Started my first frame off - 72 SWB LS1, 6-spd manual

[Dean'smeanmachine]

looking good

[low69chevy]

Looking good same color I'm going to paint mine on that aftermarket clip was the fit that bad? Keep us posted with updates

[trkfrk]

Originally Posted by Dean'smeanmachine

looking good

Thanks!

Originally Posted by low69chevy

Looking good same color I'm going to paint mine on that aftermarket clip was the fit that bad? Keep us posted with updates

Thanks! The aftermarket clip was nice but I wasn't able to get it to fit. If your a good body guy and can massage the sheet metal or have talent like Bennet68C10 you can make it work.

[Bennett68C10]

Originally Posted by trkfrk

have talent like Bennet68C10 you can make it work.

Thanks for the shout out Mark, I really appreciate it

[mcbassin]

Any updates from the paint shop yet?

[Bennett68C10]

Yeah I need to see some Red to drool over

[trkfrk]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Any updates from the paint shop yet?

Yes, I talk to my painter about once a week. He has both front fenders, cab, and grill blocked and ready for paint. He is working on the bed sides and tailgate now. I still need to drop off the hood, inner fenders and core support to him. He won't start shooting red until he is completely finished blocking out everything. As soon as I get pics, I will update you guys.

I purchased a stainless steel hardware kit for the body, but I am keeping all of the original hardware and sandblasting them. The original bolts are so nice with the pressed on washers. My stainless kit doesn't have the pressed on washers. So I am 50/50 on which ones I am going to use. Question? Are the original bolts the same color as the body or black? Would you guys paint or powder coat the bolts red (same as the body) or black?

[mcbassin]

Hey Mark,
It sounds like your painter is making great progress. Sounds like you will be red before I am (I have all my panels blocked out and am ready for wet sand too). But I am slow as cold molasses. Looking forward to update pictures.

I purchased a stainless steel hardware kit for the body, but I am keeping all of the original hardware and sandblasting them. The original bolts are so nice with the pressed on washers. My stainless kit doesn't have the pressed on washers. So I am 50/50 on which ones I am going to use. Question? Are the original bolts the same color as the body or black? Would you guys paint or powder coat the bolts red (same as the body) or black?

I believe the factory bolts for the most part were black phosphate coated and the door/hinge bolts were painted same color as the truck. At least mine were on all my 67-72 trucks. I experimented with some home bluing like they use on gun barrels. It didn't work too good but it did put a protective layer on the threads. I will oil the threads lightly when I do reassembly.

I ended up re-blasting the heads and washers from the top (the bluing caused light rust to form). I think it's a low strength acid.
Then I epoxy primered and painted them with Hot rod black paint. I am going to paint the hinge bolts when I start shooting the inside panels and my inside cab. I know the heads may get a little wear when I reassemble everything but I will deal with that when the time comes.

As far as the stainless bolts go. I wouldn't recommend them on high strength applications like the doors and hinges. I'm sure they would be strong enough but those fine threads and stainless, that might be asking for a stripped and gawled bolt. I used all stainless carriage bolts on my bed and stainless button heads on the bed header panel. They look good and many of them will be exposed to the elements.
Good luck

[trkfrk]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Hey Mark,
It sounds like your painter is making great progress. Sounds like you will be red before I am (I have all my panels blocked out and am ready for wet sand too). But I am slow as cold molasses. Looking forward to update pictures.


I believe the factory bolts for the most part were black phosphate coated and the door/hinge bolts were painted same color as the truck. At least mine were on all my 67-72 trucks. I experimented with some home bluing like they use on gun barrels. It didn't work too good but it did put a protective layer on the threads. I will oil the threads lightly when I do reassembly.

I ended up re-blasting the heads and washers from the top (the bluing caused light rust to form). I think it's a low strength acid.
Then I epoxy primered and painted them with Hot rod black paint. I am going to paint the hinge bolts when I start shooting the inside panels and my inside cab. I know the heads may get a little wear when I reassemble everything but I will deal with that when the time comes.

As far as the stainless bolts go. I wouldn't recommend them on high strength applications like the doors and hinges. I'm sure they would be strong enough but those fine threads and stainless, that might be asking for a stripped and gawled bolt. I used all stainless carriage bolts on my bed and stainless button heads on the bed header panel. They look good and many of them will be exposed to the elements.
Good luck

Thanks for the great information Mike. Your paint is really coming out Awesome. I look forward to your updates on your build. I wish I had the talent to paint mine too.

I picked up my cab, doors, grill, front fenders, tailgate and bed fenders yesterday from my painter. I am so pleased how everything came out! I need to buff out the doors and front fenders still, but here are a few pics.

[trkfrk]

Pic 2

[trkfrk]

I love how the Red looks almost Orange in the sunlight.

[trkfrk]

Pic 4

[trkfrk]

Pic 5.

[trkfrk]

Pic 6

[knomadd]

Looking good!

[trkfrk]

Originally Posted by knomadd

Looking good!

Thanks. Here are some better pics with my camera not my phone.

[trkfrk]

pic

[VA72C10]

looks fantastic!!!

[trkfrk]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

looks fantastic!!!

Thank You! Now I'm having a great time buffing and waxing.

[Bennett68C10]

Wow that looks awesome you went with Torch Red right? Did your painter use a gray sealer or white?

[mcbassin]

Love the red paint! Looks amazing!
I should be caught up to you in a week or two.

You say you're buffing and waxing? I don't wax is good for base clear? You're probably just talking about polishing?

[trkfrk]

Originally Posted by Bennett68C10

Wow that looks awesome you went with Torch Red right? Did your painter use a gray sealer or white?

Thanks Keith! Yes, at the last minute I switched to GM's "Torch Red" after seeing a Corvette at a local car show. The base coat went over a gray sealer. My painter had to use 3 coats of base to get good coverage.

[trkfrk]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Love the red paint! Looks amazing!
I should be caught up to you in a week or two.

You say you're buffing and waxing? I don't wax is good for base clear? You're probably just talking about polishing?

Thanks Mike! Yes your right. I'm using Meguiar's M105 Mirror Glaze Ultra-Cut Compound first and then Polishing it with Meguiar's M205 Finishing Polish. What a difference now.

[trkfrk]

Another pic after buff/polish.

[trkfrk]

Another pic