Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Great progress Vic.....i always enjoy stopping by and getting ideas for my build, as always your tool assortment is quite extensive

Engine looks amazing! Great work

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Lookin like a truck!

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Very nice!
-Sam

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Man Vic... This thing is looking Great... It really looks like you are real close to going to paint with it... Are you going to paint it yourself?...

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Thanks, everyone!

Dan, twenty-five years ago, I'd have painted it myself, but no more. Bodywork, primering and blocking are all I can handle these days. I've done many a paint job in the garage and/or driveway, but sanding the dust nibs and buffing it out is too big of a job for me now. I'll deliver the parts and pieces to Precision Collision in Gladstone in primer and ready for them to do final blocking. They'll paint and buff everthing out, then I'll reassemble it here. i still have major work on the doors and a lot of nitpicky things here and there, but it should be in the paint shop by the first of the year.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Man I get it Vic... I have a guy here in Mulvane that I may do some paint work for then My truck will be the last paint I will do... I am sad about that but my body just says no more, so when I am done with this truck I will sell all of my body and paint equipment...

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Woo Hoo! Nice job Vic!!! great progress! my rotating assembly is at the machine shop getting balanced, getting the stroker clearancing done, bore/hone, the works, should have it back Wednesday. I'll be glad to get that portion done. My Brother in law had a medical situation that couldn't be avoided, so I'll have to make a road trip to Sioux City, Iowa to pick up my
700 R4 trans, I would have made some progress this holiday weekend, but my son seen it fit to blow up the engine in his car, so I've been stuck underneath his Grand Prix, changing the engine out....it sounded like all six rods were trying to exit the block....:barf: I found a used 3.8L V6 in St.Joe for $150.00 (couldn't beat that deal anywhere) it has 140K miles on it, the guy I bought it from said the only reason he was selling so cheap was because he had removed a coil pack and sold the computer prior to my purchasing the block. He bought the car (2004 Grand Prix) for the transmission, the car had a minor front end collision.....so, because I couldn't start it, hence the cheap price..... (I pulled the pan just to make sure everything was sound) had to change the upper plenum of the intake, (the
'04 had a drive by wire Throttle Body and the original TB was drive by cable) other than that, everything fit like a glove. I still have two or three hours of work left to do, but mostly exhaust, coolant hoses, spark plug wires,etc....
my uncle was kind enough to allow me the use of his shop and lift to do all the work. Guess I'll be buying him a great Christmas gift this year!

Now, if only my work (and my Son) will refrain from occupying all my spare time, perhaps I can get my truck put back together! Sorry this was so long!
Have a great Day!
Ben:metal:

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

I understand how that goes, Ben. Sounds like you've been making progress in spite of the side projects, though. Getting the engine together will be a big step. One benefit of an occasional side job is how it helps refocus the truck effort. I still get overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of all that needs to be done during a frame off and a diversion seems to clear my head. And believe me, I could use a clear head about now. It feels like it's packed full of bondo dust. The fenders are both ready for primer after re-contouring the areas around the headlight bezels. Now it's on to the doors ...and more bondo dust!

.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Vic, You need to slow down, You are making the rest of us look bad...

Just kidding, Keep it up!

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Lookin' great, Vic! Congrats on the progress!

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Vic, I just did a catch up on your build, looks like your making some good progress:metal:

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Vic,
talked to the machinist yesterday, said everything should be finished Wednesday,looking forward to assembly of the short block. On a side note, I got my Son's car finished last night, so that beast is done and out of my hair....now to get back to work! great progress thus far!
Ben:metal:

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Thanks, guys! The major bodywork is starting to wind down. The doors have all work done on the interior and exterior panels as well as the jambs and are ready for Slick Sand. Tailgate is not far behind. Doors I understand because they're original and have seen a lot of abuse. Brand new tailgate, not so much. Lot of whoop-de-do's on both sides of it. But it's all under control.

Stopped by Precision Collision on Monday and discussed a plan for paint. They said they're slowing down with deer season about over. No snow or ice yet to refill the place, so I'm hoping to get everything to them no later than the end of the year. Still have a few minor places to tune up yet.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Bet you're glad to be nearing the end of the DUST stage. Great work!

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Mavic... I can't wait until I am this close to seeing the end of the tunnel... I am in reality probably only about 30-35% of the way there...

