Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Your truck is really coming along excellant work!

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

that is an option.. anything i've ever seen glued with panel bonding adhesive shows swelling in the glued area when heated by the sun

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

You know what i have a 3M glue kit here and i have been wanting to try it for a while now.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

after having to re-do the same door 3 times I learned

1. go slow
2. spot weld every couple inches and grind, NOT one continuous bead, and don't wait until one big line of weld before grinding
3. go slow
4. allow metal to cool to the touch before more welding
5. go slow
6. curse often
7. go slow

I think that's about it...

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

You will be okay if you stay away from the aftermarket outer skins that stuff is thin. I made my own and it was fine. Just weld slow and work the welds as you go that gives the metal time to cool just as OKGMC4 said. You have skills its no biggy for you. Forget that panel adhesive that's just cheating.lol

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Thanks Kabwe for the good words. I made the new skin the other day, its actually a little heavier gauge then the original so there is plenty of rigidity in it so the warpage will be very minimal i think. Got the back and bottom egde folded back so in the next day or so i tackle the front lip, that side is going to be a little harder to fold because it has a bit of a curve in it that follow the front fender.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

If you have to do one or two relief cuts on the sides and you should be fine. By the way the skin looks great.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Jean, you project is looking good1 I got screwed over on my first paint job when I was 17 and I swore id never let it happen agian,Im now 33 and paint cars for a side business. What gauge sheet metal did you use for the skins?

Thanks
Greg "GT" Tholen

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Thanks for the support. I'm not sure of the gauge, i don't really know how to tell. It is a little heavier then the original and a bit hard to work with but its keeping the shape really good.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

This project is looking great! I plan to do the same door skin replacement. What did you use to get the slight curve in the skin ? Keep up the good work!

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Thanks, i used a english wheel a friend of mine has. We are no experts at it but turn out ok. Got to work it very slow, i still have to give it a little more curve at the top.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

I've been thinking about making my own door skins as well, so the pictures are quite timely. The doors that came on my truck are rusted in all the usual places, so on a trip down south two summers ago I picked up a pair of rust free doors from a wrecking yard in Las Vegas and had them shipped up to the border. The skins themselves are quite badly dented, but all the important stuff is rust free. A buddy keeps encouraging me to build my own stuff as I go, and its getting addicting, so it's good to see your progress.

Again, thanks for the pics!

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

I was actually trying to find a skin from other year truck before i decided to make my own. The closest i found that i think would work is late 70 Chevy truck door skin. The shape is very close to the TF truck and i think that with minimal modification it would work. Its available in two different height 7" and 24" but could not find the 24" tall one locally.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Jean-Marc,

How's it going?

Thanks for answering in that other thread about the heater.

your truck looks great, hope you have better luck with the paint this time. Were you able to recover anything from the bozo that botched it?

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Thanks, we came up to an agreement and got most of my money back.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Haven't done much lately its too f*****G cold around here. Got to work on the door skin a little these past couple days. Got it tack in place to see the fit with the door post and the fender. I'm happy its actually coming out pretty good, the rear gap is very good, the front needs a little more work along the fender edge.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

how excellent. you must be a great negotiator. usually guys don't have much luck in those deals.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Well it did still cost me some money for stuff that i'm redoing right now.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Looking good man, just stopping in to see what your doing as always. Keep up the good work.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Thank you Sir, i would like the progress to be a little faster but the cold weather slow me down a bit.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

I know what you mean. We had a 12" dump last weekend and they are calling for another 8" or so tonight. Keep up the good work, and keep up the pics!

Crap! It's snowing I type this!

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Did some more work on the pass door skin today, finish welding the seam at the top. Redone the front edge to line up with the fender better. A little bit of body filler and it should look like new.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

That is NICE! Looks new.

What did u use to clean the door this nicely? Sand, Soda, Media? ???

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Looks really good.
Kim

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Thanks man, the door was sand blasted and then sanded with 80 grit paper.