My last Challenge. what do you think?

Damn your really getting at it. Looking good too. Let me know if you want to get rid of the dash out of that panel. I got a 40 ford cab now and somebody cut the gauge cluster out with a saw. Its not pretty. Oh yea that 46 that escorted you is for sale if you know anyone looking. KEEP US UPDATED!

 

How about you put a 40 front end on it? The cab is the same as I understand.

 

Looks good. I've got a 47 dodge panel i'm building. I got rid of the wood and framed the entire floor up with some 1" square with 16 gauge walls. seems to hold the body up pretty well. keep it up.

 

Thats a great thought! I would love to find a 40 front clip. I believe it would line up to plus I love the forty look.

Domepiece, I was kinda worrying if the 1" square would be strong enough...but you just made me feel better about going with it. I am doing all the metal prep before I purchase the steel to repair, fabricate and replace what I am doing.

46ratford, That dash I removed is salvagable, I cut it so it could be re-used. The cluster insert has the cluster mounting all there. Plus the glove box door is in pretty good condition. I also have the orig. wiper vac. motors to I wont be useing. haven't checked to see if they work yet but Im sure they will cause they are in nice condition. The cluster is a conversation piece because it's toasted.

Thanks guys for your input and suggestions!

 

I like it and good luck with it

 

I think you will find that the windshield rubber moulding fits 40-47 Pickups and Panels and is also the same as 40 Ford cars. Dennis Carpenter has all the rubber goods for your Panel Truck.
The frame shouldn't be real hard to find as all 42-47 Pickups and Panels use the same frame with variance in mounting "boxes" attached to side rails.

 

Pasadenahotrod, Thanks for that info. I was wondering where I was going to look for some items I will be needing.

Here is as far as I got today. The cowl is down to metal and the drivers door lower panel was really rough. I always wipe down the sanded areas with paint thinner after I finish for the night.

Pic 1. How amazing is that metal? Pic 2. I removed the rain rail from above the windshield and clean up the windshield frame.
Pic 3. I removed a patch of tar undercoating used back then and the original color dark green was as good as new, see the reflection of the quarter. Pic 4.dr. side of cowl and lower dr.side door panel. The door panel was really rough I still have some clean up to do on it, but it's getting there.

I wish I could find a half decent 40 ford front end. I to believe it would work.

 

I downloaded Dennis Carpenter catalog this morning and went though it. Reasonable prices and I can get alot of things I didn't think I would be able to get new. Really great suggestion that will help me. Thanks again!

 

Hey rustyhood, nice project, keep up the progress and pictures, and best of luck. Dave

 

You're quite welcome. There are many parts available now for old Fords and Chevrolets that weren't when I was in the business but on the other hand many parts aren't available that were then too.

 

I hope to have the total outside down to metal, then I will be sanding the inside. I am thinking about possibly 2 1/2 weeks more sanding and thats when the transformation will begin. I am really looking forward to building the floor frame. this its self will sturdy up the old girl. The actual floor mounts are in pretty good shape.
Thanks for all your comments guy's.

 

This is as far as I got today, The dark area is the paint thinner drying as I was taken photos. She's coming along. Hopefully I can get the back sanded and start on the top. Im beginning to think this old panel is enjoying the rubdown!

 

I spent a great deal of time sanding the back of the panel. I removed the door glass from both doors. The window moldlings are dry rotted so they aren't re-useable.I didn't sand the lower part of doors because I will be fabricating the bottoms for them.

in pic 2: The drivers side upper rear roof corner had been repaired at some time with lead. I will be cutting that section out and making a new one with steel.Pic 3: Before I ended for the night. I grinded down the welds on the pass. front roof but it's not complete. Next I will start sanding on the roof. Then start sanding inside the panel.

 

How about a late model S10 or blazer undercarriage with the fuel injected 4.3 if your just looking for dependability and not the rumble of a v8?
Not trying to suggest it, but that could be a option???

