Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

More blasting today. At least I did this in the evening - it was much more comfortable. The other side left to do. And the tailgate. And the braces. And the fenders. And the steps. Oh my.

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...47-672x378.jpg

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...48-672x378.jpg

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

That's a ton of work. I know, huh? But it sure is nice to work with a clean slate as you continue. You're doing some great work and I'm enjoying following your build.

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

Lots of hammering and shrinking to get these bed sides flat again. Wow.

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...ed-672x379.png

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

Ok, FIFTH try, and I'm confident enough to weld it all together. We now have 9"-Ford/Z-28/Caprice brakes.

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...03-672x378.png

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...24-672x378.jpg

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...50-672x378.jpg

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

Nice!!

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

Finish blasting the bed. Eight hours, ran the abrasive through about six times, then added a new bag which I ran though probably three times. Went through two plastic screens for the hood.

Overheated the compressor motor twice despite its own fan blowing on it and an extra fan blowing on it and another fan circulating air and the compressor shed door open to the outside. It's an IR 5hp 2-stage rated for 100% duty cycle. Odd.

Each time I waited for the motor to cool down, I worked on fixing the front fenders. Got this far, close-to-zero-filler TIG:

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...12-672x378.jpg

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

Nice rear end set up, I sure like 9" rear ends.

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

That looks good on the fender repair. Did you have to fab a patch towards the top?

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

I did. The fender bottom patch is cheap, the back -half- fender patch is not. I happen to have some fabrication tools....

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

Just a few ;)

It looks almost like a new, GM fender now

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

I can very much appreciate how much work went into that...excellent.

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

Great stuff!

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

Did some blasting of the left fender in prep for epoxy. Might get to epoxy tomorrow; I'd like to do both front fenders at the same time.

Worked on the air compressor pressure ON and OFF settings to try and reduce how much it the motor cycles. IR figures the motor goes into thermal protection because of the stops and starts, not the constant running. Motor is rated for 100% duty cycle.

Also tried the smallest blasting tip that would still pass sand in hopes of cutting down the CFM required. I did set the line pressure at 60psi and it seemed to last reasonably well.

Welded in the patch on the passenger side. Needs a bit of planishing, but should be ready for epoxy tomorrow.

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

Awesome work there sir!!!!

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

I wish I did a better job of estimating how long it takes to do things.

Today I scraped out the last of the undercoating, fit more patch, planished a ton, fit the brace, and cut out another rusty area that needs blasting before I can repair it.

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...50-672x378.jpg

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...51-672x378.jpg

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...52-672x378.jpg

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

I had a bit of time after dinner - got the entire passenger fender blasted.

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

No more bungie cords.

Was securing a tarp so I could sandblast under some shade, and had one bungie hook let go, zing past the skin over my jugular vein, and draw a bit of blood. Could have been very very very worse.

No more bungie cords.

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

DAMN! Well it would appear that you are ok, but that is not funny and i would not use them for this and maybe use ratchet straps or equal.

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

Last blast of the front fenders. Primer next, but it's 40°C today

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...st-672x377.jpg

Notice NO bungee cords holding the tarp stands, eh?! :D

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

Two coats of epoxy primer. Give that a few days to cure, and I'll weld the patches in.

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...30-672x504.jpg

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

Hmmm. Posted twice.

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

Gotta love progress!

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

Raptor Bedliner was on sale at KMS Tools, so I bought a box to do the cab floor, inner fenders, skid strips on the bed, and bed braces.

I will get some tintable bedliner for the insides of the bed itself, to match the body colour when I go to paint it.

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

And the other side. The more I work this, the more I want a satin paint. To hide my mistakes.

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...02-672x504.jpg

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...50-672x504.jpg

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

Satin paint is fine but not black please.

Your work is far too good for a cheap cover up.

Enjoying the Youtube stuff by the way.

P. :D

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

Colours will be Grabber Orange and Vanilla Ice Cream, for a "Creamsicle" look.

Not black.

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

Worked on adjusting the fender curve and door curve to match. Grrrr. I wish I could see this and know how to deal with it right up front so I don't have to do it later. Got it to what would be an acceptable level of filler.

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

Other bed side done. Very reasonably flat. Got some good shrinking with the torch until I ran out of Oxygen, then did the rest with the shrinking disc.

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...re-672x379.jpg

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

Oh man I like those front inner fender mods.

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

Today was blasting. Using my smallest tip, and 20-60 grit crushed glass, 100psi in the tank, 50psi at the pot, I had zero problems with the compressor over-heating. Yay! But this was four hours of blasting:

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...28-672x504.jpg

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

Interestingly, the little "reverse scoop" is brazed in place from the factory. I wasn't expecting that.

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

LOL ..... I have NO idea what you mean..... coming from a guy who has already bought Flat Red for his truck..... lol

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

Curious...did you have to modify your hood to fit around the new tire reliefs in the inner fenders? Or did it not require any modification? Truck is coming along nicely!

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

I did have to slice a bit off the flange, but it is not visible from the outside. There is about 1/4" or maybe 3/8" remaining.

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

I made it like this, so I can steer full lock-to-lock, completely aired out.

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

Sounds good! Keep coming with the updates ��

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

Two and a half hours gave me this:

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...39-672x504.jpg

When the handle of the abrasive/air valve fell off, and the leg of the blaster broke off. Upgraded to a possibly better flowing brass T (though I may wish to biggie-size it):

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...52-672x504.jpg

Re: SkinnyG's '61 Apache
 

Finished the right fender, and got about as far on the left fender before it started to rain.

https://www.gwellwood.com/wordpress/...27-672x504.jpg