Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Yeah, this is sounding more like a "clean it up and drive it" project by the minute! (Chuckle, snort, chuckle) Should I order some Al's for the underside of the cab? (actually not a bad idea) What color base should I order? Has the interior guy got an open spot in May? (Wink, wink, nudge, nudge, say no more)

Yeah, I'm eatin' it now.

[Low Elco]

It's ok, we all understand. Hope my envy isn't showing too bad.
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[Low Elco]

Hey Vic, Have you found a bed? I kinda remember Bob having some nice parts on hand.

Are you wanting to do the blasting pre or post new floor, or while it's open? Just wondering, I'm bored.

Also, not to be a nosy prick or anything, since we're talkin' blasting, what are ya gonna do now? Epoxy primer sounds great in theory, but gets sketchy on a daily. What about that Hot Rod Flatz paint? It's UV stablilzed and comes in something other than black. Everyone does black. Hrrmmmmm. You'd think this was my damn truck! Tell me to go away if I'm a bother. I'm just stoked, I like slammed beat-around trucks.

Oh, I found a guy in Columbia that will polish a full set of wheels for $100 if they're stripped to bare aluminum. Flyin' Ryan says he does good work, he has Ryan's blower and custom bike exhaust now. You don't even have to pull the tires. I'm gonna have him do some on LBT if you wanna chuck yours in as well.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Hey Vic, Have you found a bed? I kinda remember Bob having some nice parts on hand.

Bob had four long beds last time I was there but I have no idea what he wants for them. A couple are fairly nice (not very rusty/dented) the other two would take a lot more work.

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Are you wanting to do the blasting pre or post new floor, or while it's open? Just wondering, I'm bored.

Probably while it's open. I hate trying to TIG metal that still has rust pits in the area. Spits back on the tungsten. I plan to remove most/all of the floor and weld in 1X1 tubing to brace it, blast away all visible rust and then see what kind of a mess I have fitting the new floor.

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Also, not to be a nosy prick or anything, since we're talkin' blasting, what are ya gonna do now? Epoxy primer sounds great in theory, but gets sketchy on a daily. What about that Hot Rod Flatz paint? It's UV stablilzed and comes in something other than black. Everyone does black. Hrrmmmmm. You'd think this was my damn truck! Tell me to go away if I'm a bother. I'm just stoked, I like slammed beat-around trucks.

Well, I'd been planning on using black epoxy as the base then covering it with clear flat urethane, but I'm open to suggestions. One of the things I'm picky about is door jambs. If I did a color, I know I'd end up taping and squirting the jambs. With black epoxy, the inner stuff that doesn't see much sunlight can live without the clear topcoat. Mostly an issue of laziness (plus a little bit $$$). Whatever I do, it will have a flat topcoat so I can do it here and not have to outsource. Plus, I'm waaaay over sanding and polishing paint.

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Oh, I found a guy in Columbia that will polish a full set of wheels for $100 if they're stripped to bare aluminum. Flyin' Ryan says he does good work, he has Ryan's blower and custom bike exhaust now. You don't even have to pull the tires. I'm gonna have him do some on LBT if you wanna chuck yours in as well.

Mine don't look like they've ever had a coating, just raw aluminum. They're dirty as all get out, but would probably clean up with a little effort. Or, we could have Mark hit them with the media, then take 'em for the shine. Three tires are shot and one is brand new, so I'll have to pony up for the ones I need to match the good one. I'd planned on dismounting all four, blasting and powdercoating the wheels then mount/balance the tires, but that's way cheap for polishing. I'm in if you plan to do LBT.

[Vic1947]

Well, CRLS has a fleetside bed courtesy of Craigslist. Just got back from Olathe where I checked it out and tendered cash. It's a longbed, so I'll have to section it and convert it to a shorty, but the price was right. It has no rust and minimal dents/holes, plus it comes with a decent tailgate and lights. Probably be a couple of weeks before I can get it if the weatherman is correct. They're calling for another foot of snow Monday nite into Tuesday. Will have to wait for it to melt to gain access. Seller has a trailer and offered to deliver which is very helpful. Plenty to do in the meanwhile.

[Low Elco]

WoooWoooo! Progress! Bed looks solid!
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[67cheby]

looks like a fun project !

[Vic1947]

After a few days of working on OPS (other people's stuff) I'm back on CRLS. I ordered some inner door bottoms recently and decided I'd fit them into place prior to hauling the sheetmetal to the metal blaster recommended by Chip. That way, they can media blast the inside of the door skin which will make it much easier to install the patch panels.

I'm still on the fence about whether to weld the panels in or use panel adhesive. Ordered a small MIG welder today from Eastwood which I plan to use when shortening the bed and if it works reasonably well, I may weld the door panels with it as well. Part of my dilemma is that Duramix was bought out by 3M and their adhesives are now as rare as a North Korean chicken. Naturally, the 3M cartridges won't fit the $60 Duramix applicator I have. At least my paint store guys said if I buy the 3M adhesive, they will loan/rent the applicator. Decisions, decisions!

