MRWEST 52 Chev Pick up build

[MRWEST]

Havent been on here for a while but in the mean time have picked up a 52 Chev pick up that the plan is to have going for Beach Hop 2020.

Running the OG 216ci straight 6 and 4 speed on the floor.
Solid original truck with only a couple of bits of minor rust,
A heap of newish chrome was on it, interior has been redone at some point and truck was more or less running and driveable.

Stage 1 plan for it is:

- Rust & Bang a few dents out
- New timber deck
-Artileries & Big whitewalls with new hub caps & beauty rings
-Fulton Visor
-6V to 12V Conversion
-Heap of minor badges, mirrors etc
-Slam
-Vin
-Roll 2020 Beach Hop

Pics of when i first got it.

 

[MRWEST]

Couple more pics of whe n we bought it.

Managed to drive it on the trailer which was ideal after a push start. 

Got it home and test fit the tailgate. 

[MRWEST]

Got to work ordering a heap of bits for it which eventually turned up from the states.

New front bonnet badge, side bonnet badges, new tail light brakets and glass lense, new side mirrors. Front indicators (didnt have any)

[MRWEST]

Starter wouldnt work when we got it, turns out the solenoid thingymebob for the pedal start was worn asf! 

Started doing the 12V conversion, fitted new alternator

[MRWEST]

Nearly forgot took it for its first drive to the end of the road before we pulled it apart after a tow start down the drive.

Couple of final photos before it got pulled down

[MRWEST]

Started pulling it apart ready for rust repairs and new timber deck etc. Front clip comes off as one piece which can be manhandled difficulty off by yourself haha

Project Disucssion thread link

[MRWEST]

Next up was get stuck into the rust.

Managed to find a skilled older tradesman who was keen to tackle it. And also keen to let me come and help him which was awesome.
Learnt a heap of new skills and was epic watching him hammer and dolly out the dents.

The front drivers side door had swung round and stoved in the corner of the cab as well as bent the door at some point. The yanks must of tried to bang the dent out from behind via piercing holes in the inner guard to put a bar or something through to hammer dent out from the inside (unsuccesfully) it ended up leaving a heap of holes for water to get in which in turn rusted the bottom of the inner and outer cab corner out.

The rear cab corner also needed replacing on the same side, outer only. 
Had a bit of rust around one tail gate hinge to fix as well.

Apart from that she was solid as , floors and doors and guards are good as!

Next up was get stuck into the rust.

Managed to find a skilled older tradesman who was keen to tackle it. And also keen to let me come and help him which was awesome.
Learnt a heap of new skills and was epic watching him hammer and dolly out the dents.

The front drivers side door had swung round and stoved in the corner of the cab as well as bent the door at some point. The yanks must of tried to bang the dent out from behind via piercing holes in the inner guard to put a bar or something through to hammer dent out from the inside (unsuccesfully) it ended up leaving a heap of holes for water to get in which in turn rusted the bottom of the inner and outer cab corner out.

The rear cab corner also needed replacing on the same side, outer only. 
Had a bit of rust around one tail gate hinge to fix as well.

Apart from that she was solid as , floors and doors and guards are good as!

 

[MRWEST]

Seat wouldnt move backwards and forwards so pulled that out and cleaned up all the sliders and got that working again.

Also spot welded new bed angle strips on the side of the tray as the old ones were rusted out.

Gave the panels a good bang with a hammer and dolly and straightened them out a heap! Gas welded up any splits or breaks in them as well.

[MRWEST]

Next up picked up the cab and chassis and took it over to EZE Auto Electrics in Tga who did my Impala.

Tidied up what wiring was needing to be replaced, wired up front indicators, horn, lights to RHD spec, finished the 12V conversion , wired up the old siren etc. Got ignition hooked up (was on a switch) so its running and starting off the key and ready for a VIN.

While the panelbeater continued on the tray.

Couple of before and afters showing how much straighter the cab and front end is now!

