I know that pain! The body work and the dentist!:eek::eek::DQuote:
Originally Posted by 53 Chevy5
And I also dread doing that and going there..:LOL::LOL:
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I know that pain! The body work and the dentist!:eek::eek::DQuote:
Originally Posted by 53 Chevy5
And I also dread doing that and going there..:LOL::LOL:
One side mostly done and had to add a bit more filler to the other side and spray some high build primer. I am not going for perfectly flat on this part, mainly just smooth and to get rid of some hammer dents and grinder marks. I don't see the correct emoji to represent how I feel about body work. :LOL:
That looks darn nice from here!
Objects in primer are more wavy than they appear.
Yeah, what Ryan said.. Darn nice looking, you're doing great work.
I had an engineering problem with the fuel tank and the bed rails, the tank somehow got too high. I found the best fix was to turn the tank around and trim the brace as needed. The fill will be on the pass side now but I can live with that.
I had to add a brace in the back to spread the frame back out a bit so the box holes would line up. Apparently when you box a frame, all the welding shrinks stuff up a bit. It worked out well because it covered up the fuel tank a bit also.
It's easy to buy new stuff all the time but If the original part is realistically usable again, I like to put it back on the pickup. This tale gate hinge was one of those parts, it was previously welded up and cracked again. I ground it out and welded it up again so it has new life again.
I finally swapped out my exhaust manifold that was cracked. I would have replaced it earlier but I waited until I found a good one at a decent price. My engineering on that part worked out good, wasn't too bad of a pain to do now.
Cleaned up the bed strips, not sure if it is a good idea to use the original ones or not. Kinda like a little history put back in the pickup but they do have some character in them. I'm not out a lot if it turns out I want new ones.
The originals might add some rustic oldtime character to the truck while not taking much away worth a side by side photo! Would look stunning against Quarter sawn white oak!
Nice work. The last bed floor I did all the bed floor strips had issues. I just got new ones after spending too much time cutting and repairing the old ones. :LOL: Yours look nicer than what I had though.
Way nicer than my bed rails. I went with quarter inch diamond plate steel.
“…..I'm not out a lot if it turns out I want new ones……”
You’ll pretty much know for sure which way to go once you set them in on the wood before you get them bolted down on whether you like them or not. Then the fun of getting all the bolts in and tightened begins :LOL:
At least all your holes are there. My 37 Dodge originally had an all steel bed. Somewhere along the way the steel floor was cut out and when I bought it the floor consisted of a rotted sheet of plywood. I kicked around using a sheet of aluminum diamond plate for the new floor but have pretty much decided on doing a wood floor instead. I’ve found a source for blank (undrilled) bed strips, but will have to drill holes in all the cross braces under the floor and then thru the bed strips to bolt everything together…….really looking forward to that :rolleyes:
Anyway really nice progress on the truck
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Did a more blasting today, I think that is all of it now but I'm sure it's not. After I got done with that and everything picked up again I started to sand up the tailgate and when my comperssor kicked in, the motor just hummed and smoked. That was towards the end of the day so it wasn't the end of the world. I had a bearing squealing on the motor on and off for a few years now, but I'm sure it's not related:LOL: I also found out that I need to move my rear axle back a bit to be in the center of the rear fenders. I am pretty sure I put it where the old one was but when I look at pics of originals, it does look like the wheel favors the front of the fender like mine is. I think as long as I am cutting everything off I am going to put a four link with coil overs on the rear. My budget is just about in the yellow for this thing but now is the time to change if I'm going to.
Does anybody know what this piece is for, I think it may be for the filler panel between the bed and running board but I can't figure out where. This think has been apart too long.
Almost looks like a rear fender support. But kind of too beefy! That or a spare tire support under the bed?
