Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Ah, tricky. The proportions make it seem shorter. Or because his is laying down on air bags, giving it a bit longer look.

Never the less, I'm diggin' it.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

From the Artist (FF) to the Forger (LFD), thanks it means allot.

Sure rub in the fact that he has suspension and not flat plate welded between the diff and frame in the rear and fully collapsed heated springs in front;)

Well I got just a bit of time out in the shop tonight. My wife came home sick from her parents so I had two kids to take care of:lol:

I started Tigging up the pass quarter and got to the point were I needed to start hammering the welds so I came in for the night instead of waking the neighbors. Here's a shot of the two small spots of damage that I guess required a tub of filler to make it go away. Aside from those few spots it is a really striate Tahoe for a starting point.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...n/tahoe138.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...n/tahoe139.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...n/tahoe140.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...n/tahoe141.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...n/tahoe142.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...n/tahoe143.jpg

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

What are you using to strip it, just a DA? Is this quicker then chemical stripper (Aircraft, etc.)?

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Hey Kevin, That is some very creative work you have going. The transformation will be incredible when you get to paint. I follow your builds all the time. Good luck with your business growth in 2009. Scott N.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

I use a DA after I go over it with a 3" right angle air grinder with a woven disk. It removes paint quick and does not dig into the metal. They do not work good on filler so if I have much to remove I will use a 36 grit disk disk on the air grinder until I can see shadows of the metal under it then swap back to the woven disk and finish it off with 180 grit on the DA. I don't know if it is faster or not then stripper but way less toxic and I can start a panel and just stop for the night. If you use stripper you can not stop until you finish that area, wash it and clean up all the mess.

Thanks Scott

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Since I have had allot of people ask me "Whats that blue stuff" on other builds I thought I would show a quick 5 step answer. It is called bluing die or layout die and it is used for many different things. I use it for two main things, one being panel layout. It sprays on and when you use a scribe or just any sharp point it comes off leaving a very visible line to follow. Then I also use it for getting panels as striate as I can when doing body work or metal finishing. Let me be the first to say I am not that great at metal finishing but everything I practice I get a very small amount better. So after welding the seam and working it with a hammer and dolly every step of the way I feel it is almost done but needs a little touch up here and there. So I spray the die on the panel and let it dry for about 10 mins then go over it with a body file to show thew highs and lows.

Then I use the hammer and dolly on the real lows and some on the real highs then I hit it with a long board with 40grit. After that I hammer and dolly more on the low spots and hit again with the long board. I keep repeating this process until I am happy with the results. In this case I would say my lows are only about a 1/6" to 3/32" in the bad spots so I will leave it here and finish it off with lead later this week after I get the other side in the same shape.

In these pics the very front and back of the seam are not complete but it gives you the idea anyways.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...n/tahoe144.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...n/tahoe145.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...n/thaoe146.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...n/tahoe147.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...n/tahoe148.jpg

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Where do you get the spray blueing?

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

I got this stuff at a Good Guys show last year, I will get a pic of it so you can find some.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Kevin, you must have some machinist blood in you. Layout dye is widely used in the machine shop industry, the most popular brand is Dykem. It should be readily available at any industrial supply.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Like this old stuff:lol:

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/rokcrln/1-2.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/rokcrln/2-2.jpg

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Wanted to add this just for kicks, here's the next LFD build. It is a 41 Chevy street rod pick up. I will be building a new chassis for it with IFS and IRS and get it ready for the road after a 15yr slumber.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/rokcrln/3-2.jpg

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

What about the Blazer?! A little birdie told me there was some cool stuff in store...

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

i use dykem also kevin, works great, and that is one fine 41!

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Dykem is good, also I use some stuff that is made by krylon, it is pretty good as well, I actually like it better because it is darker.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

We made a business decision and decided the Tahoe would be a better place to put the time and money so the Blazer will be going down the road cheap! I just need to get the parts together for pic's so I can post it.

How does the other stuff clean up. A little brake kleen and the Dykem wipes right off. Also what is the name of the Krylon stuff $ ?

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

great work as usual.. looks great...

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

We decided to go with PT Cruiser door handles but it is a little more work than just bolting them up. The PT's are a flat mount and out trucks are not so the PT handles have a gap that needs to be dealt with. I first made a hammer form so I could make stand offs that were all the same for all 5 doors but they dint sit right. The handles are angled up hill and don't look right. So I will cut out some larger blanks for the hammer form so they stand off about 7/8" at the top and will be flush at the bottom. Here are a few pics to show what I have tried to give you an idea of were I am going with this.

Kevin
LFD Inc.



http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/rokcrln/PT3.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/rokcrln/PT31.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/rokcrln/PT32.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/rokcrln/PT4.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/rokcrln/PT41.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/rokcrln/PT5.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/rokcrln/PT6.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/rokcrln/PT61.jpg

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Wow those look great.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Er, eh... interesting choice.

From a design perspective, I'm curious how you see the integration of the ovoid shape of the PT handles, buttons, and your standoffs with the generally "square" lines of the truck. It's not a typical combination.

