Over 25 Years Later, Finally My 71 C-10 Truck Build

[hgs_notes]

I had a some time tonight so I went out and tweeked the hood a smidge. Seems to have helped.




And I put the tailgate back on. Found a little ding I missed. I need to work the top edge a bit more anyway. And I came across the latches and supports for the tailgate in the garage attic, but I'll get them on tomorrow maybe. Cleaned most of the junk out of the bed also. So it's about ready for a bath and it sure needs it. Body work is a very dusty job.

[Dieselwrencher]

It's looking great! Your hood and cowl line up great!

[mcbassin]

Very nice work! Great progress! Do yourself a favor and don't leave that yellow tape on the wiper mounts for very long. I left some of that on after painting one it was a mother to get off.

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

It's looking great! Your hood and cowl line up great!

Thanks

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Very nice work! Great progress! Do yourself a favor and don't leave that yellow tape on the wiper mounts for very long. I left some of that on after painting one it was a mother to get off.

I have to deside which is worse to remove, the tape or the paint and primer.

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by hgs_notes

Thanks


I have to deside which is worse to remove, the tape or the paint and primer.

Just remove the tape after your priming and then retape before paint.

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Just remove the tape after your priming and then retape before paint.

What he said^

You don't want to leave it on there for more than a day or two without being primered or painted over. If you do primer or paint over it remove it asap. Ask me how I know. It works great, just don't let the paint attack the adhesive. It sucks.

[Dieselwrencher]

Ans also remove masking tape after it has been wet. Once it sits after being wet, it really is a PITA to get off.

[hgs_notes]

I didn't get much free time this week with my work schedule, so I had to wait until this morning to get my truck washed. I used my garden sprayer to rinse it off which worked well, even though the tip was missing, and I think it's in my shed, which is buried in snow a few feet deep. I made do. I've got the garage warmed up and a fan blowing, so maybe later I can start spraying.

[hgs_notes]

Got the first coat on. That's a lot of work. The most I've sprayed at one time for the whole project. I'm tired, hopefully 2nd coat tomorrow.







Hmmm, looking through I just realized I forgot the kick panels. get 'em next time.

[CH3VY1972]

Man the build up looks great, what did you use to get it down to bare metal?

[VA72C10]

Looking good. So, have you stepped out in the garage to just look at it all one color and enjoy the moment?

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by CH3VY1972

Man the build up looks great, what did you use to get it down to bare metal?

Mostly used a 3m stripper wheel, also random orbital sander, wire wheel, etc. Whatever works at the time.

Originally Posted by VA72C10

Looking good. So, have you stepped out in the garage to just look at it all one color and enjoy the moment?

Sort of. My youngest wanted to see it so we both took a look. It's not the same as when I got it all in epoxy though. I'm not looking forward to the sanding. I spotted a few areas I know will need more work. My work schedule is not favorable this month either, working the next 2 weekends, blech.

[CH3VY1972]

it looked real good, i have a random orbital but i think im gonna have to get me one of those stripper wheels just to see how it works. But like i said great looking truck, i have a 72 myself. my favorite is 71 and 72 so thats why i was so interested in your build. thanks for the info.

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by CH3VY1972

it looked real good, i have a random orbital but i think im gonna have to get me one of those stripper wheels just to see how it works. But like i said great looking truck, i have a 72 myself. my favorite is 71 and 72 so thats why i was so interested in your build. thanks for the info.

One of these on a cheap drill. I wouldn't use a cordless drill or a 'good' drill on it because you are putting a lot of side pressure on the bearings for hours at a time. If you trash a $15 corded drill you could probably even exchange it if it dies. It took about 4 hours per bed side.
http://www.shop3m.com/60440187825.ht...DProCatalog_GS

[hgs_notes]

Went out early this morning and got the 2nd coat on everything except the hood. I ran out of primer. Turns out 1 gal is not quite enough for a full 2 heavy coats, good to know. I think the hood is pretty flat though, maybe 1 is enough there. It'll be dry in a couple hours so I can spray the guide coat and start several hours of hand made dust production.

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice progress! I really don't like sanding all the cracks and crevices the most. But it is all that hard prep work that pays off in the end. Great job!

[mcbassin]

The epoxy primer looks great!

[VA72C10]

nice progress!!! Glad to see you're knocking this out. I know you said you have some upcoming scheduling issues so I hope you get as far as possible so you can do the little touch ups in your spare time over the next few weeks.

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Nice progress! I really don't like sanding all the cracks and crevices the most. But it is all that hard prep work that pays off in the end. Great job!

Thanks, Let's hope there is a payoff.

Originally Posted by mcbassin

The epoxy primer looks great!

The grey was the epoxy, the yellow is high build 2k primer. Thanks.

Originally Posted by VA72C10

nice progress!!! Glad to see you're knocking this out. I know you said you have some upcoming scheduling issues so I hope you get as far as possible so you can do the little touch ups in your spare time over the next few weeks.

Now that the high build is on there, I'll just do what I can with my available time and keep moving forward.

Todays progress...with guide coat.



The beginning of the sanding. The grey is the epoxy layer underneath.




There are a few low areas yet and a couple high spots. The hood is kind of a pain because the metal is so loose, it is not a solid base to sand on. I'm going to order another gallon or 2 of high build primer. Looks like I'll need it.

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by hgs_notes

Thanks, Let's hope there is a payoff.


