Over 25 Years Later, Finally My 71 C-10 Truck Build

[xludan]

Hood looks awesome! Are you going to paint the underside too? Good to see another MN guy getting work done in the winter.

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Nice job sanding and priming the hood. How many coats of the epoxy primer are you laying down on it?

Thanks, I got one on for now, but have been doing 2 fairly heavy coats on everything. After I touch up the dings, I'll spray another coat.

Originally Posted by xludan

Hood looks awesome! Are you going to paint the underside too? Good to see another MN guy getting work done in the winter.

Thank you, everything will get painted eventually, inside, outside, over and under and in between. Having the heater is the best, unfortunately, my time this winter has been limited due to work. I'm at least a month behind and will have to wait another couple weeks before I can even begin to start.

But tomorrow is a holiday and I plan on making use of it. I gotta buy some paint.

[hgs_notes]

The color I've had picked out is hard to pin down because it was only used on the 69 GM trucks and rarely at that. It's code 511 and the best pictures I've seen of the color were found on another members thread. I have saved a couple of pics of his (Mike Bradbury) and I hope he doesn't mind my sharing. You can check his very unique build out here...
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=414961

Good color representation pics...

[hgs_notes]

I talked to my body guy this morning about where I go from here and he said to get all of the primer and sanding done before I try to put any paint anywhere. So today I started fitting panels back on it, bolted the cab down to the frame, added shims for alignment to the bed, etc. I think the fenders are lined up ok, the doors are as good as I can get, but I'm having trouble getting the cowl panel to fit right. Asking for help in paint and body here...
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=441221

I may end up trying a different cowl panel. Anyway, it looks like a truck again. Couple things to tighten and adjust yet, then cleaning, masking and onward to high fill poly primer and block sanding.

[67chevylongbed]

Looking good, I love the color choice it's going to look great!

[JasonBird]

Originally Posted by hgs_notes

Anyway, it looks like a truck again.

and a darn nice truck at that!!

[Dieselwrencher]

Very nice job. Do you plan on edging everything and rehanging all the panels, or spray it all off the truck, then assembling it?

[VA72C10]

Looking good and that color is going to look great!

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by 67chevylongbed

Looking good, I love the color choice it's going to look great!

Kind of strange to think about, but I've had the color picked in my head for over 20 years, but didn't know what code it would match. Back in about 1989 I almost bought a 69 chevy shortbed 4x4 from my friends neighbor that was this color, except faded a bunch. He was the original owner and was thinking about trading it in, but they would only give him $3300 for it. It was in excellent condition, with very few modifications, and the owner had all of the original parts, etc. He ended up keeping it for a while and I got discharged and moved. I loved that truck. I even told my wife I'd sell what I had to buy it.

Originally Posted by JasonBird

and a darn nice truck at that!!

Thanks.

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Very nice job. Do you plan on edging everything and rehanging all the panels, or spray it all off the truck, then assembling it?

I plan on doing all the prep work assembled, mark the mounting points for the fenders and pull it apart except for the doors. Then paint the firewall and inside of the hood and fenders, the cowl and the A pillars. Then re-assemble and take it to the body shop for the external paint job. I'm still not sure how I'm going to do the back of the cab and front of the bed though. I'll probably talk to the painter about how to handle that.

Originally Posted by VA72C10

Looking good and that color is going to look great!

Thanks. It's getting close enough now to make me really anxious. It's been in various stages of primer and rust since about 1987, the year I met my wife. My smile when I got the Jimmy running a couple weeks ago will be a pale, dreary, sour puss face compared to the grin I'll have plastered on my mug for days after this one finally sees paint. I had to go out to the garage tonight to get something and I took an extra minute to stare at it as it is now. It's actually all one color for the very first time in over 20 years.

[Dieselwrencher]

Very nice, that must feel great to finally sit back and enjoy what is so close to the final stage! Congrats!

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Very nice, that must feel great to finally sit back and enjoy what is so close to the final stage! Congrats!

Yes. Yes it does.

Had some time this afternoon so I tried to get the cowl lined up ok. The wiper nubs were pushing it one way and it needed to go the other. I tried a different cowl first and it was only a slightly better fit. I figured if I was going to have to work it some, I should probably stick with the primered one with out an antenna hole.

