69 Custom 30 wrecker restoration

[bobs409]

Thanks guys.

For the past few weeks, I've been eating body filler dust! I just love getting covered in filler dust when it's in the 90's and humid!

Working steadily on it but getting a bit nervous about time. It's the middle of July already!!!

Should be spraying paint in a few weeks...

[mjensen]

Wow...what an undertaking! You're doing a great job! Can't wait to see paint on this beast!

[bobs409]

I’m still playing catch up with this build. All of this happened quite some time ago…

Ok, its test fit of the top rails now in photo #1 & #2. Looking pretty good! I decided to plug weld these on from the outside rather than trying to weld up behind the back sides as they were originally. A few holes drilled in the outer edge will accomplish that.

Shown in photo #3 are the original aluminum I.D. tags from the wrecker upright and controls. As you can see, they are in terrible condition so until I come up with a way to restore them, I’ll leave them off. Ideas gladly accepted!

Photo #4 & #5 shows the new top rails welded on and the body work started. Here I’m skim coating the panels to remove any defects. I use Rage Gold for any known low areas and then Icing for the final skim coat on the full panel. It may look bad but this is the ONLY way to get laser straight panels. This is how the pro’s do the high end builds so if it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for me.

Once the panels are skimmed and blocked out using 80 grit sand paper, then I go up to 180 grit. Two to three coats of a 2K urethane high build primer will be applied next and then a black guide coat fogged on. (actually I use cheap Walmart flat black paint, it works exactly the same and A LOT cheaper!) It will then be blocked out with 320 and any “lows” fixed with Icing. Another hit of high build after that and then blocked out from 320 to 400 and up to 600 just prior to paint. It’s a process but the end result will make it all worth it.

[bobs409]

The first photo shows the back outer box all skimmed and blocked out. The second photo shows 2-3 coats of the high build primer applied.

In photo #3 & #4 the high build has now been “leveled” using 320 grit sand paper on a long sanding block. The panels are now completely flat and ultra smooth! I will go over all panels with 600 grit wet sand a day or two prior to painting. Now I just have to get the rest of the truck to this point!

[bobs409]

The first photo shows the second coat of high build primer (gray this time) as well as a fog of black cheap Walmart paint. This will get block sanded out with 320, 400 then 600 grit. If I’m able to sand all the black off and not hit metal, we’re almost ready for paint!

Second photo shows the fenders getting the same treatment only up on modified saw horses. All panels go through the same process.

Third photo shows I was able to sand all the black off and not hit metal. This panel is done, on to the rest…

[bobs409]

First photo shows the box floor all cleaned up and ready for POR. I never thought this box would get done! Many hours and a few wire brushes get the floor to this stage. Second photo shows the POR paint just put on. Later, I top coated with their Tie coat primer. (last photo)

[bobs409]

The box is ready for some paint! It’s time to remove it one last time so I can paint the front & back of cab.