Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

Nice artwork and liking them taillights, hanging around to see the finished products.

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

Thanks for the comments Guyz!!! :mm:

Today I picked up the needed sheet metal to complete the buckets… I also upgraded to a larger Argon/CO2 bottle...:metal:
Once I welded up the buckets, I also welded up one of the inner fender patches I had previously tacked together… I had some rather large gaps on the passenger side inner fender patch, which prompted my call to Bomp… Using his advice I now find myself in the weld, grind, repeat process on said patch...:uhmk: I must admit though, in my haste to get the taillight buckets welded, I forgot one of his bits of advice… to put a bit of practice time in before beginning the actual welding...:dohh:
Although the buckets will never be seen… I've got some serious grinding to do on my birds*&t welds...:lol:
There are still a couple of areas on the inner fender patch that needs attention… the weather started turning cold with the sunset, so it was in for dinner and some warmth...:waah:
Here are some pics of today's progress…

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

The Impala tail lights are really cool. Can't wait to see them installed.

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

:metal:

[:chevy:]====[:chevy:]

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

Lights look sweet! :metal:

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

Love those tail lights. Looking forward to see how you mount them on your truck.

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

Those are going to be sweet.

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

Taillights are a great idea and will look sharp. Glad to hear the sparks are flying!:devil:

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

Thanks Guys!!!:mm:

Gotta arrange for my bud to bring his Plasma Cutter over to cut the fenders… Then I will post some pics of the installed taillights…;)

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

Kind of an indirect update today...
Travelling Merchant in town this weekend... Picked up some step drill bits and loads of Roloc Grinding discs... 50 discs for $7.99 :metal:

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

That's a score!!

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

I need to buy some step bits some time.

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

don't get in too big a hurry on those bits Mate... May be another BDay box in the post soon!!!:mm:

Cheers Mate!!!

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

-Upgraded the bottle
-Roloc Grinding discs
-step bits
-making sparks and knocking things out.
giving me the itch to go shoppin'
The housings around the tail lights look nice, even and smooth.
Glad to see the progress Don.
Great Job.

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

Those tail-lights are gonna be sweet!
Keep up the progress!

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

Thanks for the comments and encouraging words Guyz!!! Waiting on friend with Plasma Cutter to help with Taillight Modz...:metal:

Crazy Arkansas Weather, the past week has found the mercury riding a roller coaster, 30's one day, 50's the next...:uhmk: Today Sunny and low 50's, so it was out to the shed to do a bit of routine maintenance on the Boss' DD, a 2012 Accord, and to supervise the boy who changed the oil on his GF's car as well as repair an intermittent rear turn signal, which entailed changing the corroded bulb and cleaning the corroded socket…;)

My friends are the BEST! One has a Plasma Cutter he is willing to bring over for some fender surgery… plus he's giving me his old Pressure Washer (It Leaks)…. Another friend hooked me up with a sander to use until I purchase one… and finally, another hooked me up with a set of Spider Gears for my Daily Driver...:metal:
Recently when replacing a pinion seal, I found one of the gears with a couple of teeth in really bad shape...:eek:
Gotta Clean these up and get them installed, possibly tomorrow if my bud with the lift has an opening for me to tie up his lift for a bit...:mm:

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

My DD will be getting the Spider gears replaced tomorrow, had to wait for the lift to free up…;)

Today saw a bit more progress…:bann:
Borrowed, rented a friend's Plasma Torch, I say rented because now I owe him some Tattoo work...:metal:

I started in on the taillight mods, getting the holes in the fenders cut and ground… Here are some in progress pics… Before, paint ground away and ready to cut, first cut, then smoothed out, a wide shot showing both holes...:metal:

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

Aaargh…. Sideways Pics...:dohh:

Finally, I also began welding up the Driver's Side Inner Fender... Now the Grind, Weld, Repeat, process begins…:metal:

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

Nice work!!! It is going to look sweet!:metal:

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

Very cool. It's nice to watch a persons skills improve. Not only are you a skin artist now your turning into a metal artist. :metal:

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

Yup. You have big holes in your truck.

Best weld em up fast.

Your parcel in the post this morning.

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

Don where did you get the roloc discs if you don't mind me asking?

Bret

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

There was a traveling Merchant that was in town for 3 days… they were set-up at the local National Guard Armory selling all kinds of tools, knives, blankets, and household goods… I've already tossed the advertisement paper and don't recall the name of the outfit… Wish I could be of more help, but that deal of 50 discs for 7.99 was one I couldn't pass up.
I was skeptical of the quality of the discs due to the seriously low price, but after opening the first bag yesterday, I am pleased with the quality, they are just as good as the ones I've purchased from HF… I did notice that there was one that the disc wasn't centered on the pad, but it didn't affect the usage whatsoever. I will be saving my pennies and watching for their next visit… :metal:

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

Thanks for the encouragement… Being a newbie to metal work I am learning more and more the importance of patience.;) And after a few practice cuts with the Plasma cutter/torch, then the ease in which I cut the fenders... I must say, I GOTTA GET ME ONE OF THOSE!!!:metal:

