Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

I've been working on a few things at he same time, but I got my rollpan pretty much worked out & primed.
Here are some pics!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

I have also been working on my tailgate. It didn't have any major problems, with the exceptions of being twisted about a half inch, the logo area was dented out from the inside by about 3/16" between the H & O areas....If you call these items not major problems.
I spent approx 6 hours with a hammer & multiple dollys to get the logo area flat, along with flattening the spot-welded areas above & below with great sucess. I clamped the gate to a 1" thick steel bench & used a porta-power to get the twist out of it.
It turned out far better than expected!!
You can see in the first few pics the waves between spot-welds.
I also welded up the holes for the chains, as I will be using a hidden latch of some sort....
Some more pics

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

I also got quite a bit done on the box this weekend. I welded in a patch where one of the stake pockets must have been full of mud or somthing & rusted a hole in the box side. The PO must have thought that filling it with bondo was a good fix.
I drilled out the spot-welds & removed the pocket, cut the rusted portion out, then welded in a new patch.
I will wait till after I have some primer on the inside before welding the pocket back into place.
And more pics...

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

And some more pics!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

And a few of my now-straight taigate resting in place!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Wow that back end looks good man !!
Smooth work.

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Your build is lookin good too! Been keeping my eye on it daily!
I've got seams epoxied & outside of the box in primer, but haven't had the time to post photos yet.

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

I worked on cleaning-up the tailgate opening since I won't be using chains...
I welded in a few filler pieces I it turned out pretty nice.
If I would have spent a little more time with the welder, I bet I coulda metal-finished them!
Both sides came out just as nice!
Things are lookin up!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

I also sealed the seams in the box using a epoxy panel adhesive.
this adhesive has a longer working time than epoxy seam-sealer, and is widely used in place of welding on van sides (very strong stuff!). Prior to doing this I noticed that many of the original welds to the outer panel never took-hold, so I drilled the original weld locations thru the first thickness & inserted a self-tapping sheet-metal screw to pull the panels together, then drilled a hole next to it to plug-weld the panels back together, while advancing down the panel until the problem was corrected.
The results were excellent!
I also got to add a fist coat of primer.
Moving forward to block-sanding soon!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Nice work! That roll pan looks nice.

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

This weekend I used a disc-grinder fitted with a twisted-wire wheel to clean the rusty-scale from inside the outer box-sides. What a messy job! With the temp in the 90's and the rust dust flyin around, as well as getting stuck with random wire bristles from the grinder, I couldn't think of anything that I would rather be doin!...Maybe I shouldn't have been shirtless & in shorts!
I definately didn't skimp on the safety-glasses though! The whole concept of gettin a wire bristle in the eye kinda scares me!
I also got to block-sand the driver's side & fix a few spots that I didn't previously see, and put another coat of primer on it...Really starting to look straight!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

I decided to seal the seams on my tailgate using the structural body panel adhesive that I used on by box-side seams....Very time-consuming in order to do a nice job, but well worth it!
I also got sucked-in by my son to tint his tail light lenses for him...Hey, WAIT-A-MINUTE! I thought that it was Fathers-Day! Oh-well, we had a good time doing it anyway, and they turned out spectacular.

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

I finally received my hidden tailgate latches & got them installed last weekend...Not sure if I like them, or not.
I seems that someone unfamiliar with them could just try to close the tailgate & cause all-kinds of damage, if they don't retract them first, but, I don't know how often I will actually open the tailgate!
I welded a bung into the jamb to receive the latch...Not sure how anyone else is doing it.
I left about .060" gap for a rubber stop to keep it from rattling, and will probably make some nylon ramps for the sides of the opening to center-up the gate in the closed position.

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

I also spent a maaaaaajoooor amount of time block-sanding the box-sides....Probably in the excess of 6-7 hrs a side.
Can you say straight!?
On NOT one of the exterior panels on this build has the primer been sanded by a machine assisted devise.
This thing is far straighter than when it came off from the assembly line!
I can't wait to see color on it!
This is only rock-hard epoxy primer sanded with #320 grit!
Who doesn't want to see something like this after after all of their efforts!!!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

WOW!
My dad had his truck out this past weekend for a show, so I took the opportunity to snap a few photos, as I didn't have any current ones.
It is hard to believe that it has been over 11 years since I did the finish bodywork & paint prep, and my buddy Tom painted it....My dad did almost all of the patchwork & rough work.
My buddy Tom will be painting my truck soon!
Dad's truck looks a little dated, but is still pretty cool for the 73 year-old guy that drives it!
He has been bragging about how well that he has been placing at the shows lately....I told him not to get used to it, and he responded by saying that his truck will be rusted-out by the time I get mine finished...We'll see about that!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

And a few more pics!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

your truck is looking good! so is your dads truck, it is hard to believe thats a 11 yr. old paint job! really nice work you have been doing, keep it up!!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Had not seen your thread before today, mind if I follow along?
Nice mods, and workmanship BTW

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Thanks a lot for stopping by guys!
I really appreciate your comments!
Sometimes it feels like nobody is even paying attention, but I know differently from the view numbers....I also know that I am very bad at posting on other peoples threads even though I am super-interested. I always blame it on being busy....Isn't everyone busy?
Hard for me to post though, I have no internet where I am currently living, so I need to either get to work early. or stay late to post items. This is soon to change!
Thanks again for the comments, not sure that a few criticisms may not be in order. I don't always do everything correctly, and I am always looking for better ways to do things!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Hang in there Modges!!
I can honestly tell you that I read every post when it is updated.
And especially yours!

