55.2-59 Ol' Blue

[dsraven]

this gives me 4.5" of clearance between the rad and the water pump shaft. like said though, this is a frame swap.

[Tempest67]

I can't answer your questions, but nice work on the louvers.

[8man]

Thanks Raven and Tempest.

Raven, I think I'll keep both the old rusty one and the one I just repaired until I can get the cab on the frame with the engine and tranny mounted. Then I can see what clearances I have and then decide on how to best finish this repair.

[8man]

Well, new endeavor for me today. I got a HF paint gun and some Master Coat rustproofing and for the first time in my life, I mixed paint and sprayed it with a gun.

IMG_1831 by Robert Moorman, on Flickr

I used the Master Coat on the Cherokee frame 12 years ago, and it still looks just like it did the day I "brushed" it on. This means there are some brush marks in it, but there is absolutely no rust. So, this time I thought I'd just try spraying it. I think it worked, but the test will be when I do the topcoat to see if it looks good.

A number of the parts are to hold the Cameo bed fiberglass to the steel bed sides. Some is for the frame, like front bumper mounts and some of the rear spring stuff.

Anyway, I can now say "I'll never be a painter!" Painters have a talent I'll never have. Also, I can make a mess so big it takes hours to clean up, but I did like the way the Mastercoat went on.

[Tempest67]

way to go.

I painted with a gun for the first time about 20 years ago, and I enjoyed it. So much that I tried to paint a car, and it worked out fine.

Take your time, don't rush the flash time, and smooth even strokes will give you decent results. (you don't have to cover it with the first coat)

Here is my Lemans in Primer, after Base, after Clear, and finished.

From the prices that I hear that people pay for paint (JUST PAINT) I would start a side business if I had the space.

Congrats, the first time is always the most difficult, now you have done that, you will get better each time.

[8man]

Nice work Tempest!

[8man]

Ok, I bit the bullet and I sprayed the frame.
IMG_1836 by Robert Moorman, on Flickr
I used the MasterCoat system, two coats of their rust proofing and 2 coats of their topcoat. I used it on the Jeep frame, but I brushed it on and threw away the brushes. This time I sprayed it with the HF paint gun. I won't do it again! Clean up was a total PITA! I went through a box of gloves and 3 rolls of paper towels. It took way more time than it should have. Yes, rust is not going to come back. When I did the Jeep, I put some left over on the shredder and there is no rust where I painted it, but it was just too much of a pain.

I will be assembling the frame next.

I got the cab and doors back from Dip and Strip, and they look great. I took some pictures, but between the phone and the computer, they are not showing up so I can post them. I'll get some more to post later today.

I will start welding up the firewall holes, and getting the cab and doors ready for primer, because they are raw steel right now.

Rignt now, I'm taking the original frame and running gear to storage, just in case I ever need it.