1956 International Harvester Pick-Up: Metal work restoration

For anyone who has wonderd why I haven't posted anyhting from the E-tek Rod Shop as of late, it not because I haven't been busy!  Fall is ALWAYS busy!

But now that the leaves - and the eves - the yards and ALL THE REST is (mostly) done....it's time to get back to why we come here! Restoring cars!

Continuing with the metal work on the rear fenders, I gathered up the required tools, including the Oxy-Acetylene outfit, Mig welder, hammers, dolly's and a a few hand tools as needed:

First up was removing the last rusted fasteners - the "heat-wrench" making quick work of them.

In addition to the damage and rust that was evident, the fenders where stretched and twisted. I wanted to be sure they ended up fitting the bed-sides, so I first measured the attachment points, then made sure each side fender matched that measurement. One side was stretched, the other shortened - each needing a very opposite tactic to ensure they ended up at the 51" mark that matched the attachment points on the box sides.

For the fender that was stretched, I cut a piece of aircraft cable to length and\

 welded it to the fender corners to keep the fender in shape while I did the needed repairs:

The other fender was pulled short, so I used the extension track-bar to 

hold the fender corners in shape while I made the required repairs.

A couple rusted-out attachment points where repaired

 by welding in pieces cut out from another set of fenders.

Additionally, I bodyworked several parts using old-school bump and file methods.

The metal file quickly shows the highs and lows, which where then worked with hammer and dolly

One fender was so badly damaged on one corner that 

 I had to stitch up some cracks and  breaks before starting any shaping:

Once it was one-piece again, I was able to start shaping....

 Some attachment holes where "mostly" there, so I was able to build them back with the Mig welder

With the fenders mostly done I'll turn my attention to the major work of the box floor tomorrow.

Ford Runabout Rod Build: Part 2, fitting the flathead

The flathead was winched into place between the frame rails of the circa 27 model T runabout

The original, early-style water pumps had to be replaced with later-style ones. The difference being that the early engines mounted up front, with a front and center bar whereas later Flatty's mounted at their waterpump bosses.

Oddly though, when I went to mount these new (NOS? I wish. More likely Chinese repop...) pumps, I couldnt turn one of them past a full revolution. I wondered why? I took it back off and looked at the impeller base - do you see it? The litle bit of casting flap? Whatever it was it was hitting the inside of the block. A quick swipe with the angle grinder and it was gone though.

And so back to the task at hand...

And plop! Between the rails she went.

        Looks sweet! Stay tuned for the suspension....the cross members, mounts, suspension points....and the 10 million other bits that make a simple rod..... :)

1956 International Restoration 120 Series: Metal Working Bed and fenders

The next several weeks - and hundred-odd man-hours - will be dedicated to getting the metal close to the shape it should be in, attempting to reverse the many years of abuse, damage and rust.

The bed is the worst part by far. We purchased a new floor section, but just cutting out the old and fitting/welding in the new will be a major undertaking.

Besides the rust, the bed was pierced by the shocks when the truck was overloaded with frozen Pike and Pickerel fish, caught by so many ice-fishermen in an exceptionally good year.

But the truck was used for much more than hauling fish....

Here I'm using the impact chisel to remove some hardened cement that was lodged inside the rear tailgate channel....

The rear fenders will need a considerable amount of work as well - and these are the GOOD pair that came with a "better" box the owners brought in to replace the unusable original pieces!

Just as a teaser.....this is the same fender-corner that was shown "folded over" in a previous post. Little by little, we'll get there.

Ford Runabout Rod Build: Mocking up the E-rod

 Well, after collecting most everything needed to build a rod - then having it all sit around the yard for a year - I finally got to pulling it all together and into the shop - yay!

After humming and hawing for weeks about whether to use a custom frame made from 2x3" tubing, I finally said 'fluff-it" and decided to use the original frame for the project. Reasons being are 2-fold: First and foremost, I already have it. Second, It's an ORIGINAL Ford piece. And third (did I say 2-fold?) it's made of good old FORD Vanadium steel and I've been reading a lot about Ford's use of Vanadium so I'm fairly sure it will be able to withstand the Flathead power and hold the even lighter than stock bodywork.

I measured the flatty and the body shell against the frame and then pulled the shell to where it should sit going forward -

                  Then, I cut the rear portion of the box-frame off the body shell with the sawzall -

                          

Leaving just the frame section protruding underneath. 

This section will be cut and Z'd next in order to get the ride-height set.

Here is it, ready to set the engine in between the frame rails. Once I get it sitting in there I will be able to measure for the engine mounts. Of course I still need to pull the truck-only front mount off and replace the water pumps with ones that have the integral mounts on them.

Just a little of the bling I've been collecting for the E-rod....

Stay tuned!

Metal-working panels on the International Harvester

                              Another day of metal working on the International Harvester. Using the hammer and dolly, I roughed out the worst sections of the panels that are currently sitting in the box. Once everyhting is as close as I can can get it by eye, I'll be able to bolt it up to check the alignment of each against its mounting point.

As well, I'm continuing to cover the rusted sections with Metal Ready 

in order to treat the rust that I won't be able to get at with the grinder: