Project - '69 4x4 named "Patches"

[msgross]

Originally Posted by sdailey

I've thought about having it powdercoated, at the least it'll be painted. What about you?

not sure... wonder if you can polish and clearcoat it?

Originally Posted by sdailey

Got a new part today.....

I really gotta start putting this thing back together.

fancy, do you have a photostudio???

[tiggamonsta]

Originally Posted by msgross

not sure... wonder if you can polish and clearcoat it?

I just saw this stuff on speedtv. Not sure if it is any good, but sounds interesting. http://www.sharkhide.com/

[msgross]

oaks69, post your question in the 4x4 section and add some pictures if able... Make sure that you measure the leaf width too...

[sdailey]

A small update...

I've been working on getting the fuel tank mounted to the frame for the last week or so. Last week I about knocked myself out hitting my head on the frame and since then I haven't been in the mood to work on it much. The soreness has finally subsided and I decided to get back at it.

Alan and I had set the old bed floor on the frame last week to check the fitment of the fuel tank height and the location of the filler neck compared to the location of the crossmembers for the bed floor.









Luckily, everything fit and lined up well.....








Laying on my back on the basement floor trying to drill through the tank mounting flanges and the frame proved to be real tiring, real quick. Looking around at the tools I had I came up with the "Low Budget Drill Press". I was always taught to adapt and overcome.

So here it is...





I was able to drill (3) holes in no time and I didn't even break a sweat. I didn't have enough room between the basement wall and the frame to drill the passenger side holes, but I'll roll the frame outside later to get to that side. That's one more thing to check off the list.






I decided a while back to go with an A/C setup from Classic Air, so I went ahead and ordered one of their billet controls to use for mock up before we start bodywork.






I plan on putting it in the same location as the factory control, but I can't decide how to mount it. I cut the dash out of my old cab to use as a template. The two options that I have for mounting it are (1) having an aluminum "faceplate" machined to mount in the factory opening, similar to the piece that member "Mekdad" made for the radio location...





or (2) weld up the opening all together and cut a hole just big enough for the control to mount into.





Personally, I'm leaning towards welding it up and cutting a new hole for it, but I'm open for any other thoughts or opinions.



.

[Strodder]

Shannon, Your drill press cracks me up. Love the A/C controls. If you put it where the radio goes, then where will you put the radio?

[sdailey]

Whatever it takes, right Dennis? I was lying on my back with one hand on the jack handle and the other on the drill. Everytime the drill would "free up" I would work the jack handle until I had good pressure on the drill bit again. Believe it or not it worked like a charm.

As far as the a/c control goes, I'll be mounting it in the stock ac/heat control location. I just referenced the aluminum plate, that "Mekdad" makes to give everyone an idea about another possible mounting idea, which would be having a piece of flat aluminum stock turned down to fit the factory a/c opening.

Here's his original thread about the aluminum plate that he offered for the radio opening.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=322847


As far as my radio goes, it will be mounted in the glove box or either in the center console. I'll be using this factory radio delete plate to hide the stock radio opening.

[tiggamonsta]

Originally Posted by sdailey

...I had I came up with the "Low Budget Drill Press". I was always taught to adapt and overcome...


...The two options that I have for mounting it are (1) having an aluminum "faceplate" machined to mount in the factory opening, similar to the piece that member "Mekdad" made for the radio location...

or (2) weld up the opening all together and cut a hole just big enough for the control to mount into...

I just saw that same tip on a show this weekend. I was thinking, why have I been killing myself all these years. It is amazing how the simplest things make are lives so much easier.

I vote weld up the space and cut it in.

[sdailey]

Originally Posted by 4dranch

Nice work Shannon on the AC controls relly looks slick,
And I agree with Dennis on the drill press, That's using your head.

Thanks David. As I'm getting older I'm really starting to figure out this "work smarter not harder" thing I've heard about from old timers over the years.

Originally Posted by tiggamonsta

I just saw that same tip on a show this weekend. I was thinking, why have I been killing myself all these years. It is amazing how the simplest things make are lives so much easier.

I vote weld up the space and cut it in.

I knew that I couldn't be the only one that had the idea of using a floor jack that way.

Yeah, I'm pretty much sold on welding up the opening and cutting it to fit the control as well. Thanks for your input.

[4dranch]

Nice work Shannon on the AC controls relly looks slick,
And I agree with Dennis on the drill press, That's using your head.

[msgross]

Put the new radio in the old A/C control area, and mount the new A/C controls in the ashtray or radio delete area...

[sdailey]

I fired up the low budget drill press again this weekend and drilled the last holes needed to finish mounting the fuel tank, so at least that's checked off the list now. I still haven't decided whether to paint it or have it powdercoated or just leave it natural.






It looks like I'll be buying a new hood since the one I have seems to have been damaged when I had it sandblasted. Alan and I both looked it over before it was blasted and there wasn't anything wrong with it other than the small dents on the front of it. When I picked up the hood from the blaster it looked good. That was until we primed it. Once it was primed you could see (2) distinct ridges the entire length of the hood. Look at the picture below to see if you can spot them. I'll give you a hint, look at the area where the hood braces run.





