat turns it blue. When you see shiny metal again, you have found the second layer, so stop grinding!



http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_2411.jpg



This video explains the process a bit better...



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb49MgRPzvY



Next to clean all the rust that was hiding between the layers. A tight squeeze!



http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_2412.jpg



The filler panel we fabricated was positioned, and drilled for some 1/8" cleco's. Then another test fit:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evBQvi5dsnw



.

Nice work as usual, I wish I would have jumped on the tig welder right away with my project, Its a bit late for it now.

Yeah, you'll need to be much more precise in the fitup with using the TIG but it's much MUCH less cleanup in the end..

Been away for a bit across the pond, finally back to some metal work.

Had a fenderless trailer showed up at the shop Wednesday night, needed some welding... Good time as any to try out the new clamps. Two held the fender nice and tight to the frame.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...g/IMG_3115.jpg


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...g/IMG_3116.jpg


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...g/IMG_3117.jpg


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...g/IMG_3119.jpg


Last night we worked on the fender patch #2 for the Biederman truck, 16 gauge fun!




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXjl...ature=youtu.be




http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3123.jpg




http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3124.jpg




Missed the in process pictures, I'll try and do better next time..

Robert, I was just checking in to see if this truck will be in Des Moines this weekend? I'm going to take my boys down there on Saturday and let them oodle over all the semis. I figured I'll keep an eye out for this truck so I can see the master fabricator's work in person.

If he took it the truck would be trailered and he was concerned about the still separate pieces. So I think he will be there in the Red Mule and will be taking the Biederman to the Fathers Day show in PA (forget exact location)

Here's the Red Mule, in case you see it you can ask John about his collection.


Attachment 67537

Some more progress on the Biederman fenders, here's where we left off last time...





http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3124.jpg





On the passenger fender, we removed the cleco's holding the filler panel and John (the owner) media blasted the flanges where the panels overlapped..





http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3446.jpg





http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3447.jpg





Cleco holes were enlarged on the filler panel flange to accommodate plug welds and the two parts welded together...





http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3450.jpg





http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3451.jpg





After grinding the welds, John brushed some SPI epoxy in the lapped panels to seal them up..





http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3452.jpg





http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3453.jpg





http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3454.jpg





http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3455.jpg





Back on the driver's fender, time to trim off the rusted and bent front edge....





http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3456.jpg





http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3457.jpg





http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3458.jpg





The door skin removal tool is used to unwrap the wired edge...





http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3461.jpg





http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3460.jpg





Once the wrap is broken free, the top is scored with a cutoff wheel and then peeled around. No cuts on the wire as this may weaken it..





http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3462.jpg





http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3464.jpg





Trimmed and clamped in place for a test fit..





http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3470.jpg

More very nice work! I did see The Red Mule a couple weekends ago too. It is a nice truck. Even if it is a squared off cab over old Ford. :LOL:

Yeah, he does have quite a fleet of trucks to choose from.....


This evening we took the passenger fender over to John's so we could mock it up on the truck and locate/cleco it to the lower hood side..


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3474.jpg


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3473.jpg


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3476.jpg


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3478.jpg


The wing nut cleco's used in about four spots to hold things good and snug....


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3480.jpg


Back at the shop, we'll get this plug welded on Saturday..


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3481.jpg


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3484.jpg

Mr. Robert. If it isn't to much trouble.. how about a shot of the wing nut cleco's? Please??

How do they work?

.

Will grab a video tomorrow to show it...

Here you go:


https://youtu.be/7qSatc2rGEM






.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MP&C

Here you go:
https://youtu.be/7qSatc2rGEM

.

---

Thanks so much! I never saw the wingnut version before. :)

I gotta get more stuff !

In some of the larger size cleco's they also make a version with hex nuts for tightening with a wrench.

tried to make some headway on the Biederman. John is taking it to the truck show in Macungie PA so we're trying to get the fenders complete so he can bolt them on and answer questions all day about their bare finish..


With the lower hood side cleco'ed to the passenger fender using wing nut clecos to pull things up nice and tight, lets get some plug welds done to join all three parts together...


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3501.jpg


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3502.jpg


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3510.jpg


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3515.jpg


Passenger fender lapped seams then had SPI epoxy brushed in from both sides to seal in case he runs into rain. We he returns they'll be ready for media blasting and paint..


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3525.jpg


Next onto the Driver fender, the remainder of the flange from the old filler panel is removed, a cut off wheel is used for releasing the OEM spot welds..


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3517.jpg


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3518.jpg


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3520.jpg


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3521.jpg


Next, we had a rub issue where the fender was a bit close to the cab....note the flat area, as well as a rust through. So we'll just trim this out and replace..


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3523.jpg


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3524.jpg


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3526.jpg

Today I finished up the TIG welding on the rust repair...


