47-55.1 Long Time Coming......

[Getter-Done]

Those look Great and blend with your design.

Just curious as what type of filament was used to make them?

[dsraven]

the light brackets look great and will be easy to clean around when detailing after paint. will you use stainless fasteners for the anti rust factor?

[gsinon]

Originally Posted by 8man

That light bracket is a very clean look for what you are doing.

Originally Posted by dsraven

Very nice, clean, professionally done look. As expected from you. Nice work and forward thought/planning process.

Originally Posted by Getter-Done

Those look Great and blend with your design.

Just curious as what type of filament was used to make them?

He used ASA materials for them.

Originally Posted by dsraven

the light brackets look great and will be easy to clean around when detailing after paint. will you use stainless fasteners for the anti rust factor?

Thanks guys, glad you like them.

[gsinon]

I got the filler work on both running boards and the front stone guard done. Yesterday I was able to spray 3 coats of Evercoat's poly primer. They will cure over the weekend and Monday I will block them all and hope to get them in final primer by weeks end.

You can see where I welded the the filler panel that goes from the running board up to the bed into one piece in an effort to eliminate the seam and make for a snoother look. Also note the filler work done where I had extended the front of the running boards to meet the front fenders.

[gsinon]

Todays adventures in the shop was for the rolled pan. I swapped out the one I had previously and installed this smooth one instead. Now with the bumper the other one I had already worked up didn't work any more.

So today I cut the holes for the bumper brackets and then decided to use some 1/8" round stock as a frame around the holes for strength and to give them a little flair rather then just have a rectangular haped hole cut. While at it I also took the time to weld the seams down the side and ground them smooth.













And here is where I need your opinions.....

I am having an internal debate on the need for a filler panel between the bumper and the rolled pan. I'm not building an ISCA circuit show truck. While nice, this is just a driver to me. But, even with the rolled pan, does it look empy without a panel as shown in the pic made of cardboard stock? Or do I take the time to make one from nothing but flat sweetmetal? I was really hoping to get the point of being done with fabrication at this point. My OCD says I should do it, the practical side says it doesn't need it.

I will say, without the rolled pan I would think it absolutely would need it. But with the rolled pan, should I still?








.

[-Dan-]

I like the filler that you have mocked up. It’s not excessive.

[nvrdone]

I don't know. To me with the filler it doesn't look like it flows smoothly. Maybe it's just the picture

[Hey Dude]

My Opinion is that if you put one back there, it should mimic the front one. It should look like a design intent rather than a bracket cover.

[gsinon]

Originally Posted by -Dan-

I like the filler that you have mocked up. It’s not excessive.

Thanks. I kinda agree

Originally Posted by nvrdone

I don't know. To me with the filler it doesn't look like it flows smoothly. Maybe it's just the picture

The cardboard is just paying there and not in proper position. That might be what you are seeing.

Originally Posted by Hey Dude

My Opinion is that if you put one back there, it should mimic the front one. It should look like a design intent rather than a bracket cover.

If I do make it, it will have a stepped bead roll in it much like the front one has. I agree, it had to look like it belongs, otherwise it won't look tight.

[nvrdone]

Ok, if the filler was mounted even with the top of the bumper & flowed into the end of the bed I think it would look much better

[gsinon]

Originally Posted by nvrdone

Ok, if the filler was mounted even with the top of the bumper & flowed into the end of the bed I think it would look much better

I appreciate your thoughts. Only thing is, I like things to kind of have a matched, ot balanced look. The front stone guard sits below and inside the bumper top surface. In order to look right, in my opinion, the rear would need to do the same thing.

I'm going to band up a piece if sheet metal and hold it in place with some magnets and see how it looks. I think thats the only way to see if it will be right or not.

[dsraven]

magnets are an awesome tool. right next to cleco's. I love those small welder's magnets that swivel on both ends. great for holding small parts while tacking. a larger, round magnet with a handle is also great for panel line ups etc. the handle makes it easier to move the magnet/panel. I have a few of the triangular shaped welders magnets with the on/off lever as well but find they get full of grindings etc, so a little harder to move the lever to on/off. also, don't drop them cuz the magnets inside break.
I was thinking your filler panel looks great as is, but would look even better if the panel at the rear also matched the look of the forward panel. so you can't see the ground from above.
it is your truck so you gotta do what YOU like tho.
thanks for asking for opinions tho. I really like the way your truck is turning out, very pro looking work and thought processes as you go through.

[gsinon]

Originally Posted by dsraven

I was thinking your filler panel looks great as is, but would look even better if the panel at the rear also matched the look of the forward panel. so you can't see the ground from above.
it is your truck so you gotta do what YOU like tho.
thanks for asking for opinions tho. I really like the way your truck is turning out, very pro looking work and thought processes as you go through.

Thanks. Maybe its only me, but I can tend to overthink things. Asking for opinions helps. I also through this same question on Facebook and overwhelmingly got the same answer as here.... Make the panel.

In the end, yes its my truck and I will do as I wish. But by asking a group of like minded people it cemented what I already thought I should do.

[gsinon]

over the last few days I have been working on the running boards and front stone guard. Today I was able to spray them in the final primer surface. Next step for these is final sanding and paint!

That's one more thing checked off the list.