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Looking good Vic.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Thanks, John, just a little more dust and then the shop will get a break and I can clean up.
Yeah, Dan, I know what you're saying. Despite how good the pictures were when you brought yours home from the body shop, there's a thousand little places that need fixing. Fix a few and even more pop out that you missed. I'd be wiping everything down getting ready to squirt color and find a spot I'd missed. Makes you want to pull your hair out. Now that it's in your garage, you can rub on it all you want, when you want. ;)
Thanks, Scott. You going to be home tomorrow? I'd like to put the hood on and check the alignment.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

I have got to get to KC and see this truck... Not to mention you and your lovely bride...

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

I shoulda stopped by today... blew right past, got kids to keep up with! Glad to see ya movin' forward!

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Company is always welcome, guys. I feel like a hermit since I'm here most all the time. Scott did come by today after work (Thx!) and helped me install the hood. I have several minor discontinuities to correct, but nothing a little bondo won't fix.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

That hood looks great Vic, looks like you got it lined up pretty nice.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Yeah, the lines are pretty close, but since taking that photo, I had to remove the hood latch to fix the guide pocket. Don't have a single one around that isn't cracked and broken where the hood pin sits. I've also determined it's going to need a pair of new hood hinges to be right. Until you get everything bolted up it's hard to tell. I could have removed the springs and checked them a long time ago, but noooo, waited until I was in the middle of the adjustment process for the light bulb to go on. Options for a pair range from $80 reproductions from Taiwan to $700 billet units from Eddie's. I may opt for Tabco pieces, though ($100 plus shipping). The website says their stuff is made in the USA and uses heavier gauge material and better manufacturing dies. You could also have new oversize rivets installed by a hinge rebuilder for around $200, but you have to factor in the time as well.

Did get the doors hung and the driver side gaps look pretty close. I'll need to massage the passenger side some. To get the door gaps to fit better on that side, I had to put 1/8" spacers between both hinge plates and the front jamb. So now I have a bit too much gap in the front, but I can manage it. The cowl will also need some work on that side as well, but I believe I can kill two birds with one stone since all the crappy gappy is in the same general vicinity.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Nice job Vic getting the doors fit up, looking forward to the " how to " on the gaps.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

This might be another option you may want to consider?

http://www.hoodhingerepair.com/

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Thanks, Mike. I saw them on another thread and checked out their website. They're the ~ $200 option and they typically rebuild the ones you send to them. I need something a little more quickly.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Very nice work on all the panels Vic. Looks like you are getting close to color.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

I cant attest for the hood hinges, but for Tabco, their cab corners are the best ones I have found, and the cab corners are made in the USA. You basically have to call to place your order so I would check with them to make sure their hood hinges are made in the USA, because they do carry Taiwan made items as well. But you may already know this.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Hey Vic... I have a good set of OEM hood hinges you can have if you want to come get them and help me take them off of my truck and help me put me billet ones on...

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Nice work Vic! All that is scaring the crap outta me though. I blew mine apart, fixed all the dings and holes and just expect it all to fall right back together :lol: My old hinges are all painted up and ready to go!

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Man, it's lookin' good! If you need help shiftin' and movin', don't hesitate to call. Happy to help.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Won't be long, Mike. The wife is trying to convince me to haul it "as is" to Precision and let them fix the last few whoop-de-do's. Early Christmas present. :metal:

No, I really didn't know that, so thanks very much for the heads up. I'll call to confirm. If they're Taiwanese, they may be no better than the ones I can get locally.

Are you positive they're solid, Dan? I thought mine looked good until I put them on. If you rock the hood up and down a little bit, you can see the slop in the rivets. If they're in good shape, though, I'd be happy to help swap them out. I might turn a little green from envy looking at your billet hinges, but that shouldn't affect my wrenching skills.

Well, thankfully, mine only have a coat of epoxy primer at the moment. They looked so good, I just assumed they were solid. Not!

I'll do that, Chip. Should be real soon.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Not for nuthin- you might try Lenexa Bob or Teeitup, just to see.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Are you positive they're solid, Dan? I thought mine looked good until I put them on. If you rock the hood up and down a little bit, you can see the slop in the rivets. If they're in good shape, though, I'd be happy to help swap them out. I might turn a little green from envy looking at your billet hinges, but that shouldn't affect my wrenching skills.

