Roostre's 1967 C20

[Roostre]

Had another productive day today. First up, I sourced a new clutch fork return spring. It's a Dorman universal that you cut and bend the tail to whatever length you need. It was less than $5 on Amazon.

Next up, I spread a bunch of body filler on the patches that I welded into the fenders, door, grill, and bed.

While the body filler was curing, I decided to install my rear window. I have done this on this truck before, but it has been so long that I don't remember how I did it other than I did not use the rope method. I tried to do this last week with a pick, but the new seal is a little oversized and did not want to stay on the glass, so I got frustrated and stepped away before I accidentally broke the glass. This time, I decided to try the rope, I've never done this before. So I taped the seal to the glass, and threaded some rope into the seal starting and ending in the middle of the bottom of the glass. I started installing the glass. My wife wandered out to see what I was doing right when I was trying to figure out how I was going to navigate the bottom corners with the rope while holding the glass in place. I put her in the bed of the truck holding pressure on the glass while I pulled the rope the rest of the way around. Then I showed her how to tap on the glass while I pulled on the inner seal lip to seat the seal on the pinch weld. She did great, especially since she's never done anything mechanical before. If she had longer arms, I would recruit her to help with the windshield!

Once we got the glass in, my body filler was cured so I sanded it down. It's not perfect, but like everything else on this truck it's good enough and definitely better than it was.

I was on a roll today, so I didn't get any pictures. I may go out and snap some of the finished body filler tomorrow. Next up I need to get the hood on and start sanding to get ready for primer. I'm still hopeful that the weather will cooperate enough to get the rest of the paint on her yet this fall.

[Roostre]

My buddy came by tonight, so we installed my windshield and hood. The windshield went pretty well other than I made him really nervous when I was pounding on the windshield to get the seal to seat fully. The hood went on and aligned as well as I could have hoped. I have a picture of the windshield and hood installed. It looks like a truck again! Now the weather needs to hold for a couple more weeks for me to paint. I also snapped a couple of pictures of my sanded down, good enough, body filler. Pictures are two of the passenger's side fender, one of the passenger's side door, and one of the driver's side bed marker delete.

[LockDoc]

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That's some great progress. We have some rain coming through tomorrow but it is supposed to warm up again. I hope you get some of the warm weather up there...

[Roostre]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

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That's some great progress. We have some rain coming through tomorrow but it is supposed to warm up again. I hope you get some of the warm weather up there...

Thanks, I'm very happy with the progress now. We've had rain today and the next couple days with the cooler temps that come along with it. But it's looking like later next week it will warm up just enough.... I better order some more paint, I really would hate to run out.

[Roostre]

The work continues. Tonight, I removed the window seals to make it easier to mask. I replaced the driver's side about 10 years ago, and that one came out like it should, slid right out all in one piece. The passenger's side was not replaced then. The picture below shows how it came out. It was extremely brittle.

Then I moved on to installing my clutch fork return spring. The one I got was a universal, Dorman 29003. It came long and you bend and cut it to fit. Thanks to LockDoc for the installation picture, it would have taken me a very long time to figure out that the spring goes to the hole in the bottom of the frame rail. Installed pic below.

Finally, I started sanding for paint. I got a first pass done on the grill, hood, cowl, and passenger's fender and door. Hopefully tomorrow I can do the bed, tailgate, and driver's fender and door. Then I can go over it with a second pass, mask everything, and maybe be ready to spray some primer when the weather is supposed to be barely warm enough on Friday/Saturday. Here's hoping for more warm weather next week as a fall back option!

[Roostre]

More progress today. I finished sanding and masked the truck. The hope is to put up the drop cloth in the shop tomorrow, clean the truck, and spray some primer. Hopefully I won't run out, it will be close. Then I should be spraying paint either tomorrow night or Sunday. I'm getting really excited to do final assembly after almost 5 years apart!

No pictures tonight because sanding and masking really isn't interesting.

[Roostre]

Well, the weather held this weekend and I was able to paint my truck. I spent yesterday afternoon cleaning and masking. Then I sprayed 2 coats of primer last night. This afternoon, I went out and scuffed the primer, cleaned again, and sprayed 2 coats of red. Between the cab and the rest of the truck, I used the entire gallon, but didn't have to break into the second gallon I ordered just in case. Hopefully I can send it back.

All in all, I'm very happy with how it turned out. It is definitely not perfect, and I didn't expect it to be. There are a bunch of dents in the bed from it's time as a trailer that I didn't do anything with. I'm not going for a show truck here, just something to drive around and have it all be one color. It will do all of that very well, especially after being done by a guy who has never painted a vehicle before.

I've said it before; the original inspiration for the flat rust oxide color was the bed itself. When it was a trailer, someone painted it red. Over time, the red dulled and faded, and I really liked the look. I wanted a color that would give it a similar look. I'm happy and think it will look great with the Navajo White accents I have. Now I have to wait until tomorrow to unmask and see what it really looks like. In the meantime, enjoy a couple of pictures.

PS I've done so much sanding and cleaning my paint tools with acetone this weekend that my phone doesn't recognize my thumb print to unlock!

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Roostre

Well, the weather held this weekend and I was able to paint my truck. I spent yesterday afternoon cleaning and masking. Then I sprayed 2 coats of primer last night. This afternoon, I went out and scuffed the primer, cleaned again, and sprayed 2 coats of red. Between the cab and the rest of the truck, I used the entire gallon, but didn't have to break into the second gallon I ordered just in case. Hopefully I can send it back.

