1950 Kenworth Needlenose

[Espeefan]

A small update for the weekend. I've now got a tail light panel in the rear of the KW, along with a nice frame taper, and cross member. I tried a few different ideas and settled on this design. I didn't think the truck would look good with a t-bar rear bumper, since I will not be running full fenders. Most likely the KW will get a set of 1/4 fenders, and that's a bit more of a dressed up working truck look.











I'll have to make some mudflap hangers a little bit later, but playing around with Lynn's light bezels has been fun. They look really great. I am sticking with all clear lenses, everywhere on the truck. What do you guys think?

For those with the sharp eyes, the cab doesn't have a rear window in anymore because I messed up the original, which did! I had to order a new cab. Something about drilling to many holes in the first, for an excessive amount of cab clearance lights, and then changing my mind, so I could back to 7. Don't ask!

[RCP57]

What happened to the cab with the back window cut out?????

That's a lot of bolts in the back section. You must be planning to abuse this one!

[Espeefan]

Originally Posted by RCP57

What happened to the cab with the back window cut out?????

That's a lot of bolts in the back section. You must be planning to abuse this one!

Reg, man, you post fast! I edited my orignal post, explaining the rear window missing. The first cab, that I milled the window in, was a bit of an experiment. I was going to try and fit 11 cab clearance lights on it, but changed my mind and wanted 7. I had to get a new cab. Suppose I could have plugged the holes, but that would have bothered me forever, so a new cab it was.

It does have a lot bolts, doesn't it? When you can't tig weld aluminum, you have to resort to bolting.

[RCP57]

Haha! I just happened to look right as you posted I think! I had to look back through your thread to make sure I wasn't dreaming about the window being cut out. Then I was like...OH OH something happened!

[Espeefan]

Originally Posted by TRUCKMAKER

Nathan, it's looking real good. Keep the updates coming!

Thanks Kent! I appreciate the comment. I need all the motivation I can get!

Originally Posted by Claus

Once again you have outdone yourself Nathan. You know how I feel about clear lenses but it's your truck and that's why they're clear! I can't wait to see the mudflap hangers because that will change the look again, truck also deserves to simple classy chrome mudflap weights back there.


No offend Nathan but my God those Wedico diffs are crude looking! Keep up the build, one of the most custom machined, unique builds to date.

Thank you Craig! I'll be the first to agree with you. The Wedico axles are pretty crude looking. Hang tight. They may not be under the rear of the truck for much longer. I would love to get some mudflaps with a chrome Cummins 'C' on them (where am I going to get that?!), but I'll probably go with your advice, and keep it simple and clean.

Originally Posted by RCP57

Haha! I just happened to look right as you posted I think! I had to look back through your thread to make sure I wasn't dreaming about the window being cut out. Then I was like...OH OH something happened!

Reg, uh oh is right! I've had my goof ups building this truck, I just don't talk about it much. Some parts I made, then made again, before I got them right. I hate remaking parts, but I hate doing a mickey mouse job more. I'm such a perfectionist, even the smallest mistakes irritate me to no end, and so I don't quit till I get things right. It's a character flaw!

[Espeefan]

Okay guys, here's a small update. Fuel tank saddles! These things, I tell you, they test my patience, no matter what kind of truck I'm building. Machining the ones used on my Wedico Peterbilt was way tougher, but these Kenworth style tank saddles are not going quite as easy as I thought they would. Never the less, I've made some headway.

I made a test piece first, to see if my ideas would even work. It didn't turn out to bad. The test piece is the only one in the following photo that has been machined to a finished state (more or less), and it's standing upright.



The other five pieces are still in a semi-raw state.





I made five, for those 'oops, just in case' mistakes. I only need to get four right. One can be a practice piece. Here is the first test piece, bolted to the truck. The radius is larger then it should be, but hey, that's why it's a test piece! The tanks are going to be 1.5" in diameter, when it's all said and done.



Don't mind the oil and 'luminum chips! I guess I didn't wipe them all off, for the photo!



Just a little mock-up photo to see how everything might look. The quarter fender is not permanently mounted yet. I'm not sure on the exact placement yet, but it does look decent right where it's at. The fuel tanks are going to be shorties. I like the way they look, and it's fitting, for a day cab.



And a couple of the quarter fender.





Now I need to finish the rest of the tank saddles, and start making some tank straps. That's all for now. Thanks for looking!

[russisloud]

Originally Posted by Espeefan

Now I need to finish the rest of the tank saddles, and start making some tank straps. That's all for now. Thanks for looking!

the tank saddles get easier after you make a few hundred of them