steering

There are a lot of things you can 'make-do' on a project like this, but steering is not one of them.  This needs to be safe (and not bind or hit the frame rail/suspension!)


Steering column from a 70's Peterbuilt.  1''.

Steering box from a '91 Dodge 250 pickup.  3/4''.  We used the complete front end and engine/trans from the Dodge, so the steering box was already in place and we're trying to make it work as-is.

Steering shaft from same Dodge with ragjoint.  If I remember right, this was directly to the steering column on the Dodge.  The DT cab is so much narrower though, so the steering column is in further toward the center......

Distance of 29-30'' between steering box and end of steering column.  Possible interferance issues with frame rail AND fender.....

stock Dodge shaft with the rag joint (attached to steering box, but not slipped on all the way) and the mystery slip yoke/u-joint that fits the steering column (but not slipped on all the way):

We DO have a 3/4'' heim if we needed to support the shaft somewhere......

Karin

b-pillar work

On Sunday, we decided to try to tackle the beginnings of the b-pillars.

What is there now, is just the sheet metal.  No structure behind it.  So, I got some 1.5''x2.5'' rectangle tube.  Since it slopes inward above the latch area, I cut several slits in the tube, brought it together to form the curve, then Brian welded it up:

I forgot to get a pic after the welds were ground smooth, but I am very happy how it turned out!  Now we should make the other side while it's fresh in our minds how we did it :)

Karin

more interior work

Saturday, we worked on the seat pan.  When we originally made it, and then put in the seat - we wished we had done round corners on the front.  So, Saturday, we fixed that :)

  MUCH better!!

And, now, we have both front floor pans cut (not welded in yet as we plan to do that from underneath).

And, even though the gas pedal is a bit too high, it's still OK.  I can mash the gas just fine :)

Karin

Floors and doors

Our power was out for the first half of the day Saturday (problems with the power station I guess), so we weren't able to get anything done Saturday - but we did a little Sunday.  Although progress was slooow because it was so flippin' hot out!

I got the pieces cut to frame in the passenger side floor and Brian welded them in place.

Brian got a section of the drivers floor pan cut out - wohoo!

Pictures are kinda out of order, but this is after we got the foot pedal cleaned up.  

Brian disassembled it and wire brushed the aluminum base

While I sanded, primed and painted the pedal itself.  Now, if we could just find a rubber pad for it.  I think Brian said it came out of an old Autocar that was a good friend of his dads.

And, in an attempt to get some structural strength back in the door, I cut this piece of hardwood for it.  I don't remember what the wood is called, but it's almost as hard as oak and is used for flooring (local lumber yard gave me a 6' chunk of 1x5 becasue the size made it unsellable)  I ripped 2 pieces at 2'' wide, then marked the curve from a template I had made from an original piece of oak that was in the same spot.  (It is 1'' thick in the center and less than 1/2'' on the ends to fit the gradual curve of the outside of the door).  Our bandsaw has been neglected for many years, but I am sure glad we have it.  It would have been really difficult to do on the table saw, LOL.  I cut the curve on the bandsaw, then sanded the cut edge on the stationary belt sander.  I cut out a matching piece for the other side while I was at it too, so all I have to do is sand that one to install it later.

Karin

brownie shifter installed

steering and pedals and brownie shifter, oh my!

We finally have the steering column installed, and the pedals mostly installed, whew!

(sorry, terrible pic)

We don't need no stinkin' expensive Ididit column!  Brian made the bracket to hold the steering column (from a 70's Pete) with a piece of pipe just a little bit larger diameter than the column, then added slits and tabs so it could clamp the column securely (with some rubber between).  Then, it has a plate welded to that clamp that is bolted to the firewall (12 or 14g, I forget - probably 12g on the firewall though, it's thick!)

Here is the clutch bracket - we salvaged it from the Dodge. (pic was before steering column bracket was done).  It's pretty sturdy, but we plan to take it back out and make it even sturdier by boxing the top in.

 Our St.Bernard puppy, Lucy, ready to go for a ride too!

 Testing out the new pedals - the gas pedal will have to be lowered a bit unfortunately.

 The brownie shifter installed!  The brownie itself will probably be quite a ways down the road, but we wanted the shifter installed so we could finish the rest of the interior stuff around it.

 oh, yeah!

I also got the floor partially framed in on the drivers side (and Brian tacked it in place - the real welding will be from the underside).  Now, we just need to add some sheet metal on that part of the floor!  It's starting to come together!!!  So excited with the progress!  Now I can't sleep at night :)

Karin