1961 Rust-O-Mod Pickup Build thread

I looked and pondered at least a 1000 times before I started cutting.

Had another question if you don't mind me picking your brain.  How did you do your engine mounts?  Looks like you replaced your frame rails so that should be pretty beefy.  I'm keeping stock stamped rails.  They are solid, no rust but I've heard they're prone to fatigue cracks.  I have the big engine cross member but wanted to avoid using it to keep the under side looking cleaner so I am thinking about welding doublers along the rails and building perches to for the motor mounts to sit on. What do you think?

I'm starting to see why guys give up and just screw on a piece of plexiglass....

I had the bright idea that putting in a one piece glass was going to be a lot simpler than redoing all the mechanisms and seals in the roll-up and vent windows.  Seemed like a lot less parts.

This has been a ton of work - not sure if I'd do it again.

Here's the brace (cross piece with round hole) where the vent window stuff anchors.  Gotta cut it out.



The vent window and the roll-up are on 2 different planes.  I learned the hard way you gotta get this line straight.  I tried first to get the glass to fit in the funky gap.  It never looked good and would always interfere at one end or the other.

It's surprisingly difficult to straighten out this slot.  Both sides of the glass need to be worked out.



There's nothing but air in the front part where the vent window stuff was.  The new, longer beltline fuzzy needs something behind it.



Added some metal to both inside and outside so the fuzzies can be screwed down.



There's also this divot where the vent frame comes through.  If it was getting a shiny paint job this should probably be filled and straightened.  



Once I learned about getting the opening straight the second door was kind of easier.

The one piece windows are finally coming together.  They still need some fitting and refining.  The glass may need to be reshaped a little bit to get the corners to seal up.

But, pretty psyched to see some visual progress. After seeing it in reality, (other than just dreams) I think it looks much better than the vents.

Wow, that Really changes the look completely! I like what was hiding in your mind! Thanks for having the cahones to follow it through! Nice execution!!!

Is it my imagination or have those cardboard glove boxes gotten really expensive?

My old Chevy truck has one of the repo cardboard ones and it's terrible.

I had a piece of 18 ga. about the right size so I made a steel one.  It may be the most heavy duty thing in the whole front of the truck.



Still needs the sides...



Fits ok!