I started with just clearancing the wiper nub holes a bit, and it helped a lot, but it could be better. So I pulled it off again and took off one of the wiper nubs to see how I could get it over about an 1/8" or more. The problem is that the hole is tapered and the support plate for the nub is a tapered hole to match. So I drilled out the holes in the cowl part to 1/4", put in a 1/4" bolt with a washer, got a nut on the back side and tightened it to flatten it out. I took out the bolt, re-drilled the hole, and it was now flat, so I could move the wiper nub a bit. I clearance the hole in the cowl the nub sticks though also. This was enough, but if I wanted to go further I would just have to drill a bit bigger.


You can see in the pic where the small screws are supposed to hold the cowl panel, there is a black marker dot by where the hole should be to line up with the holes in the panel. Thats how far I had to move it, almost 1/4". Must have been a problem with the cab, because 2 different panels fit the same and they fit my jimmy just fine.

Anyway, I clearanced out the upper holes so the little stamped nut thing could move to the side and let the screw through. I'll drill new holes for the lower screws by the hood later. I had to beat the snot out of the pass side to get it to line up with the windshield post. Overall, it fits pretty good now, and only I will notice the holes around the wiper nubs are a little off.

[tkeduk8r]

Awesome progress!!! Very jealous.. The color will look outstanding!!!
--Mike

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by tkeduk8r

Awesome progress!!! Very jealous.. The color will look outstanding!!!
--Mike

Thanks. I had a small sample of this paint, and decided now was a good time to make sure it's what I want. I also had a small detail spray gun I wanted to try out to make sure it's working ok. And I had a plastic model kit to try everything out on. It looks great, the wife confirms, and I have a kit to put together...



And just so I can say it, I have some color on my truck. (glove box door hinge)...

[67chevy1series]

that is a nice lookin color looks like mike bradburys trucks color

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by 67chevy1series

that is a nice lookin color looks like mike bradburys trucks color

It is the same 511 code turquoise poly as his. I've looked at just about every version of teal or turquoise out there and like this one the best. I like the metalic, it's not too green or too dark.

[hgs_notes]

Spent another hour or so finishing the bodywork on the hood. I just had a few dimples to fill and sand down. I had a ding on the fender from a ladder tipping into it, so I fixed that. There was a little spot on the pass side of the cowl, just below the windshield post I filled so it looked smoother. I quit for the day though to make some fresh homemade fajitas and spend more time with the family. I have to go to Omaha (actually Blair) NE tomorrow.

If I'm up early I think I'll get the final coat of epoxy primer on the hood and the other spots I touched up. Yesterday I picked up some masking supplies. This week I'm going to get some car dollies so it is easier to move the truck around in the garage. Maybe next weekend I'll spray some high fill primer and start blocking it out.

[hgs_notes]

Before I started the blocking stage, I had a sagging hood I wanted to correct. Another member had used an extra piece of hood brace and I'm copting his idea. I don't remember which build it was, but thanks to him anyway.

For $20 I got a 28" piece of hood brace shipped to me.


I made a cardboard template to get the crown of the hood profile, then just used a couple clamps and blocks of wood to pull the middle of the brace down to match it. You can kinda see it in the pic.


I got it fit into place around the worst of the sag and welded it to the other braces.


Did a little cleaning and sprayed some more epoxy primer on it. I think it looks pretty good. Once it's painted and the padding gets put back in, it should give enough support to keep the middle of the hood a bit more stable and should correct most of the sag.


Once the hood dries, I'm going to get it mounted onto the hinges and adjusted. Then get the whole truck cleaned up and get some high fill primer on it.

[1956cameo]

Even with me following your Jimmy build, AND you having this build in your signature I can't believe I have never run across this build before. It's looking good!

[Dieselwrencher]

Great work!

[VA72C10]

Nice job on the hood. Really looking forward to seeing it all together in high build (one color) But I'm sure as much as all of us want to see it.....you want to see it about a million times more

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by 1956cameo

Even with me following your Jimmy build, AND you having this build in your signature I can't believe I have never run across this build before. It's looking good!

Thank you. This is just your typical rebuild, not a lot of custom flavor so it doesn't get a lot of attention, nor should it. But it is the one that is most important to me.

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Great work!

Thanks.

Originally Posted by VA72C10

Nice job on the hood. Really looking forward to seeing it all together in high build (one color) But I'm sure as much as all of us want to see it.....you want to see it about a million times more

I've had this truck since about 1984 and it has been in different stages of primer since 1987. I was one of the early ones to have the daily driver lowered and in black primer. Been there, done that. Now it's time for paint.

I was working on my other project today though. I started a 72 longbed also...




Just needs some wheels and tires and a little suspension work.