Looks great can't wait to see your camaro project
Man, you have no idea how I am chomping at the bit to get started on that car. I picked it up about 5 yrs ago and promised my wife I wouldn't put it in front of her pickup, that took self control. I am getting a battle plan ready for it. I think I will start with body work, that won't cost me much as I will tackle that myself and I need to recoup the wallet. Thinking Huger Orange with with white stripes and complete new black interior kit, then do a 6.0 ls swap. I was going to keep it all original but I got screwed as it does not have the original # matching engine like it was advertised so now I can put in what I like. I had a 71 when I was 16 and somehow those first cars always stick with you.I was really thinking about selling it but I think I'll keep it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jematt
I would just keep it too. They are getting really hard to find now and are bringing dumb money for a clapped out turd. I had a 72 RS that I bought from my high school friend. It was his older brother's when we were in high school. We put an engine in it before we had our licenses and drove it around occasionally on the back roads. His brother didn't live near the farm so it was no big deal. Eventually John bought it from his brother. Right after high school I bought it from John so he could buy a 70 Cuda. Like a tard, I traded the Camaro for Vette parts. Man I miss beating on that camaro. HahaQuote:
Originally Posted by 53 Chevy5
found that it does go on the filler panel between the box and running board, just not sure how yet.Quote:
Originally Posted by stovens
I hear ya, I sold my 71 for a parts car for $75.00 after I ramped a field driveway on frosty roads when had too much to drink ( I not that guy anymore:) ) I thought it was unfixable but looking back it really wasn't that bad knowing what I know now. I also had a 73 and a 76 parts Camaro both pretty decent according to today's finds.I had to pay 5K to get a decent one back 22 yrs later. I don't want to talk about this anymore :(:CRY:Quote:
Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe
Going to order coil overs for the front and a 4 link with coil overs in the back so I needed to know front and rear weight. It's great when you know a guy who has stuff. Borrowed a four tire scale from a racer buddy, works great!
Got the air compressor motor back on tonight, only $50 for new bearings and capacitor, I was not looking forward to a new compressor if needed, not right now. Made a cover panel for where the old heater fan went. I made it out of an old access lid off of an old furnace, recycle reuse, right? Started smoothing out the spot welds on the tailgate. That was about all tonight.
Yep, recycle, reuse, is what I try to do as well. I can't afford not to most times. :LOL: Nice work on the gate.
If one can save a dollar or two, why not recycle and if you make it look like new,who would know ? Good work on the tail gate too as normally they are so beaten up you have to try and find a new old spare part on a damn good second hand one.
Oops, I should have been more clear, I can't take the credit on the tailgate. It is a new one, well about 20 yrs old but never used yet. I am just smoothing out the spot weld marks.
Got my 4 link kit already, Speedway is one day away via UPS. I seen on all the shipping boxes Made In USA was proudly stamped on them, and when I opened my first box, I was brought back to reality, Made In China on my Afco spring box. The shocks and 4 link kit are USA though. The suspension is not going to happen right away, I want to get every nut, bolt and wire finished on the front half first. I am getting a little overwhelmed at seeing every thing 80% done. I hope to be able to paint a couple things Saturday so I can finish putting the door glass in and finish rest of the A/C and interior.
I really don't like where the rear bumper is positioned from the factory so I've been messing around with the rear bumper on and off trying to get it to where I like it. I think this looks good to me, although I may need to trim a little off the sides of the bumper but I'll wait and see.
A 4" trim might be the ticket.
Just me but I don't really like a curved bumper on the back of trucks. They look great on the front. You are making alot of progress on your truck, looking good.
I really don't care for them either. I would like to put a roll pan on the back but the Mrs would like a bumper so we voted on it and she won lol. Like Firebird77clone said, I think taking some off the sides would help.Quote:
Originally Posted by v8nutz
bumpers are for show. front so low you hit headlight high, rear they drive under it :(
I've seen a straight bumper on the back on a chevy that looked good
If you start cutting the bumper down then it will require rechroming unless you are going to paint them. I like the idea of matching bumpers on pick-ups front and rear so my vote is in support of , as Johnboy says, Her indoors who must be obeyed, your wife's view, after all it is her " truck ".
I was thinking about cutting it with a zip wheel and brushing some mexi chrome on the ends. The ends are awful right now anyway so it might actually make them better.Quote:
Originally Posted by Whiplash23T
Paint Day!!
Finally got to the point where I really needed to paint some stuff and it all went very well. I am a new fan of PPG paint, that stuff lays down like glass. I only had one run and that was my fault. I was trying to get paint in a corner of the seat frame and tried one too many times, I'll sand that out later. My pump puked out on my compressor so I had to bust out my gas one to finish up. A new compressor wasn't in the budget, but I guess it is now. I am always amazed at how much overspray gets all over everything. I guess its at multi purpose shed so it is what it is.
I see that half the pics didn't load, but I think you get the idea.
Seat frame came out nice
thanks, I am happy with the way it turned out too. I think it's crazy how much the green changes colors when the camera uses flash, it really finds the yellow in it.Quote:
Originally Posted by v8nutz
Yup nice work your doing there.
That looks awesome! I agree that the over spray can really go way farther than you'd think. It can be a real PITA!