While I don’t have many pictures I can report that when it comes to body work I am down to only three more pieces. The passenger step up piece, a little work to the passenger door, and the hoot pieces still need attention. Passenger fender is done and bolted up. It’s been a pain to get it all fitting back together after I had to replaced so much metal, showing all my inexperienced work flaws. Quite frustrating! One piece at a time I suppose. Also painted the rims today so we can get some wheels on to roll it out of the barn because the painting process is right around the corner. Trying so hard to beat the cold! Work work work! Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
I don’t quite remember but I’ll look next time I’m out there to look at them Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
Last piece welded in exception to the hood pieces. I’ll get the welds cleaned up on this, determine if I need to do any more body work and then get all the body pieces together and lining them up. There’s a lot of work that’ll go into making sure the body pieces line up since I’ve had to replace so much metal. Drilling new holes, making all my gaps even, re-welding if necessary... it’s gonna be a task Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
Found out just how much I messed up today. Had to cut in weird places and re-bend sides to make this step-up really fit. The frame starts to curve inward right at this point and I missed that here’s to show the new angle I put in it Next I had to cut out a sliver to give the step up a bowed top. The cab is bowed and if the step up were flat, I miss my bolt holes to the fender by about half an inch. The flow from step-up to fender would be terrible so I went ahead and re-did that Now while I’m going to go for a rough/ grippy look for the step ups I felt the need for some Bondo on the areas I welded just because it comes a little into view. Idk how I’m going to rough this area up so it doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb but I’ll figure something out after I sand it up Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
So problem I’m dealing with currently is being able to mask the welding but not mask it to a degree where it’s noticeable. Normally I would do a bunch of body work (not caking Bondo obviously) but just enough to make a surface uniform and good looking. Right now the baseboards are so pitted that it would be useless to try and fix it all. The metal is solid as a rock despite the pitting. I need to put Bondo on my weld areas and blend it into the pitted area also while not drawing attention to the areas that are super smooth. Here’s how this is going, hopefully you get what I’m trying to say. From a distance you would never notice but with the possibility I’d take this to a show or it catching eyes you know someone is going to get close on it and try to call me out. Being only 18 I just know some older guy who’s experienced would love to find flaws. So here’s the step up as of right now Looks god right? Wrong. Some up close shots show the poor blend so far I need the transition to be flawless. This piece will be stepped on a lot and I’ll paint it final with a very gritty black paint. It’s meant to be a little rough but I need the rough look all over. Primer was just to show me where my imperfections in blending were Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
Here’s the same attempt over the area I had to replace with ridges. I think it’s been disguised well and doesn’t stand out as too smooth compared to the rest. Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
Here’s a small area with a good blend I’m looking for across the whole area Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
What are you planning on painting it with? If you use some of that roll-on bedliner it will hide everything you just pointed out, for what it's worth.
I bought some truck bed liner in a can but when I put it on it wasn’t nearly as gritty or rough as I wanted it to be, just kind of a dusty surface that had been painted flat black. So yeah I’ll definitely look into this because I need a lot of grit and texture Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
Was started and almost finished with the passenger door today in terms of welding until I ran out of weld, I’ll have to get more tomorrow. Here’s that in pictures And the most important was to make sure my lines were good and I think i did pretty well Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
Thought I was going to wait for the hood pieces but I decided to get started on them a little bit, they’re pitted which sucks but nothing I can’t fix Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
Here’s the passenger door. Primed the door but will go over with some more fine sandpaper to workout the little imperfections. The corner I welded in looks decent. Not perfect but solid and that’s all that really matters. Solid and not noticeable. The grill is completely done as well. I’ll wrap up this door then take the panels all apart for painting Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
Really glad I’m going back over this. I was close but not content. I still have much more sanding after the etching primer I’ll apply to the whole truck but this sets me up well for that Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
Thank you! Really trying to get this wrapped up and painted before the cold season comes Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
Had to make some custom hinge brackets for the windshield today. It hadn’t worked like it needed to and created too much tension on the headboard. Way better now. Also look at my new welding tool! Finally bought some and I loved using them Little plans I have is to.... -Clean up the drivers door, it was done but has gotten banged up since it’s been months since I did the work to it. I had to modify it with welding so I’m taking a big step back and will have to re-evaluate it and it’ll be good -Put the passenger hinges in the cab -Get the running boards wrapped up, they’re almost done but debating whether to keep what I have or use some new ones that I’ll be getting soon -finish a small patch of body work on the passenger fender (noticed that today) It seems like a lot but it’s really not, some 30 minute jobs in exception to the drivers door. First I’ll undercoat what needs it, prime everything, da sand with 220, prime again, da sand 220, wet sand, scuff pad then Final paint! Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
Door hinges are all on and wow I think the gaps were really well on the passenger door. Little extra gap at the bottom but no more than 1/8 extra. All the seams line up and looks good Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
Got the hinge replaced and it’s way more solid than before. Glad I did that Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
Okay, big issue. Noticed my rear wheels do not turn in the same direction when in gear... what might be a mistake I made?? I had the transmission out at one point and I just put the drivers side axle back in. Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
Unless I've misunderstood, that is correct. It's the action of the differential. Both wheels jacked, up, driveshaft not turning, (In gear), turn one rear wheel forwards and the other one will go backwards. Mart.
Okay awesome! I had talked with my dad after and he said the same. Seems quite odd and I’ll want to research how that works but thank you very much!! Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
Just thought I’d let you all know I finally had a first big moment in terms of injury related to the truck. Chipped my tooth and it really sucks, Rachet slipped and busted my lip too Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
On top of a chipped tooth I got all this painted today. The running boards I painted in full with POR to really protect them and give it some strength to where people will step on them. I painted under the fenders as well with the rust protectant Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
The Jalopy Journal
