1965 LWB Stepside Build

[Johns 66]

Originally Posted by roll_the_dice

Bad news for this week... found my swiss cheese in the floor...both sides of the truck near the kick panel. In their infinite wisdom, the PO patched it with a license plate riveted to the bottom of the truck (covered in undercoating) and poured silicone on the cab floor to fill in the holes/cracks. I got all the silicone out and wire wheeled the metal.

I don't think I can afford to have a patch panel welded in right now...so I have to figure something else out. Maybe a temporary fiberglass fix along with the POR-15. I have seen some videos. I also have experience in fiberglass work. It will all be under the carpet anyway...I am putting feelers out for a welder among my friends.

I also got everything off the firewall today and sanded off the undercoating that was on the firewall. Will get the steering column out tomorrow. Should be ready to paint the firewall later this week.

Here are some of the pictures from this week's work.

Picture 1 is the rust, #2 is the silicone I pulled out on the passenger side!

The best picture to me is the steering wheel. I took off my old non OEM wheel and had to try this one out for looks. Got it from Johns 66. Thanks again John...It is going to look even more awesome after I restore it.

Well my friend Andy...makes me think of Shawshank Redemption ...lol

Im sorry you found swiss cheese too...It seems like its a pretty standard thing on these old trucks....Most likely from the heater core leaking antifreeze on it......But you can get it taken care of Im sure, yours is not as bad as mine was although mine was filled with Bondo and not silicone.....what some people thought was a repair is beyond me but then again never know what those who owned it were going through at the time.

But good news is it is starting to take shape!!!!! and this should be the worst part you find!!!!!!

[Captainfab]

If you plan to fix the rust correctly at a later date, I would just clean the area the best you can, treat it with a rust converter, possibly a coat of paint and then rivet or screw a piece of sheet metal over the area. Treat and coat the sheet metal as well.

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

If you plan to fix the rust correctly at a later date, I would just clean the area the best you can, treat it with a rust converter, possibly a coat of paint and then rivet or screw a piece of sheet metal over the area. Treat and coat the sheet metal as well.

Thanks John...that is a good idea. I would like to get it repaired correctly. My main concern of the fiberglass was repairing it down the road with this fix. I was planning on using POR-15 anyway...but I do like the idea of putting a piece of sheet metal over the top and treating that as well. Much easier to remove the rivets to get to the area than having to cut out the fiberglass work as well.

Now I have a better plan!

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by Johns 66

Well my friend Andy...makes me think of Shawshank Redemption ...lol

Im sorry you found swiss cheese too...It seems like its a pretty standard thing on these old trucks....Most likely from the heater core leaking antifreeze on it......But you can get it taken care of Im sure, yours is not as bad as mine was although mine was filled with Bondo and not silicone.....what some people thought was a repair is beyond me but then again never know what those who owned it were going through at the time.

But good news is it is starting to take shape!!!!! and this should be the worst part you find!!!!!!

I love that movie!

That's OK...I knew there had to be rust somewhere and now I am a proud member of the rust club. Hopefully I can get it repaired correctly this summer when I am planning on getting the doors repaired later this year. Just knock it all out at the same time.