Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

Yeah, progress rocks.......
I checked it out, looks sweet with those wheels, gotta love it!

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

I feel like crap but I couldn't stay away from the garage, lol..... I say again, being sick sucks! Went over for awhile last night and this morning. Got some metal cut out and a piece ready to weld in. I cleaned out the rocker box too. The rear part had 2" of dirt just crammed in tight. I had to take a screw driver and bust it up before the shop vac would even touch it. I'm thinking about putting some kind of filter or screen over the holes before I close it all in to prevent dirt from building up in there again.

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

Finally felt like working on the Blazer today. I figured since I can get to the inside of the box it was time to mount up the seats. I still need to weld some nuts to some plate then to the under side but I've got the hard part done. Getting them situated and holes drilled, lol... I'm going to go ahead and make up some mounting plates for the roll bar and weld those in too. I finally remembered to take out my sun visors too, lol. I've been meaning to do that ever since I started but for some reason kept forgetting. They came out easy, NO stripped nuts thankfully. Someone was wondering what else we worked on in the shop so I'll post a couple pics of those too. I also got a new toy for Christmas, well it was more of a gift card that got spent on what I wanted:lol:, a 14" metal chop saw:metal: I took a pic of the drivers seat slid forward with the back tilted up. I didn't try but does it look like enough room for someone to squeeze through?

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

Some more pics.

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

Fabbed up some seat mounts today. I just took some big flat washers and welded a nut to one side, then drilled some holes in the floor surrounding the bolt hole for the seat. Then I bolted the washer/nut in place and welded it to the floor. Turned out pretty sweet. I still have a little more grinding to do but it doesn't have to be perfect. I'm coating the floor in rubber.... I filled in the other holes too. Lots of holes, lol.

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

Made some progress yesterday. I'm close to getting back to the actual sheet metal work. I cut up some plate and welded some nuts to it to weld to the under side of the bed. It will make nice and easy to install/remove the roll bar. It was fun knealing on the floor with one arm/hand jammed up inside the torsion box trying to hold the plate up and the other hand trying to thread a bolt in...:lol:. The passenger side floor was a bit rough so I fixed that area up best that I could with what I had laying around. I need some bed floor pieces. The roll bar will cover the little mess I made not to mention the rubber coating. All that matters to me is that its solid. After I got all that done I started the rocker box. That meant the torch. I love using with the cutting torch, fire fire :lol:. I got the bad cut out and made a template. After a little grinding I welded it in. I still need to finish up the second piece and weld on some tabs but that shouldn't take too long. Did I say I love the torch, it gets it done but man would I love to have a plasma cutter, lol.

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

Looking good Big J.

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

Hey J, I have a center section of a bed floor left( between the wheel wells) if you need patches for the bed, LMK J.

BTW nice work

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

Thanks for the compliments...... PM sent on the floor section.

Got some more done today:metal:
Finished up the box and started fitting metal. I still have a ways to go, yall know how it goes, put it in, take it out, look at it, put it back in, still to big, take it back out, look at it again, lol........ and so on till its done.......

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

And some more.... I think all I have left to do to the drivers floor is por15 the inside of the box, fit the floor support, then cut out a big piece to fill the hole in the middle and weld it in....... So close, lol. I had a good weekend. Hope everyone else did too!

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

Great work J.

Can I throw in a reminder about welding around magnets? ;)

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

Yep... What happens?

I still haven't used them to weld with, just to check things out. I just picked up some of those Intergrips, I'll be using those to weld in the panels. Found a really good deal on Ebay.

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

Basically, the magnetic field messes with the bead.

Saw a thread on it somewhere, interesting reading for sure.

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

Your progress continues to look great!

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

Nice work. progress is fun stuff!

I don't know about welding with a magnet in the that close to the joint but they are right over the joint so it looks like they are just to hold them in place to tack. Tacking them in place with a magnet is fine, thats what those particular magnets are for. I have used them for years at work and at home.

The welding arc creates its own magnetic field so having another magnet near would likely pull the arc out of place. I'm going to get the answer though I'm interested to know.

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

I'm getting close to finishing up the drivers side floor and outer rocker. So I had a few minutes last night and cut up those nice truck doors I got from Alvin. Its not to hard to turn a truck door into a blazer door, just a few cuts. I may do a quick how to thread on it.

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

Got some work done. Brushed on some Por-15 inside the box. Welded up the cab/floor support, outer floor, kick panel, front pillar, the big square support/plate that goes under the floor and on top of the floor support. I still have some touch up to do but alls well. I got ahead of myself and tossed the door on. Everyone knows how easy that is to do by yourself:lol:. I wanted to see what the outer rocker looked like with the door. Well the door hinges are of course worn out so tomorrow I'll be pullin' the door to rebuild the hinges. I should be able to finish up the floor too. Maybe even finish turning the truck door into a blazer door......

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

I don't mean to hijack, but here's what I did to repair this area. I had my bedside off when I did this, but I believe it can be done with the bedside in place. I did it with three pieces of plate.

The first piece I replaced was the piece with the hole in it. I used the hole as a reference and scribed a line across and cut it off the bedside.

I then cut off the flanges from this piece so I could use what was left as a pattern.

Then I tacked a square piece of metal roughly the size I would need to replace the rotted piece onto the bedside where the hole is and using the old piece I cleaned up, I placed it against the new metal and traced out an outline of what needed to be removed.

I checked the contour before I cut any metal by laying a yardstick down the side of the front quarter panel and moving it down checking the line traced onto the new metal.

