1928 Buick Pickup Truck

Hi all

we are getting to think about building a body on my Buick.

http://1928buick.wordpress.com/00-march-14-body-building/

One think I am not sure about is what clearance to allow under the rear fenders for movement of the rear axle?

I am guessing at 5 inches? Any ideas please?

Phil

I like your story as I had gone through the same experience myself. At 74 years old I was given the remains of a 1918 Buick and I did not want to scrap it. I did have woodworking tools and a pile of dried walnut lumber and decoded to make a pickup. I live on a fixed income so there isn't a lot offunds to play with. Since the rear end gearing was gone I adapted a 1959 Ford 9 inch rear end to the 1918 Buick with open drive shaft and hydraulic brakes. I fabricated a seat and my wife upholstered it in red leather. After repairing the motor, installed new tires, got it to run we have enjoyed it the past 4 to 5 years. As for your fender clearance, with the rear axle in place measure the distance from the top of the rubber snubber that is on the axle up to the bottom of the frame and this will be when the tire will hit the fender. Knowing the diameter of the tire add few inches for clearance. Sorry, I think I should have said meters.

I believe Frazier51 provided the correct answer provided you use the original wheels and tires.

Hi Frazer, your truck looks great. Well done.

I will measure my bump stop gap.

For factory built trucks the bed is inside the wheels, basically the width of the frame +-. The regular car fenders on the inside determine the bed width with the original placement of the fenders as if they were on a car.

I think in Europe and GB they build the pick-up box top of the fenders where as over here we build them between the fenders. The former gives a wider box while the later gives you lower bed.

Here is another option for a body when all you have is a cowl and chassis. This is one I'm contemplating for my '28 basket case. Although I go back and forth between this and a truck similar to the one in the previous post.

Dave