Previous owner '68

[raggedjim]

I've also been working on a steering wheel. I think it's out of a Pontiac Lemans but not 100% on that. I do like me some Pontiacs. It's pretty ruff. It is an art project to be sure.

[hewittca]

You're making some great progress!

[raggedjim]

Originally Posted by hewittca

You're making some great progress!

Thanks! I've always enjoyed your builds.

[wpsharpshooter]

Not much grass growing under your feet with this build.

[raggedjim]

Originally Posted by wpsharpshooter

Not much grass growing under your feet with this build.

Trust me, the grass is coming. Didn't do anything with the truck today, my wife kidnapped me to go junking.

[raggedjim]

Cut out the angle strips on the bed. Also removed the steps and front panel. The upper roll of the front panel was full of rust/wasp nests/crap.

[raggedjim]

Who we are...

[raggedjim]

Well, a good friend from my first ship (27 years ago) came and visited me for awhile. We had a great time, but now he is back in Kansas and I'm back in the shop.

I had noticed some rust on the roll of the front panel so I spent some time with the welder to fill in the holes. Some used patch panels, some were small enough to weld up with no patches.

[raggedjim]

I had noticed that the front panel seemed to stick up higher than the bedsides and when I took it off I found that the welded in nut pieces were welded in about a 1/4" off-center. At least they were consistently wrong on both sides.

Took a spot-weld cutter and cut the spot-weld on the threaded plate and then rewelded it in the correct position.

I know, it's bowed, I'll get to that later.

[raggedjim]

While I had the welder out I cut some filler panels for the bed stake pockets and filled those wasp nest havens up.

I have a 12" shear that works great for patch panels, especially on the thicker stuff that is tough to cut with hand shears.

[raggedjim]

Worked on the radiator surround. I know I want to put a filler plate between the support and the grill so I moved the protrusions on the strengthening ribs down to clear the filler plate. Pretty basis cut and weld job. I had done some work on this surround years ago but deemed it unfit for use in one of my trucks. Now I'm older and not so picky, and I am the future previous owner, I have a reputation to live up to! Some bondo and sanding and it will be just fine.

[raggedjim]

I also decided to remove the "points" on the top of the support. I have always hated them. Again, some bondo and paint, it should be good. As you can tell I love bondo (when applied by me).

[zicc1835]

Originally Posted by raggedjim

I had noticed that the front panel seemed to stick up higher than the bedsides and when I took it off I found that the welded in nut pieces were welded in about a 1/4" off-center. At least they were consistently wrong on both sides.

Took a spot-weld cutter and cut the spot-weld on the threaded plate and then rewelded it in the correct position.

I know, it's bowed, I'll get to that later.

Roger,
finally made the time to read through your build thread ...besides the child's play you made out of making that headboard look better than what the General left us with....... the core support mods are awesome ...wish I had your metal work and welding talent ...plus seems like you are setting some speed records with this build running the quarter in the low 9s Im going to keep close eye on what's next appreciate your attention to detail and making tired parts come to life and useful again GREAT BUILD
Jess
Ps I got a thing for Pontiacs of the 48flavor and that medium green color too

[raggedjim]

Originally Posted by zicc1835

Roger,
finally made the time to read through your build thread ...besides the child's play you made out of making that headboard look better than what the General left us with....... the core support mods are awesome ...wish I had your metal work and welding talent ...plus seems like you are setting some speed records with this build running the quarter in the low 9s Im going to keep close eye on what's next appreciate your attention to detail and making tired parts come to life and useful again GREAT BUILD
Jess
Ps I got a thing for Pontiacs of the 48flavor and that medium green color too

Thanks Jess. I do tend to try to save as much as I can, even when I know I would be better off buying repops. But I already know how to bolt things on, I need to try to learn something (even if I learn what I will never do again!) I'm not really very fast at anything, I tend to think too much, but since I retired I have made a point of working on my projects as much as my wife will let me!

And from what I can tell the headboards vary a LOT in their fit.

[72 tigger]

Nice fabrication and welding!

[raggedjim]

Originally Posted by 72 tigger

Nice fabrication and welding!

Thanks Kirk, thank god I have a grinder!

[raggedjim]

What in the name of western Kentucky redneckery is this? Well, I need a bed floor and I happen to have this short fleet bed floor I pulled out of a GMC that I put a different bed on. It isn't a good floor, but it ain't that bad, so I'm going to try to use it.

[raggedjim]

The donor, sold years ago to a guy in Tennessee.

Most guys told me to part it, but do I listen? Nope.

[raggedjim]

Measure, measure measure...

[raggedjim]

Screw it, cut, cut cut!

[raggedjim]

And test fit. Now all I have to do is weld in some side strips, weld up the rust holes, grind down the surface rust, rust treatment, prime, paint, and everything else. Ain't trucks fun?

By the way, the inside edge of the fleetside wheelwells are 50", exactly the width of a stepside bed.

[zicc1835]

you, you , ..... you are good

[raggedjim]

Originally Posted by zicc1835

you, you , ..... you are good

Not good, but I am persistant!

[clay68c10]

I like where this is going.

[raggedjim]

Originally Posted by clay68c10

I like where this is going.

Thanks Clay, I'm hoping to get the bed floor to look good enuff so that one day there will be a guy on here claiming to have a one off Chevrolet prototype steel floor stepside! Most people will never even notice the steel floor, but the real truck guys will.