Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

You've done this before! :)

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

That's a complex shape; what did you use to cut it out that left the original metal pattern intact?

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

I'd just whack in there with a 3" wheel, then round it out with a carbide bit, but that's me. That one looks like it's lazer-cut!

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

A "nibbler" had it for years, use it rarely, but when I need it, it's there! These are the exact ones I have. They are not cheap, but I believe in using quality tools so it's less work on my body. Don't get me wrong, I have a few cheap ones but something like these, I want the best. And they don't disappoint. I bought an extra pair of tips and have never used them, the original ones have held up over the years.


https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Sheet...bler,2910.html

https://content.speedwaymotors.com/P...80e2f43457.jpg

Brian

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

It's funny you should say that, I would have grabbed my cut off wheel too but it was late and I didn't want to make noise to bother the neighbor.

I just drilled a hole and then snipped it out. But after doing that, I REALLY need to get these out more as it's much cleaner and safer than using the cut off disc. There is NO WAY you can get those tight corners with a cut off disc leaving it anywhere near this clean.

Now I did clean up the corners a little bit with a "rotory file" but not much, I didn't really need to, I'm just anal sometimes.

Brian

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

I got out there late after a very odd thing, I went to a rally at my daughters high school, wow what a bunch of great kids! HUGE party with everyone cheering everyone else, very cool. Well, right near the end a kid slipped out on the hardwood floor flipping onto his head and was hurt bad, looking maybe even much worse (news sounds pretty good) so the whole place was emptied (MANY hundreds of parents and kids) with an ambulance coming in. So leaving there and coming home was pretty funky.

Brian

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

Great tips, great tool!

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

Took the day off to complete some stuff around the house, some how I ended up working on the truck.
Finally got the engine running great and starting great, only took adding and repairing some wires. Finished the small details on the braking system. Finally and most importantly, my wife was finally able to take a drive in her grandfathers old truck for the 1st time. Well worth the time and effort put into the truck.

Now only to finish up everything else.

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

Things were going too smoothly, so I decided to spend the last few days figuring out how to screw up the paint job by putting a ghost checkered flag on the firewall. This is the MASK ONLY. I've also prepared a few test panels so I can practice since I've never done anything like this. (I did spend an hour with a buddy in the business and he painted a flag on a panel and showed me some tips, and there's stuff on You Tube, of course.)

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

AWSOME!

Brian:metal:

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

I got the patch made and tacked into place. WHOO HOOOO! And yes the gap is a bit large here and there, I will plannish that smaller before I finish welding.

Brian

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

Flags turned out pretty cool.

That’s some nice patch work.

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

Monumental!

Cool. Rounded edges are much easier to weld without burning away than sharp corners.

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

its good to see everyone making progress. flag does look cool.

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

And much less susceptible to cracking than at those corners too.

Brian

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

Welded in the motor mounts and removed the bolt, I always had commitment issues.
Installed the exhaust wrap and it made a noticeable difference on cabin noise and finish wiring on the interior lighting.

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

Got the front patch on the RR fender all welded in, then cut out the old fuel door recess, made the patch and welded the new one in. Got some weld through primer on the front so I can weld that support in I made a few days ago and this fender will be ready tomorrow for striping and priming.

It's so funny, I made the recess for the fuel door and made the fuel door customizing the truck 38 years ago to now cutting it out to make it the way it was, funny stuff.

Brian

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

I also noticed the tail lamp hole I filled 35 years ago. LOL

Brian

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

Very nice work. Did you use an English wheel to put the curve in the patch, or a bag and hammer, or something else?

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

Bent it over a wooden bench in the garage. :D I did simply plannish it with a round headed hammer on a large "dolly" I have on my bunch.

Brian

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

Started out Sunday morning getting a little done on the truck. I welded in the reinforcement on the RR fender so it's finished now ready for stripping and primer.

Got the lower grille apron all finished up, welded in the piece that had been cut out on the top. I decided to do it like Chevy would have and just plug weld the piece on the top and not butt weld it and finish it off like it never was cut out. I also repaired the bracket where it bolts to the rad support. So this part is finished up ready for stripping and primer too.

Brian

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

I managed to sneak in another shakedown cruise. 30 miles this time, no issues.


https://www.facebook.com/mark.wells....4459105591562/

I am going to straighten the steering wheel a little though...

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

Mark, great little video...Jim

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

Yep, that is friggin awesome!

Brian

Re: What did you do with your truck today, Part 3
 

After screwing up several test panels preparing for the "checkered flag" painting, I got cold feet. I called my artist buddy back and he came over for about 2 hours, showing me a variety of techniques on shading, contrast, use of pearl, etc. Tomorrow I'll give it a shot. I have a feeling at the end of all this I'll be doing a lot of sanding and re-work...