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3530.jpg


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3532.jpg


This area has a recess so it doesn't rub the side of the cab...


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3533.jpg


Next to clamp the front repair section, the vise grips tend to rotate after clamped and allow the weld joint to open. So to fix the gravity issue, we broke out the painters tape..


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3534.jpg



http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3536.jpg


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3537.jpg


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3540.jpg


16 gauge sheet metal wiring, gotta love it!


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3542.jpg


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3543.jpg


Next time we'll get the filler panel added to the Driver's fender..


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3546.jpg

Very nice! The patch looks so nice. I've got to get some clecos. Do you have a preferred place you like to buy them from?

Ryan, try "The Yard" or Brown Tool, they typically sell aviation type stuff. The Yard sells both new and used..



This evening's progress, the bolting flanges were cut out of 12 gauge steel, and tacked in place using the TIG. Then welded and dressed..




http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3547.jpg




http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3548.jpg




http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3549.jpg




http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3551.jpg




Next to trim the front of the fender, a laser is set up 13-3/4" above the table holding the fender. This is the differential we measured off the truck from the bumper filler panel down to the running board. all four corners on the table are checked to insure the laser is set correctly. Then the laser line is transposed to the fender and trimmed..




http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3553.jpg




http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3555.jpg




http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3554.jpg




The height was adjusted by sliding the blocks forward/backward in the fender.




http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3556.jpg




Front mounting flange TIG welded in place and welds dressed..




http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3560.jpg




Filler panel fitted to the fender and plug welded...




http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3561.jpg




http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3564.jpg




Test fit onto the truck, aligned to the lower hood side and cleco'ed in place.




http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3566.jpg




http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3568.jpg




http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3570.jpg




We'll get the lower hood side welded on tomorrow evening, holes drilled, and fenders bolted up to the truck.

More very nice work! You definitely have to get creative on how to hold or prop things up doing any of this work. :LOL:

Thanks Ryan.


Tonight we got the lower hood side plug welded to the driver's fender, then the lapped seams were brushed with SPI epoxy primer from both sides to seal out the elements. John will be taking this to a couple shows with the fenders in bare metal, so we needed to seal those areas.


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3572.jpg


With the fenders all one piece again, we took them to John's shop for re-assembly. First order of business is to add some welting to the fender area adjacent to the cab's lower cowl area...


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3573.jpg


..then bolted up the fenders and battery tray.. This should give John a head start on the finishing touches tomorrow before loading it up for the Macungie Truck show.


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3577.jpg


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3578.jpg


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3579.jpg


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3580.jpg

That's a magnificent looking beast.
A credit to you and your team.

Nice work !

Thanks for the kind words fellas.


John got the Biederman out into the sunshine Wednesday after a long hibernation, getting it ready to take to the truck show in Macungie PA.





http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3587.jpg





http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3586.jpg





Loaded up and ready to go....





http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3583.jpg





Today's pictures from the show, the Biederman makes its debut. Still needs a bit more paint on the front end, but John said he's had a ton of interest in the truck and the bodywork 0 Guess I should have sent him up with business cards.





http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3589.jpg





http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3590.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MP&C

Thanks for the kind words fellas.
Loaded up and ready to go....

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3583.jpg

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Think this is my favorite... :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 34_40

Think this is my favorite... :)

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I spent quite a few minutes studying that photograph.
The trailer appears to be mounted to a drawbar hitch rather than the fifth wheel.
Is my assumption correct?
Because it looks just a little bit odd to my old eyes.

Pintle hitch

The Bierderman sure looks awesome setting outside but even better at the show! I bet there weren't any others there were there?

I think it was the only one there....


Stopped by John's shop today, he had dropped off the front fenders to his painter after the Macungie show for media blasting and a epoxy primer to protect them until we can get the hood resolved. Then he'll get all the new parts painted blue at one time...





Here's the newly installed fenders with an epoxy finish..





http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3994.jpg





http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...n/IMG_3996.jpg

they look good in black. Good contrast against the blue.

Such a cool old truck!

Today we started fabricating the new hood for the Biederman truck. During restoration John had bought a replacement cab with less rust issues that was a couple years newer, and unfortunately slightly wider as well. Since the original hood did not sit down where the bead details aligned, we're going to fabricate a new one that will fit correctly.






https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Fm...=w1274-h955-no



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ie...=w1274-h955-no



Doesn't look like these are going to fit either. Me and dominoes..



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/zd...=w1274-h955-no


Hood is removed and a paper pattern taken for starting point of the new one. Slight bit more material will be added for good measure..



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/X2...=w1274-h955-no



pattern laid out on 16 gauge cold rolled steel.



