Project: DIY '68

[tune_1]

Looking Good. I like that you were able to keep your father's truck. Has more history than one that you picked up somewhere..

Dwight

[seth7843]

Those are very similar goals to my C20. I'm also looking for steel wheels to replace my split rims. So far I have found newer Ford Econoline wheels fit perfectly, don't have the nubs for hub caps, and are relatively cheap. For 67' caps I will just have to switch over the clips. Keep up the good work!

[Mac93]

Originally Posted by tune_1

Looking Good. I like that you were able to keep your father's truck. Has more history than one that you picked up somewhere..

Dwight

That was the first pickup we fixed up together.

Originally Posted by seth7843

Those are very similar goals to my C20. I'm also looking for steel wheels to replace my split rims. So far I have found newer Ford Econoline wheels fit perfectly, don't have the nubs for hub caps, and are relatively cheap. For 67' caps I will just have to switch over the clips. Keep up the good work!

So with those nubs that the hub caps attach to, do they vary between years to accommodate for different hub cap styles?

[Mac93]

Made a patch panel for a section of the drivers side kick panel and floor. Not a masterpiece but it will get the job done. Make sure to leave the braces that run along the floor on the underside! A rubber mallet shapes the metal nicely without leaving the dents like metal hammers do (even though its on the floor and it will get covered up..). Also installed the core support today so I could see some progress on the front end.

[mcbassin]

Very nice looking project. You made the bed and frame shortening look easy. Keep up the good work. Subscribed.

[Mac93]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Very nice looking project. You made the bed and frame shortening look easy. Keep up the good work. Subscribed.

Thanks, mcbassin!

Started work on the passenger side patch. Same routine as drivers side, but just ran out of wire and gas. Off to the store in the AM.

[Mac93]

Got the drivers side outer rocker in the mail, unwrapped it and the power is out..wind gusts probably knocked some lines down. So broke out the auto body icing and filled in some low spots instead.

[Mac93]

Today I didn't start on the rocker replacement.. Wanted to get the body panels finished up and ready for primer instead. Both doors, driver fender, hood, and bumper are ready for primer. Pass. fender is waiting for the lower cupped patch panel (below the battery) to arrive. Got the spreader bars scuffed up and painted. Used the engine enamel for these, with the hopes the paint wont burn off after a while. FYI, before starting a shop heater, remove all the sand paper pieces off the top of it (I know, who wouldn't?). Otherwise you will smell something burning a few minutes later and look over to see the pieces of paper on fire and flaming pieces floating around the shop..doh!

[Mac93]

Tackled the project of removing the outer rocker on the drivers side and preparing it to be placed on tomorrow.

[Mac93]

While I let some paint dry, Ill post the progress. Cut out a rusted section of the inner rocker, made a patch for that and tacked it in. Also when I was taking the old outer rocker out yesterday, I got a little too crazy with the grinder and cut too deep and thru the cab, down in the drivers side cab corner area so I tacked that back together. I found out the replacement outer rocker didn't fit right so made some relief cuts to make it work. Drilled out the holes in it so I can tack it into place. Holes are drilled 2"-4" apart depending on the location.

[Mac93]

So I drilled the holes out to 3/16" to have enough area that I could make a good "spot weld". I drilled out the holes on the bottom of the outer rocker and when I put it up, I noticed daylight...whoops... Nothing to weld to there.. So I found out I drilled those holes too low so I got to go back and fill them in. All the other holes I drilled would work luckily. For the bottom, I decided to just spot weld from under the cab, onto the outer rocker patch (if that makes sense). I'd say everything came out okay, now the true test is to see if the door fits when I put it on (hopefully its not too bad). That's enough for the night.

[Mac93]

Could pics of the rocker welded in.

[mcbassin]

Nice work on the rockers Mac93. I'm sure you already know, but just in case. You should probably try your doors once you get your rockers installed. I fit mine a few times, thought I was good to go. I ended up after paint I had a clearance issue with the bottom of the door on the passenger side. It just contacted the rocker, even with the gap around the door perfect. It's like the rocker comes up too high or the radius is different?

Anyway, as you know the aftermarket panels leave a lot to be desired for sure. Keep up the good work.

