What did you do with your truck today, Part 3

[nvrdone]

gave mine a good bath. first time in about 3 years since its mostly been torn apart in that time. We have a local car show nest saturday and it looks like im going.

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by nvrdone

gave mine a good bath. first time in about 3 years since its mostly been torn apart in that time. We have a local car show nest saturday and it looks like im going.

Went to a show yesterday damn I need to get my truck done to go to those in a cool car! Hope you got to go and enjoyed it.

Brian

[MARTINSR]

Spent my five minutes (two hours) welding up the recessed area for the hood hinge on the right side and figuring out the spring location again (did this a year ago). Will finish up the right side today and move over to the left. It's not pretty, don't judge me, I have magic bondo that will turn that lumpy mess into smooth painted metal! You need to get some if you don't have it, it's awesome!

Brian

[toymanbob]

Back from winter in Az and finally getting caught up with neglected yard work and some progress on my project. Got the inner fenders cut around the Camaro suspension, fenders mounted, battery box made and installed, fuel pressure regulator and gauge installed and just about ready for the core support and radiator. So many rusted and broken off bolts! I'm getting better at removing them but so much delay. I'm skipping the "easy-out" method and just MIG welding a nut to the broken bolt and using a wrench. Some times it'll take three attempts but all have eventually given up and left good undamaged threads. Bob

[Black_Sheep]

Back to the 50's is less than a week away, so I spent the day detailing the '58...

[MARTINSR]

My five minute a day plan is underway, over the last few got this all cut and welded up and today brushed some epoxy primer on it to protect it while I leave it unfinished for hopefully not too long.

Brian

[mejum]

first car show of the season for me and first time ever showing my truck.


the truck isn't quite ready for prime time but i took her out anyway for a cruise and gathering. it was too beautiful a day to pass up.

[idbeast]

Originally Posted by mejum

first car show of the season for me and first time ever showing my truck.


the truck isn't quite ready for prime time but i took her out anyway for a cruise and gathering. it was too beautiful a day to pass up.

saw it down in Centralia or Olympia... I don't remember!

[MARTINSR]

That sucker is a BEAUTY for sure!

Brian

[Tempest67]

mejum - That is a beauty..........

[_Ogre]

dang mejum, that gave me a little wood...

[nvrdone]

went to a "Hotrod & Hogs" show not too far from home. They had about 250 cars pre registered and were fast approaching 500 by noon. Great cars & great people. Looking forward to more shows this year.

[mick53]

Three days on and off in the hot sun and I finished stripping down my donor chassis. I'm just using the frame rails but I could not bring myself to just torch it apart. Me or someone else may need something someday. I also wanted to keep from damaging it. I tried a few things but what worked best for me was to drill the head of the rivet, 1/8", 1/4", 3/8" and then pop it off with the air hammer and flat blade. This left a nice divot for the pointy attachment on the air hammer. They were still very much stuck in there. There was no deterioration in the rivets or steel. I thought there would be rust in there. I then took the oxy torch and heated the back side of the rivet head cherry red and they popped right out. I was surprised to see when I took the rivets out of the front crossmember first that the rails were under about an inch of tension. My plan is to use the frame rails to box the chassis on my 53 3100. I bought the chassis from a nice fellow on the Stovebolt in Wisconsin about 4 hours away for $200. He kept the running board brackets. Sorry so long. Thank you for your time.

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by mick53

Three days on and off in the hot sun and I finished stripping down my donor chassis. I'm just using the frame rails but I could not bring myself to just torch it apart. Me or someone else may need something someday. I also wanted to keep from damaging it. I tried a few things but what worked best for me was to drill the head of the rivet, 1/8", 1/4", 3/8" and then pop it off with the air hammer and flat blade. This left a nice divot for the pointy attachment on the air hammer. They were still very much stuck in there. There was no deterioration in the rivets or steel. I thought there would be rust in there. I then took the oxy torch and heated the back side of the rivet head cherry red and they popped right out. I was surprised to see when I took the rivets out of the front crossmember first that the rails were under about an inch of tension. My plan is to use the frame rails to box the chassis on my 53 3100. I bought the chassis from a nice fellow on the Stovebolt in Wisconsin about 4 hours away for $200. He kept the running board brackets. Sorry so long. Thank you for your time.

WOW! that is a project!

Brian

[Black_Sheep]

I got a free truck wash...

[Bridgeman57]

What do y’all think about moving my 57 cab onto the rear of the frame so I can finish painting the frame and finishing firewall? Has anyone done it?

[Bridgeman57]

What do y’all think about moving my 57 cab onto the rear of the frame so I can finish painting the frame and finishing firewall? Has anyone done it?

[G&R's57GMC]

Originally Posted by Bridgeman57

What do y’all think about moving my 57 cab onto the rear of the frame so I can finish painting the frame and finishing firewall? Has anyone done it?

Yep it’s been done, saves the hassle of lifting it off and back on . But still a bit of a pain .

The easy way is jack it up from the chassis and put jack stands under the steps and the roll the chassis forward .

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by Bridgeman57

What do y’all think about moving my 57 cab onto the rear of the frame so I can finish painting the frame and finishing firewall? Has anyone done it?

your not the only guy that finished his frame with the cab on. i welded in the mustII/motor mounts up front and rear end/sway bar install before pulling the cab. roughed in the trans x-member and under floor mc, finished welding after the cab came off. leaving the cab on make motor/trans mounts easier. just protect all your nice painted frame and work with plywood and blankets

you can also roll the cab on it's back if you need to modify the floor from underneath. just throw some plywood on the frame and a moving blanket and gently roll it back

[Bridgeman57]

Thought about that but driveway is a bit to steep. Garage isn’t the biggest so I want to have as much room as possible to work.

[Bridgeman57]

Thought about that but driveway is a bit to steep. Garage isn’t the biggest so I want to have as much room as possible to work.

[mick53]

My wrist are sore from dismantling the frame so I spent a few hours working on polishing the back cover on my 6-71. This will be right in front of the windshield on the "hot chick side" of the truck so it has to be polished. I have all the rough grinding done except for the bearing covers. This is a pain but somebody has to do it.

[Bridgeman57]

Yeah that’s a good idea. I already have motor, tranny, t-case and all that installed. Just catching up now. Will be taking winders out this weekend to lighten it up. Previous owner really screwed up the dash/ radio. Nervous about attempting to do it myself

[mick53]

I cut up the boat trailer I bought for my chassis jig, table, rack or whatever you call it. It's been in a vacant lot for years and was full of wasps. They mostly attacked the torch. I don't think they understood the problem. I got the 53 in the driveway. This is huge for me. 4 years working on drivetrain and axles and polishing. Now some fun. To me she is still as beautiful as 40 years ago.

[mick53]

I got the girl cleaned out and power washed today. The massive amount of wasps and hornets didn't hold up any better to the power washer than they did to the torch on the frame. I have most of the new parts to finish her including a new tailgate and bed with pockets from Jim Carter. I also have an original grill with heavy chrome and stainless bumpers. She's really not in that bad of shape. It was never driven in Indiana where I live now. I lived in the So-Cal desert when I was driving her. I drove it from LA to northern Indiana and back 5 times, stock. I was a much younger man then. If I was a patina guy it's the real deal. Thank you for your time.