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D...=w1274-h955-no



A straight edge finds the start of the radius on either side, marked with tape, and measure to find the center of the radius. Then the radius center and widths get marked onto the new panel.



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_W...x=w717-h955-no



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/4G...h=w717-h955-no



the panel was wheeled to add a slight bit of crown prior to switching to the go kart slick for adding the corner radius.



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/X3...f=w717-h955-no



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Dx...=w1274-h955-no



Both sides formed, ready for trimming..



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Uw...5=w717-h955-no



Video version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBiwtrWioFs



.

Thanks (as always) Robert!

Just read your thread, that is some beautiful work! Love the big industrial stuff; that's what built this country. What size flathead is that and how does it do pulling that big beast around?

That is so awesome. You do such fast great work. Do you know if this will be at Carlise in August?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by falconvan

Just read your thread, that is some beautiful work! Love the big industrial stuff; that's what built this country. What size flathead is that and how does it do pulling that big beast around?

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AFAIK it is a Hercules flat head 6, not sure on size. It has plenty of pull until it gets to about 50-55 mph :LOL:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

That is so awesome. You do such fast great work. Do you know if this will be at Carlise in August?

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It will be at our local show this coming Sunday and will be at the ATHS National Show in Lexington KY at the end of May. Not sure on that date but I'm told it will be inside the building.

More progress on Biederman hood, the butterfly hinge parts were removed from the old hood, and the piano hinge that attaches the hood sides was removed.



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/0f...=w1274-h955-no



Piano hinge is actually part of original hood, hemmed at the lower edge. Sanding through the hemmed edge releases the hinge..



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Cy...S=w717-h955-no



....and any spot welds were removed by grinding through the hood side to save the hinge..



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/3N...5=w717-h955-no



This tool was designed and given to me by Clint Button (Carolina Sculpture Studio) at the recent metalshaping workshop I attended in Rock Hill. Worked well to mark the rear edge...



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnRl2RsreNA



Clamping and plug welding the butterfly hinges to the hood.



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/sv...j=w717-h955-no



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/wk...f=w717-h955-no



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/9Y...w=w717-h955-no


Hood trimmed and gapped.....



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNXVuMiyhPw



....and our next task will be to TIG weld the piano hinges to the trimmed lower edge of the hood, these hinges attach the hood side panels..



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Uz...=w1274-h955-no

Progress through today, TIG welding up the hinges onto the new hoods..



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/RH...A=w717-h955-no



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/yF...g=w717-h955-no



Some SPI epoxy is mixed and brushed on, allowing it to seep between the welded parts and seal things up..



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/do...t=w717-h955-no



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/4K...y=w717-h955-no



As the dominoes continued falling, the hood sides did not fit either. It was our initial plan to cut off the hinge from the top, wire edge from the bottom, and add a new center section, all parts cut to fit properly and welded back together. When we stripped paint off the lower wire edged part, we saw a bit too much pitting, rust, etc. that we opted to change to a full new lower section under the hinge. Nothing to wire edging 16 gauge, right?



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/82...=w1274-h955-no



So we whipped up a set of dies to add the joggle needed for the external wiring, using 3/16 solid rod for the wiring..



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Tz...c=w717-h955-no



Practice sample:



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/bq...=w1274-h955-no



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/JT...7=w717-h955-no



With that complete, we tipped the lower edge to run through the joggle die..



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POa_yIyH3JU



The wiring and inside of the joggle were both degreased, scuffed, and SPI epoxy added prior to folding the remainder..



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pF...0=w717-h955-no



Vise grips modified so they wouldn't slip off the wiring..



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/9M...4=w717-h955-no



Wiring locked in place with some hammer action...



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/S9...i=w717-h955-no



Hood side is tacked to the hinge, mocked to the hood, and trimmed for gaps



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SH2H3nR4AOc




It's not done, but that's all for today, we're packing it up for the car show in Leonardtown tomorrow.



.

Tonight we did the wired edge on the Biederman truck's drivers hood side, so we did a couple videos of the process. We did a practice sample to make sure our adjustment on the folded flange length gave us a good wrap with a slight gap for paint..




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1b6TiuiUQQQ




This shows the basic process of closing the wrap, wasn't as pretty as it should have been, but hey, this is practice.





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNc9WJ3SmYA




For the hood side, we used the tipping wheel in the Fasti swaging machine (bead roller) to add the flange. After running through the Lennox for adding the joggle, the panel was scrubbed with a warm dish soap and water mix using scotchbrite, then scuffed with 220 paper, then SPI epoxy added in the channel. After our 3/16 wire was laid in place, any remaining bare spots on the wire were also brushed with epoxy. The entire length was then closed as per the practice sample. We'll let that set a day or so and get the recycled hinge welded to the top.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiNrkZ7pslg




https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/OR...K=w717-h955-no