Lurker OrrieG Progress Pics

[OrrieG]

Finally got the kitchen cabinet remodel done so I can get the woodworking stuff put away. Blocked the cab and dash, found more minor body defects to work on. Have officially decided that my least favorite place to sand is the front window eyebrow. Going to Portland area next week to watch the grandkids. When I get back think I am going to put the bed together on saw horses for sanding and to fab the bed floor. Want to use marine deck plywood with metal over then spray liner. It will be covered with a cap and used so pretty is not necessary, but will probably spring for some stainless bed strips. Will also be able to fab the gas tank filler. $$ still holding up progress, thank you wall street and the banking system...

[OrrieG]

Got the bed sides mostly done. Ran out of plastic, I've went thru a gallon of Rage Gold since I started this truck, most of it has ended up on the floor. Figure I will need a quart to finish up the bed, fine tune doors, tailgate and hood. Welded up the stock tail gate chain holes, going with hidden inside pins. Also been fussing with the glove box door, how can something so small and simple take so much time???

[docrock]

looking great. I took my behind the seat gas tank out so I am building speaker boxes there and maybe some sort of tray on top

[sgtusmc]

Man...I wish my bedsides looked that good!

[OrrieG]

Not rusted at all but beat from it being a work truck especially the lower section behind the wheel wells. It had the corners cut out for a lift gate (first owner was an appliance company in Phoenix). I managed to curl them under pretty good off roading.

One year we were coming out of the Sawtooth mountians on a logging road, it was about 15 below zero. Everything was iced up and to slow down the truck I had to keep dropping one side in to the drain ditch so the axles would drag. Unfortunately also did some work to the lower body too. That trip was the coldest I have every been. Stanley Idaho was at -27 at 7,000 foot elevation. We were up over 10,000 with wind blowing for a week. It was so cold the beer froze in the insulated coolers. Coleman stove wouldn't work so we just cooked over an open fire. Didn't want to hassle with trying to wash dishes in sub freezing weather. We knew it was colder than -25 because thats were my thermometer was pegged all week. We just kept adding food to the cast iron pot to make a stew. During the day we just walked around hunting because it was warmer than standing around a fire. I had a good -20 bag inside another 3 season bag and more blankets so I was ok. My parteners bag wasn't quite as good , he didn't freeze, but wasn't too comfortable either. I would start the truck when ever we were in camp to make sure the battery stayed charged. When we got back they said it had been -40 on top at a fire lookout weather station.

[kustombrad]

And that's why I only visit my parents in eastern Oregon in the summer!

[OrrieG]

Stopped by the paint store to pick up some Rage and price paint. Glad I took my heart meds this morning. Sealer, BC/CC in Dupont Chroma color is going to be over 1K for Blue for the body, firewall and dash and Silver for the cab interior. We talked about options but the paint is what it is $520 a gallon for the blue. I could save some on the clear but there were two painters in there that said the cheapo only last 4-5 years, I plan on keeping the truck and basically don't want to touch the paint for at least 10-12. Looks like it will be in primer for a while. I'm going to the PPG store for a second opinion. Also looked at TCPglobal "restoration" but some folks online are complaining about the clear holding up over time. I did get my new guns bought, Devilbiss Starting line set with prime, finish and touchup guns.

This week end will get the bed sides, front panel and tailgate body work done. May also get the hood pulled out of storage and attack it, if memory is right there are no dents just stripping and priming and blocking.

[Kabwe]

Hey Orrie,

I know all too well the price of paint. My 55 Sedan is painted with Dupont Chroma. My truck will be painted with Nason, I've used it before and its okay. Plus the only thing that you can buy in Cali now thats not waterbase is Nason or Omni. Orrie you could always use a cheaper base and go with a higher end clear, thats what I will be doing. If you look in my album the blue and white 56 Chevy was painted with Nason and a higher end clear and so was the purple and silver one. Just trying to help with the options.

The startingline gun is really decent gun for a primer I liked it alot. I used the finishline for basecoat clear and like it also. Its a really decent guns that are affordable.



The

[OrrieG]

I was thinking I could get by with a Nason base since the clear takes all the abuse. The painters said that even with the best clear 10 years is a good life for a daily driver then you block it and shoot it again. I can live with that. I'll ask the ppg shop about the Omni base too.