Vic... I just went to the Garage and double checked... Yep they are good solid Hinges... they just need cleaned up painted and installed... I have them on the truck right now but really don't need them... so you might as well get the use out of them... I will see if I can get some help to get them off... Jan normally would help me but she just had her foot operated on and isn't getting around to well... Let me see what I can do... I hate for you to drive 200 miles if you don't have to unless you just want too... LOL

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Thx, Dan, sent you a PM to discuss.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Hey, Chip. My main concern is investing time in parts that may only be marginally better than what I have. A hinge pair has a total of 14 rivets, each representing a potential point of failure. Almost impossible to tell how they'll work until you install them. On the other hand, there are plenty of horror stories regarding the reproduction hinges, too. I may take Dan up on his offer since he seems sure the ones he has are good.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

A lot has happened since my last post, not all of it good unfortunately. We took off a few days before Christmas to make a run to Houston and see family and friends which was great. Traded some computer work and wiring repair on a GPS for some CNC work which I'll be sharing at a later date. But at the moment, I've hit a serious roadblock on CRLS.

Scott came over and helped me set the bed on the frame and it was so bad I could barely look at it. A while back, when B-I-L Rick was here, while attempting to fit the tailgate, you may recall we discovered the corner to corner measurements on top of the bed were off by about 1-3/8". The port-a-power was unable to move the dimensions very much, but it was enough to get a decent fit on the tailgate. Fast forward to the present. With the cab and the bed lined up with the frame, the gap between the back of the cab and the front panel on the bed was about 1/2" on the passenger side and 1-1/4" on the driver side. No amount of slip sliding the bed and cab around could even up the gap.

Turns out the corner to corner issue was more serious than I originally thought. The main problem is with the repro bedside which had issues from the start. I had to relocate the area where the wheelhouse bolted up because the captive nuts were offset by about 5/8". At that time I failed to recognize the real problem was related to the entire inner bedside panel. Fixing the current problem would require removing a section of the inner panel and shifting it forward as much as possible.

Before continuing this tale of despair, I have to add some context. Prior to learning of the problems above, Kathy and I signed up for the Hot Rod Power Tour from June 6-13. Popped for VIP passes and made reservations at all the stops. So now, I have the added pressure of a deadline.

Knowing this, I decided to purchase another bedside to save some time. No luck ...all I did was lose even more time as, two bedsides later, I had nothing that would improve my situation even marginally. So I surveyed the situation and decided to fix what I had. Three days into the repair, I'm at an impasse. The bed is now perfectly square, top and floor X measurements are exact to within 1/16" and I still have a tapered gap between the bed and cab. Much less than what I started with, but ugly nonetheless.

I'm thinking what I may do is load all the parts into the bed and cab and roll everything into the upstairs garage and swap places with my '57 Ford. Finish the Ford enough to do the Power Tour and pick back up on the truck next year. if I choose to go this route, I'll do a build thread on the Alternative forum and post progress reports there. Right now CRLS and I are having a major falling out.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Let me guess your bedsides have been "Counterparts"...

I am sure you have done this Vic but I will throw it out anyway... are you sure your mounting points on both the frame and bed are square......

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Vic, I'd give LMC a shot. I'm sure that their bedside might be the solution to the problem...I hope. Either way I'm always here to help if you need a hand.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Hey, Dan. The box my bedside was packed in had "Restoration Parts" on it, but didn't say Counterparts. I was tempted to go to LMC and check out theirs, but didn't. Was unable to get the parts guys on the phone to ask who makes the ones they sell, so rather than take the time to go there in person, I grabbed up the cutting disc and waded in.

Early on, I took the frame to a shop in Independence that has a good reputation. Paid them to straighten out a minor tweak and them measured it all when we got it home. Looked fine, however, there are more points I can and should check. Scott and I pulled the clip yesterday, just need to pull the cab and bed off again to gain access.

At this point, Scott, the bed is about as square as they get. I'm doubtful that a different bedside would fix the problem. Right now, my suspicions are centered on either the frame or the reproduction floor I grafted into the cab. If I get the cab and clip straight, the bed is way off if I shift it to correct the gap. If I line the bed up perfectly with the frame and then shift the cab and clip to align with the bed, it's so far off the core support bolts won't go in. It's makin' me crazy!

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Cool Vic... I just wanted to run it by you... Don't bail on this you have too much time and engineering invested...

I do have to say I would love to see that 57 done... LOL