[gsinon]

The last few days have been working the front fenders. I block sanded the primer and then started the body filler work around the headlight rings and the fender/hood gap area.







After getting both fenders to a point where I was happy with them I removed both. I cleaned up a couple areas and then blew them off. They are now ready for poly primer so I masked the insides to keep all the owverspray off of that area.












.

[nvrdone]

Fantastic work. I've spent the last few hours going thru your postings and have gotten lots of great ideas for my '49. In post 241 you have pictures of the tail gate pivots you made up. any change you could post a pattern and what you used for the pivot on the tail gate? thanks

[gsinon]

Originally Posted by nvrdone

Fantastic work. I've spent the last few hours going thru your postings and have gotten lots of great ideas for my '49. In post 241 you have pictures of the tail gate pivots you made up. any change you could post a pattern and what you used for the pivot on the tail gate? thanks

Thanks!

I would be happy to make a pattern. It might be easier for everyone to purchase these instead though. I used their design idea and made mine. In all actuality though, it probably would have been easier and even less expensive to just buy these. Thankfully I had the steel on hand and a friend turned down some delrin that he had. So in the end mine cost me nothing, but if I had to buy the materials I would be more expensive then just buying this kit.

https://pros-pick.com/product/pros-p...-53-chevrolet/

[nvrdone]

Ok, thanks for the info. I will call them tomorrow. also, I meant to ask about the filler pieces you used on the bottom of the stake pockets. Did you make them or buy them?
Thanks.

[gsinon]

Originally Posted by nvrdone

Ok, thanks for the info. I will call them tomorrow. also, I meant to ask about the filler pieces you used on the bottom of the stake pockets. Did you make them or buy them?
Thanks.

I made the extensions at the bottom of each stake pocket. Not hard to do if you have even basic fab skills.


This morning I went to visit a friends shop that has an 8' sheetmetal break to bend the metal for the filler panel that will go between the bumper and rolled pan. Once back home I trimmed it to fit. I then cut and bent the ends around to cap the ends for a cleaner look.











Lastly I made some brackets to bolt the filler in place and be able to bolt it in place. All welds are now ground smooth and its ready from minor body work.








.

[nvrdone]

I don't really have any fab skills. but I can learn. Wish me luck.

[gsinon]

Originally Posted by nvrdone

I don't really have any fab skills. but I can learn. Wish me luck.

We learn to walk by falling down. Fabrication is no different. Every mistake teaches something, and I’m still learning every day.

[gsinon]

I brought the front fenders to work and today I was able to get them in the booth for a few coats of Evercoat Optex polyester primer. I will let these cure and shrink up until next week some time and then start blocking them.

[gsinon]

No pictures for this update. Just mild levels of frustration.

Time to move on to the hood. Before body work I need to apply some 3M flexible foam that will go between the inner brace and skin. What was once there has all dried out and fallen away over the years. The hood skin now moves considerably near the cowl. So doing filler work would be futile. I have has a new in the package tube of 3M 8463 for this purpose. On saturday I went out to the shop with the intention of applying the foam. Only to first realize how out of date it is. Ugh. I did put it in the applicator gun to see if it would still work, and nothing. One side of the two part is no good now, so only the black side comes out. Thankfully Amazon has it in stock and another $48 down the drain. This new tube should be arriving tomorrow, a couple days late due to the big snow storm we just had here in the northeast.

Not being able to do that I removed the front inner fenders to block them. Its been so long since I have worked on them I forgot that I only stripped them to bare metal and sprayed epoxy, I had never done the filler work where I did some fabrication around the new suspension. So I have now spent roughly ten hours doing just that. One is complete and the other about 70% there. Hoping to finash them both by weeks end, or over this coming weekend so Monday I can bring them to work and get them, sprayed with the Evercoat poly.

Things are moving, just feels like its taking forever. I have now topped 900 hours in this project. Officially I am at 907.5, but who's counting...... I am still on track to be painting by summer, and thats all that matters.

[Hey Dude]

I truely believe the "Patina" look originated from quality body men who knew very well how much labor is involved to make a true show vehicle. I can think of three cars I've done that the only difference between them and a typical paint job was an actual "add" of 200 hours of block sanding, then spraying black & cutting/buffing for the purpose of checking for slight waves, then block sanding again before the actual color was applied. Those of us who know how to block sand properly have a really hard time going back to "good enough for a driver"..... I feel your pain

[gsinon]

Originally Posted by Hey Dude

I truely believe the "Patina" look originated from quality body men who knew very well how much labor is involved to make a true show vehicle. I can think of three cars I've done that the only difference between them and a typical paint job was an actual "add" of 200 hours of block sanding, then spraying black & cutting/buffing for the purpose of checking for slight waves, then block sanding again before the actual color was applied. Those of us who know how to block sand properly have a really hard time going back to "good enough for a driver"..... I feel your pain

My dad drilled in me that good enough was never good enough, and at the same time, perfect is a myth.

I'm not building this for anyone elses satisfaction then mine. Love it or hate it when I'm done doesn't even enter my brain. Everything I am doing is what and how I want it. If others like it, then great. If not, then thats ok too.

I really do love the build process. Although at this point I can't wait for it to be in color and move on to things like wiring, interior and finally driving.