All in all, I'm very happy with how it turned out. It is definitely not perfect, and I didn't expect it to be. There are a bunch of dents in the bed from it's time as a trailer that I didn't do anything with. I'm not going for a show truck here, just something to drive around and have it all be one color. It will do all of that very well, especially after being done by a guy who has never painted a vehicle before.

I've said it before; the original inspiration for the flat rust oxide color was the bed itself. When it was a trailer, someone painted it red. Over time, the red dulled and faded, and I really liked the look. I wanted a color that would give it a similar look. I'm happy and think it will look great with the Navajo White accents I have. Now I have to wait until tomorrow to unmask and see what it really looks like. In the meantime, enjoy a couple of pictures.

PS I've done so much sanding and cleaning my paint tools with acetone this weekend that my phone doesn't recognize my thumb print to unlock!

That's the way I like them too. Looks good going down the road. No show trucks for me either.... I like it.

[Roostre]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

That's the way I like them too. Looks good going down the road. No show trucks for me either.... I like it.

Thanks. I love looking at show trucks, but they're just too much work for me to really enjoy them. I'd be afraid to drive one after I put in all the work to get it to that point.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Besides having the aerodynamic profile of a red brick at terminal speed, your truck will also match in color.
They used to paint a lot of boxcars this color, too.

[Roostre]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

Besides having the aerodynamic profile of a red brick at terminal speed, your truck will also match in color.
They used to paint a lot of boxcars this color, too.

I did not think of the brick look! I went with "red oxide" so when it rusts again it won't be as noticeable.

[Chevys4life]

Great job and your body and paint work!!!!

[Roostre]

Originally Posted by Chevys4life

Great job and your body and paint work!!!!

Thanks! It photographs nice, but there are definitely imperfections. But I'm happy because it's all one color, structurally sound, and there is no more rust.

[Roostre]

Tonight I went out, unmasked the truck, and began reassembly. It may not be for everyone, but I'm really happy with the satin red oxide and Navajo White color combination. Hopefully I'll be able to continue reassembly later this week. Enjoy the pictures!

['68OrangeSunshine]

Looks good, and it's totally unique.

[Roostre]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

Looks good, and it's totally unique.

Thanks, and you're right, I doubt it will ever be parked next to its twin

[HO455]

Looks great! Are you going with white bumpers?

[Roostre]

Originally Posted by HO455

Looks great! Are you going with white bumpers?

Thanks. Yes, the bumpers will be the same Navajo White as the rest of the white trim.

[HO455]

Oh yeah! I love that look!

[Roostre]

The reassembly continues. Over lunch, I installed the tail lights and back up lights. Note in the picture that someone did a crappy shave of the tailgate. I was going to remove the plate they did it with, but I'm worried that the tailgate is in rough shape under it, so I just left it and painted it. I'll keep looking for a better tail gate and may replace it someday. Also, I left the hasp that someone welded onto the tailgate. I could have removed it, but felt like it is part of the truck's story and adds to the rough around the edges theme. The guy that I bought the bed as part of a trailer from made sure to point out the hasp saying that it's nice to be able to lock your trailer.

I also had a little more time and installed the passenger fender emblem just to see what it looks like. I like it.

Oh, and I sprayed a quick coat of black paint on my inner fenders to get them ready for reinstallation, but didn't get a picture of them.

[Roostre]

More progress today. I put the rest of the trim on the grill. I have to say that of all the stuff I've done to this truck, installing the trim surrounding the grill openings was the worst. The grill is bent up and the trim is bent up, so nothing really fits. I bought new hardware thinking it would help me, but it did not. That wasn't the fault of the new hardware, it's just that the spring clip studs don't want to stay in place well. It probably would have gone better had I taken the grill off the truck to install the trim, but at least it's done and seems secure. I'm liking the Navajo White with the red better all the time. Here are a few pictures.

[Roostre]

Last night I reinstalled my window track felts and put the doors back together. I also reinstalled the mirrors. They are aftermarket mirrors that look like 60's GM car mirrors. I'm not sure I like them, but they'll work for now.

Today for lunch I reinstalled my grill support, hood latch, and hood bumpers. I also reinstalled the driver's side fender badge.

Finally, I painted my front bumper. It now matches the rest of the trim. Here are a couple of pictures, before and after.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by Roostre

Last night I reinstalled my window track felts and put the doors back together. I also reinstalled the mirrors. They are aftermarket mirrors that look like 60's GM car mirrors. I'm not sure I like them, but they'll work for now.

Today for lunch I reinstalled my grill support, hood latch, and hood bumpers. I also reinstalled the driver's side fender badge.

Finally, I painted my front bumper. It now matches the rest of the trim. Here are a couple of pictures, before and after.

My '68 C/10 Stepside came with Factory West Coast Jr mirrors. I know they stick out like a baby elephant's ears, but they sure have rearward visibility covered. Nobody can sneak up on your Six O'Clock.
I call it ,,Mexican Radar''.

[Roostre]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

My '68 C/10 Stepside came with Factory West Coast Jr mirrors. I know they stick out like a baby elephant's ears, but they sure have rearward visibility covered. Nobody can sneak up on your Six O'Clock.
I call it ,,Mexican Radar''.

The mirrors that came on my truck were shot. The glass was clouded and the mounts were stripped out and loose. I grabbed the current ones and put them on. I don't remember being unhappy with them, but am not sure now. I really need to drive it for a while and see how annoying they really are.

[Chevys4life]

It's coming together back very nicely!!!