Anyway, below are some pics of a surgically removed lower door bottom and the panel in various stages of trial fit. With the weather improving daily, I need to finish up some of this prep work because it won't be long before the Craigslist longbed arrives.

[Low Elco]

I was gonna say, I'd heard "rumors" of alleged "work" at your place! Fit up looks real good! Only trouble I've heard of with bonding is differing expansion rates of the 2 parts can give you a woogie in your paint later. I'd weld, but that's me. Looks great!
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[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

I was gonna say, I'd heard "rumors" of alleged "work" at your place! Fit up looks real good! Only trouble I've heard of with bonding is differing expansion rates of the 2 parts can give you a woogie in your paint later. I'd weld, but that's me. Looks great!
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I can certainly weld it, was just looking for a way to avoid the warpage that seems to always accompany it. I know adhesives have gained in popularity, both at the factory and in the aftermarket. However, most applications include folding over the door skin lip for added mechanical strength. I don't have that luxury as the existing crimped lip in that area wasn't in very good shape and couldn't be worked back to 90 deg. What does remain could be welded, possibly. I hadn't heard about any paint issues with adhesives. I know fiberglass is prone to showing repairs down the road. However, not sure if two layers of sheetmetal with a bonding adhesive sandwiched between would behave badly later on. No data in the personal experience bank.

[sduckworth13]

Lol, Vic just noticed thats my old parts truck. I have the cab to that truck in my garage, I'm restoring it. Roy.. the guy you bought that bed from is my buddy, he is a good guy. I'm supposed to help him with the truck this weekend.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by sduckworth13

Lol, Vic just noticed thats my old parts truck. I have the cab to that truck in my garage, I'm restoring it. Roy.. the guy you bought that bed from is my buddy, he is a good guy. I'm supposed to help him with the truck this weekend.

That's pretty cool, Scott! You're right ...Roy is a good guy. He gave us the nickel tour of the garage in the photo you posted. His cinnamon colored truck (not shown) was also very nice. I felt lucky to run across this bed. It's in much nicer shape than any I've seen up to this point. Should work great for my purposes. You'll get to see it again when I post progress pics. From what Roy told me, the cab was in mint condition. Wish mine were better, but with a bit of elbow grease, it should end up okay.

[Low Elco]

Ha, small world!

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Ha, small world!

Ain't it though!

[sduckworth13]

Roy loves these trucks also, he has two short beds and one he needs to finish. Here is one them.
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[sduckworth13]

Glad to know it was you that picked the bed up Vic, I seen your silver truck build and you definitely do amazing work. I thought that cab I have was in good shape till I started looking at it and removed the rockers, it got ugly after that.
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[Low Elco]

Likey the black one!
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[71restomod]

Originally Posted by Vic1947

Picked up this short stepside on January 13th in 20 degree weather. Drove it about 15 white knuckle miles to get it to the house where it now sits awaiting some sort of rebuild. I'm determined to use it as a daily driver and not over restore it like my other truck. Like many 40+ year old trucks, it has lots of problems. My goal is to address the safety and reliability issues as well as the sheetmetal shortcomings. I doubt it will get anything other than a good coat of epoxy primer and I currently have no plans to convert it to discs or 5 lugs. I will post progress reports as they occur, so follow along if you like.

personally I don't like stepsides but I think this truck could be really cool! cant wait to see whats next! maybe a small tuneup and some adjustments here and there

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by 71restomod

personally I don't like stepsides but I think this truck could be really cool! cant wait to see whats next! maybe a small tuneup and some adjustments here and there

My other truck is a stepside, so this one will be converted to a short fleet, but other than that and a few tweaks to the interior, it will remain essentially as you see it.

[Vic1947]

While yanking the (Ford) bucket seats out of CRLS today, I got a good look at the floor patch panel craftsmanship of a PO. I was particularly taken with the inner rocker panel sandwich and how it flaps in the wind. Any questions why I'm replacing the entire floor? Yeah, yeah, I know ...some would say it looks solid, but I really don't want anyone thinking I had a hand in this mess.

[Low Elco]

HooooWeeeeee, that's niiiice!
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[Xeen]

Good grief now I see why you didn't even think twice about replacing the whole floor.

[RatRod68]

Since you are replacing that whole floor, you can simply send me those patch pieces lol

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by RatRod68

Since you are replacing that whole floor, you can simply send me those patch pieces lol

I'll be performing surgery to remove the floor panels and outer rockers in the very near future. You're welcome to the floor patches and the driver rocker panel if you really want them, but I gotta say, they've been hacked / beat pretty seriously.

[Low Elco]

Nice supports! BTW, LBT and the trailer are finally out of the snow and ready when you are. Sounds like you're gonna need the bed dolly soon!
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