I can make LPB box sides

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That's awesome. I can't wait until you get the tailgate chains done because I've been looking for one going on 4 years now. I missed out on a set on Ebay a while back because I had family over at the time and I'm not very good at the whole Ebay thing.

Looking forward to watching your progress. Nice stuff.
 
Rhino - yeah, I'm working on the hook and finding some chain this week. I want bare un-plated chain so I can cut a link, twist it, slip the ends on, twist it back and re-weld the link. Galvanized don't weld to good. Then I'm going to plate the assembly as a unit. Do you know if they came originally with rubber tube over the links or did they rattle from the factory??

Kevin
 
Awl_TEQ said:
....know if they came originally with rubber tube over the links or did they rattle from the factory??

Kevin
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hope I can help Sir ;)
( if they don`t rattle too much :D I need them too )
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Cheers
Peter
 
:doh: I should have known - just ask peter :bang:.







The hooks look shiny - clear zinc dichromate it is - yellow would look funny anyway.
 
Awl_TEQ said:
I will be doing the short bed and 3 hinge tailgate eventually - like winter 2010. (or sooner if someone ponies up for the first off). I might take you up on that offer. What I really need is a rusty old bed to copy (*cough*D'animal?*cough*).


Man, I can't wait for that to start. I'm a bit sad that you have finished this one:frown:.

Cheers,

Josh
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Don't dispair Josh. I'm going to do a "Rusty special" on my red bed - sides and side floors replaced. And there's always my dormant build thread to get moving on. I'd like to do something other than sheet metal for a few days. Maybe finish my cage and sliders - pull the drive train - fab fuel tanks :doh: thats sheet metal.

Just finished the tailgate - spent all day assembling the gate and fabbing the stiffener. Got a couple of phone pics but the phone died. Photos to follow.
 
Awl_TEQ said:
Don't dispair Josh. I'm going to do a "Rusty special" on my red bed - sides and side floors replaced. And there's always my dormant build thread to get moving on. I'd like to do something other than sheet metal for a few days. Maybe finish my cage and sliders - pull the drive train - fab fuel tanks :doh: thats sheet metal.

Just finished the tailgate - spent all day assembling the gate and fabbing the stiffener. Got a couple of phone pics but the phone died. Photos to follow.
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Well, I was going to say something about that build thread....We ain't getting any younger, ya know.:D

Cheers,

Josh
 
Cell phone shots of the tailgate being assembled

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The latch is bolted in this photo - not just placed there
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This shot is before the stiffeners - but all other welding done.
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The stiffeners were a PITA to layout - this is three of four steps to form the shape
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Here is the finished tailgate. Spot welding the stiffeners on caused a "wave" in the skin panel. It will take a skim of filler and some block sanding to make it smooth again. It's not too bad though - standard paint prep I should say. To prevent this I'll have to make the skin "flatter" and match the stiffener's offset to the panel exactly in the future.
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All that remains is the gate chains and hinges - is that a light at the end of the tunnel... or an on-coming train?
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I can't tell from Peter's picture, but I think the chain had a canvas tube and not a rubber tube over it to keep it from rattling.
 
45Kevin said:
I can't tell from Peter's picture, but I think the chain had a canvas tube and not a rubber tube over it to keep it from rattling.
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Yeah - I think rubber would not bend nice when the gate is shut. Just had a thought - what about large diameter electrical shrink tube? It comes in many colors :meh: Might crack over time. Canvas would not be difficult to make either. What about that stuff you can get to re-coat your plier handles? - that liquid rubber coating you dip into?

Just thinking out loud

KISS - canvas would be easiest methinks.
 
I have had several 60's lwb 45's with the original canvas still in place. I think the factory put a canvas sock over the chain and then put the ends on,because there is no way to pull it off over the big ends...
 
I used a piece of bicycle inner tube for mine, with a hole cut at the low point of the folded chain position, for water to drain out. It has been on there for more than 5 years with no signs of it deteriorating.

For the canvas tube, I would suggest that it was sewn on after the chain and ends where assembled.
 
whitey45 said:
I have had several 60's lwb 45's with the original canvas still in place. I think the factory put a canvas sock over the chain and then put the ends on,because there is no way to pull it off over the big ends...
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I could do that but I want to zinc plate the chains all assembled. Maybe a velcro sleeve?

45Kevin said:
I used a piece of bicycle inner tube for mine, with a hole cut at the low point of the folded chain position, for water to drain out. It has been on there for more than 5 years with no signs of it deteriorating.

For the canvas tube, I would suggest that it was sewn on after the chain and ends where assembled.
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Yeah - or velcro. The inner tube sounds perfectly functional.

Kevin
 
Yes I have. I can make something quite close - though I haven't tried yet. The two challenges would be bending the top channel into the large radius and the triangular bracket. The bracket would be tough only because it is pressed with a recessed triangle for strength. I suppose I'l try it eventually. Your truck has a rack already - is it not original?

Let me know when you get your stuff - tracking says its in the US somewhere :)
 
Tailgate chain assembly progress

The large hook is a slightly odd size at 7/16" (0.4375) dia. so I had to go to a shop that specializes in small quantities and odd sizes (Metal Supermarket in Calgary). The far right one was my first try - a bit rough so I changed to a different tool and used a die grinder to "adjust" the tool a bit. The next one moving left is a bit long and the chain loop end is too tight. The two stacked are good to go and the left one is the original.
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The new chain you see there is not correct. The closest match to my original chain is 3/16" grade 30 non-plated chain. Home Depot has it. The chain in the pic below is 1/4" grade 30 and the links are not the right length. 15 links of 3/16" is what you need.
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