cobra truck tribute

[Southern N.M. Cobra]

Thanks BB Bart, the extra pics really give me an angle to work from. Realized my front cuts on the bed are not far enough foward. I'm not gonna give up yet, and i'm finding more motivation as I go.
Chase Bansi, I'm in Cruces, Land 'o enchantment. (springtime, cold and windy as hell!)

I know that I cut the back a little short, but I like it bobbed a little better. At this point I only have $7.35 in the build and plan to as frugal as possible until I know it is worth it. I am not new to building cars. Here's a pic of my weekend ride......

[Big Bopper Bart]

The back part all ya had to do was cut from the factory weld seam was on the bed like all 67-72 F series trucks have.
if it was a 73-79,you'd havta guestimate.
That rod is wicked man,you on the HAMB by any chance? I own a 1960 Ford F100 that I plan on lowering and going with Coker whitewalls and satin black rims with the bullet centercaps

[Southern N.M. Cobra]

Thanks, yah I'm on the hamb, but choose not to be very vocal. Definitely a good sourse for all things old school. Bitch'in trucks, both of them. I'm looking for a '57 f-100 right now.
I am aware that they cut the back of the bed at the factory seam, but I think it will look a little cooler cut 5in shorter. Just a little artistic license.

[Southern N.M. Cobra]

Got a little more done today. Welded the front side rails and started filling in the cuts around the cab. Teaching my son to weld so this will take a little longer than normal. Also tried some red I had on hand to try and find the right color.

[PursuitSpecial]

Looks like a fun project and you have the perfect base truck. The right year (range), short bed and even the 5-lug axles.

My one suggestion would be to not over-restore it. You could take out all the dents, sandblast it, then do a nice shiny basecoat/clearcoat red and end up with something that doesn't look like it fits in the movie at all.

[Big Bopper Bart]

all 67-72 shortbeds save for the crew cabs were halfton based and had 5 lugs. and the color you picked looks about spot on so far and yes, please do this like the movie and not mirror shiny and delicate looking.

[Chase Bansi]

Great father son project for him to learn the tricks of the trade. It's a different kind of rat rod for sure, but the imperfections are what make it "right".

[PursuitSpecial]

Okay so who is next?

http://modesto.craigslist.org/cto/2895659485.html

[HUMVEE Driver]

I'm loving this build! Keep at it, and thanks for sharing! You'll find that the people here have a wealth of info about the vehicles as well as rare pics. Welcome to the forum!

Converting a vehicle to Right Hand Drive isn't too big of a deal... the gas pedal just needs a longer cable, and the brakes just need longer lines. With the steering wheel, I've seen people move the steering wheel itself over but leave the column where it is. They stablize everything (inside the engine compartment of course) and use a motorcycle chain on the wheel to turn the stock column. No big deal; I'm just throwing around ideas.

I dream of someday we all somehow get these vehicles together. If I had the $$$, I'd make it happen myself. Someday, my friends...




Oh and that craigslist truck is a beauty!

-HUMVEE Driver

[Southern N.M. Cobra]

Thanks guys, and no need to worry about over restoration, as mentioned before this truck was one step away from the scrap yard. I haven't made the last step down cuts in the bed yet because there isn't enough metal holding the back of the bed together. I need to build a fender brace, rebuild three bed mounts and patch two places where the bolts go though the bed floor. I will pull out some of the bigger dents and clean up some of the bodywork, but for the most part this build will represent the truck about have way through the final chase, just before it slams into the the side of the semi. I started building the boom last night, it's being a bit more of a pain in the ass than i'd like to admit, I will post pics when i finish kicking it's ass.