/2 cents
//or less

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Well I see these trucks as having some striate lines but still mainly being a very curvy truck.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Here is the second go round, they are now just about were they should be but I am not a 100% sold.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/rokcrln/pt8.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/rokcrln/pt9.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/rokcrln/pt10.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/rokcrln/pt11.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/rokcrln/pt12.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/rokcrln/pt13.jpg

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Another possible direction would be the 60-66 truck handles and door pockets. I just checked the body curve with a contour tool and they are almost exactly the same. The Handle if I remember correctly they operate the same and would be easy to do.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/rokcrln/pt14.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/rokcrln/pt15.jpg

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

I like the look of the 60-66 truck handles better. Plus you can even get rid of the stock lock's. Would be better and easier to mount.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Yeah I'm not so sure about the P.T. handles either. I'm all for making things custom, but I think it looks cool when you can make it look like it came that way. IMHO, the amount of standoff that you have to make them sit right, doesn't look right. You do awesome work though.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

good job on figuring out how to mount the handles, however,

if it was me, I'd go with truck handle, the PT handle is kind of bulbous on the standoff and seems to stick out too far

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

I would also vote for either the truck handles or a custom flush option. I admire your work to get the PT handles to sit right, but think that it takes away from the truck.

:but: it's your truck and the rest of your modifications have been spot on so maybe this will work with a little massaging.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Well, I was gonna keep my opinion to myself on this but I have to tell you that those handles, while cool for something, are just not right for these Burbs/Tahoes/Blazers/Trucks IMHO. They are so curvy and have a bit of a feminine look (for lack of a better term). Not that I have any problem with the feminine form :lol: ...it just doesn't quite work with the square doors and windows. They would probably look great on a 55-59. The stock handles have more of a machined look/feel and I don't think there's a better option out there. If you are bent on changing the handles I have noticed the Acura MDX handles. They are more straight-lined and simple, but will need some creative engineering to use the stock latches (but we all know you're capable).
http://www.edmunds.com/pictures/EVOX...20174423-T.jpg

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

I agree with all of you. They just do not work well, if they sat right with out the stand off I was willing to go that direction but not any more. When my wife got home last night I broke the news to her that she just cost me another 10 hours of shop time! 5 to figure how to make them work and 5 to go back to STOCK:lol: plus $150 for a set of handles that may never get used although they might look good on the 51 F1 I have to do;) Time now to patch the doors (why didn't I stop at one:waah:) finish the body and get on to other areas.

Thanks for your input guys and F.F. next time don't wait so Long to pipe in!


Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

The stand off was what killed them for me also, It is Going to be a Challenge to Find just the Right Look for this Build................

But then I Think Challenge should be Your Middle Name.............

Rick

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

BTW, 2 points I failed to make in my previous post, that I should have...

Keep up the awesome metalwork whatever you decide to do.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Kevin, my .02 would be stick with the stock handles, add electric locks to them so you only need the keys on the front 2 doors, and call it good. I have always loved the look and feel of the latches on our trucks, for me it is one of the most gratifying things about em. Just the feel you get from opening and closing the door that is, it doesn't feel like a modern piece of junk, it feels like a quality built coach.

If you want to do somthing that will be a good mod imo, take the back gate out of a 73-87 burb, and the rear window frame and stitch them into yours, then reskin the gate with a 67-72 tailgate, that way you can have an electric back window, now that would be trick IMO. And the best part is on nice days you could roll the back glass and the rest of the windows down and have fresh air running through the cab.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

I know just what you are talking about. Nothing like that feel of cold metal.

I have a few ideas rolling around in my empty space.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

I tried to stop you in your other thread, does that count? :D

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Now this would be cool! That way you could get the wider tailgate of the pickup and the pickup taillights, in the same relationship to each other as in a pickup(as opposed to how Hart_Rod did his). I'm also assuming there would be more viewable area in the back window too, without the window frame....definitely more viewable area than the barn doors. I like the way Frizzle did his liftgate, but in my '03 Suburban with the liftgate I do miss being able to sit on the tailgate.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

WOO slow down their a minute. I just said I was working on something and it will not be that. The reason a truck gate won't fit is because the rear of a Burb is the same width on the out side but the opening is several inches smaller. If you try and widen it out far enough I am afraid you would loose allot of the rear corners of the top and really make it look off. I will not be going in this direction at all.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

It was all just a real bad dream!

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ln/PTFixed.jpg

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Awwe c'mon. Slap a tailgate in there! Or at least cutout the CHEVROLET section from a gate and make it work in the rear :).

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Actually they are narrower externally and even more narrow on the inside. The C H E V R O L E T section from a truck gate would be cool though.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

SHHHHHH! I am thinking more along the lines of C H E V / R O L E T OR C H E V R / O L E T depends how the split works out best but don't tell anyone ok;)

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

Kevin, I don't mean to hijack your build thread but this is what I had in mind with the pt cruiser handles. Kenneth may be right the boxy shape for the burb but I think the handles compliment the flow lines of the body, especially the truck. See what you think........

Re: LFD's 4dr Tahoe Build
 

one more a little farther away. sorry the door is not on the truck.........