Re: Jans 53
 

The end results is what keeps me sanding.

Re: Jans 53
 

So now I have all 4 fenders the cab and hood sanded. I will go over them and look for small flaws then on to bedsides. Tomorrow morning going to take a trip to summit and pick up a tailgate, front bed panel and maybe a new grill.
Has anyone seen the goodmark tailgate? the price difference isn’t much between it and the mar-k but they don’t have the mar-k in stock....is it worth paying shipping and waiting for the mar-k? Also anyone have the OER grill? Any info on quality?

Now I’ll leave you with today’s picture of my OCD session.

Re: Jans 53
 

your primer is shinier than my paint

Re: Jans 53
 

That’s with the wax and grease remover before it evaporated, so I can check the straightness while it’s wet. If I could sand it that shiny I wouldn’t bother painting.

Re: Jans 53
 

That looks great. Well worth all the work.

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I actually wondered if it WAS your paint for a minute :lol::lol::lol:

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Anything from mar-k is worth waiting on...I've got a mix of mar k and other brands...theres no comparison..if you had them side by side you could tell..
I've got a complete mar k bed...I think its heavier that the factory one..
I wouldnt hold my breath on a repop grill fitting without issues..be prepared...if have a repop and it looks great..and is heavy..got it off ebay..if it doesnt fit it would be best to make the fenders fit the grill..

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Went to summit today and picked up mar-k tailgate, bed front and a new grill man I gotta stay away from those places.$$$$$$$$

Re: Jans 53
 

Thanks Mongo I did go with the Mar-k parts but had to order the grill, it’s an OER brand I will make sure and check it when It gets here. I will send it back if needed.

Re: Jans 53
 

Wow, that's just primer so far? What was your choice? I'm still deciding on a good glossy primer so I can see the reflections before shooting color.

Re: Jans 53
 

With as slick as that primmer is there is no doubt that the paint job will look fantastic. Looking great!!

Marc

Re: Jans 53
 

Using SPI epoxy primer and 2k surfacer.



Marc, I’m hoping that’s the case. It’s all in the prep right?

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:devil:Think I’m going to take the week off.

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Yeah, but what's the humidity? That's hot and I don't care who you are!

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BTW, I got my cross sills from you yesterday.

Humidity today is only 33 but the next 2 days show clouds so that will bump it up. The first time I went to Texas when getting off the plane walking along the suddenly hit that wall of humidity I thought I would die! We are definitely spoiled on the west coast.

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Glad you got the sills. Can't wait to see what you do with the bed.

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ditto, we got 111°F on one of those days coming up here in Sac

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So today I received my stainless hood trim and grill from OER. Hood trim is about 3/16 wider than original and grill looks to be good(I didn’t order the more expensive show grill) hopefully all fits well. Here’s some pics so that you can judge for yourself.

Re: Jans 53
 

pretty!

what made you pop on the stainless center strip? I have seen them for sale but never on a truck, wondering what it will look like

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Looks great.

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My husband wanted the stainless because he thinks it would continue from the stainless between the windshield.....we will see. I will paint the original so that I have the option.

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The grill and hood strip look good. I need to pick up one of those strips myself. I will end up giving it a brushed finish to go with the rest of my brushed trim. My decision to ditch the OE painted strip was an easy one as a few of the tabs broke off and it sticks up off the hood.

Marc

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Stainless hood trim at Summit is part # 3681480. It will look cool brushed.

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Thank you, I will add it to my ever growing Summit wish list.
I recently brushed my chrome grill and love how it looks.

Marc

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California is not fit for working outside the last 2 weeks between the heat and the smoke. (That’s the sun by the way)

Re: Jans 53
 

hey jan - stay safe. my inlaws are in Lincoln and just left for our cabin above Sonora to get away from the heat and smoke.

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I’m not sure there’s anywhere in the state you can get away from the smoke, at least the temp has dropped to a comfortable 100.

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The Canyon Complex fire is about 5 miles from my house. Not worried as it would have to jump I5, the Mendota and California aqueducts and pretty much burn all of Patterson to get to us. Plus they built a fire line 2 nights ago so it wouldn't get closer to I5, but yeah the smoke is not fun.

Re: Jans 53
 

stay safe jan!

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I’m Baaack! What a crazy few months it’s been! My mom had a small stroke, then 2 months later fell and fractured her hip....fortunately didn’t need surgery. She stayed at my house for a month, in the meanwhile one of my brothers ended up on a ventilator for ten days from COVID. Then my mother got very sick from a UTI so I stayed with her at her home for three weeks.
So today I worked on figuring out how to build a bed floor that lifts up. I looked around on the internet a few days a didn’t find much info on how they hinged it. So I put on my thinking cap and after seeing how much the hinges cost decided to make my own. I also wanted to do something a little different to hold the wood together (the two boards to the outside will not lift). So far here’s what I’ve got.

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Sorry about the sideways pictures. Use your imagination.lol

Here’s more pictures of the bed wood. I cut some grooves on the bottom so that the channel steel would sit down in and keep the wood from shifting. I will weld some flat bar on each side of the channel to also keep the wood from shifting, the bolts from the bed strips also align with the channel. I will also be mounting the hinges to the front channel.

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Sorry to hear about your families run of bad luck relating to health related challenges. Its always satisfying to fab up something for yourself. The hinges and bed wood look great.

Marc

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I'm glad you're back! Sorry to hear about your mom and brother, but glad they are both doing better.

The bed wood looks good, but I would really like to see how that bed lift works. That hinge system is a work of art.

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Jan, sorry to hear about the family members. Glad their doing better, bed coming right along...Jim

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Thanks everyone, it’s good to be back on my project. Hopefully I’ll have more pictures this weekend.

Youngrodder, I looked forward to your updates during that time. The paint job looks awesome and your talent and eye for things details is amazing.

Oldman your wisdom and willingness to help others is stellar.

Robert you’re my forum buddy, always there with encouragement.

Re: Jans 53
 

sorry to hear about the family issues. hope it all works and you can take time needed for some rest yourself. wouldn't wanna hear you get sick too from your system being run down.
nice job on the hinges and bed wood.

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Bolted the bed wood together a did a test fit today. Now need to figure out hinges and a lift. Debating on linear actuators or just gas shocks.

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Putting the bed on alone in one piece is not a good idea, had a couple of hair raising moments. Today’s plan is to square it up and figure out how I’m going to build the lift.

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Yep! It's tough. Looking forward to the lift.

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Looks great. Its always gratifying when you can assemble large pieces to get a better idea of the final vision.

Marc