The next piece was easier, I cut a piece of plate using the measurement off the flange still left on the bedside, appox. one inch and long enough to go the length of the first piece and bending it as I tack welded it.

The last piece has an additional lip on it so it was a little more trouble. Again I cut another flat piece long enough to go the length of the first piece and I allowed enough width for the lip along the outside.

I tack welded this piece the top next to the bedside and using a straight edge against the "B" pillar I drew a line down the metal so it would line up with the "B" pillar. After I scribed the line I allowed another 3/8" past the drawn line for the bent lip.

Bend and tack the piece in place.

Using my cutoff tool I cut a series of notches about an inch apart down to the last line drawn for the lip this would allow me to bend the metal for the lip. Bend the lip using a pair of vice grips and weld the lip up and grind down.

Recheck the alignment and weld up the cracks. It's really hard to put in handwriting, but if you study the pics you can understand what I'm talking about. Hope this helps out and apologies for the highjack. Rusty

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

Thanks Rusty, I thought that you did alot work in this area of your Jimmy. Good description and pics....thanks for the help. J.

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

No problem Rusty, we're all here to help. Everytime I see something like what you had to replace, I thank God and my uncle for being able to purchase the green tub, lol.....

I got some more work done today. Rebuilt the drivers door hinge and welded up a small crack in the door below the top hinge. I also finished up the blazer door conversion.... Got the patch cut out for the drivers floor but gave up on welding it in, lol.... I figured it was about time to hit the couch, lol... Don't think I'm lazy, I also rotated the tires on my car and cleaned it out in between workin' on the blazer lol....

I know the plate around the door latch isn't pretty. Keep in mind I'll be sandblasting everything and epoxy primering it all.....

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

Hey J, any idea how much bed patch matrl. you need yet? Since your knocking the he!! out of the floorboards, I figgered you'll be working on the bed soon, LMK...J

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

I'm guessing I could use a couple 12x12 pieces, hopefully less, lol.... How much can ya part with? Another question.... I seen in your thread you just used some seam sealer. What kind should I get and how much does it cost?

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

3M brushable is about 30.00 a quart, and the dumdum in 1/4" strips is cheap. I'll get a couple 12x12 cut out, there is more if you need it. PM me your addy... J

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

looking good j, keep it up i want to ride in it!!!!

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

If you need any more than what Jim has let me know, I kept my entire floor and only need a few pieces of it.

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

You'll probably be the first..... Maybe after the wife anyways, lol. None of this would've been possible if it hadn't been for you getting me started or her letting me start:lol:

Chevyman63 I hope I don't need anymore than J is sending but if I do I'll for sure holler at ya.

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

RustyParts, nice post on the B pillar repair. You do nice work. Do you remember off hand what gauges or thickness metal you use?

Thanks

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

Send him a pm, he might not see this......

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

16 or 17 GA. Picked it up at lowes.

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

Not much progress this weekend. Long weekend. Had to run up north Saturday morning then a bachelor party Saturday night so I didn't get started very early today. I don't think I ever really actually started, lol. I did get the sandblaster cleaned out and working. I picked up this stuff called Black Diamond. Not sure what kind of media it is but it works really well... I'm not going to do the bedsides or body panels with it just the top and bottom of the floor.

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

Got a chance to work on it tonight. The drivers floor is about done. :metal: I ran out of wire right as completed the last weld. How often does that happen:lol: Normally it'd happen with just 4 or 5 spots to go. Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket tomorrow, lol. Hopefully I'll get a chance tomorrow night to do some more....

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

Excellent!! Great progress for a Monday!

Edit; Oh crap...this is Tuesday!

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

Nice progress, you knocked that out in a hurry! J.

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

I gotta get it done..... I've bet several that I'll have it in primer ready to paint by the end of winter, lol.....

Thanks for the compliment chevyman.

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

you got any more money saved up??? coming to Bowling Green. I think I'm headed up that way this weekend.

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

Got the metal last night. Man you packed that good, I think a tank could've run over it and not hurt it, lol. Thanks for hookin' me up. I'll get you a M.O. out asap.

5150, nope not this weekend. I got some dough comin' but thats for primer, filler, sand paper, etc....... Its gonna be awhile before I get to go get some pretty parts.

I've been looking at phantom grills. If anyone knows some good places that offer those, post up.

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

Lookin good

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

Worked on it a little today. Took my seats out and put them back upstairs. I got my bed metal from jaros44 this past week so now I can start on the bed floor. I welded in the patch behind the drivers door. It came out good, although I can't find my sanding blocks so the skim coat will have to wait. I shot some primer on for now. I've been working on the front grill cover for neighbors allis for awhile now. It was in 3 pieces, lol. We fiberglassed it back together then I put a thin coat of filler on it. The only rattle can color we could find was chevy orange...... It came out ok... I was going to spend some more time sanding but neighbor said, "paint it, I'll probably break it anyway", lol...

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

Nice work, how'd you like working with those clamps, any easier? Does everyone have an old plastic milk crate in their workshop?:lol:

Re: "Slowly but Surely" Big J's build thread...
 

The clamps rock! They hold the panels nice and even. I got them on Ebay cheap, way cheaper than eastwood. 4 sets of 4 for like 40 bucks shipped, I think. Yes, I love the milk crates. They make great crap holders/transporters, step stools, paint stands, etc. :lol: I've probably got 5-10 of them laying around. Oh I forgot, they make a great seat in our trucks when oem isn't available, lol.... I drove mine several times sittin' on one.