Going to run accent lighting under the truck for some cool effects. Cut out the bottom of the rocker panel to accommodate a channel for the led lights.
The channel with a lens cover to protect the lights strips
The channel getting welded into the panel.
The new rocker panels fitted to the truck.
Next up is to install the hinges for the cargo doors. Decided to use a Soss hinge instead of a piano style to keep the outside panel smooth looking. We will also have shaved handles on the cargo doors for the same reason.
First we transfer the location of hinges to the frame from the aluminium siding panel.
This is the shape of the Soss hinge that will be installed.
Holes cut out to accommodate the aluminium blocks that will hold the hinges in place.
Since the hinges are stainless we need to machine some aluminium blocks so that we could weld them into the frame.
The block in place an ready to be welded in.
Welded in and finish out.
The block was designed so that the hinges would hang down the thickness of the panel.
We were really happy that we only had to file a couple of the opening to make the panel fit.
We need to make some shims for some of the hinges to make them flush with the bottom of the panel so that they will work properly. Other then that thing are good to go. Next up we need to put the body lines in this panel before we weld it in. Then we can finish the rest of the opening for the cargo doors. Then we can measure and make the doors.
So we need to make some tools before we can go forward on making the panels. Chris and I designed this for his new english wheel. All the parts were cut and formed by BBC Steel.
This will be the other side for the frame.
Chris is using the do it yourself Hoosier Profile Kit to go with the frame that he will be building.
Chris was also able to get his hands on a Pullmax P3 that he used to use when he was making commercial hoods. It was sitting in a tracker trailer outside when he rescue it. It used to be green and needed some TLC. We both worked on it to get it look like this.
Rewired, new paint, and new oil seal and she runs like a champ.
The new shrinking dies that we will be using a lot of to get the the box done.
The set of dies on the right are ones that came with the Pullmax. The two on the left are ones we had water jet from the pattern that we gave BBC Steel. These are the two body lines that will be in the truck box.
We need to take off the sharp edges and fine tune the contours of the dies.
After filing, sanding, and polishing.
Both sides done and ready for some metal shaping. Oh wait we have another set to do.
This set of dies will mimic the lines in the cab.
Okay now were ready to do some metal shaping.
What a amazing piece of equipment. We have a little more fine tuning on the dies but are very impressed on how well the Pullmax can make these body lines. The material that we used was 3003 .08 gauge aluminium. We will need to work on how we are going to keep our long run of lines straight and radius smooth.
Talked with Jose at Ogden Chrome to see how things where going with the grill and he sent some pictures of it in copper.
Tells us its looking good but has had its challenges on getting it to this point. I'm thinking it looks pretty awesome. Thank You to Jose and the crew at Ogden Chrome.
