Re: Previous owner '68
 

I didn't want to start any body work on the floor until I had figured out completely how (and if!) the bedsides were going to fit and bolt up. So, armed with carpenters tools and kitchen utensils, I started fitting the bedsides. Once I got one side relatively square and level I installed the other side and the front panel.

Re: Previous owner '68
 

Then the scary part, trying on the tailgate. Definitely a proof of concept moment.

Tailgate was a bit twisted, so I took the come-along and tweaked it a bit. I got it within 1/8th", hopefully that will be enough.

I need to get some shoulder bolts for the flange bearings on the tailgate but they seem to be working well.

Re: Previous owner '68
 

And last for today, I worked on the tedious process of figuring out how to latch the tailgate. Not the most elegant solution but I think it will work. Now I just have to do the other side!

Re: Previous owner '68
 

Nice fab work!

Re: Previous owner '68
 

Thanks! I enjoy it much more than body work.

Re: Previous owner '68
 

I would agree with this statement. Nice progress on the bed.

Re: Previous owner '68
 

Thanks!

Re: Previous owner '68
 

I too like the mods,, coming together nicely

Re: Previous owner '68
 

Other side done. I always seem to struggle with the second part of a pair. I guess it's the pressure to make them match, somewhat.

Re: Previous owner '68
 

Well, the cold and rain drove me back into the garage. I decided to try to build a side marker fuel fill. It's been done before so no real revelations except it takes more time than you would think. Not completely done but it's getting there.

Re: Previous owner '68
 

Then I worked on the filler neck housing. Painted it and waiting for the paint to dry. Maybe not the prettiest but I think it will work.

Re: Previous owner '68
 

lookin good.....

Re: Previous owner '68
 

Great weather today so back on the bed!

I had to shorten the front panel of the bed by 3/4" because all of the stepside bed panels are setup for wood beds.

Re: Previous owner '68
 

Then I disassembled the bed, again! My wife thinks I'm making mistakes because I keep putting it together and then taking it back apart. But we all know, it is part of the process.

Re: Previous owner '68
 

Then I started welding and grinding some of the unwanted features on the bedsides.

Re: Previous owner '68
 

Nice work, Roger.

Re: Previous owner '68
 

Worst kinda update, no pics. More work on the other bedside. If you want to know how it looks go to post 215, hold your laptop up to a mirror and look at the post in the mirror. Basically the same.

Also flipped the bed floor and started scraping undercoating, one of my favorite things...

Re: Previous owner '68
 

Once I had the floor flipped I started wirebrushing the bottom to get it ready for POR15. I had to cut out one of the cross sills to allow the blazer tank to fit and also cut out the center section of one of the front sills because it was full of rust flakes. Once I had it sprayed down with rust converter and dried for 24 hours I got it coated with the POR15.

I have a way to cap the front cross sill but haven't done it yet. I'm glad I cut it out so I could treat the rust that was hiding under it.

Some how ended up with one small dot of POR15 above my eyebrow. They say it won't come off but it will, it just also happens to require a layer or two of skin to come off with it!

Re: Previous owner '68
 

I had the original cross sills from the wood bed of the truck and took one of those, cut it down, and welded it in to the cross sill I cut. Kinda looks like it belongs there!

Re: Previous owner '68
 

this bed looks great coming along nicely.... time and effort paying dividends

Re: Previous owner '68
 

Thanks, but I would not recommend to anyone to do this. It's labor intensive and a steel bed doesn't have the same impact as a nice wood bed does.

But I'm all about using what I have and trying to make things work, even if it may not be the smartest thing to do.

Re: Previous owner '68
 

I haven't posted much lately, but almost all my effort has been trying to get the bed floor straightened out. It's getting there, slowly!

I started with Duraglass fiberglass filler over the welds, than used Evercoat Z-grip filler for leveling/depitting. Not looking for perfection but it needs to be something I'm not ashamed to look at!

Re: Previous owner '68
 

Also worked on the never-ending steering wheel. I think another top coat and some polishing will get it done.

Re: Previous owner '68
 

I had bought a turn signal lever from somewhere years ago but never used it because it looked cheap. The chrome lever is fine but the plastic knob is wonky.

Re: Previous owner '68
 

So my wife had a bunch of purses she was taking to the local Angels Attic (kinda like Goodwill but they sell donated items then use the proceeds to help people with their medical care). She has a fairly efficient method of ensuring we will never know the horrible effects of excessive wealth. She purchases things she must have, stores them for 2-3 years, then donates them to the Attic. Brilliant!

So I snagged a purse for myself. I mean, not for me, all I wanted was the cheap plastic handle.

Re: Previous owner '68
 

Some cutting, turning, and polishing got me this. Now instead of a cheap black knob I have a cheap green knob!

Re: Previous owner '68
 

:devil:

Re: Previous owner '68
 

Any updates recently? Weather has been fairly decent around here..

Re: Previous owner '68
 

Yes it has, until yesterday!

I haven't gotten much done on the truck, my wife has been hit with spring fever and we have been getting some projects done around the house. So with repairing the horse barn, cutting 3 trees, cleaning out some fence rows, and repainting the door on her she-shed I've been slacking on the truck.

Hope to be back at it next week! Rg

Re: Previous owner '68
 

Yeah, before the storms rolled thru it has been decent.. The last couple of days have been chilly and windy.. Been trying to get my bike out for weeks now and the only times I have had the chance... The weather hasnt cooperated. Need to get the yard situated and Sunday is the only chance Im going to have... Now its calling for rain..

Re: Previous owner '68
 

part of living in this area this time of year. Weather is hard to predict!

Re: Previous owner '68
 

Well, my family history finally caught up to me and after a bunch of testing I had to have a heart cath. No stents or anything, just a exploratory look around. Give me a week to recover and hopefully I'll be back on it. Looks like I'll be on some form of medicine, won't know until next Wednesday.

Boys, don't ignore those warning signs.

Re: Previous owner '68
 

thoughts and prayers for you with whatever the treatment will be glad to hear your attending to it

Re: Previous owner '68
 

Wishing you a speedy recovery!

Re: Previous owner '68
 

Thanks guys. Just waiting on the groin area to heal up and I'll be back at it!

Re: Previous owner '68
 

Did they relocate your heart? Okay, sorry, I don't mean to sound like I'm not taking this seriously. Maybe caught up in how your humor runs through this thread. I hope that all is well and that everything heals up quickly.

Re: Previous owner '68
 

I can't really be sure, I think I slept through it! I appreciate the humor, we all need to laugh more and worry less!

Re: Previous owner '68
 

Well, I feel like I have been kicked in the groin by a mule, but couldn't stay out of the shop. Looked around for something I could do while sitting on my butt and listening to Wu-Tang Clan.

I had these old visors that I hated to throw out so I channeled my inner sailmaker and spent 3 hours fixing something I could have replaced for $75 bucks. Not too shabby.

Also did a general cleanup in the shop. When I do something I tend to drag out every tool I have. I'm working on having a designated place to put everything but it takes time and my layout keeps changing!

Re: Previous owner '68
 

You don't fit my profile for WTC listener, but I like when people mess with my expectations :lol:

Heal up soon. Nice visor work.

Re: Previous owner '68
 

Racial profiling is alive and real. I have a wide range of musical interest. You have to give all music a chance.

I think the visors will work, going to dye them eventually. The hard part is getting the posts out!