COE A 42 GMC Bike Hauler thread

Very nice work!

 

Thank you ,Getfuzzy .

 

RIP LEON , sorry OT . Blue

 

DAMN! That's amazing work brother!

 

It's the little things that take forever. The dovetails on the door didn't line up for years because of wrecks and worn out hinges. Instead of fixing the co. that owned the truck just welded on spacers on the bottom . This cut up the area of the receiver in door frame . So I had to put on new dovetails and build up the door frame to allow the metal and rubber pads to fit . 2 days of welding and grinding .

I decided not to use big truck mirrors and use the old style arms with fisheye mirrors. Needed to make all the last minute decisions on the doors , like mirrors, door handles, and locks as I changed up my stock ones . Now that I've finished the doors ,including the gaps, I will lead this week and prime so I can finish up sanding and sealing.
Gentry , since I decided to use the hinge mirrors I decided to use the stripper bolts . Since I had already drilled them out to .340" I had to use 3/8 bolts . I turned down the bolts and they are hard the whole .020 I took off .

Using the threaded part on top hinge and will cut off that part on the bottom ones . They worked out great . If I had not drilled so big I could have used 5/16 bolts and no machine work . $2.50 each . Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone .
Blue

 

Got both doors ready for leading but it is 39 in the shop today and raining . So I'm in the house polishing a pair of die holders for my power hammer . A friend was nice enough to let me use his mill to do these out of some 8620 . Will work on getting some heat in the shop tomorrow . Blue

 

Guys I need help ! I'm looking for a bumper close in size or this one . Blue

 

So it was 75 today here . I finished getting all my body parts read for prime today . Used my sand blaster a bunch and my back is telling me about all those 100# bags of sand I lifted. I think I might have pulled a muscle or two . Will prime tomorrow everything but front r fender . Then do a little more sanding and filling and sanding and sanding . Well you get the ideal.
The fender is so hard from all the work that has been done to it over the years that I can't and won't beat on it anymore.
After I get the rest in color I will seal off the fender and mount it .
Once I get it running and a little more time on my hammer I will try my hand at building a new fender or at least enough panels to repair what I have ? There is over 100" of hard weld . The fender was in at least four pieces and lots of tears . Bad hit on that side .



Like my expensive fender holder ?

I like fabin but hate doing the body prep work for paint ! Enough *****in. Blue

 

Hi Blue, awesome work buddy. You keep buying those giant tools you'll have to put an addition on the shop.

 

Ain't it the truth . Gary hope you and your wif are doing good . Coming down this winter , it was 79 on the front porch yesterday . Hope to see you two . Blue

 

Yeah, we are kind of on our way. Stuck getting warranty work done on the space shuttle right now but should be out of here and back on the road Tuesday. Heading to Florida for Christmas then Gulf Shores Al for Jan. and Kerrville for Feb. and Mar. No plans for Big Bend this year but you never know.

 

Sorry your not comming to Big Bend , Gary . Well catch up with you somewhere down the road .

Got the dies I built back from the heat treaters . Have finished one but need to clean scale off the other and heat and coat with some tool oil .
Everyone have a happy holidays and see you all in the new year . Back to sanding . Blue

 

Leaded the doors in the last two days .( sorry forgot to get pictures ) . Warped the s'#*€ out of one and not the other ? Any way I will planish it back in shape . Today it was 75 so I sprayed some epoxy primer on both and some other small part out in the yard today . Tomorrow I will hammer on the one the sand and add a little filler and try to get some high build primer on in the next few days before the cold front comes in .
Next week they say we will have a couple of really warm days . Maybe some color on the cab and doors . I'm running out of steam . Try to post some pictures. Blue

 

The end is near! The weather has been real cold here in the great white north so it's slowed my progress but there is progress.

 

Well I got the doors back to pretty flat , only had to put I skim coat on part of one . Today it was 75 so I spayed some epoxy and high build primer on them and was planning on spraying the same high build on my cab and a bunch of small parts tomorrow but I'm out of that primer. Will get them in epoxy but high build will have to wait till I can get to the big city . It's not like I don't have plenty to do . Yes , I painted in front yard . Blue

 

Not much to report . I blocked out the doors and they are flat . Just finishing up the fit on cab and warmer weather so that I can put some epoxy and high build on it . Really looking to get the cab in color . Oh ! I still got the fenders and grill to do but next . I need a brake from body work as I'm getting burn out bad . Maybe wireing along with Dawg and Seth , that way I could actually drive her in and out of shop instead of pushing . Blue

 

Wet and cold last 3 days so I'm going to hook up a bunch of stuff , air ride , elect , and such . Hope to drive it out of shop when time for next paint work . Got everything found and in one place . Wish me luck . Blue

 

Wired and installed most of my air ride stuff yesterday . Kinda cold in the shop side where the COE sits plus we are having some work done on the house and they needed part of that side .
I started polishing up some of my body hammers and decided it was time to put up some peg board and get some of the body tools out of the drawers . Should be much easier to find and keep up . Blue

 

Nice!!! I need to spend a couple weeks errrrr months as your apprentice errrrr lackey...

 

Pack your bags and come on ........just put your thumb out

 

Ok , not much to report . Been wireing the air system and figuring the routes for my wireing harness. Need some inline breakers and other stuff they don't have in this small town . Since I'm waiting on parts and burned out right now , and everything cost so much , I decided to do some outside MC work . Called two folks who have been waiting on me and wouldn't you know I end up with 3 easy jobs and 2 with more work . I guess I got what I asked for . I went to El Paso Thursday to pick up the parts for everyone's bike and such .

Got to put cams in one and a big inch top end kit on another . Both will need a good tune and all the **** to go with it .
Today I moved out the two pans which were in my work bay .
Boy I need a bigger shop , but doesn't everyone ?
Look at all that room now . Blue

 

By the looks of it, I think you need more drawers in your toolbox Blue

 

Weather is nice but really windy . I got all the sanding done on the cab done except a final scratch when I go to do put on my , hopefully, last primer.
Going to the big city for Dr. apt .on Wednesday and will pick up the rest of my paint . Then just need some warm and still days .

You guys that are putting the engine behind the cab , I wished I had painted mine before mounting it . Dam A.D.D. I always seem to jump around . LOL it sure would be faster than taking off the water lines to paint .

Also check the area before dropping the air bags with the remote. Smashed my snap on seat that I bought in 1975 . First thing I bought when I got out of HD school .

Bottom of running boards sit 2x4high when bag is down ,8 when up .

All ready for finish primer and blocking .
latter guys and gouels , Blue

 

Coming along and looking good!

 

Thanks Dawg . Can't wait to see the sled done and the mystery colors .?

 

Nice and warm yesterday so I shot 2 coats of epoxy primer and 2 coats of high build on . Will start block sanding after it sits a little longer today . Forecast calls for warm weather this week till Sunday, so hope to get it color this week . Blue
.

 

Sorry forgot photos .

 

Looks great, Blue!! You didn't cut all the way to the floor for the sleeper access??

 

Notice in first picture how high the motor is . The bottom of the floor in sleeper is 3" above the air cleaner and the mattress is level with the cut out . My seat has a pull down armrest that allows climb thru and the hole allows the seat backs to lay back some . Blue

 

90 degrees on front porch today , so I started painting . I should have gone out for track cause I sure got some runs today . Got a new gun and I love it but...........
Got the white on the cab and doors . Will get up and cut the runs out of where the red will go , tape and paint the red . Then Sunday I will do it again and paint the black .
My back is killing me so I think I'll make myself a big Jack and ginger . Blue
Ps , I swear the white is the same shadeafter it drys , out of same can .?