Problem is you are doing a level of work I can only dream of doing, therefore I have no comments to make other than the normal bobble headed "Looking good"

Which by the way, it really is looking good LOL

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

lol, ya and i'm the guy next to you saying the samething!!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Ha-Ha! Funny!
I can honestly say that I watch your posts religiously, and enjoy them.
I am getting so geeked as things come together and I get closer to paint. I have started to pick apart every little imperfection in the primer & re-do areas. I reworked the entire passenger boxside, and re-primed & block-sanded it again, because I didn't like the reflection that I saw in the primer.
Now I have realized that I will probably be cutting a hole in that same boxside for a fuel filler door....And THAT is the definition of poor planning!
Thanks again guys, for the comments!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Not much real visible progress has been made by me for the past few weeks.
It all looks pretty much the same... Block-sand, prime, block-sand, prime. Repeat if necessary.
But I did take a break from sanding to work on my tailgate hardware yesterday.
I tig welded a few tabs to the gate, and spun up some little bushings in the lathe, to install the restraint cables.
I am very happy with the way it turned out.
Another item to cross off from the to-do list!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

And a few more pics...

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

I noticed while comparing my fenders to each other that a small area was missing near the top-front corner of my RH fender.....F-ing re-pops!
I decided to make a small three-sided filler piece, to weld into the void to complete the fender......So that it didn't have a big gaping hole that I would see every time that I looked at it!
Here are a few pics of the process. I still need to need to prime it, but now I will probably also fill the seams to match the headlight support.

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

just read your build thread and yes, you are doing a great job but what really got me is your knack to find the small imperfections of the factory stampings and make it perfect. stuff i used to say 'thats the way it's supposed to be' i no longer think that way... wish i had caught this build before getting close to finishing mine.

keep it going dude... we'll be following.

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

lookin Good !

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Thanks for the comments guys!
I've been bustin a$$ to get this thing to paint before it gets cold outside.
I just started working on the hood....The final piece to the puzzle, and a real rough piece at that!
I hope to post some pics this weekend, if and when I make any progress!
I had never really looked at the hood since I brought it home. just hoisted it into the rafters to get it out of the way, and now that I'm starting to work on it, I'm wondering if I shouldn't be spending my time looking for another....Seems like somebody may have walked on it... Several times!!!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Takes a lot of discipline to keep up the high quality of workmanship you have. I like it.:metal:
Great job I'll keep checking back.

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Thanks Bomp!
I don't know that i will be going through this exercise again real soon, so I want to make sure it is right this time!
I suspect that I will own this truck for a good long time, so I want to make sure it's up to show-car standards...My dad has been getting too many trophies at local shows lately, time to take him down a notch....Ha-Ha!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

It seems as though the PO's answer to EVERYTHING was rust, seams, or dents, MUD THEM UP!
I am glad that I discovered this early on, and questioned all of the bodywork before just moving on in the build...I would rather do this correctly right-now, than to re-work things after the truck is painted...I told my dad that I would be done with bodywork, if I didn't have to fix all of the F-ups.
Sooooo, over 200 welds across the front of the hood to keep things on the seams intact, pulled, hammered & dollied dents to beat the band, & also shrunk metal in a few spots that were tin-canning, so that I could get to FLAT!
THIS HOOD WAS A POS! But I convinced myself that I was saving something on the point of extinction. I'm taking the long road on this, but I will be proud when all of the work is completed!
First pic shows an area that was mudded-up about 3/8" thick. I ground it all out & made a slide-hammer attachment in order to pull the dents out, and hammered & dollied the rest, then welded the seams to give support, so that the filler doesn't crack....If time wasn't an issue, I would look for a different hood!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

LQQKS great so far.

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Here's some more pics of the progress!
Wait!...Double rainbow all the way across the sky ...OMG...Ha-Ha!
So this is what a half-gallon of plastic filler looks like!
I wasn't kidding when I said somebody walked across it several times!
But I think I have saved it!....Still an abundance of block-sanding ahead of me!Attachment 976365

Attachment 976368

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Great job on the hood this is my next step welding the seam solid and shaving the turn signals also I'm opting for the speedway headlights with the signals made in the bottom looks great keep up the good work:clap:
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Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Thanks Bomp!
I took my dad's pro-street on a cruise this past weekend, and now I can't wait to get my truck finished...He drove his Rat-Rod, and it has way too may HP for what it is, so that is all that he wants to drive now. Good for me though, What a great time!...

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

I finally got the my hood block-sanded this weekend (for the second time) and it looks like money!(making me happy anyway)
I couldn't be happier with the way that it turned out, I thought it was close to worthless!
So many dents & wavy areas, that I would have pitched it if I had another lined-up, but also had so much time invested that it would all be a waste if I did so.
Well, things finally came together, and it looks awesome...The outside anyway!
And why didn't I do the inside first? I had way too many dents to hammer out!
I also seam-sealed the front fenders to match the contour of the grill support.
Seamless beauty, hood & fenders both!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Again......................Great Job!!!!!!!:metal:

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

that's some good stuff....

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Looks great man!
I am itching to get back on mine this weekend too !!!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Thanks all for the comments guys!
I am glad that you took time to stop by!
My painter buddy took time this week to come & look at the progress that I have made & was impressed.....But now he needs to find time in his schedule for it.
I may end-up helping him get a few jobs completed, so that he can get to this sooner.
We have done this several times in the past, and it all works out.