[Mac93]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Nice work on the rockers Mac93. I'm sure you already know, but just in case. You should probably try your doors once you get your rockers installed. I fit mine a few times, thought I was good to go. I ended up after paint I had a clearance issue with the bottom of the door on the passenger side. It just contacted the rocker, even with the gap around the door perfect. It's like the rocker comes up too high or the radius is different?

Anyway, as you know the aftermarket panels leave a lot to be desired for sure. Keep up the good work.

Before pulling the doors off, I drilled a small pilot hole to use as an alignment spot. I got the doors fitted, and the lines didn't match up. So did some tinkering and got it set where I can live with it. The door was hitting on the rocker in one spot, where I made a patch on the door. Took a grinder and lightly ground it down to fit w/o taking too much. After I ground down a little, I took a black sharpie and colored over the place where the door was hitting the rocker, shut the door, opened it and saw the black was still there, so no more hitting!

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by Mac93

Before pulling the doors off, I drilled a small pilot hole to use as an alignment spot. I got the doors fitted, and the lines didn't match up. So did some tinkering and got it set where I can live with it. The door was hitting on the rocker in one spot, where I made a patch on the door. Took a grinder and lightly ground it down to fit w/o taking too much. After I ground down a little, I took a black sharpie and colored over the place where the door was hitting the rocker, shut the door, opened it and saw the black was still there, so no more hitting!

Sounds like you already have it lined out. It sucks when you hit fresh new paint .
I like the hinge trick too. I have always used that too. Keep up the good work.

[Mac93]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Sounds like you already have it lined out. It sucks when you hit fresh new paint .
I like the hinge trick too. I have always used that too. Keep up the good work.

Thanks for the encouragement!

Today I laid some body filler around where I made the patch panels on both kick panels (The pics are not the finished product). Also got my pass. fender patch panel. Got it taped up and ready to be cut tomorrow.

[kxmotox247]

Looks good! I've got to do a fender cup on my other truck so I'll stay tuned.

I did inner and outer rockers on my truck and had to do relief cuts like you did. Supposedly I bought the premium outers. I'd hate to see the ones that weren't premium.

[Mac93]

Originally Posted by kxmotox247

Looks good! I've got to do a fender cup on my other truck so I'll stay tuned.

I did inner and outer rockers on my truck and had to do relief cuts like you did. Supposedly I bought the premium outers. I'd hate to see the ones that weren't premium.

If you decide to order the fender cup, I went through Autoplicity (Same patch as many other sites, but save some $$$) and the patch came out to be $30.53. Their site is a little difficult to navigate, here's a link to the page with the patch http://autoplicity.com/search?searchterms=4143-106-67R I had never ordered from them before, but it arrive 5 days after I ordered it and was packaged nicely.
Even though I had to do the relief cuts, it looks way better than having rusty holes!

[Mac93]

Got my custom "paint booth" set up.

[slowcpe]

Looking good so far.

[kxmotox247]

Originally Posted by Mac93

If you decide to order the fender cup, I went through Autoplicity (Same patch as many other sites, but save some $$$) and the patch came out to be $30.53. Their site is a little difficult to navigate, here's a link to the page with the patch http://autoplicity.com/search?searchterms=4143-106-67R I had never ordered from them before, but it arrive 5 days after I ordered it and was packaged nicely.
Even though I had to do the relief cuts, it looks way better than having rusty holes!

Thanks! I've never ordered from that site.

[Mac93]

Sprayed a few panels tonight. Had to heat the shop for quite a while to get the metal warmed up. For the primer, I did 4 parts paint, 1 part hardener and 10% reducer.

[Mac93]

Yesterday it was sunny, no wind, and 50 outside. Rolled some body panels out, let them soak up some sun and shot primer on them. Today, woke up with snow on the ground and its still coming..winter weather advisory they said. SO, today have been shooting the backside of the hood, driver fender, bumper, grille, and cowl.

[Mac93]

Got the headers put on the other day, trying to do one thing or two on the front end every day or so just so when I'm ready to start assembling the front end, there's less to do and hopefully the paint wont get so scratched up. Been sanding the front of the doors, hood and drivers fender with 320grit. Started scuffing the cab so it can be ready for primer. Temps are suppose to be low teens and negatives over the next few days so no priming/painting...probably..

[Mac93]

Before....After! Installed the new gauge bezel, lens, and cleaned 46 years of dirt and grime. Defiantly worth the interment, looks much cleaner now.