53 Surburban "Family Truckster"

[FarmerSid]

Slick! Frame looks great.

[Advanced Design]

Looks very nice. Was the CAD file off or is there variation in the frames?

[ChuckDriver]

Frame is looking good! Do you think it would be beneficial to add a gusset to the body mounts?

My PB parts have a nice brown "patina" to them now due to the awesome humidity here in the south!

Are you planning to paint the frame or powder coat it?

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by ChuckDriver

Frame is looking good! Do you think it would be beneficial to add a gusset to the body mounts?

My PB parts have a nice brown "patina" to them now due to the awesome humidity here in the south!

Are you planning to paint the frame or powder coat it?

It wouldn't hurt but I'm not sure it's necessary. This is the stock piece with just a little material removed. It is pretty thick metal. It is one of several body mounts.

Yes, I hit my parts with a wire wheel on my grinder and the parts look nice. I will rub some oil on them to preserve them until I get primer on them. I plan to paint the frame. I like powder coat but I like the idea of being able to repaint if I make a repair or change.

Marc

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Looks very nice. Was the CAD file off or is there variation in the frames?

Some of it was the file and some of it was how I was measuring it. I call it operator error (on my part)... ha ha

Marc

[69CST-V]

Looks good... You said you were painting the frame so you could touch it up. What about the PB parts? Powder coat or paint?

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by 69CST-V

Looks good... You said you were painting the frame so you could touch it up. What about the PB parts? Powder coat or paint?

I think I will use a combination of paint and powder coat. I have a idea for colors but I'm not sure yet. I did drop the parts off at the stripper today. I'm curious to see how they turn out.

Marc

[ChuckDriver]

Are you going to remove the cab and running board mounts to get better paint coverage?

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by ChuckDriver

Are you going to remove the cab and running board mounts to get better paint coverage?

Are you being serious??? If so, the answer is no. After removing some 60 or so rivit's with what I have done so far I'm not looking to tackle more. I'm not overly concerned. Overall the frame is in great shape.

Marc

[whiteheadcycle]

Originally Posted by youngrodder

Are you being serious??? If so, the answer is no. After removing some 60 or so rivit's with what I have done so far I'm not looking to tackle more. I'm not overly concerned. Overall the frame is in great shape.

Marc

Good call! I removed all mine and is was not fun!!!

[Advanced Design]

They can be made really clean looking. Be interesting to see which way you go as I am kicking around ideas for mine with a couple friends. I really like the look Superflysteiney did on Cheap Tricks.

[Advanced Design]

Clean look! I like the black out on accessory drive. Man, I've spent too much time on accessory drives lately.... Will you be using the F car accessory drive Marc?

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Clean look! I like the black out on accessory drive. Man, I've spent too much time on accessory drives lately.... Will you be using the F car accessory drive Marc?

Yes, Doug you should be teaching a college course called LS1 accessories in the modern world..JK. I will us the F-body accessories them if they work. Whatever I use they will be black in color. On my 48 I used an accessory drive from Steer & Performance. It is nice quality but I grew tired of polishing the billet. That is why I ended up painting them black.

Marc

[youngrodder]

Well I picked up the metal on Wednesday from the stripper (inset joke here). It turned out great. The old frame cleaned up nicely. I took the frame and various pieces to the my painter so that I could use his booth to get all of the pieces covered with epoxy primer. This way I can finish mocking up the frame without it rusting. The bare metal has a coating on it that needs to be rinsed off before you can prim or paint. Good thing for me it is still 40 degrees in Michigan.

On with the pics...

[youngrodder]

My painter Jim is working on some pretty cool projects. A 60's bronco II. Another one is this Chevelle. It has a 2012 Camaro drivetrain and interior. It also sports a custom rear independent suspension. There is also a cool 48 Fo$d sedan. It has a mild tasteful chop. There where too many parts stacked around it to get any pics.

if we don't get the ice storm that the area is suppose to get I will go pick up all of there pieces tomorrow.

Marc

[Advanced Design]

Originally Posted by youngrodder

My painter Jim is working on some pretty cool projects. A 60's bronco II. Another one is this Chevelle. It has a 2012 Camaro drivetrain and interior. It also sports a custom rear independent suspension. There is also a cool 48 Fo$d sedan. It has a mild tasteful chop. There where too many parts stacked around it to get any pics.

if we don't get the ice storm that the area is suppose to get I will go pick up all of there pieces tomorrow.

