55 Chevy, Matching upper portion of the cab

[wilberweb]

Hi, guy's
I have a question on Matching the upper cab portion of my 55 Chevy pickup. Does any one have any Ideas on how to mach the upper cab corners just above the doors on the upper part of the cab? What would be the best way to match both sides of the curved section. I am trying to get the drivers side to match the curves on the passenger's side. I have pictures to show what I am working with. As you can see I want to try and match the curves so they are the same on both sides. I was thinking about a profile Gage they make a 10" possibly at harbor freight tools. I have a 4" but it won't cover enough body area to match up the curves.
Any help would be great.

-Larry

[dicer]

Eastwood has the profile gauges. I couldn't get on there site, but it mentioned a 15 inch.
Also make sure the windshield fits okay, even if you have to waste a new seal to do it. Better than painting it and finding out you have to start cutting and welding again.

Actually if you did major rework to that windshield opening you should have installed the windshield to check everything, before you started to do any bondo work, incase you have to rework it.

[Kim57]

I would cut a piece of cardboard or heavy poster board and just flip it over for the other side.
Kim

[wilberweb]

Dicer,kim57
Thanks for the reply.
I will check-into Eastwood. I didn't think of Eastwood.
I replaced that section above the door with a patch panel donor cab.
I have the old window and rubber so I install it to check the fit it fits perfect.
I want to make sure that both sides match. if they are off and some one noticed it that wouldn't be good. as you guy's now it has to be perfect otherwise it will haunt me.until I fixed it.

-Larry

[Kim57]

Larry
I know what your talking about. You know your truck intimately and what no one else will see sticks out like a sore thumb. I'm real anal about those things also and will spend hours trying to fix them.
You could make a template of each side and then lay them over each other to see how big a difference you have.
Good luck.
Kim

[wilberweb]

Thanks Kim57
I agree I am anal as well. just something in your brain is set off, I don't know about you but with me I will toss and turn in my sleep thinking about how to fix it. its a curse at times. I will try and build a template. What would you suggest I built it with? I suppose I would need to see the profile easy.

-Larry

[Kim57]

Originally Posted by wilberweb

Thanks Kim57
I agree I am anal as well. just something in your brain is set off, I don't know about you but with me I will toss and turn in my sleep thinking about how to fix it. its a curse at times. I will try and build a template. What would you suggest I built it with? I suppose I would need to see the profile easy.

-Larry

You should be able to use some heavy poster board or cardboard.
The poster board may be easier to work with though. They carry it at Staples and Office Depot.
Kim

[wilberweb]

Great!!!
I will get some. Thanks Kim57

-Larry

[Kabwe]

Or you can use a cereal box. I keep all my cereal boxes to use as templates material.lol

[wilberweb]

Hey,Hey Kabwe.
How's the truck coming along? I know You, Kim57 and dicer do great work. I just upgraded my wire welder to a argon so hopefully I can do better welding. I am a new body guy and am learning a lot just hanging out at this forum, so thanks to all you guy's for sharing you knowledge. I have a lot of cereal boxes hanging around I have two high school girls they go through a lot of cereal.


-Larry

[Kabwe]

Thanks for the compliments and my truck is coming along, but I have not been working on it as much lately due to me helping a friend get his truck on the road. I will be starting back on it soon thanks for asking.

Yeah kim57 is right on about the poster board, the cereal box is the same thing its just like poster board. I only buy the poster board if I need a template bigger than what a cereal box could provide. In other words hold on to those cereal boxes.lol

By the way it looks like you've done a great job on patching that roof. Keep up the good work.

[wilberweb]

I'll get some poster board then. my goal is to match the entire upper cab section.
Body work is hard work... it's a slow proses. getting it all right takes some time,lots of sanding letting it dry re-applying filler, more sanding and shaping, I am trying to not lay it on too thick.
I'm applying thin layers,and build on that. I was told that's the way I should do it. Although doing it that way is a slow proses. Thanks for the complement as well, I have been learning a lot about body work.Its something to be proud of when it all looks good.You guys have helped in that,with all the great advice.
Hope to see your truck on the forum soon.

-Larry

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by wilberweb

Hope to see your truck on the forum soon.

-Larry

Hey Larry my truck build is on here, its at http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php?t=440079/
I just have not worked on it in a while, I have but not anything of note.lol Providing help and advice or just plain sharing pics is what this forum should be about. I think of this place as my online meet and greet. We get together to share info and experience or just post pics.

[wilberweb]

Great!!! Kabwe
Its nice to see the great job you are doing on your truck its inspiring
to see. It takes a lot of time I know why now, lots of shaping welding letting it cool,letting it dry,re prepping.WOW getting tired. how long have you been working on your truck?
keep the pictures coming. I am going to look back on your post to get some pointers.

-Larry

[skip99]

I've layed tape or waxpaper on an area and put bondo on it. then used the bondo as a template, even used it for molding other parts..

[wilberweb]

Skip99
That's interesting how does that work? you have the bondo over the cab part won't that block your view of the body profile. Isn't the bondo obstructing the cab portion where you want to shape? can you tell me more about this proses.

-Larry

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by wilberweb

how long have you been working on your truck?

-Larry

Larry I've had my truck for about 6 years, but I've been seriously working on it for about 4 years and I have a long way to go. I think I've changed every panel on the truck to some extent but its what I wanted.

[wilberweb]

Cool, Kabwe, I had my truck for 3 years, just started on it last year It will be a long while
to get it finished.

-Larry

[dicer]

http://www.eastwood.com/15in-adjusta...ile-gauge.html

Here it is, this way you can mark off sections from front to rear on both sides and
check the profile at those increments, say at .5 to 1 inch increments, you will have to make a whole bunch of card board cut outs and make them fit good to accomplish that. If you put value on your time as I do then this is the ticket. I'm gona get one of these.
And just think of all the other places you can use it too.

[skip99]

I just mix some bondo heavy on the hardner, and just as it is about to become unworkable, I pinch it up on the piece of metal who'sprofile I want .it only needs to be about 1/2 - 3/4 " thick and same width, I'll post a pic in a bit..

[wilberweb]

Skip99

Pictures would be great.I cant picture in my mind how that works I must be thinking of something different than what you describe you know how that goes until you see a picture you cant get the concept.

-Larry

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by skip99

I just mix some bondo heavy on the hardner, and just as it is about to become unworkable, I pinch it up on the piece of metal who'sprofile I want .it only needs to be about 1/2 - 3/4 " thick and same width, I'll post a pic in a bit..

Interesting. I've never done that before, I've use the original piece that I've cut out as a template but I've never used bondo to make one. By the way, I've seen your build page and you do nice work. Kim57 does nice work also wilberweb you should check out their build pages. There are more than one way to skin a cat that's why looking through build pages of people that have done the stuff you trying to do is important.

Skip99 I'm sure you must be using cheap bondo for this because I just purchase some Evercoat Rage and man that stuff is 50 bucks a can now.lol I was shocked.

[skip99]

yep, just use cheap or the hard stuff at the bottom of old cans..

I've used cardboard, and scribed it, like everyone else, I've tried it all.

be sure and use a nice landmark to start and stop, edge of roof(pictured) . because that curve will be different in any other spot..

[skip99]

where is KIM57's build?

[Kabwe]

Hey skip that is pretty clever.lol

Here is kim57 build page http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=283107
He is a really nice guy I met him at a car show.