Driver on a budget.

[TchncnDen]

Towards the end of last year I decided it was time to look for a new vehicle since I was about to turn 300k on my current truck. In my former career I was a painter for some dealerships and I have built some nice rides in the past. So, I decided to go at it one more time. The goal - look nice, ride nice, new car reliability, four wheel discs and AC. The budget goal - $7k. I know some of you have that in wheels and tires, I want the whole truck. So here's a test of posting a picture, then I'll take it up to where I am now.

This is what I brought home in October 2011

[TchncnDen]

Yep, kinda rough and plenty of rust. I HATE rust. At least it came with a decent set of doors. So the next morning I went and talked a guy selling another truck I looked at into trading beds, of course I had to give him a little money since I was the one that wanted it.

By that afternoon I had taken it a good way apart.

[TchncnDen]

If there is one thing I could use it is more space. I took as much as I could to the basement, to my two sheds and to a spare room, but I'll have to work in sections. I would probably be finished by now if I had the space to separate everything and start from zero, but we all deal with what we have. Did I mention I hate rust?

[TchncnDen]

I didn't want to deal with my Harbor Freight welder I've had for 25 years so I bought myself a sweet Lincoln and gave the old one to my cousin. I didn't count that towards my budget and I sure have gotten my use out of it so far. Say bubye rust!

[TchncnDen]

I see a red floor and I want to paint it black.

[TchncnDen]

Last one for tonight, I'll catch up to current progress later. Sold the old barely running motor (mostly due to the wiring nightmare) and got me something a little better!

[Meatman]

Subscribed! I literally lol'd at this!!

Originally Posted by TchncnDen

I see a red floor and I want to paint it black.

[Maxxd07]

I like it! Hope you make your budget.

[TchncnDen]

Hey thanks Maxx. I actually just broke $6k so I don't think I'll beat $7k, but I'm fairly confident I'll be under $8k. So technically 7 something.

I don't want to live next to "that guy" so I definately don't want to be "that guy." Well I had to be him for just one night. I pulled the cab, painted the front of the frame, put the cab back on the next day and got it all back inside.

[TchncnDen]

Remember in the beginning I said I used to paint for a living? Well during that time I used just about every paint known to man. Paint reps from every company were always coming by the shop and giving away product to try hoping to get the whole shop to switch. Any time I was working on a project for myself all I had to do was ask and poof, all the free paint I need. Even after trying them all, my favorite floor, frame, trim paint was rustoleum satin black. Now that I have to pay for everything I like it even better. By the way, even back then I couldn't get rustoleum for free, but I still used it because I liked it better. I had a cbr600 a while back that I bought in boxes. I painted the whole thing with rustoleum satin black. When I sold it the thing the kid liked most was the awsome paint job.

[TchncnDen]

Unsolicited product endorsement over. While the cab was off I finished welding the cab corners and slapped a little duraglass on.

[TchncnDen]

Floors, front and rear pillars, rockers? You betcha, DONE!

[VA72C10]

Nice build! Looking great and a shortbed restored with an LS drivetrain will be awesome if you can keep it under 10K much less 8!

[808_67C10]

I tried to stay within a budget once... that didnt work out so well... good luck! Trucks lookn good!

[67c10rustbuket]

nice build, great job on the floors/rust. keep it goin!

[TchncnDen]

I borrowed a spot weld dent puller from a friend. I didn't have the proper receptacle so I improvised. Don't try this at home, and whatever you do don't tell OSHA.

[TchncnDen]

I went around the truck with the dent puller and there was one area on the passenger rear bedside that I just couldn't do much with. So I cut it off, beat it into submission and welded it back on.

[TchncnDen]

Soda blasting is nice, but a can of stripper and some 80 grit is about $965 cheaper. Also did yet another test fit to tweak any edges.

[TchncnDen]

Got another tailgate in much better condition than the one I had. There are two mini junkyards around here dedicated to these trucks. I bought the tailgate at one and the factory AC stuff that was missing from my truck from the other. You can see the AC parts in the parts pile photo above.

[FrankieD]

Originally Posted by TchncnDen

I borrowed a spot weld dent puller from a friend. I didn't have the proper receptacle so I improvised. Don't try this at home, and whatever you do don't tell OSHA.

If you are going to do a lot of welding you can buy a receptacle for about $10 at HD it is basically the same as an elect dryer and be a lot safer.

I sprayed my whole frame and under body with POR 15 then over coated it with Rustolem Satin Black the biggest problem is that oil and brake fluid will I eat it up and with todays tree hugger laws the paint is getting worse they are doing away with oil base paint. If there is a old hardware store around you might be able to find some old stock. I found for around $100 you can get 1 gal Kirker Acrylic Urethane - Hot Rod Black Satin Finish & hardener which I will be using on the Core support and fender wells and re doing the frame and under body for a more durable finish.

http://www.autobodytoolmart.com/kirk...8-p-13771.aspx

[VA72C10]

nice work!

[70LonghornCST]

very nice work. Keep it up. Subscribed.

[67chevy1series]

looking good! and yeah if OSHA found out you would end up being in a O$HIT! moment!

[67cheby]

Nice work , looking great !

[TchncnDen]

With the epoxy on now it's time for a bondo party. Put it on and sand it off, repeat, repeat, repeat................................