Nice Chevy autos, in the past I've had a 55 Belair and a 57 210. 55 for a couple of months then the harmonic balancer fell off (po did't get it on right)and broke the crank. I just sold the whole car. 57 was a junk yard $40 post that I dropped a $75 365hp 327 into. It was a primer queen, ugly but ended up pretty fast. It was sold when I got drafted in 70.

[Kabwe]

40 dollars for a 57 post car.lol You know post or no post they are costly now. My buddy with the silver and white one in my album bought that car for 25 dollars in the sixties while he was in high school.lol Man he kept that car all these years and said he will never part with it.

Yeah you are right the clear takes all the abuse and all the base coat is color anyway. If you were trying to do a color match thats different, but for an all over paint job Nason or Omni will be fine, of course this is just my opinion it does not mean anything.lol

[renegade6]

I went with a cheaper base color (Omni) and used Keystone Euro clear.

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

of course this is just my opinion it does not mean anything.lol

Your rigs speak for themselves, I value your comments.

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

Your rigs speak for themselves, I value your comments.

Thanks man, I appreciate that. That's a heck of a compliment.

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

Your rigs speak for themselves, I value your comments.

Thanks man, I appreciate that. That's a heck of a compliment. I just don't like coming off as a know it all. So I'm glad my comments are welcomed.

[W.C. RoDz]

Same here..nason is fine for an allover job..Just get a good clear.

[OrrieG]

Before this weekend my biggest body challenge and least favorite thing to do had been the mid line door crease. Now it is the crease is the bed rockets! Have a couple of small places but beds sides are done except for final blocking. This week will work on the front panel, just a couple of dings and the tailgate. I have two, one with some pretty cool bullet holes that would be good for converstion.

[OrrieG]

Been a while. Health issue got out of hand and I essentially got banned from the garage chemicals, paint, bondo fumes and dust, etc. until I get my lungs cleared up. Don't think anything out there contributed to it, I always wear very aggressive masks when working with the chemicals and sanders. So we are in planning mode again. I put this thing together everynight in my sleep, should go easy once I get to the real thing!

[1985-GMC]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

I put this thing together everynight in my sleep, should go easy once I get to the real thing!

Haha I thought I was the only one that does that. Sometimes I cant go to sleep because im thinking of all the things I need to do to the truck.

[ambryatim]

Sorry to hear that you are/were ill. Never fun not being able to do what you want to. Hope you get back to the healthy you and soon.

And about the sleep thing....I have got out of bed in the middle of the night to try out an idea or two...but, I always make sure my wife is asleep, she would think I am crazy if she knew I was doing that. LOL

[67 k20 firetruck]

My wife's sleeping everynight while I lurk here...Then go out with my flashlight in hand to "dream" about what to do next on the truck. Talk about crazy!

[ambryatim]

Originally Posted by 67 k20 firetruck

My wife's sleeping everynight while I lurk here...Then go out with my flashlight in hand to "dream" about what to do next on the truck. Talk about crazy!

LOL!!! We all sound the same. Love our Trucks, but we love our wives too, enough to keep them in the dark so they don't know we are a little crazy/obsessed.

[OrrieG]

I'm glad I'm not the only one that has gotten up in the middle of the night to go out to the garage to "check out an idea" and ended up staying there an hour. I wonder if model train guys and stamp collectors do the same?? Feeling better today, I think we got it licked this time.

[OKGMC4]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

I'm glad I'm not the only one that has gotten up in the middle of the night to go out to the garage to "check out an idea" and ended up staying there an hour. I wonder if model train guys and stamp collectors do the same?? Feeling better today, I think we got it licked this time.

Actually I think these trucks are more like porn for us. We just like looking at different kinds of curves. My wife caught me out there one night in my pajamas with a cup of coffee just staring at the truck at 1am. Yes..we're a little sick in the head...

[OrrieG]

Lungs and sinus are clear so I got started back up. Had to pull the Chevelle radiator to get it fixed this morning. Early afternoon was quest for illusive Sports Illustrated issue this week that has #5 BSU Broncos on the cover. Turned out a few people bought all the issues in town and are hawking them for $20 each. Called my daughter in Portland and she is going to get me one there. Any way got the bed inner panels and tailgate cleaned up before I ran out of 80 grit paper. Hood is next. Sold some parts to get some $ for paint. Might get this thing started together yet this fall.

[OrrieG]

Paint money went for new radiator in 64 Chevelle, 1 step forward, 2 back....