 | 736.
Tie down hooks I debated on whether to even put these on the truck at all. My first plan was to use originals so I smoothed out a set and got them ready for paint. After painting the bedsides i could see it would be too much red with the hooks painted the same so I decided to try to make them out of stainless steel.
It would be pretty involved to turn these all out on my 1800's era metal lathe so I said if I could get the blanks all turned the same I'd give it a try.
I did some searching and was able to find someone willing to do it for me. I gave a friend my measurements and he drew up a CNC print which I gave to another operator who turned them up. Without them I would not have been able to do this so thanks goes out to Tom. Jimmy and Lynne for helping me on this one. |
| 27 Images
Linked Album
kevininohio | |
|
 | 737.
Frame Work and Springs The frame is going to be very visible on this truck so all unused holes will be welded shut and smoothed. It was shortened and both ends modified as well so that will all be worked out so you won't be able to see that anything was ever done.
I'm going to completely take it apart and paint everything piece by piece and then bolt it all together once painted. All brackets will be rounded and smoothed And bolted back together with polished, stainless fasteners. |
| 46 Images
Linked Album
kevininohio | |
|
 | 738.
Front and rear axle work With this truck being as high as it is I knew the undercarriage would be easy to see. During planning of this project I decided to fully detail the chassis/running gear.
With everything smoothed and painted I decided to do the same to the axles. Major undertaking as these are cast pieces and very rough. Lots of curves, recesses and pieces make it pretty involved so here we go. |
| 22 Images
Linked Album
kevininohio | |
|
 | 739.
Hood Latches and Hood Work | I decided to make a set of hood latches. The originals were all rusty and worn so something was going to needed to be done. I wanted them to operate smoothly so I used poly washers on the shafts to help with that |
| 28 Images
Linked Album
kevininohio | |
|
 | 740.
Inside Handles | This section is about how I made the inside door handles and window cranks. I liked the simple design of the door handles I had but the window cranks didn't seem to fit with them I don't know if they were stock or not but I don't believe so as they were chromed. Stock door handles were OD green and I'd assume the window cranks should have been the same. |
| 11 Images
Linked Album
kevininohio | |
|
 |
|
 | 742.
Chrome pieces This album is of the few chrome pieces I have on the truck. Chroming is the reason I got into making/using stainless steel parts in the first place. I like the look of chrome but got so disappointed with the quality of a lot of it and how it just doesn't last anymore. Let alone the price you have to pay to have it done.
I have used several different shops on this. I always take the extra step to mirror polish my stuff so that part of the quality equation is taken care of. If something is wrong there I know who to blame. It's basically a dip and go for the chromer and they like that.
The last shop I used I asked if they would give a discount if I mirror polished everything. He said he doesn't like doing that as sometimes people mess things up but he said go ahead and try a couple pieces and we'd go from there. I took a couple pieces in for my "trial" and I guess I passed his test as he said, "You can polish out anything you want." He has offered me a job everytime I have gone in since so I took that as a compliment.
I start by sandblasting the piece if rusty. Then grind it out if it's a sand cast piece. Hard to reach areas I'll use a Dynafile, Dremel, die grinder or modied soft backed sanding pads. Start with 80 grit and sometimes I'll go clear to 2000 grit before polishing.This part is VERY labor intensive and this is where a lot of labor charges normally come in on a rough piece. The parts basically look chromed before I take them in. |
| 35 Images
Linked Album
kevininohio | |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 | |
