Builds My 69' 55 (1 Viewer)

[RUSH55]

Wow! That is great! Nice job t

 

[ConspicuousPig]

I stole the rear window inner wiper off my 2000 4runner (my daily driver) and used it as a template. It's like it was meant for a 55 tailgate! I will hit the junkyard and pull two of them, one for the inner and one for the outer. Glad that it's going to work so well.

 

[bobm]

What ya bending in that brake?? 1/4" boiler plate??

 

[ConspicuousPig]

That Press brake is a 20' Pacific Press Brake. It's been around probably since before I was born. It has a 400 ton capacity. We max out at 3/4 inch plate. Anything that thick begins to to tear apart long the outside edge of the corners being formed.
The company I work for caters to the mining and aggregate industry. Mostly conveyors, screens, hoppers, etc... Are going through that Brake.

 

[ConspicuousPig]

I sand-blasted the tailgate as best as I could. It just barely fit in our blasting unit. I ground out all the rusted spots that were soft and I either patched or plug the bad areas with weld. I was hoping to get the skin on tonight but it'll have to wait. This is all I had time for.

 

[ConspicuousPig]

 

[ConspicuousPig]

I filled the holes to the old weather strip and will be drilling new holes for the new rubber.

 

[ConspicuousPig]

After repairing all the rust spots I trimmed the new skin a little to make it fit near the window opening. After that the skin fell right into place! I'm so happy this is working out as planned. I've never done anything like this before so it's been pretty exciting to see it come together.
I have the skin tacked to the tailgate now but I still have about 8 feet of triggering to go, one tack at a time.... Just gonna take my time to prevent it from warping and hit it when I can between calls at work. I am using brass as a heatsink to help control the heat and prevent warping. Check it out.

 

[ConspicuousPig]

 

[ConspicuousPig]

 

[ConspicuousPig]

I still have a long ways to go but am stoked that I've made it this far. Still to come is:
weather-strip
Lettering
Handle cut outs
License plate light fitment
Rear window motor/register mount install
Etc...

 

[RUSH55]

Looks great man! Good job

 

[ConspicuousPig]

I finally found a two hour break in my day and began welding on the tailgate. I used a piece of 1x2 aluminum bar stock as a heat sink as well as several other pieces of brass that I placed on the inside of the tailgate to help absorb the heat. I hope to work on it Very soon because I want to drive the cruiser so bad!!!

 

[ConspicuousPig]

Got a little trigger happy and ended up laying about a thousand tacks of weld. All in all about four hours of tack, let it cool, tack, let it cool, tack.... Its been time consuming but also really worth the effort so far.

 

[ConspicuousPig]

 

[ConspicuousPig]

I cut out the license plate recess in the original tailgate and cleaned up the corners on the bench sander. Then I hit it with media to clean up the backside of the plate holder.

 

[ConspicuousPig]

I referenced center and scribed the outline of the plate recess and I got to work.

The plate insert fell right into place.

 

[RUSH55]

Perfect!

 

[changingground]

I referenced center and scribed the outline of the plate recess and I got to work.

The plate insert fell right into place.

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Inspiring work. Thanks for providing such a good example of taking great care to do it right!

 

[ConspicuousPig]

Inspiring work. Thanks for providing such a good example of taking great care to do it right!

Thank you, I just wish I had more time available to keep after it.
Slowly but surely it's coming together.