1939 Dodge 1.5 Ton Flatbed Build thread
I have a lot to build before I can worry about paint. I want everything built and put together before I strip it down and paint, becase I am building everything for the truck I am sure there will be modifications as I keep going. I did need to build the firewall 3 times before I got it where I liked it and as I look at it I am still thinking of tweaking it a bit.
Next steps I see are rear 4-link, air ride suspension, front 4-link and air ride, steering... that should take a while. Once it is rolling I can get to work on the cab again, engine mods, fuel tanks, drive train and all of the other stuff.
I have thought about a stack as well, but am still leaning towards a straight exhaust that ends halfway back under the bed. That is the way it was before, and I want to retain as much of the original look as possible.
The headlights are getting an H4 upgrade, the fender turn signals are being freshened up with new glass lenses, for the rear I found some really nice lights that look like the old ones (I do have some of the old ones as well but seem to be a pain to find all of them)
I need to re-build the bed, and becasue I am going to haul heavy loads at times I am thinking of a metal framed wood bed, the liftgate will be in the rear... so there will be some visual changes.
The color will be like a Nissan Morano the deep dark metallic blue is similar to the original color of this truck.
Inside I am updating everything, but keeping the original look. Gauges are being re-built with the old faces, and new inner workings. Power windows operated from old window cranks, Seats were upholstered in old looking leather (have 8-way power and heat).
The audio system is being hidden behind the seats on the rear wall, Navigation is a touch screen that flips down from the roof, sub will be under the seat through the floor, speakers in the kick panels and tweeters in the pillar.
When the heater turns on for outside air the old vent will raise up and allow in air... still tons of work
I need to re-build the bed, and becasue I am going to haul heavy loads at times I am thinking of a metal framed wood bed, the liftgate will be in the rear... so there will be some visual changes.
The color will be like a Nissan Morano the deep dark metallic blue is similar to the original color of this truck.
Inside I am updating everything, but keeping the original look. Gauges are being re-built with the old faces, and new inner workings. Power windows operated from old window cranks, Seats were upholstered in old looking leather (have 8-way power and heat).
The audio system is being hidden behind the seats on the rear wall, Navigation is a touch screen that flips down from the roof, sub will be under the seat through the floor, speakers in the kick panels and tweeters in the pillar.
When the heater turns on for outside air the old vent will raise up and allow in air... still tons of work
The headlights are getting an H4 upgrade, the fender turn signals are being freshened up with new glass lenses, for the rear I found some really nice lights that look like the old ones (I do have some of the old ones as well but seem to be a pain to find all of them)
I need to re-build the bed, and becasue I am going to haul heavy loads at times I am thinking of a metal framed wood bed, the liftgate will be in the rear... so there will be some visual changes.
The color will be like a Nissan Morano the deep dark metallic blue is similar to the original color of this truck.
Inside I am updating everything, but keeping the original look. Gauges are being re-built with the old faces, and new inner workings. Power windows operated from old window cranks, Seats were upholstered in old looking leather (have 8-way power and heat).
The audio system is being hidden behind the seats on the rear wall, Navigation is a touch screen that flips down from the roof, sub will be under the seat through the floor, speakers in the kick panels and tweeters in the pillar.
When the heater turns on for outside air the old vent will raise up and allow in air... still tons of work
I need to re-build the bed, and becasue I am going to haul heavy loads at times I am thinking of a metal framed wood bed, the liftgate will be in the rear... so there will be some visual changes.
The color will be like a Nissan Morano the deep dark metallic blue is similar to the original color of this truck.
Inside I am updating everything, but keeping the original look. Gauges are being re-built with the old faces, and new inner workings. Power windows operated from old window cranks, Seats were upholstered in old looking leather (have 8-way power and heat).
The audio system is being hidden behind the seats on the rear wall, Navigation is a touch screen that flips down from the roof, sub will be under the seat through the floor, speakers in the kick panels and tweeters in the pillar.
When the heater turns on for outside air the old vent will raise up and allow in air... still tons of work
how did you go about a project like that? i am just asking because those are great looking trucks. but most need a lot of work
Thanks, unfortunately I am doing everything myself. I did have a certified welder shorten and re-weld the front axle, and have had a few parts cnc cut for me. Most everything is cut with an angle grinder and welded up by me.
The irony is that the 1939 truck was complete, little rust problems, but I wanted a daily driver, diesel fueled badass truck. I got really lucky on this truck, I found it across town, it was cheap so I bought it and parked it for a few years till I had more time to play with it. After purchase I found out how lucky I was in that it was a numbers matching very rare California Special actually made in Los Angeles. There are elements of this truck that were only in California trucks making it even more desirable.
The other funny thing is that this is the first truck I have ever worked on, I pay to have my oil changed I suppose that my ignorance has allowed me to move forward on a build like this and not be daunted by the work load. In the end it is all just a cut, weld or a bolt and a hole... nothing is too difficult, it just takes time to figure out where to cut and weld or where to place things.
The irony is that the 1939 truck was complete, little rust problems, but I wanted a daily driver, diesel fueled badass truck. I got really lucky on this truck, I found it across town, it was cheap so I bought it and parked it for a few years till I had more time to play with it. After purchase I found out how lucky I was in that it was a numbers matching very rare California Special actually made in Los Angeles. There are elements of this truck that were only in California trucks making it even more desirable.
The other funny thing is that this is the first truck I have ever worked on, I pay to have my oil changed
I suppose that my ignorance has allowed me to move forward on a build like this and not be daunted by the work load. In the end it is all just a cut, weld or a bolt and a hole... nothing is too difficult, it just takes time to figure out where to cut and weld or where to place things.
