From plan (A) to plan (B) to plan (C) then back to plan (B)
Definitely good to remain flexible to move the body and paint forward
My original plan (A) was to do all the body and paint on the small transport trailer then bring the body home and install it on the frame. After talking to the shop owner about the possible problems with how each different body sits differently on each frame and how it was a lot easer to deal with it if the body was on the frame before final exterior painting, decided to move on to another plan.
On to plan (B), do all the primary body work and internal painting like the inside of the cab, underside of the hood, inside of the fenders, and inside of the doors. Then transport them back to my shop to put them together on the frame. Then transport the body and frame back to the body and paint shop and do any final body work and exterior painting.
The shop owner then suggested plan (C) to minimize transportation logistics and time, offered to just transport the frame down to his shop and I would go down there and assemble the body on the frame there. Plan (C) was a well appreciated offer but things can change.
Let me start off with that the body and paint shop has been outstanding in letting me in there to do some of the work myself. It’s a busy place with all the work going on a number of different cars & trucks and giving up stall space to me could be costing them money. The weather has changed around hear with winter coming in they expect an increase in business and requested to go back to plan (B). I’m happy with their work and quality up to this point and working my project into their shop and not always being on the back burner and well get to it when we can. We all want our project done quickly and that is probably expecting too much but they have been moving my project along nicely.
So back to plan (B), this will probably add a few weeks to the body and paint with the weather and transportation windows but nothing in cost.
Will be working on getting the cab and hood back to my shop after this holiday, all the small parts that can fit into my small car I’ve been transporting myself. Hear are some pictures showing the cut in / internal painting accomplished. The inside of the cab may look like a different color but it’s the same color (GM 505 green) as seen in the other pictures, it’s just the flash on the camera giving it a color change. This is one sealer coat, three color coats and two clear coats all in a water base paint.
The step side bed will be remaining in the body and paint shop and be getting the finish paint that has to be done with the bed apart anyway and I will put it together on the frame after the truck is back in my shop.
The holiday season is upon us and it’s always a time for me to look back over the year and give thanks. Thanks to all that have come by this build and given their comments & suggestions and to this forum (administrators, staff and moderators) giving me a place to share my build. I’ve seen over the years that many a build has withered on the vine for all the lacking of sharing and interest from others that is not known by the builder working isolated from it in his shop. Thank you for stopping by and may your build progress as an enjoyable experience mine has because of you.