The grey was the epoxy, the yellow is high build 2k primer. Thanks.



Now that the high build is on there, I'll just do what I can with my available time and keep moving forward.

Todays progress...with guide coat.



The beginning of the sanding. The grey is the epoxy layer underneath.




There are a few low areas yet and a couple high spots. The hood is kind of a pain because the metal is so loose, it is not a solid base to sand on. I'm going to order another gallon or 2 of high build primer. Looks like I'll need it.

This has been a great thread for learning , i don't know squat about painting other than rattle can.. Hell i thought the yellow was your final color and you were maybe gonna clear over it.

Thanks for the pictures with the different steps and explanation of the process.

[VA72C10]

Is the block you have on your bedside the largest one you have? The guy helping me with my paint got round and contoured blocks from NAPA relatively cheap. Put the paper around them and they worked great...especially the round one at all the body lines including the one at the top of the bedside...

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

This has been a great thread for learning , i don't know squat about painting other than rattle can.. Hell i thought the yellow was your final color and you were maybe gonna clear over it.

Thanks for the pictures with the different steps and explanation of the process.

Thanks, I was in the same boat not long ago. I learned from others on the board here, bought books and dvd's and learned. If I pass on some of what I learned, all the better.

Originally Posted by VA72C10

Is the block you have on your bedside the largest one you have? The guy helping me with my paint got round and contoured blocks from NAPA relatively cheap. Put the paper around them and they worked great...especially the round one at all the body lines including the one at the top of the bedside...

I have a good assortment of blocks and used one that is 18" so far (my longest). I might get a 2' board also. On the contours of the body line I have a pipe that is about 16" long and 2" diameter. I'll use a smaller diameter next time, maybe 1-1/2" will work good.

If you are concerned because of what you see so far, don't be. This was my first time doing any significant body work and I knew going in there would be work to do. In a sense, I'm using the yellow as a guide coat also. After the next layer of primer I'm confident it will sand pretty flat. The hood only had a single coat of yellow. If there had been 2 or 3, I probably would not have gotten through it nearly as much. More primer will be delivered this week, so I plan on finishing what I started with the hood and bedside and respraying that and see where it leaves me.

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by hgs_notes

I have a good assortment of blocks and used one that is 18" so far (my longest). I might get a 2' board also. On the contours of the body line I have a pipe that is about 16" long and 2" diameter. I'll use a smaller diameter next time, maybe 1-1/2" will work good.

If you are concerned because of what you see so far, don't be. This was my first time doing any significant body work and I knew going in there would be work to do. In a sense, I'm using the yellow as a guide coat also. After the next layer of primer I'm confident it will sand pretty flat. The hood only had a single coat of yellow. If there had been 2 or 3, I probably would not have gotten through it nearly as much. More primer will be delivered this week, so I plan on finishing what I started with the hood and bedside and respraying that and see where it leaves me.

The pipe sounds like a perfectly good substitute for the sanding block we had.

And I was just offering those up for ease of sanding the curved areas like around the wheels arches and the upper body line. I really can't tell from the pictures because I'm still a novice also (did the one truck with help from another guy and advice from a painter and body guy) We had areas on first primer that went through all the way to the metal. It's sometimes hard to see until you get high build on and start sanding. We ended up with two coats of primer the first time, sanding....two more coats, sanding, and a final coat. Then went in with what they called "icing" and took care of any super small sanding "pits" or bugs in the paint areas. Sanded those smooth then went with sealer and then paint (three coats) and clear (3 coats)

[RaceAGMC]

Looking good, I have much respect for you diving in to such a project with little to no experience. Keep up the good work. I can't wait to see how it turns out, it's going to be B-E-A-UTIFUL!

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

The pipe sounds like a perfectly good substitute for the sanding block we had.

And I was just offering those up for ease of sanding the curved areas like around the wheels arches and the upper body line. I really can't tell from the pictures because I'm still a novice also (did the one truck with help from another guy and advice from a painter and body guy) We had areas on first primer that went through all the way to the metal. It's sometimes hard to see until you get high build on and start sanding. We ended up with two coats of primer the first time, sanding....two more coats, sanding, and a final coat. Then went in with what they called "icing" and took care of any super small sanding "pits" or bugs in the paint areas. Sanded those smooth then went with sealer and then paint (three coats) and clear (3 coats)

I hear ya, and I figured I was going to have to do this stage at least twice on some panels. I also have some wood dowels, round dura-block and lots of other scrap pieces to use as blocks.

Originally Posted by RaceAGMC

Looking good, I have much respect for you diving in to such a project with little to no experience. Keep up the good work. I can't wait to see how it turns out, it's going to be B-E-A-UTIFUL!

Thanks for saying that. When I started there was no way for me to afford to pay someone else to do it without borrowing the cash. Believe it or not, I probably have less than $5000 into the truck for the entire time I've owned it. So I went into this project saying I'll give it a shot and do the best that I can. If that doesn't turn out so well, I'll bring it to someone who can. Well, so far, so good. I still plan on having an experienced painter spray the color and clear though. I've seen enough of my own mistakes to know I'm not ready for that yet. I do plan on painting my Jimmy though.

On another note, I got the car dollies I ordered today so i'll be able to move it around the garage a bit easier. I picked up a dead blow hammer today that I want to try on a couple of the high spots along the bed rail. I didn't care for how the light weight body hammers worked (or didn't work) in some areas that just needed a bit more persuasion.