Marc

I hope you guys don't get the ice storm! Those clean and painted parts will be nice to work with. Ready, set, go!

[99 to Life]

I got hit with ice tonight. Hey marc, been in your shoes with the welder. I bought a 90amp craftsman years ago (things pretty good for small stuff) needed a bigger welder and looked on CL, every time a good deal came up I had no money or someone bought it. I finally just put a Eastwood 175 on my CC which you can't beat the price. I used it for a bit, had problems with the gas solenoid a few times, but other than that it works great. I bought a used Hobart and I use that the most. For me, I need back up welders for 1. I have several working locations, so tools spread way out, and 2. if one goes down its nice to not ruin your whole work day bc you need a welder. I'v had a tig on my radar for a while, that's next. but then you need another tank and more space and the list goes on.

[Coach529]

I need to buy a welder......I always borrow one from work.

Leaning towards a Hobart 140 since it is rated for 1/4", but a bigger 220vac machine would be nice.

Those stripped parts look great!!

[ptc]

I found this setup on ebay for $800 and I am really happy with it all so far. Its does all the work for anything going on with these trucks.

I am welding 3/8" with it and not even at full blast! it works well.

http://www.eastwood.com/mig175-and-v...FQErHwodE1QNEw

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

I got hit with ice tonight. Hey marc, been in your shoes with the welder. I bought a 90amp craftsman years ago (things pretty good for small stuff) needed a bigger welder and looked on CL, every time a good deal came up I had no money or someone bought it. I finally just put a Eastwood 175 on my CC which you can't beat the price. I used it for a bit, had problems with the gas solenoid a few times, but other than that it works great. I bought a used Hobart and I use that the most. For me, I need back up welders for 1. I have several working locations, so tools spread way out, and 2. if one goes down its nice to not ruin your whole work day bc you need a welder. I'v had a tig on my radar for a while, that's next. but then you need another tank and more space and the list goes on.

Yea, I was eyeing a Lincoln combo welder (capable of Mig/Tig/Stick) on CL. My wife even approved of the purchase then guilt set in and it sold before I could take a look at it.

Originally Posted by Coach529

I need to buy a welder......I always borrow one from work.

Leaning towards a Hobart 140 since it is rated for 1/4", but a bigger 220vac machine would be nice.

Those stripped parts look great!!

Good to see I'm not the only one. The one I barrow is a Millermatic 150 and my garage is wired for 220 so I would like to get a similar welder as I'm comfortable with this one.

Originally Posted by ptc

I found this setup on ebay for $800 and I am really happy with it all so far. Its does all the work for anything going on with these trucks.

I am welding 3/8" with it and not even at full blast! it works well.

http://www.eastwood.com/mig175-and-v...FQErHwodE1QNEw

Thanks for the tip. Did you get both the welder and plasma for $800? If so that sounds like a great price.

Thanks
Marc

[youngrodder]

I got out in the garage today. Worked on welding shut the inner and outer gas fill hole. I also followed Advanced Design's lead on removing a broken exhaust manifold bolt. I drilled out a nut and slid it over the broken exhaust bolt. I welded it up when I was able to spin it out.

I also started welding closed some of the various holes in the frame.

Marc

[Advanced Design]

Good deal on the broken bolt Marc. That is one I learned from my Dad and relearned from a good friend. Yeah, I had forgotten. Glad it helped you.

Think of your welder as a lifetime use purchase so get a good one. 10 or 12 years ago I bought my Miller for @ $1,500 or so. A non car guy friend of mine asked what I paid for it. "Wow" he said, "will you get that much use out of it? ". Well Chuck, I responded, how much did you spend on golf last year? Oh, about $1,500.....and I still have my welder.

Gotta do something with my gas fill too. I don't remember, did you figure out your tank?

[Iceburgh]

Marc where is the gas filler going to be located?

[Advanced Design]

Sorry Marc, I checked and don't have any extras.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Sorry Marc, I checked and don't have any extras.

Thanks for checking Doug. Back a few years ago I always found all sorts of them at swap meets to $20, but not when you need one. I hate to spend $40.00 on something that I will cut up and only use a little piece.

Marc