 

 

[MRWEST]

Got the tray panelbeated, the one bit of rust on it fixed and the new bed strips welded in.

Then took it to a mate whos a cabinet maker and we spent the day making new timber for the deck.

[MRWEST]

Had a mate come round one night and we cleaned up and unsealed the underneath of the tray and cab, inner guards etc.

Painted the bed strips satin black ready to put the timber in for the final time.

Also got some tyres test fit on the artilleries with the new hub caps and whitewalls. Looking forward to getting these on!

 

 

[MRWEST]

Now we upto date at last night.

Got the bumper back on and the front end together with the lights on. 

Found a Fulton Visor from the states which was already green/patinad so matches the truck quite well i think! Got that on test fitted.

Thats all the updates for now

But with lockdown for the next month im planning on getting it all back together and to a stage i can take it for a VIN once we are allowed out of the house. 

 

 

[MRWEST]

Got the timber deck put together on the weekend.

Jarrah timber deck with new deck strips all painted up.

Stoked with how its come out.

One step closer to going for a VIN.

 

[MRWEST]

Bit of a before and after of the truck deck from when we first picked it up.

 

[MRWEST]

Got the truck back together and driving now.

Have put the running boards back on and shes nearly ready for vin!

Took it for a quick jaunt up the road to grab a couple photos last night.

Heres a couple of before and afters of the whole truck before/after rust and dent removal.

 

[MRWEST]

New speedo cable, wiper blades and now shes ready to go for a vin.

Off in the morning.

Also just got this today, bit of a drawing got done for the mrs xmas present haha turned up a bit late but shows the sorta look we going for this long term.

Yarn away

 

[MRWEST]

Vin Check went well,

Mostly things i knew about and hadnt sorted in timeand a few other minor things.
All in all pretty happy and easy enough to sort

- Secure LH Interior door handle (had fallen off)
- Front park lights not working
-LH Headlight dim
- Aim RH headlight correctly
- Wipers to work (Will prob do 12V Conversion
- Secure RH exterior mirror (loose)
-Replace broken piece in exhasut and mount muffler
-Secure fuel line
-Replace rear brake hose and hard line
-Repair petrol leak at pump
-Repair cert sign off for rust repairs
-King pins
-Play in drag link
 

Pretty easy to sort really so allllll good. 

 

 

 

[MRWEST]

Getting through the list quite nicely.

- Secure LH Interior door handle (had fallen off)
- Front park lights not working
-LH Headlight dim
- Aim RH headlight correctly
- Wipers to work (Will prob do 12V Conversion
- Secure RH exterior mirror (loose)
-Replace broken piece in exhasut and mount muffler
-Secure fuel line
-Replace rear brake hose and hard line
-Repair petrol leak at pump
-Repair cert sign off for rust repairs
-King pins
-Play in drag link

Half way through doing King pins, got one side done, the other side is being a right PITA. have been soaking it with CRC last few days.
Need a couple of fittings to fix the brake related things which ill hopefully get today and then we will be away with that.

Just trying to sort a 12V electric wiper conversion for it currently, nobody in NZ seems to have stock..

 

[MRWEST]

Much success!

Got a VIN, Wof and Reg today!
All ticked off and ready to roll.

Now time for a few mods,
Artillieries, whitewalls, hub caps and beauty rings
Split manifold and exhaust
Fit the Fulton Visor
Lower

Then she be ready for summer cruising. 

 

 

[MRWEST]

Took the truck for its first major drive on the weekend did a 40km return trip out to  Waihi Beach and she run flawlessly!

 

Have had the Artilleries rebarreled as after sandblasting they had a heap of holes in the barrels.

Wheel and Frame in Cambrdige rebarreled them with 7 inch barrels instead of 5.5 they were factory.
Centres were riveted in from factory so they drilled these out and welded  the centres into new barrels.
Mate lined up to paint these this week then the whitewalls can go on!