Bringing the '65 back to life

[racecougar]

Thanks guys! The best part was seeing Dad stare at it for awhile. This has already been a great build.

[racecougar]

After taking time for a bunch of other projects, we got back to work on the '65 last weekend.

I DA'd the roof...



...while Dad blasted the engine crossmember.



Straightening a lifetime of dents out of the roof panel required judicious use of the stud gun and my "go-to" body hammer. Once it was all worked out, we put it into primer.


I also spent a chunk of time taking care of little details that no one will ever notice, like blending out this little scallop on the engine crossmember. The crossmember and the drip rail around the roof panel are now far smoother, straighter, and more uniform than when they left the factory.



I sealed up the roof seam yesterday afternoon. It should see another coat of primer at some point this weekend.

[Ta2Don]

Looking Great...
Glad to see ya back after it...

[racecougar]

Thanks! It's nice to be back on it.

I sprayed the second coat of primer this afternoon. Time to let it dry, then block it out.

[bj383ss]

Looking good man. I can't get any of your pictures to pull up maybe its my computer. Question for you did you use the 2 part 3M self leveling seam sealer for the roof that goes in the dual caulk gun? And if so did one tube do the whole top? I feel like there isn't enough in the tube to make it around, but I don't want to buy a second one at$35 if I don't need it.

I'm getting ready to do my roof in a couple of weeks on my vacation.

Bret

Never mind got your pictures to work.

[racecougar]

Originally Posted by bj383ss

Looking good man. I can't get any of your pictures to pull up maybe its my computer. Question for you did you use the 2 part 3M self leveling seam sealer for the roof that goes in the dual caulk gun? And if so did one tube do the whole top? I feel like there isn't enough in the tube to make it around, but I don't want to buy a second one at$35 if I don't need it.

I'm getting ready to do my roof in a couple of weeks on my vacation.

Bret

Never mind got your pictures to work.

No, I used the brushable seam sealer that I posted earlier: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&postcount=152

I masked off the drip rail and worked one small section at a time. I'd brush in the seam sealer, then smooth it out with a gloved finger. It worked out quite well. I used toothpicks to keep the four drain holes open until the seam seal cured.

[Bomp]

Roof is looking great. Noted the tooth pick idea for when it comes time to do mine.

[racecougar]

Thanks!

We're getting somewhere with the roof. We spent the day blocking it out, then shot the third coat of primer. We'll see if it needs another coat after it gets blocked out this week.

[racecougar]

Dad went to check out a pair of '64-66 doors from a Craigslist ad this morning. As it turns out, the seller was one of my high school teachers, and he ended up giving us one heck of a deal. The main focus was the passenger door. While it will need some work, its condition is leaps and bounds above that of the original passenger side door. As far as the driver's side is concerned, it's a toss up between this one and the other good door Dad purchased a while back.

[racecougar]

Dad blocked the roof today, then I shot what should be the last coat of primer. It'll hopefully turn gloss white this weekend.

[racecougar]

It was a bit chilly this morning. Rather than heating the shop to be able to paint, I started sanding the back of the cab. Good lord, that's a dusty job!

[racecougar]

The control arm shaft kits arrived from Rock Auto yesterday.


I had planned to set the LCA shafts up in the mill to relocate the locating bore a bit further aft to increase the positive caster angle, however the bores on the aftermarket shafts were already 1/4" back from stock. Job done! Dad blasted the shafts and I put them into primer.


Rather than stick with the stock LCA shaft U-bolts, I ordered the much beefier '73-'90 version. They fit perfectly after opening up the original holes in the engine crossmember.


The roof needed another pass with primer in a few areas.

[bj383ss]

Man I was hoping to see some paint on the roof. Now you got me wondering if my new control arm shafts had the notch moved back.

I second your comment on the back of the cab. Still working on that right now. I have a huge dent right below my window I am trying to fix. I really don't want to put a bunch of bondo on it but I really don't have a choice. I almost have the bodywork on the roof done. When I finish that will put it in primer and then I am going to paint the inside.

[racecougar]

Me too, but there were a couple little dips that were still showing guide coat. Hopefully it'll see paint next weekend. The back of this cab is riddled with dents, including a few that are pretty large. It is going to take a lot of pulling and bumping to get it straight.

[TJ's Chevy]

Roof came out nice!

[racecougar]

Thanks!

Dad shot the crossmember and control arms gloss black during the week.


We spent the morning cleaning up the back room of the shop and organizing parts storage before getting started on the back wall of the cab. We rotated the cab to place it between two of the posts in the shop, as there was one dent in particular that required a decent pull. I welded an eyebolt to the lowest point of the dent, then pulled while bumping effectively off-dolly to shrink the metal back into shape.



The same method was used on the smaller dimples and creases, only with the use of the stud gun rather than the eyebolt.


It still needs quite a bit of work, but it's coming along.

[Bomp]

Nice seeing the progress. Looking good

[racecougar]

Thanks Bomp!

We spent the morning bumping to get it all as straight as possible before Dad started spreading filler and boarding it. We'll see how it looks next weekend.

[racecougar]

Dad finished up the body work on the back of the cab during the week...


...and I laid down two coats of primer today.

[racecougar]

After the final blocking, the first coat of gloss white made its way onto the roof today.

[Ta2Don]

Lookin Sweet!

[dantimdad]

I cannot wait until I am to that point!

Great job!

Steven

[racecougar]

Thanks guys! Each coat must pass the most rigorous inspection process...Dad's approval.

[racecougar]

While I took a couple weeks off to tend to other matters...


Dad installed additional lighting over the main bay, moved the cab back over to the main bay, cleaned/organized the shop, and blocked out the roof for the final coat, which I shot this morning.

[racecougar]

It needs to be cut and rubbed of course, but I'm happy with how the roof turned out.