I got back to working on the truck today. Our hours were reduced at work, so I havent spent any money in awhile, but I decided to try something I have been wanting to do. I have 2 dashes , and both had huge holes for radios. Both also looked like they had been cut with a screwdriver or an axe. Just horribly jagged holes, with twisted edges and all. I had someone else weld the holes on the first dash, and it warped bad. Im thinking the metal I had for the repair was too thick, but he put too much heat in it, and it warped at the speaker grill and between the radio hole and the ash tray. So I wanted to try it myself. I got some 20ga steel, and went at it.

For you welders and body experts out there, be gentle on me. Im learning. This is the first time I have ever welded anything this thin. But, it didnt draw in too bad. It warped next to the coin patch on the lower portion, and only very slightly between the two large panels up top. I have more grinding to do, but Ill have to do it at work, because my air compressor at home is a piece of junk. Overall Im very happy with the results. Im going to take it to work, and strip it, then sandblast it. Then we will fill it, block it out and Im going to go ahead and paint it before install. I think it will give us motivation to keep going.


Very poorly done radio hole

patch panel fitted and tacked

getting there.

Not done, but done for now. Ill have to take it too work.

 

I've got a couple of things that were engineered like that. The kids husband is off on deployment but when he comes home and they come up here when he's on leave, I'm hoping he has time to do some metal work for me. He's a metal worker with the SeeBee's and I marvel at some of the stuff he's doe in the past. Looks like you're taking your time and that's the key thing.

 

I take it you are not installing a stereo? It's clear you are not after 100% original.

 

Im undecided on a stereo. If it gets one, itll be one of the hidden stereos. And I am not after original. I think the body lines make the truck, so I wont modify the body at all. But I have always felt the ash tray looked like an afterthought. It was in a bad place, and just looked thrown in, so I filled in the hole. Ill leave the rest of the dash alone, and Ill even put the dash bumper in, although it not be original either.

I have taken some flack on other sites for deviating from original, but Isaac and I talked a lot about this truck before he went to be with the Lord, and originality was not a priority. Im going to deviate, but only on a few things that I feel should be better. Not taking away from the original crowd, I admire their tenacity in tracking things down and researching, but that isnt my thing any more than a full custom chop-top channeled creation.

 

Given the amount of custom work you have already put into it..... I wouldn't worry about the 'keep it original' crowd. Build it the way YOU want it. That's what these kind of projects are all about in any event.

 

First off, you're finishing something he helped start and this will keep a connection with your son. So you can say PBBTTTHHH! to the original; crowd. It's your truck and you do what you want. I'm a firm believer in if they weren't meant to be driven, they wouldn't have wheels. Nothing I drive will ever be a trailer turnip. Trucks back then, especially but not only, Dodges were built to be modified for the job.

 

Ive been doing a few things here and there. Hours are still down at work, so money is tight for now. Im still trying to make my goal of moving the truck under its own power this year. I did manage to get the exhaust started. Im still struggling with some of the other details. I need fittings for the clutch, brake and fuel systems. I also found out I need a clutch fork return spring. The parts truck had the wrong one, and as you can imagine, finding a clutch fork return spring for a 67 dodge is a challenge.

Anyway, I started the exhaust, I like the tuck I was able to achieve with the 2-1/2" exhaust pipe. I think it looks good. Dont make fun of my welds too bad. Im still learning. I will wrap the pipes that go from the headers to the underside of the cab to keep the heat away from the oil lines and the starter. Im also adding an H-pipe, and 40 series flowmasters soon.


Passenger side header shot. Ignore the brake line, Im not done yet.

Driver side shot. Its tight with the starter and the steering in place. I know it looks like a bad transition on the exhaust, but its not. Thats a slip fit junction that Im welding up.

Exhaust tucked in nicely. The cross members are the lowest part of the truck.

 

So I have tried to stay busy on the truck. I got the seat in, the back window in, and the dash and steering column are in temporarily. Im checking a few things out. I had to clean the garage, because it was getting crazy, but then we set the bed on for the time being. I havent been able to check the rear 4-link for clearance yet. And it is into the bed area, at least the shock mounts are. I have considered raising the bed floor anyway, because the original is just gone. If I raise it 2" I could get into the clean metal, and make clearance for the suspension also. I still need to look into it more. The bed has me worried. It has some serious issues. Here are a few pictures showing how it looks today.

 

Im waiting on parts, so I decided to practice my welding today. Ill be finishing the welding on the 4-link and the rear end of the frame with the MIG welder. Unfortunately Stephen, who did an outstanding job on the front of the frame, wont be able to help with the rest.

I ran across some welding videos, and they show people doing cubes, and I thought it was a good idea, so I made one myself. I think I did good, but still need work, so Ill keep practicing. I also tried the TIG, but its a little less user friendly for me. I was able to get a bead or two that might be okay, but for the most part, they were all bad. Ill keep practicing with both.

Tell me how Im doing. Just remember, Im not a welder, so dont bash me. Im learning.


A few bad spots. Not bad overall. I was not trying to close the ends until later. This is MIG

I got better as I went. This is also MIG.

TIG. Just ugly. Dont even ask about the backside of the angle.

 

You've done better than I can do.The closest thing I have to a phobia is electricity. I got hit with 220 once when it shorted through me and ever since, if something sparks, don't be standing between me and the door. I can braze just fine. I learned as a kid and do it from time to time just to keep in practice. I've developed a tremor in the last few years so even if I wasn't skittish around sparks, it wouldn't be pretty.