Alan thinks it would be easier and less time consuming to find a new hood compared to working the metal on this one.

Luckily, I found a "new" hood fairly close to home. I'll be sure to take the time to sand this one by hand instead of having it blasted. Lesson learned.




I also mocked up LFD's 71-72 gas pedal conversion (for 67-70 trucks) and it fit like a glove.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=371099



I then disassembled everything and gave it a shiny coat of paint.





Here's the bracket painted and temporarily installed for a quick picture.





Fully installed with a "modified" '72 pedal assembly.




I took it all apart, boxed it up and put it back in the parts pile for later.

Not much else going on this weekend.



.

[Alan's Classic]

Nice progress. Looks great!!

[1985-GMC]

Everything looks great, and that sucks about the hood.

[Conroe trucker]

I am going to Raptor my tank.
It is almost the same as yours, and although it looks good now, it is going to look like crap soon, so I am going to coat it and go down the road.

I also had some warping in my hood from blasting, although not that much.
They make a seam sealer/glue for cars that you can use to glue the hood support to the hood.
We did that and it is hell for stout now, especially after we Raptored the bottom.
Don't trash that hood, it can be saved.

[msgross]

Originally Posted by Conroe trucker

I am going to Raptor my tank.
It is almost the same as yours, and although it looks good now, it is going to look like crap soon, so I am going to coat it and go down the road.

I also had some warping in my hood from blasting, although not that much.
They make a seam sealer/glue for cars that you can use to glue the hood support to the hood.
We did that and it is hell for stout now, especially after we Raptored the bottom.
Don't trash that hood, it can be saved.

maybe i'll go that route since I plan on using Raptor for my cab, hood and fender undersides... post some pics when you finish.

[sdailey]

Originally Posted by Alan's Classic

Nice progress. Looks great!!

Thanks Alan.

Originally Posted by 1985-GMC

Everything looks great, and that sucks about the hood.

Thanks. We had talked about drilling out the spot welds on the hood braces and taking them out so they wouldn't be in the way when the hood got blasted, but for some reason I decided to leave them in. Good ole hindsight...

Originally Posted by Conroe trucker

I am going to Raptor my tank.
It is almost the same as yours, and although it looks good now, it is going to look like crap soon, so I am going to coat it and go down the road.

I also had some warping in my hood from blasting, although not that much.
They make a seam sealer/glue for cars that you can use to glue the hood support to the hood.
We did that and it is hell for stout now, especially after we Raptored the bottom.
Don't trash that hood, it can be saved.

I forgot about Line-X, Lizard Skin, Raptor and those kind of products. That may be the route I take with this tank. Thanks for the reminder.

Do you have any opinions on how to fix the hood? There are (2) ridges that run the entire length of the hood where the braces are located. Do you just hammer them back down?

[my67chevytruck]

looking good shannon......

[LOW DOUGH]

Just read your build thread yesterday and finished it just now. Your truck is going to be very nice. I really like it allot. I like that you are going with green. It reminds me of my grandparents 69 Firebird convertible. It had green interior too.

The hood. I am just guessing but I am thinking the hood stretched around the braces and hammering them would not do it. But, I am just guessing. I have no body experience. It's just a thought. Thinking how blasting works and metal heating up and maybe creating a crater affect around the braces.

Keep up the good work and pics!

[sdailey]

Originally Posted by LOW DOUGH

Just read your build thread yesterday and finished it just now. Your truck is going to be very nice. I really like it allot. I like that you are going with green. It reminds me of my grandparents 69 Firebird convertible. It had green interior too.

The hood. I am just guessing but I am thinking the hood stretched around the braces and hammering them would not do it. But, I am just guessing. I have no body experience. It's just a thought. Thinking how blasting works and metal heating up and maybe creating a crater affect around the braces.

Keep up the good work and pics!

Thanks Drew. Like you, I have no bodywork experience either. What happened to the hood is just like said. The combination of the blasting process and the rigidity of the hood braces formed (2) nice ridges. Out of curiousity though I'd like to know how to fix the hood. I guess you could remove the braces and hammer the ridges back down. I guess it doesn't really matter at this point though because I have another hood lined up already.


.

[LOW DOUGH]

I guess that could be done. But hay, another good hood would be much easier.

[sdailey]

Originally Posted by LOW DOUGH

But hay, another good hood would be much easier.

[4dranch]

Nice work Shannon and sorry to hear about the hood.
You really need to name your drill press instead of "budget drill press"
That way I can look for it at the hdwr stores.

[LOW DOUGH]

you would be looking for the drill press attachment for your floor jack.

[sdailey]

Originally Posted by 4dranch

Nice work Shannon and sorry to hear about the hood.
You really need to name your drill press instead of "budget drill press"
That way I can look for it at the hdwr stores.

David you know how it goes, one step forward, twp steps back.

How about "The Hydraulic Arm Saver"?

Originally Posted by LOW DOUGH

you would be looking for the drill press attachment for your floor jack.

[propanemudtruck]

Catching up on many of the builds on the site. Another very nice build! Look forward to seeing the progress.