It’s Just A Pickup

[Bruce88]

I made a decision after a couple days of trying to figure out how I was going to modify the spare tire mount. In the end possibly obtained a lucky charm for the shop, I can always use some luck as everyone can.

Picked up some ¼ inch steel plate and cut out a 6-1/2 inch DIA. circle on the band saw. Drilled the ½ inch DIA. holes for the 5 lug x 5 inch DIA. wheel pattern and press in the NAPA 641-1102 wheel bolts.

Before removing the original mounting plate from the frame drilled a wheel center hole in the plate and then welded in a support bar with a corresponding centering hole to locate the new mounting plate.



Not wanting the spare tire to break off the mount and pass me on the road (that would be embarrassing) I took the mount down to a professional welder with a big enough welder to weld the new thicker mounting plate on. I also added a mounting plate to the top of the spare tire mount to install the CB antenna to (CB antenna is on order and should be in within a few days). All that’s left to do is drill the antenna mounting holes, clean up the mount and send it off to the powder coater for a black finish.



The ¼ plate that I picked up for the mounting plate was in a larger circle and after cutting out the new mount I ended up with a horse shoe shape. History says that to hang a blacksmiths horse shoe above your door will bring luck to your shop. Yes the debate goes on as to how to hang it facing up or down (I definitely do not know the answer) but being a modern-day metal worker/blacksmith decided to hang it above my shop door to bring luck to my shop.



May the luck of the blacksmiths horse shoe be with you in your shop on your build

[Lated]

Originally Posted by Bruce88

Yes the debate goes on as to how to hang it facing up or down (I definitely do not know the answer) but being a modern-day metal worker/blacksmith decided to hang it above my shop door to bring luck to my shop.

I've always been told if it's just hanging on the wall to hang it with the opening up to keep the luck from falling out. If it is hanging over a doorway, hang it with the opening down so each time you walk through you are sprinkled with a little luck. It doesn't really matter though, Chevy truck owners are already the luckiest guys around

[Bruce88]

Squaring away the front window corners.

The four corners of the front window seem to be an area where rust definitely can be found on most of our trucks. I don’t know if it’s the window seal is trapping the water or gap seam sealer failure in the drip rail area that causes the rust problem or a combination of both. Decided to do a fill weld in the area to replace some of the rust pitted area and not need to use any gap sealer in the area. It defiantly took some time to do this, a day and a half work for the two corners shown below. Also filled the antenna cable hole that I will not be needing.

Don’t know if this is going to solve the problem in the future but it should slow it down from coming back at least.

I’m planning on using a two part seam sealer in the drip rail area and this area of the truck should be good for another 30 plus years





I’m glad to be back working on the truck after the short delay. Have a nice day and a better one tomorrow.