I did wander out to the garage today though and got the hood back on the truck and pretty well adjusted. I might need a different hinge on the pass side though, it's sticking up a bit and I've got it adjusted as far as it'll go. I'll start washing the whole truck this week in prep for the high build.

[VA72C10]

You probably have...but have you already tried the two hinge tricks

1) Spray the joints with Wd40

2) Slightly Loosen the bolts and have someone lift the hood as high as it will go in the front. Have them hold the hood there and then tighten down the bolts.

Originally Posted by hgs_notes

Thank you. This is just your typical rebuild, not a lot of custom flavor so it doesn't get a lot of attention, nor should it. But it is the one that is most important to me.


Thanks.


I've had this truck since about 1984 and it has been in different stages of primer since 1987. I was one of the early ones to have the daily driver lowered and in black primer. Been there, done that. Now it's time for paint.

I was working on my other project today though. I started a 72 longbed also...




Just needs some wheels and tires and a little suspension work.

I did wander out to the garage today though and got the hood back on the truck and pretty well adjusted. I might need a different hinge on the pass side though, it's sticking up a bit and I've got it adjusted as far as it'll go. I'll start washing the whole truck this week in prep for the high build.

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

You probably have...but have you already tried the two hinge tricks

1) Spray the joints with Wd40

2) Slightly Loosen the bolts and have someone lift the hood as high as it will go in the front. Have them hold the hood there and then tighten down the bolts.

Tried it. I might have to adjust the cowl up slightly on that side. It's really pretty close. It'll do for now.

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by hgs_notes

Thanks Scott. I guess the only thing I've done different is I've been doing the filler work on bare metal then spraying the epoxy over the panel. Someone told me to do it that way, don't remember who now.

I've come so far, yet there is still so much to do.

It depends on who you ask. I sandblasted everything, epoxied, then did body work.. Being that people have been putting body work on bare metal for EVER, im sure either way is going to be perfectly fine.

Originally Posted by Ipaintgrt

When I have body work areas, I spray with 3 medium wet coats of primer. Then guide coat (lightly mist with rattle can) with a dark color, then block with 150. If there are any problems you will see it while you are blocking the guide coat. After your issues are fixed, or if it blocks out OK, then recoat with 2 more coats of Primer. Guide coat it, Then block with 320. You should be ready for Paint. So now you will apply 2 coats of sealer, then your paint. Bare metal parts should be epoxy primed before you prime or do body work. Usually after they are sandblasted, then epoxy prime them. Epoxy primer is a good corrosion/adhesion promoter, but a very bad filler. If you have to sand Epoxy Primer use some wax and grease remover and wet sand it with 400 and it will not gum up the sand paper. Your build looks great. Good luck Scott

That is all good information. The ONLY thing i would add or change is the final grit being 320. If it is going to be a flat color like white or black, then i would make sure that 400 is the MINIMUM that you use. If you are going with a metallic paint, you will want it to be 600-800 grit. That way the metallics do not lay down in the sand marks.

Besides that, you have this thing pretty much NAILED!!!!




One other question. how is the floor in the garage holding up. Has it peeled anywhere? Before you did the floor did you ever have oil on the floor??? I really REALLY want to do that but want first hand experience.

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by lyrikz

It depends on who you ask. I sandblasted everything, epoxied, then did body work.. Being that people have been putting body work on bare metal for EVER, im sure either way is going to be perfectly fine.

I think so too. The only places I'm having any issues is where a regular primer was on it, then I went over it with epoxy. The epoxy is tougher and in a couple little spots, like where I'm bolting something on, the older primer will chip or crack and take the epoxy with it. I'm not worried about it though.

That is all good information. The ONLY thing i would add or change is the final grit being 320. If it is going to be a flat color like white or black, then i would make sure that 400 is the MINIMUM that you use. If you are going with a metallic paint, you will want it to be 600-800 grit. That way the metallics do not lay down in the sand marks.

Besides that, you have this thing pretty much NAILED!!!!

Thanks, and I will be using a metallic, so more sanding for me! Yippeeee!

One other question. how is the floor in the garage holding up. Has it peeled anywhere? Before you did the floor did you ever have oil on the floor??? I really REALLY want to do that but want first hand experience.

The floor is doing well. The only places it came off is where a chunk of the concrete that didn't chip out during cleaning broke out. I had one or two of those. I can fill and touch up later. My floor has had gallons of oil on it, seriously, sometimes all at once. All I can tell you is clean, clean and then clean it again.

It's dirty now, just needs mopped.