Christina' s 35 Truck

[BillGardner]

So it finally arrived today after an extended wait on transport. A suprise gift for my wife who wanted her own truck. No idea on color yet because that's up to her.

[CVOBill]

Congrats

[David Hodgkins]

WOW!

Excellent! Hope to see your build thread soon! Updating your status.

:)

[TheBabyBadger]

Sounds fun, Bill!

Can you give us some more info? Have you built other vehicles? Are you new here?

[FFinisher]

Ok Bill, Lets go with some pictures!

Lets see that LS installed!

[WIS89]

I saw what you wrote -- looks like a bunch of words about some kind of delivery.

You know, some pictures would clear up all the confusion!!

Congratulations on the delivery. Very cool that you are building it for your wife! I look forward to following along with your build.

Regards,

Steve

[BillGardner]

Thanks to Tony and all the crew at Factory Five for getting this to me. Thanks for the Beta manual. Thanks to Freddi for all the body panels. Thanks to Ron for all the advice I'll get between now and completion. Is two weeks enough time?
I'm trying to figure out the pictures

[TheBabyBadger]

Hey Bill! Two weeks...? Ambitious!

Pictures should be easy once on your computer, or with a USB connected to their source. Just click on the pic icon as below. Then select the tab "From Computer" and find the destination/folder they are in. Then hit "upload." Should be a breeze!

Happy to help if you have more questions! Can't wait to see progress on the build!

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[BillGardner]

thanks for the instructions in the pictures. between homework for my wife and son, I never get near the computer. Foolishly, I've been trying to post from my phone. I'll try some low resolution pictures when I get home. I did manage to put a picture of my hand into an album

[WIS89]

... I did manage to put a picture of my hand into an album

Bill-

Not picking on you, but when I read that, I almost sent my drink through my nose onto my laptop!

I do look forward to seeing some pics, as I mentioned. I hope the hand morphs into some FFR pics!

Regards,

Steve

[BillGardner]

spent most of the weekend getting the 33 Hot Rod prepped for another power tour, but did manage to get some of the parts painted for the truck and get one of the bed sides hanging. 8640186401

[BillGardner]

I posted a picture. twice somehow, but it's a start

[BillGardner]

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[BillGardner]

you asked for it Ron. LS engine going in

[BillGardner]

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had to take a picture of the 33 sitting there. love the look without the headlights

[BillGardner]

a little dressed up 86435

[Benjamin]

Right on looks cool!

[myjones]

spent most of the weekend getting the 33 Hot Rod prepped for another power tour, but did manage to get some of the parts painted for the truck and get one of the bed sides hanging. 8640186401

Bring the 33 to the host hotel for the Nostalgia drags in BG KY while you are there. I would love to see it.

It's the hotel right out in front of the Muni airport where you gathered last year. We always have a good cruise night
there from all the cars that come in for the NHRA hot rod re-union and Nostalgia drags.

[BillGardner]

Been off on the power tour with the hot rod, and was happy to come home to a box of new aluminum panels from factory five. Had to get it sitting on the ground for the first time. low low

[BillGardner]

fit firewall, grill, and grill surround this evening. too bad I can't seem to post pictures again

[BillGardner]

Thanks to done guidance from Ron, I was able to get the drivers door hanging. spent quite a bit of time drilling and tapping the stainless hinges. make sure you have high quality drill bits and tap.

[BillGardner]

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[BillGardner]

I got pictures to work again! Ran out of patience on the door adjustment so I went on to the bed. Thanks for the advice on starting with the roll pan Eric. Still had to grind a little on the fuel tank mount so the roll pan would sit flush on the frame.

[BillGardner]

87735

[BillGardner]

I can't help but use the bed as storage and a work bench. ststarting to look like a real truck

[Stillwater35]

I really like your wheel and tire set up. What size and offsets are you using?

I'll be needing wheels for my build shortly.

[BillGardner]

The wheels and tires are the first set I purchased from factory five for my 33 hot rod. 17" front and 20" rear. They aren't my wife's favorites, so they probably won't be permanent. I may swap them with the ones on the hot rod now. 18"/20" black salt flat factory five wheels.

[BillGardner]

Spent most of the weekend repairing my big truck so I didn't get much done. Sprayed a few dozen speed shapes with different colors so she could pick her favorite.
Got the dash fit tonight. Finding the center of that oval for the gauge cutout was a challenge. measure 37 times and cut once. Then grind a little here and sand a little there. and hope its not too crooked

[BillGardner]

88289

[rponfick]

Bill, did you have any guidelines on the bed install? I don't have all my hook-up parts yet, so wondering how you align the bed height and such. Are there some hidden markings somewhere? With no manual, it is a crap shoot. Don't have my alum. contents box yet, so only have bed floor and some piece that fits under the cab rear.

I am glad to see where that curved bottom tail piece fits. I was at a loss for where exactly it fits. Do you cut out the center section where the tailgate fits, or do you leave it there? and the tailgate is just cosmetic?


The questions will really start coming as we get further along.


