Someone else's truck. '48 Chev

[dsraven]

have you thought of simply building a header or tailgate from scratch? does it need to look stock at this point? possibly a header and tailgate from a newer more modern truck that you narrow instead of add to? a tailgate with a center latch, possibly reskinned to suit your style?

[dsraven]

a metal fab shop with a press brake could likely fab up some new cross sills for you as well, if inclined to have no seams. I had some fabbed up for my box mods since new ones were non existant.

[Tempest67]

when I put my box on, I wanted to maximize the depth of the box, so I lowered the fenders on the box about 2 inches, or, another way of saying, I raised the box 2 inches.

The running boards remained level, but the box raised up.

Look closely at the distance between the top of the fender and the top of the bed on these 2 pics.

No one has ever noticed, and the box is that much deeper.

Just an idea.

[lower50's]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Very nice work. I was involved with making a bed wider on a 53 1.5 ton bed many years ago. It was more work than the owner thought but it fit that truck a lot better IMO.

Ya more work than putting stock box together but compared to making my box sides on my orange truck and mounting it my way, this is not too bad.

Originally Posted by dsraven

have you thought of simply building a header or tailgate from scratch? does it need to look stock at this point? possibly a header and tailgate from a newer more modern truck that you narrow instead of add to? a tailgate with a center latch, possibly reskinned to suit your style?

Yes that's my plan with a bit of a twist.

Originally Posted by dsraven

a metal fab shop with a press brake could likely fab up some new cross sills for you as well, if inclined to have no seams. I had some fabbed up for my box mods since new ones were non existant.

I'm just using 1x2" tube and some angle

Originally Posted by Tempest67

when I put my box on, I wanted to maximize the depth of the box, so I lowered the fenders on the box about 2 inches, or, another way of saying, I raised the box 2 inches.

The running boards remained level, but the box raised up.

Look closely at the distance between the top of the fender and the top of the bed on these 2 pics.

No one has ever noticed, and the box is that much deeper.

Just an idea.

Thats a cool idea and ya you can hardly notice.

[lower50's]

Well the owner finally got me the rims and tires 235/55 18x8 for the front and 255/55 18x10 for the rear FOOSE rims. Now I can fit up the width of the box, I cut 3" out of each fender and the box is ending up to be 3.5" wider. There will be approximately 1" between tire and fender. I got the box in position and am now working on mounting it. I'm liking how it's turning out. Any ideas on where to put the battery on this truck?

[edgeleycanuck]

I'm reluctant to offer battery location comments because I have cobbled together one truck and you obviously have built many vehicles, have a lot of experience which result in great vehicles! I put my battery, an AGM, behind the passenger seat and I'm satisfied with that location. Just my 2 cents. Your customer is going to have a really cool truck!

[youngrodder]

Looking good. On my last 2 builds I did drop down battery boxes. On my 48 truck is was mounted behind the front passenger side tire tucked into the hollow space between the frame (G-body) and fender. On my 53 Suburban it is in the factory (ish) location. Still a drop down so there is no trap door or modifications to the carpet.

Marc

[Dieselwrencher]

Does the RH seat flip up? Under the floor with an access from the top? That might be a good place if the exhaust isn't in the way.

[lower50's]

Originally Posted by edgeleycanuck

I'm reluctant to offer battery location comments because I have cobbled together one truck and you obviously have built many vehicles, have a lot of experience which result in great vehicles! I put my battery, an AGM, behind the passenger seat and I'm satisfied with that location. Just my 2 cents. Your customer is going to have a really cool truck!

Well thank you very much! I am by no means a professional, I just do this as a hobby/ side gig. Even cobbled together trucks are better than one sitting in a field. Thanks for your input.

Originally Posted by youngrodder

Looking good. On my last 2 builds I did drop down battery boxes. On my 48 truck is was mounted behind the front passenger side tire tucked into the hollow space between the frame (G-body) and fender. On my 53 Suburban it is in the factory (ish) location. Still a drop down so there is no trap door or modifications to the carpet.

Marc

Thank you I will look into those.

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Does the RH seat flip up? Under the floor with an access from the top? That might be a good place if the exhaust isn't in the way.

Yes it does but not enough room.

[6DoF]

that's a subtle but nice change in the bed, makes is more sleek.

[dsraven]

lots of guys do a bed mod, not too many like this. nice work. speaking of bed mods, will you raise the bed floor to clear frame etc? if so, why not tuck a battery under there away from heat and congestion. on mine I have raised the floor to clear the frame hump but ahead of the hump is a good sized void. I have a steel floor from a donor truck so I fabbed a box under the front of the bed and the battery sezided in the box out of the weather but easily accessed from the top side through a lockable cover. the box is vented and has a drain and bulkhead connections for the battery cable along with heat shielding on the underside just in case. my box lid is flat sheet but I could have used the old cut out piece for a more hidden look. the handle with lock is simply one used for commercial truck body tool boxes so the handle folds down inside the recessed area to keep the box floor flat. this would also be a great spot for the manual release for anybody doing electric door poppers with no exterior door handle as the locker handle is keyed (yeah, I know. no cab door handle key but now you gotta carry the key for the battery locker). anyway, just a thought. another thought on raising the bed, a lot of guys, including myself, fret and worry, when figuring stuff out prior to cutting stuff, about raising the bed floor too much. after raising mine I have thought, whatever, an extra inch isn't that big of a deal because we won't be hauling much back there anyway. that extra inch could often leave the room needed for the exhaust clearance for the heat shielding for the exhaust so we don't burn the wood floor or the paint off the steel floor. a little extra room is nice simply to run the exhaust so it clears the axle, shocks, 4 link or whatever.

