Houston, we have a problem

[kstones63]

That's a shame to have that much damage to any slick, especially that one. It sounds like you guys are on the right track for repairing it.

Kevin

[jeepbut]

Tell dale I am sorry to hear of his mishap. Did you all get it torn down and if so how bad was it? Thanks, Lyman.

[Toyz]

Not as bad as it could have been, Lyman!

It never ceases to amaze me as to the strength of these old trucks. We pushed, pulled and groaned the front assembly around to some semblance of original. It helps that Dale had pain-stakingly replaced every piece of hardware.
Next step will be the smoke wrench to finesse the kinks out and bring everything back to specs; then we will remove the core support and inner fenders. Preliminary (rough) measurements reveal little to no evidence of "diamonding"; eyeball readings indicate the cab is slightly shifted. Once we have the stresses removed, I think all will be fine! We will probably relax the pace this week; Dale still has "other truck" problems to work thru, and we will be at the mercy of LMC for the delivery of the replacement custom front bumper. I expect little problem in straightening the inner fenders, naturally we will need a OEM replacement left fender. I can provide a replacement if needed, then find one later for my '66. I've noted the lack of fender braces; that will also be addressed. I told Dale I would personally rather spend 6 hours finessing the core support as opposed to duplicating his "place for everything" original efforts, LOL.
All is well; compared to first sight , everything is quite easy. I guess I have become a "creature of the age"; I had forgotten the memory advantages of real metal. You push or pull just beyond needs, release, and everything springs back close to the starting point! Thus the smoke wrench!
Probably more than you wanted to know; but you can expect the new old truck to soon be once again terrorizing the highways.
Paul

[Max]

Glad to hear Dale made it out ok. Would've been worse if he was hit by someone throughout all of that.

Now he's got something to tinker with again!

[Broncotom]

Guys just getting back in town, I don't think I have any parts you might need, but if you need measurements I have the front end off mine right now so it would be easy to measure.

[Toyz]

It's rapidly returning to shape, more than I can say for Dale's daily driver . Welding up the frame rails was completed today.
Just waiting for core support and bumper now, then paint. Still in need of a solid straight left fender.
Gonna hang a breakout box on the daily driver tomorrow; this thing is proving a challenge. First indication was fuel related, after testing the system and replacing a marginal pressure regulator; it now is acting like the proverbial ground problem. We will replace the emergency end cables tomorrow; then it's down to meticulous testing of the EEC system. All the known common issues have been addressed other than the cables.
It's going to be really bad if we complete the 521 quicker than we can get a 302 d.d operating properly.
Oh, well, I've repeatedly posted here telling everyone to not overlook grounds and poor connections, now I'm telling myself exactly that!
Paul

[Toyz]

Quick update:
Frame is back straight with just minor welding and painting remaining. OEM fender has been located (thanks, Skip!)
We have checked and verified mounting locations with older core support and bumper; Dale is ordering the replacement custom bumper.
Core support has been straightened awaiting fender mock-ups.
Lots of cutting, mounting and fitting yet to go, as well as re-installing wire looms and a/c components..
I'll take pictures this weekend, including some of the immaculate and well-thought out chassis and drivetrain.
I'm anxious to get it back on the street; I'm sure Dale is even more anxious.
Cruisin' the Coast might be an appropriate and attainable goal; if I can talk Dale into it!
Paul

[64trucker]

Sorry to hear about your truck!! Glad no one was hurt!!

[Toyz]

A little forward progress this weekend. Got the replacement parts blasted and Ospho'd in the middle of the heaviest rain we have had in some time! Mocked up the inner fenders and core support only to find that the LMC support listed as fitting '65 2wd and '66 4wd is grossly different from Dale's original as well as his now-damaged LMC replacement. It is also different from my '65s and '66; looking somewhat closer to the design of the one on the '61 and the F350. The one supplied has the inner fender mounting brackets welded in place in what appears to be the pattern for the earlier inners. The box and invoice indicated the 43-2857 T part number, so, since we had to remove the radiator vertical supports anyway, we also trimmed the diagonal vertical inner fender mount plates and utilized the bolt-on ones from the old support.
Without having the lower valance mounted, it is hard to determine the correctness of the custom lighted bumper; the previous one carried the same part number, however, and looked correct.
We'll do a little more fitting this next weekend; "eyeballing" down the sides indicates a close semblance to correct alignment currently.
Then we are at the mercy of the painters, with little that can be done until the core support and inner fenders return.
Took a few pics, but they don't show much.
Paul

[Toyz]

Getting closer, after 3 months, just waiting on the painter to finish the front outer fenders.









Paul

[Toyz]

With Pate coming up, we are picking up the slooow pace!



Paint is complete except for final buff-out; got the radiator and condenser back in place today, as well as enough wiring to do justice to a 2014





Paul

[simonscr]

Looking like a truck again! First time I have seen this post. Always hard to look at body damage on a nice vehicle.

Observation, Is there white paint missing from parts of the hood hinges?

[Toyz]

Yep, they'll have to come off! Still campaigning for a "Stone smooth" solution to that issue, however
"Nice" is a pretty good assessment of this truck: 521" w/ Super CJ's, a bad to the bone Comp hydraulic roller, Stealth intake, custom big tube headers, C6 with Gear Vendors, currently 4.11 w/ TracLoc; sway bars, traction bars, huge fan driven transmission cooler, just a real nice toy. It is also the cleanest "driver" vehicle I have ever worked on! The white engine compartment says it all! These pics were immediately after buffing out some of the paint repair, and represent the dirtiest conditions I have ever known to exist on this vehicle.
Paul

[Michelle]

Its starting to look good again. Its been a long time, I need to get down to Houston to see you guys again.

[Toyz]

I wish I was down in Houston with you guys, I would be glad to give you a hand.

We'd love to have you here, Michelle, 'specially when (if ) my crew cab shows up!
We gonna see you at Pate?
Paul