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Hotrodders Bulletin Board > Journal > willys36@aol.com's Journal

View willys36@aol.com's profile Entries: 177
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05-08-2004 04:34 AM '53 AD extended cab how-to 2
Next, the body was mounted on the frame and marked for cutting. I took a different approach than I think most people take. I determined that the outer door skin has virtually the same shape as the top of the cab. Thus rather than going the normal route of finding a good donor cab for the rear section of the extension, I would use door skins for the top, a flat sheet for the floor and a couple of spare doors for the sides along with the front and back sections of my original cab.

Photos 1 & 2 show the path I determined to be the best to cut. The line going across the top of the cab traverses the highest point of the cab.

Photo 3 shows the body cut and spaced back 2'. No turning back now!

'53 AD extended cab how-to 2
(click photo to enlarge)
'53 AD extended cab how-to 2
(click photo to enlarge)
'53 AD extended cab how-to 2
(click photo to enlarge)
  [Entry #22]

05-08-2004 04:26 AM '53 AD extended cab how-to 1
I have been wanting to do this to this truck since I bought it in 1993. Finally got around to it last year. Plan was to extend the cab 2' by lengthening the frame 1' and shortening the bed 1'.

First step was to lengthen the frame. I did the job with it on the wheels rather than teetering on jack stands alone. Careful measuring for square, levelness, etc. is of course required before making the first cut. Photos 1 & 2 show the finished extension. I used some rectangular tubing that was a perfect slide on fit for the frame rails. I boxed the rails for 6" on either side of the cut. Once cut, I slipped the tubes on (note the spear shaped ends on the tubes. This avoids any vertical welds that may induce a stress riser and crack. I welded everything with a Lincoln buzz box about 90 amps w/ 1/8" 6011 rod. Note the 4" round holes I plasma cut for access to wiring, brake and fuel lines to be run inside rails.

'53 AD extended cab how-to 1
(click photo to enlarge)
'53 AD extended cab how-to 1
(click photo to enlarge)
  [Entry #21]

05-01-2004 05:19 PM Caddy tail light installation - 3
Here is the final installation. As the photos show, with careful planning, these lights go into fat fendered cars giving great rear and side exposure of the lights while being contained within the envelope of the sheet metal. This serves several purposes - first it protects the lights from damage, second it allows great all-round visibility for safety, and third it tempers the still outrageous look of the light for a more civil appearance.

Caddy tail light installation - 3
(click photo to enlarge)
Caddy tail light installation - 3
(click photo to enlarge)
Caddy tail light installation - 3
(click photo to enlarge)
  [Entry #20]

05-01-2004 05:02 PM Caddy tail light installation - 2
Now using the pattern pipe previously made, line it up with the index marks made previously, level it and make sure it is parallel to the bed and draw around it for the outline of the hole (Photo 1). Use an air powered abrasive slitting saw to cut the hole inside the line. Then using a die grinder with a carbide cutter, clean up the hole until a 3" tube slides snuggly inside.

Photo 2 shows how to mark the cut to make one of the final tail light tubes. Cut or grind one of the tube ends perfectly square and slip that end into one of the holes you just cut in the fender.

Make a mark on the tube about an inch from the inserted end which is how deep you insert the tube into the hole. Adjust this measurement to reveal as much of the chrome trim ring you want to show on the installed tail light. Now simply draw around the intersection of the opening on the tube and cut out this shape. I didn't show a level on photo 2 but use one for insurance. Perfect fit every time! Hint; there is a weld seam on the inside of the tube so position this weld seam to the outside of the tube so it will be hidden on the final installation and greatly ease final finishing.

Photo 3 shows the resulting tube welded into the fender with a sheet metal plate welded in the bottom that has been drilled to accept the tail light. All done except the final finish. I braze stainless 1/4 " x1" bolts inside the tail light bases, assemble the lights and stick them in the buckets with the bolts going through the pre-drilled holes, and secure them using stainless lock washers and wing nuts. That makes it easy to remove the lights and change bulbs when necessary.


Caddy tail light installation - 2
(click photo to enlarge)
Caddy tail light installation - 2
(click photo to enlarge)
Caddy tail light installation - 2
(click photo to enlarge)
  [Entry #19]

05-01-2004 04:46 PM Caddy tail light installation - 1
THE classic hot rod tail light is the '59 Caddy. End of story. For my "Factory King Cap" '53 Chevy pickup, there was no other choice for tail light. Here is how I did it.

There are a couple of companies that make Caddy installation tubes with the back plate welded in, the baloney cut, holes drilled - ready to just weld in.
http://www.bigjims.net/frenchingkits.htm
http://www.carnewz.com/go-low/golow_catalog_page_7.htm
Two problems with that - They cost $40 a pair and most importantly, I would rather do it myself! I found that the 3" outer case of a 2" glass pack muffler is the perfect diameter and is nice heavy steel. It gets even better than that; Jegs sells them for $17 each
http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommer...amp;prmenbr=361
so I got two 2' pieces of 3" pipe, four nifty belled steel cups, 4' of great perforated 2" pipe that I can use for something I'm sure, and a pile of monofilament glass fiber that I'm sure will come in handy some day. Thus I got plenty of material to make my 4 tail light holes, plus the normal couple of ruined attempts, and a pile of treasures for 1/3 of what the four commercial cup would have cost. Life is good!

Prep the muffler tubes by cutting off the belled ends just as they begin to swedge down in size and remove al the internals. Photo 1 shows the muffler and a slice I took from another muffler on which I cut the shape of the two fender locations (top and bottom have different radii) for a pattern.

Photos 2 & 3 show how to use a tape measure to index the tubing pattern. With the fenders accurately mounted on the bed, measure up from the bottom edge of the fender and mark the bottom (or top) of each hole on both fenders. I used 9" & 13 1/4" respectively. Then measure from the bed to the location of the end of the tube with a line that is parallel to the bed. I used 6".


Caddy tail light installation - 1
(click photo to enlarge)
Caddy tail light installation - 1
(click photo to enlarge)
Caddy tail light installation - 1
(click photo to enlarge)
  [Entry #18]

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