Wow!!! Thanks for the kind words, I am truly blessed by them!!!:thumbs:
I am having a blast jumping feet first into the metal work and body work aspect of this project… I have been a fan of numerous car building shows on TV and the Motivation, not to mention the Assistance I've received on this Board, is the reason my project went from…
"I'm gonna drop a motor in and drive," to " I m now gonna do a bunch of modifying and build this truck to be what I envision it can be…"
The best part is, I am having a blast and the Friends I am meeting here is the Icing on the Cake!!! :metal::bann:

As soon as I can get some assistance from the young ones and a little cooperation from the weather I will get the buckets welded in and finish up the welding and grinding on the inner fenders...:metal:

THANKS again for the Ashtray and other bits that are now on the way here to the Colonies...:mm: Cheers Mate!

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

Don.... I just contoured my custom emblems this weekend to lay right on my center cowls. I guess I could make a post about it...
Anyways, since they were made from 1/4" aluminum it ended up being pretty easy, tossed them into the oven at 550 degrees until they were toasty hot and had a spare cowl section on the counter (with a towel under it so I would not scratch the counter top) and with some oven mitts I would pull them out of the oven, give them a bit of a bend on the panel surface until they were too cool to manipulate easily.
Toss back into the oven, grab the other one, and repeat until they were where I needed them to be.

Just food for thought when you get yours from Jay if you are not mounting them on a flat surface.

I also put in a request with Jay for a smaller third one for the tailgate.....

Funny how much our builds mirror each other, from initial planning, to tool purchasing, to metal working .....ect :metal:

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

Thanks for the idea, As soon as I can save my pennies… (Get the Bosses permission to order...:lol:) I will be getting them ordered… :metal:
As soon as I get them, my cowl extensions will be up on the counter for the process…
I have a Love/Hate relationship going on with this site...:bann:
Everytime I see a little daylight… I spy something on someone's build that is a Smoking Cool Idea!!! My next Metal working jobs once I finish the taillight mods will be filling the Antenna hole, since I plan on using my phone for my tunes, and then Smoothing the top of the dash by deleting the Speaker Grille...:uhmk:
…and yes, our builds are interesting seeing as I plan on Stealing more than a few of your ideas, as well as the fact that you, Bomp, MarkB01, Clendaddy, Alan… too many folks to mention, do so much that keeps my creative juices flowing...:lol:
It is hard for me to sit back and just be a spectator, I've got to dive right in and come up with my own ideas occasionally...:haha:
Stay Warm in the Frozen Garage...

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

Great work Don! :chevy:

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

Thanks TJ, will call ya soon… :metal:


No Update yet… Waiting for the weather to cooperate so I can get back in my unheated shed and get to welding...:waah:

Today it is Freezing rain and the high forecast to be at 32F… Here's a pic of my DD in front of the Tattoo Studio...:mm:

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

I went to put the tarps on the '77 and my tractor and there was a 1/4 inch of ice all over them. lol. Even the tarps were frozen in form. :chevy:

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

Nice front plate

That mean you are a Grizz fan??

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

NICE!!! :uhmk:

Sure Thing Mate!!! :metal:

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

Quick update, so to speak… Old man Winter is finally going to take a break in the attack on Arkansaw...:bann:
High 50's forecast for Sunday and Mid 60's for Monday… My weekend days…
Finally getting some truck time in this weekend!:metal:

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

Were gonna need lots of proof pictures then!!! ;):lol:

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

Ok we need pics of some progress. You will not be able to blame the cold and snow this week. :lol:

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

Thanks for the KICK in the backside Guyz!!!:lol:
After a CRAZY week at Work, if you can call coloring on people work, I am ready to make some sparks fly… There will be Pics...:metal:

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

Small Update…

Sunny day today, with a high of 55F or 12C for Grizz and Martin and others who read Centigrade...:mm:

Out to the Shed to make Sparks as well as progress...:metal:

Started the grind, weld, grind, REPEAT process with the Taillight Buckets… If you notice I said "Started." The Right side went without a hitch… then I get to the Left side...:sumo: In the middle of some grinding I realized my grinder was getting slower and slower, not to mention the drone of the Air Compressor was suddenly non-existent… In the midst of grinding the Air Compressor decided it was time for a break, vacation, holiday, something.:waah:
A quick call to my electrician and he will be out next weekend to diagnose the problem...:banghead:

Here are the pics I took of the process on the right side, just need to do some finish grinding…Also one of the newest member of the Family… JoJo!:bann:
He was a stray that my granddaughter found after school… He was either lost or a drop-off… He's now one of us and likes to follow me around, that is until the noise making begins… then he heads for the house...:haha:

See ya Soon!

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

Dang!!! Neglected to rotate those...:dohh:

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

Great progress Don.

Just progressed to bed. Still coughing like an old Lister Diesel.

Like the pic of JoJo.

Cool to have an assistant.

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

Looks good! I like the custom look of the tail lights. :metal:

Re: Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...
 

Looks great, like the way they came out.