It is alot of work for a very subtle change, but I just didn't like the way the back of the cab was curved and the front of the bed was straight on my 53 Dodge truck. Seeing as my truck is a custom, it just made sense to try this. I had a spare back of a cab, so I measured and cut it to the same size as the front of the bed, I added side plates to it tonight. Tomorrow I will weld in the bottom piece and bend a piece of 1 inch conduit to mimic the upper tube on the stock front piece. Here are some pics so you can get a visual of what I am trying to accomplish. In case you are wondering what I am going to do with the front piece..... it will be transformed into a new tailgate soon.
I like the idea given the custom nature of your build. No doubt a lot of work but the results should be worth it. Keep the progress pictures coming. Thanks for sharing.
my workday includes usually about 4 hours of driving and it gives me ample time to dream up these crazy ideas....
I had the same thought, different process. I created a new panel and header from scratch. I wanted to follow the cab in two planes, the curve of the bullnose and the flow at the back of the cab. Finished product I'm not looking to highjack your thread, just wanted you to know you can ask me questions, and if your bed has wood planks I did a tech. on adjusting the carriage bolts. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=566269 Jay
ok, I am gonna do the long route on this because I want you guys to see that something can be done with few specialty tools and some down home yankee ingenuity. I started by cutting out a couple of 2 inch strips from scrap flat sheet metal, I don't have a metal brake, but I do have a couple large pieces of angle iron that I vice gripped the pieces in and slowly hammered them over to make the 90 degree bends. I needed to put a curve in them and since I also do not own a shrinker/stretcher, I laid the bottom edge on a piece of railroad iron, hit it along the entire length a few times (checking the fit as I went) until I got the curve right. <HR style="COLOR: #d1d1e1; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #d1d1e1" SIZE=1>now you can see the curve caused by stretching the bottom. I spot welded the 2 pieces to the bottom of the newly made front section and ground off the excess welds. I had purchased a length of 1 1/2 inch conduit for the top round cap, I put the ends on blocks and pushed down on the center area until I got the correct curve (I don't have a tubing bender either ). I measured and tacked it into place, re-measured and then re-measured again before welding it on permanantly. I ground off the excess welds, measured and cut the ends so they would mount flush with the bedsides. Then I blocked it up and checked it against the cab to make sure I hadn't buggered it up. It looks great!!
last few pics are a rear view pic and then with the front mounted on the bed. Hope you guys like the thread. I just want to show what anyone can do without alot of special equipment.
looks great and its is amazing what can be done with a little imagination and hard work.Its not easy being a little different, but definately worth the effort. I like it.
When will you ever stop?? This thing keeps getting better and better!! I can't wait to see what you'll be up to next
I salvaged a 40's Studebaker bed to make a bed for my T-bucket.The front panel was bent from 60+years of use,so I turned it around and it fit the curve in my T body perfectly.I cut the 8' bed down to 28 inches,and was given a bed floor and front bed panel from a 2000 ranger.The ranger front panel made a nice tailgate.not exactly what I was looking for,but it looks good for now.
People are going to wonder why you did all that work and did not straighten the bend in the box. I can just hear them now.
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