[layinrocker65]

I put my battery on the back side of the stock tank crossmember on the drivers side. Used a mount similar to this, https://www.summitracing.com/parts/kys-100-94020

I have a hinged bed floor so it’s not too hard to get too. The only reason I put it there was to save money. I would have preferred to do a sealed battery behind the seat.

[lower50's]

Originally Posted by 6DoF

that's a subtle but nice change in the bed, makes is more sleek.

Thank you Yes I agree

Originally Posted by dsraven

lots of guys do a bed mod, not too many like this. nice work. speaking of bed mods, will you raise the bed floor to clear frame etc? if so, why not tuck a battery under there away from heat and congestion. on mine I have raised the floor to clear the frame hump but ahead of the hump is a good sized void. I have a steel floor from a donor truck so I fabbed a box under the front of the bed and the battery sezided in the box out of the weather but easily accessed from the top side through a lockable cover. the box is vented and has a drain and bulkhead connections for the battery cable along with heat shielding on the underside just in case. my box lid is flat sheet but I could have used the old cut out piece for a more hidden look. the handle with lock is simply one used for commercial truck body tool boxes so the handle folds down inside the recessed area to keep the box floor flat. this would also be a great spot for the manual release for anybody doing electric door poppers with no exterior door handle as the locker handle is keyed (yeah, I know. no cab door handle key but now you gotta carry the key for the battery locker). anyway, just a thought. another thought on raising the bed, a lot of guys, including myself, fret and worry, when figuring stuff out prior to cutting stuff, about raising the bed floor too much. after raising mine I have thought, whatever, an extra inch isn't that big of a deal because we won't be hauling much back there anyway. that extra inch could often leave the room needed for the exhaust clearance for the heat shielding for the exhaust so we don't burn the wood floor or the paint off the steel floor. a little extra room is nice simply to run the exhaust so it clears the axle, shocks, 4 link or whatever.

Thanks some say the best mod is one that doesn't stand out. Yes bed floor has to come up a bit just to clear the frame.

Originally Posted by layinrocker65

I put my battery on the back side of the stock tank crossmember on the drivers side. Used a mount similar to this, https://www.summitracing.com/parts/kys-100-94020

I have a hinged bed floor so it’s not too hard to get too. The only reason I put it there was to save money. I would have preferred to do a sealed battery behind the seat.

Thankyou that is like what I am thinking now.

[lower50's]

Well here is part of my plan for the front of the box. I bought tube that matched the box side tube and put it in my tube roller to match the arc at the back of the cab. then I cut it into the box to make it the same height. I cut and caped the tube the same angle as the box side not straight on the tube. It is turning out real nice. At the bed level it will be straight across, I think.
Then I also got the fuel filler mounted the black holder is from a Jeep and the filler from a boat. It will get a box built over it.

[Vomit]

Wow, fantastic work matching the curve of the truck to the bed.

Great looking build so far. And you work quick!

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice work on the fuel filler and bed. I really like that rolled tube to match the cab contour.

[Father&son56project]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Nice work on the fuel filler and bed. I really like that rolled tube to match the cab contour.

Agreed!!!!

[8man]

Yep!

[youngrodder]

That will work nicely....

Marc

[dsraven]

nice work and thought process on the bed front and the filler on the side of the box. on the inside of the box, to matchy matchy the curved lines, you could also use a piece of exhaust tubing from, like a big truck stack with the slash cut tip. like a 5 or 6 inch tube. remoce the part that would be against the box wall and then add flat sheet to the side to fill the gap.curvd and smooth on the side you see. not saying the part you are building is gonna look odd or anything, just planting a seed so you don't get any sleep for awhile while planning stuff in your head (it's what I do, haha).

[oldman3]

Bob, bed is looking super, nice work...Jim

[Tempest67]

nice bending of that pipe.

Is the front wall of the bed going to be bent/curved too?

[lower50's]

Originally Posted by Vomit

Wow, fantastic work matching the curve of the truck to the bed.

Great looking build so far. And you work quick!

Thank you I just put in a couple hours every day

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Nice work on the fuel filler and bed. I really like that rolled tube to match the cab contour.

Thanks I wasn't sure how the filler would look in the end.

Originally Posted by Father&son56project

Agreed!!!!

Originally Posted by 8man

Yep!

Originally Posted by youngrodder

That will work nicely....

Marc

Thank you guys!

Originally Posted by dsraven

nice work and thought process on the bed front and the filler on the side of the box. on the inside of the box, to matchy matchy the curved lines, you could also use a piece of exhaust tubing from, like a big truck stack with the slash cut tip. like a 5 or 6 inch tube. remoce the part that would be against the box wall and then add flat sheet to the side to fill the gap.curvd and smooth on the side you see. not saying the part you are building is gonna look odd or anything, just planting a seed so you don't get any sleep for awhile while planning stuff in your head (it's what I do, haha).

Oh G thanks lol good thing I'm working night shift this week.

Originally Posted by oldman3

Bob, bed is looking super, nice work...Jim

I never would have thought of that till I had to widen the box and make a new front.

Originally Posted by Tempest67

nice bending of that pipe.

Is the front wall of the bed going to be bent/curved too?

The top of the sheet will be curved and where the bed will be will be straight. At least that's what I am planning.

[lower50's]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions on Battery locations, this is were I decided. The truck is not super low and I'm not using a big battery, there will be a terminal on the fire wall to boost or charge from. It will be fairly easy to change from under truck. I'll be using 2ga wire to the front.

[lower50's]

Well the box is mostly done, added chassis ground. I got the front gate finished up today, turned out really nice. The top is curved and the bottom where the floor will go is straight. Bed supports are in and mini tubs are done. You can also see how I finished up the gas filler cover.