Alberts Dusty Beast

Well after the F-100 show we were a bit excited about the ole dusty truck. we pre fit the fender extensions ,running boards and did more body work on the cab. I started block sanding the beast to make it flat and straight. I learned from Curtis Krueger at the truck show,that a car with bad body work with that wavy look is called a parade car because it" Waves "at you!! I thought that was funny ,we dont want Alberts ride to "wave" !

Electric Front Cap

the look on Alberts face is priceless, but it really works well

the ole 55 gets some attention

Well we got a bit more work done on Albert's truck, and its been a while since we last gave it some love ! Our attentions were first aimed at the one piece front cap, the hinges were welded on and then the cap was stiffened by the addition of some wooden bracing that were fiber glassed in using mat and resin first , to be followed by woven glass cloth. While I toiled away at the glass ,Big Al hit it hard fabricating the power brake booster and master clyinder mounts , this was a bi #%@*&!!!! but as usual Albert completed his task ! it worked out nice too. The cab mount had to be cut and sectioned for the unit to fit into and a sheet metal brace was fabed to be welded to the frame , that Albert is a stinkin genius ! The steering column saw a little action too, all the measurements for the shaft and joints were made after the rack was installed .All we need now are a few more borgison joints and a support stand.

The front cap was remounted after the glass dried and metal plates were made to mount electric actuators to it and mounts to the frame measured out and viola , we now have a magic front cap that opens and closes at the touch of a button ...Man it is soooo cool ! And to top off our weekend a little POR -15 was smeared inside the cab of the truck , all this thanks to Curtis (da main) , Mike( my mustache is bigger than yours )Albert and Willie , we had a good time !

the 55 gets a little epoxy

After a couple of days blocking and conjuring up the body work gods ,the top and back of the cab gladly receive a few coats of Kirker epoxy primer.Now it'll take a bunch of strokes with a long block to smooth it all out level and some more primer probably of the 2k variety.I'm sure we will run into a few more issues with the top along the way the drip rails will need to be seam sealed or we may even use POR-15 patch in a tube to insure no rust creep.Our next step will be installing the brake petal system and master cylinder on the frame and making the access through the floor to add brake fluid.Then if the doors are fitted well and all is primed we will remove the body to pretty up the bottom side and paint it before we finish the frame.

da fixture recieves mo work

Well a little bit more metal was massaged and beat on ,welded, ground off,stretched and shrank then wiped with a magic elixir that Albert purchases from a troll in a near by county.The top is roughed in and so is the back of the cab.The cab doors are now being persuaded to fit better .My job now seems to be to remind Albert not to take short cuts that it will eventually get done and done right!I belive he could put the old ride together with duct tape and seam sealer and three zip ties!Hell it would probably look good too!

moe on da truck

da fixture has a fiberglass front cap that will tilt with actuators once the fab work is done.There has been 4 inches removed from the top and that's probably why Albert had a heart attack, he asked how many of these I'd done ....none was the reply !! But there was enough beer available so we dove in and only regretted it for a while! Some electric seats were donated recently and they will be really cool too ! Albert has a brand new bed for the truck and a custom made stainless fuel tank made by Gilbert's welding in Centerville Tn. This ride should be terrorizing your neighbor hood soon .

da 55 funky truck

Alberts making a little progress on the chop top 55, we sand blasted it roughed in some of the plastic filler and shot epoxy primer on " da fixture" man that big block "show"looks good between dem rails!Albert has boxed the frame and it has a 9 inch ford diff and mustang 2 front end with disc brakes to" whoo" the 460!Funny how a little primer helps the looks of a project .I hope the big boy will forgive me for not working on it for so long! Some times a little sabbaticle makes the heart grow fonder,so lets get busy... i still gotta mustang or 2 to do!