 

Click this link for a few pics if you havent been to carnut yet.
http://carnut.com/photo/list/ford/ford47/f47dp.html

...oh and I guess you know the swap meet is coming up at the fair and expo center, the weekend of march 13th

 

There's another HAMBer on here that took one of those and made it into a Suburban looking thing. I think the thread says something like 46 Explorer,or something...

 

Way to cool! and that Special Delivery was awesome. You just put me onto some cool panels. I have been thinking about changing up the front clip, because I think I can make the grill area a little cooler looking.Thanks for the link.
I have been wondering about what frame to go with, S-10 would be great. Or even a ford ranger. After I get the floor welded in hopfully real soon, I will start seeking something to sit it on. And I am also glad you posted this info on the swap meet too. I didn't know about it, but I will for sure be there. Thanks for your help!

Bob,
I will have to search the thread on that Surburban, I would like to see that one to!

 

I stopped by FodsRods a fellow HAMBer in Indiana to meet this guy. Not only is he a good dude but an awesome builder. This dude builds custom chassis, drivetrains, and does great body and paint work. He also hooked me up with some ideas for the floor of the 47 and this awesome set of caddy tail lights for the panel.

Thanks brother, and don't forget to send those pics of that 30.

 

This is great! You are really moving on this rig!

 

Thanks Cactcus, nice build you're doing to!

I started off going and picking up a gallon of Evapo rust at Harbor Freight. $20.00 bucks a gallon and this stuff is really awesome as you will see below. I seen a thread on this and thought I would try it.
Before After
I also put my vac wiper motors in a container and soaked them in Evapo rust.
The vac wiper motors are on the floor in this photo along with some items.


after
Thats them on the left of the photo.


Back to the build.
Someone at some point used what looked like a set of channel locks to bend and stretch the metal in the opening of the side of the panel as you can see in the top two photos. Instead of fighting stretched metal I removed it. I will be replacing that panel any way.


heres the stretch metal removed

After dollying the arch of the panel
front view

rear view

and side view after cut

The new worked area is ready to accept the new panel. I worked on the drivers door removing the window crank assembly and door handles.

 

I forgot to add. Heres an inside shot of the window access panel and door handles removed to get the crank assembly out.

 

I got started sanding on the top

I have a little more clean up to do.

After sanding I put some evapo rust on the top. It is coming along. Hopfully I will be able to start on the inside tomorrow after I wire in a replacement air compressor.

 

I finally got started on the inside. I took photos for reference later on the wood config. here is the drivers side .


And here is the pass. side wood config.
I removed both side of wood and wheel wells.

drivers side view of wheel well cut out.

Thats my new/used compressor behind the panel..Man it's nice to not run out of air!
I Thank God that he watches over guy's like me!

I will start sanding the inside next.

 

This is the wheel wells and inside wood removed.

 

Keep up the good work. The pics are great. Looking forward to updates.

 

Thanks neverdun, Nice surburban you got there!

Today I got started on the Inside work:
I started on the in side of the rear door and frame.



Then I sanded the inside panel on passenger side.




Since there is some deep pits under the panel cut out.
I coated it the complete sanded area with Evapo Rust.



I removed the cowl matting inside the cowl to check for further rust damage.


How unbelievable is that? Pretty good shape.

 

A better pic of Passenger inside wiped down.

 

I have about reached a point in this build to chop and shorten the body. I have started a thread on hamb for opinions of the best approach.

 

Nice truck! I picked up a '46 1.5 ton last year. it's road worthy now, but I'm hung up on getting new tires put on the Killer Split Rims. No one will touch them, and I bought new rubber before looking into it. There are pics of my panel in this thread
Good Luck!
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=353426

 

Great Idea!!!!
I just purchased this week, a non running 1999 S10 2.2 with 5 speed. I will be trailering it from Ohio this week end. Then removing that body.
I will be posting pics soon.