Blake's 67 GMC stepside build

[rusty76]

Are you TIG welding all this stuff or MIG? It all looks great. I love the fit and finish of it.

[reaper71]

Thank's Doug, it is very time consuming but in the end it helps prevent those annoying pin holes LOL..

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Nice process on the back weld Mark. Looks good!

[reaper71]

To answer that ?
Most of it was Mig welded and some Tig thrown in the mix..Mig is alot faster but builds more heat and material (meaning the weld itself ) to be ground down later.
I did a timed comparison one day and welded an area with both, then did the metal finish. The Tig took longer to do the welding but the grinding and finish were very minimal compared to the MIG.
So at the end of the day you ask yourself would you rather spend more time grinding or under the welding hood?

Originally Posted by rusty76

Are you TIG welding all this stuff or MIG? It all looks great. I love the fit and finish of it.

[reaper71]

Update...

Pic #1. Profile view of firewall..(much better than stock!!! )

Pic #2. The passenger side upper corner had some issues that needed some attention.

Pic #3. The new piece tacked in place.

Pic #4. After welding and finish..

Drivers side next...
Mark...

[rusty76]

Originally Posted by reaper71

To answer that ?
Most of it was Mig welded and some Tig thrown in the mix..Mig is alot faster but builds more heat and material (meaning the weld itself ) to be ground down later.
I did a timed comparison one day and welded an area with both, then did the metal finish. The Tig took longer to do the welding but the grinding and finish were very minimal compared to the MIG.
So at the end of the day you ask yourself would you rather spend more time grinding or under the welding hood?

It all looks great and you are doing a great job. I'm impressed.

[reaper71]

Thank's Rusty76, much appreciated!!

Pic #1. The drivers side rot removal..

Pic #2. New piece tacked in place.

Pic #3. All finished..

Pic #4. Finally in Epoxy primer!!!!!

[RockinKees]

That is some nice metal work!
Looks great!

[Advanced Design]

That does look good Mark. Nice rust repairs and channel looks much better.

[yj4000]

Looks really good all one color. Very nice work. I may have try this when I get started on my truck.

Ryan.

[rusty76]

That looks great.

[swamp rat]

Nice clean look, and if ya wanted to you could still run some wiring thru it if needed.

[reaper71]

Thank you Guy's for the support and continuing to follow the build...
It was a very time intensive project but worth the effort in the long run.

Swamprat....We usually try and get the wires ran behind the fenders to keep them hidden, but like your thinking..

[reaper71]

Update...

Pic #1. The cab in the process of being stripped..

Pic #2. 2nd view.

Pic #3.First look after the paint was removed and Epoxy primer sprayed on..

Pic #4. 2nd view.

Pic #5. A shot of it in the high build primer. (I used Mar-hyde )

[slowcpe]

Wow you make that look easy. Nice progress!

[Advanced Design]

I agree! Good looking place around there too.

[reaper71]

Thank's again Guys...
although the place is not mine it is Dad's as is the shop, I'm fortunate enough to be able to utilize it!!

Update...

Pic #1. Finally getting to the doors.
This is the passenger side as I started the paint stripping..

Pic #2. After stripping was done and wire wheeled.

Pic #3. The front side of door, If you look closely you can notice the multiple holes in the lower section that they had filled with bondo that will need addressed.

Pic #4. Mirror holes being welded up.

Pic #5. And again more Mirror holes this time with some plugs I made.

[yj4000]

Moving right along. Wish my doors were that nice.

Ryan.

[reaper71]

Ryan before you speak to soon....

Pic #1.Here is the bottom section of the door after I did a clean up with the wire wheel...Needs some TLC.

Pic #2. A pic after it was cut open (notice the yummy treat inside)

Pic #3. After the patch work was done and metal finished.

Pic #4. This is the Drivers side. (this was a door from a doner vehicle the stock door was mangled up pretty bad!! )

Till next time..
Mark...

[RockinKees]

That's a nice repair on the door!!

[Advanced Design]

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Nice repair Mark.

[reaper71]

Kees and Doug thank you...

Pic #1. A quick shot of more rot (and new hinges)

Pic #2. And more rot...

Pic #3. Oh yeah....More ROT!!!

Pic #4. The solution was to get a new lower door patch.

Pic #5. Pic of the new piece..

Mark...

[sduckworth13]

Your doing some very difficult repairs, looks great.

[Low Elco]

Great Lookin' stuff, Mark!

[yj4000]

Very nice work. I will need to get the lower patch panels also. I'll be paying close attention.

Ryan.

[reaper71]

Thank's guys....

Pic #1. The first shot of the fitting of new lower section.
(this replacement piece is not the best fitting panel I've seen)

Pic #2. Here is another example of the poor fitment. (The lower hinge section was entirely the wrong shape so I cut it out and will re make it)

Pic #3. Another example of poor fit. (but I can fix it!!)

Pic #4. This is what I had after I cut things apart and then made the flat section fit and welded in place. (You can also notice how I made 3 cuts and moved the metal to match the door shapes and welded)

Pic #5. The 2nd piece that will fill in the opening..

Till next time...

Mark...