A '54 named Busty

[LT7A]

Originally Posted by Gregski

anybody know what this is called, found it right next to the brake pedal?

did trucks come with two brakes back then? one for each foot or something?

I nearly always enjoy your humor, but sometimes you make me laugh even when I don't want to.

[LT7A]

Originally Posted by Gregski

and here's a little before and after comparison of the driver side inner fender after the dance of the wire wheel (don't you dare tell my wife I did the dirt and grime transfer on our back patio)

Go ahead and blame it on me. I've been persona non grata since I popped off about you getting in trouble for doing the dishes, haha. I like seeing your practical metal work and improvisation. The relief cuts and the morale beatings seem to have had the desired effect. Nice welds on those core support T brackets. And I finally understand what that offset is for now.

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by LT7A

Go ahead and blame it on me. I've been persona non grata since I popped off about you getting in trouble for doing the dishes, haha. I like seeing your practical metal work and improvisation. The relief cuts and the morale beatings seem to have had the desired effect. Nice welds on those core support T brackets. And I finally understand what that offset is for now.

LOL, thank you Northman! you mean the zig zag around the power steering box?

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by 8man

Yep, feels good to get stuff done. My wife still talks about me using a grinder to clean the frame and all associated parts including the individual springs from the 4 spring packs when I did the Cherokee Chief.

Wow! that sounds like a massive amount of work.

[Gregski]

so today I knocked out the driver side horn pedestal

I started out by wiring wheeling the outside in prep for welding and vacuuming out the dirt and grime out of this guy like I did on the passenger side, but on this side I went further and scraped out all that tar that kept catching on fire whilst I was welding on the front plate on the passenger side

[Gregski]

when you do the first side, you spend a lot of time figuring out how to do it, so you would think the second side goes faster, but then you spend a lot of time making sure the second side looks like a mirror image of the first, ie they match

the angle iron is just there for levelability, it ain't getting chromed to go on there or nothin'

[Gregski]

this part is always fun - just as seen on TV, ha ha

in that first pic I just put the cardboard up there to block the light so you could see what it is we are trying to plug, otherwise you couldn't see it cause the picture was back lit too much

[Gregski]

and there you have it folks, we just weldered on a box, whooptie doo

seriously though, it may seem like nothing, but I swear I assembled and disassembled that front end at least half a dozen times to make sure things align, the hood shuts, the radiator fits, the grill is semi straight, you get the idea

[Gregski]

alright the last thing for the night, was to weld a plate to the front of the horn

you know what fellas, I know it looks like death, but I am pretty proud of myself, this is the most fabin' and weldin' I have ever done did on a truck

[Gregski]

and now some glamour shots

I know things seem crooked in these pics but the truck aint exactly parked straight and I'm sorta standing to the side taking a quick pic here and there

[Gregski]

so since we already had the inner fenders off we might as well shmear some primer on them

this RUST-OLEUM Rusty Metal Primer is the best I have ever found in a rattle can, highly recommend it

[Gregski]

and the other one

[joedoh]

go man go

[Gregski]

had another productive day, tried this new RUST-OLEUM Matt Finish spray paint from Home Depot out of all places on the passenger side inner fender, I like to use the same brand paint as primer, so I did not use my favorite KRYLON paint on this piece, now I wish I did

I'm sure had I used some bondo and actually took the time to sand smooth the primer it would have been even better, but oh well, progress not perfection.

Update: (two weeks later) Later I would learn though it covered well it turned out a bit greenish, and had to be re done with the KRYLON Rust Tough Semi Flat paint after all !!!

[Gregski]

then it was time to commence the Rust Transfer Protocol aka RTP where as we transfer the rust off of the metal truck part and on to our face !

what do you all call this piece anyway?

I think the orange color on the edge in the last pic is just the sun reflecting off of it as it sets, so romantic

[Gregski]

66 years of rust reversed in 66 minutes or less

I really like the way this piece is turning out, and yes I tried to remove the latch mechanism but it was held on with SLOTTED screws (Note to Self: Go back in time and punch the assembly guy who thought this was a good idea in the neck!)

[Gregski]

I attacked the bellies of the front fenders next, starting with the passenger side, these are going to get treated to some undercoating, but first off with the rust

after wire wheeling, I like to wipe off all the loose rust dust with a liberally coated shop towel in Denatured Alcohol, unlike other cleaners, alcohol lifts the particles instead of soaking them in, and it does not leave an oily residue

after the alcohol wipe down I acid wash it, ie the last pic

[Gregski]

the driver side fender was next

doing a side by side comparison of the two sides, one original and the other with the loose rust knocked off, really helps you appreciate the effort and the difference it makes

[Gregski]

wire wheeling can expose cracks you didn't even know existed, allowing you to address them now before the fender goes back on the truck

it also presents a wonderful opportunity to hone your colorful vocabulary

[Gregski]

and before I knew it, it was 8:05 and The Greg was Pooped!

[Rusti]

Grate work on the front frame for the radiator. Cleaning those old parts is always a dirty job but the result is grate and makes you Happy.
So long
Arnd

[8man]

Front end fab work is very thought out and very nice. Looks great. Brushing and RTP is a lot of work. Good day for you.

[Sevens]

Now that I have read every post...

Nice work! I like your style!

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by Sevens

Now that I have read every post...

Nice work! I like your style!

Thanks, I appreciate that! Took many years of frustration to get this way.

"Don't get it right, get it running!" ~ David Freiburger

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by Rusti

Grate work on the front frame for the radiator. Cleaning those old parts is always a dirty job but the result is grate and makes you Happy.
So long
Arnd

Thanks Arnd, wow all the way from across the pond, ha ha.

Fun Fact: my wife was born in Germany, her dad was in the US Air Force stationed in Greece but they flew the 9 months prego wives to Germany to give birth to their babies, fun times!