Thanks, Ralph

[Marv]

Here’s what I got from Tony at FFR, align the lower belt line on the cab and bed, leave a 1/2 reveal between cab and bed. Bed overlaps the cab flange. Here is a picture of the rear. There are spacers but if I spaced the sides out the gap between the sides and stainless bed was too large.

[rponfick]

Marv, thanks for the bed fitment comment and the photo.
Did your bed floor panel fit the frame structure on all sides? Mine seems to be a little wide up next to the cab. I am afraid the overhang will infringe on my bed panel sides sitting flush against the frame (without some trimming of the bed bottom).
Keep up the good work.
Ralph

[BillGardner]

I lined up the lower body line at the cab and bed sides. Then I took a measurement of the bed side height above the bed floor. I kept that same measurement in the rear so the bed sides would be level. there will be a little more trial fitting and adjustment as I get the forward bulkhead to line up with the sides. I'll trim and modify as needed to make it work. I also made sure to put some flat aluminum pieces up between the cab and the frame to simulate the piece that goes there permanently. Then I lined up the body lines to fit the bed sides.

[rponfick]

Bill, thanks. Did you have the big piece of steel bed floor in when you aligned the sides. My bed floor seems about 1/2" wider than the frame up by the cab.
Ralph

[BillGardner]

yeah I had the stainless bed floor in place when I fit the sides. The bed floor stainless sits on top of the fiberglass lip from the cab. I set the lip on a piece of aluminum to take up the space that the final piece will need. I mounted the firewall, then the cab, then the bed floor, then the rear roll pan, then the bed sides.

[rponfick]

Bill, sorry to be so dense. My stainless bed floor is about 1/2" wider up by the cab than the underlying frame corners. Did you experience this? My concern is the bed sides need to rest up against the frame, do they not? My stainless bed floor sheet is 49 1/2" wide in front and back. My frame that the stainless bed sits on is 49" behind the cab, and 49 1/2" back by the tailgate. Is this normal? Or, do I have a slightly off frame?

I am surprised the rear cab fiberglass lip is to be under the stainless bed floor. Have you been calling FFR with your questions, or what is the source of your information when you have assembly questions.

Wonder what the timing is for the assembly manual?


Thanks, Ralph

[BillGardner]

I have been checking with another builder with a completed truxk and going with what seems to work. I'll measure my bed and frame, but I doubt you have an issue with the frame. it may be that some type of spacer needs to be added, or the bed floor trimmed. I'll post what I find

[rponfick]

Bill, thanks for your help. I wondered about a spacer to move the bed side out some. Trimming the steel sheet does not appeal to me.

Ralph

[FFinisher]

Bill, thanks for your help. I wondered about a spacer to move the bed side out some. Trimming the steel sheet does not appeal to me.

Ralph
You will need 1/4 inch spacers along the frame. The spacers will be behind the flange on the cab but still on the frame.

You should not need to trim the bed floor

[Marv]

Spacers are with the bed mounting bolts, white nylon. 8 or 9 come in the bag.

[BillGardner]

what he said. my cab is 1/2" wider than the frame. the spacers go on each side of the frame to make up the difference between the frame and bed sides

[BillGardner]

found that the spacers for my truck were only needed right behind the cab. the bed sides stuck out with a gap of I used the spacers in the middle and the back. everything sits nice and flush when I only use the spacers in the front.

[wallace18]

I think you have to make your own spacers as one size will not work everywhere. I have none at the back and 1/4" at the front and 1/8" in the middle for a good fit. I think it will be different for each persons build. Keep up the good work!

[BillGardner]

I couldn't resist dropping the wood in for a test fit. Cut the stainless strips to length. The strips come with concealed hardware that I'll use to secure it to the stainless sheet.

[BillGardner]

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[BillGardner]

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[wallace18]

Looks great! May I ask where did you get the wood and strips? I can see that a wood bed will hide some unsightly gaps the steel bed floor and tailgate leave behind on my truck.

[Marv]

91307

Great looking wood

[BillGardner]

I got the wood and slats as on option from Factory Five. I'm not sure what type of wood the production kits will have. If I recall, Tony said this is hickory.

[BillGardner]

I put my salt flats wheels on the truck and set it on the ground. sometimes I forget how cool it really is to build these things91986

[WIS89]

Bill-

She looks great! I have enjoyed watching your progress. That stance is awesome! The bed wood looks great. It really is a great looking truck!

What does your wife think so far? Has she decided on a color yet, or did I miss it somehow?

Great progress, and I agree with you; it really is cool to build one of these cars! Great work!!

Regards,

Steve

[BillGardner]

purple candy over a metallic black base. I was thinking of a bright flashy color, but I was out voted.

[rponfick]

Bill, love the wood bed.

Have you had any thoughts about sealing the wood to the SS sides and front? Or will you leave it open? I am wondering about water seepage, and if I would create a swimming pool if I seal everything.

Thanks, Ralph

[1932]

Need room for boards to grow and shrink with humidity.

[BillGardner]

Need room for boards to grow and shrink with humidity.

I won't be sealing the wood to the stainless. I'm just going to set it up against the sides and let any water run through.