Project "Popeye"

[LEEVON]

Maybe someday the cab and front clip will meet again...until then...we make engine noises and play with the airbags.

[oldman3]

Looks like the new shop lets you have a nice clean place to park...Jim

[RocketKing]

Glad your back at it. I will be in Nixa this week dropping off my truck at the sandblasters.

[solidaxel]

Does this mean the shop is affording you more time to yourself, and your projects?

[99 to Life]

We've been waiting to see this thing on the road, one step closer. Whats lined up for your cab?

[LEEVON]

Originally Posted by oldman3

Looks like the new shop lets you have a nice clean place to park...Jim

Yes, only problem is when we get busy I get kicked out for cars that make money, not burn it.

Originally Posted by RocketKing

Glad your back at it. I will be in Nixa this week dropping off my truck at the sandblasters.

Rex, please stop by if you have time!

Originally Posted by solidaxel

Does this mean the shop is affording you more time to yourself, and your projects?

No more time, maybe better access though. I moved it to the shop so I would have it right under my nose...either get sick of seeing it or get finished.

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

We've been waiting to see this thing on the road, one step closer. Whats lined up for your cab?

The cab is getting all of the rust repaired, and coated (bedliner-type stuff) underneath and inside. They might paint the interior too, but the main purpose for being at a shop is the rust. It's a friend's custom shop, they do a steady stream of high end restorations, and fill in with some driver-quality stuff and a bit of collision but all hot rods and customs. They have a Jesse James truck build there now which is going to SEMA this year.

[RocketKing]

Sorry but I was already back before I saw your post. I will be going back to pick it up in a few weeks, what you addy for the shop I would love to see it!

[JHT67]

Any updates?

[LEEVON]

Me and Popeye are still here...get ready...picking up the cab tomorrow! Rust is fixed, firewall filled and painted, floor pans are bedlined top and bottom. Can't wait.

[reaper71]

Looking forward to it..

Mark...

[oldman3]

Allright, glad to have you back and working on the beauty...Jim

[99 to Life]

cheaaaaaaahhhhh

[iowaboynca]

Originally Posted by reaper71

Looking forward to it..

Mark...

^This^

[LEEVON]

I am so glad to have to have the support of this forum and my fellow truck people. It doesn't feel like its been almost 5 years since I started this but sadly it has and would probably be longer without the motivation I get here. It's all downhill from here though!

All the rust in the cab was fixed by my friend Jason Brewer at Redline Finishes in Ozark, MO. http://www.redlinefinishes.com/ They installed new floor boards, floor supports, lower A pillars, cab corners, repaired a spot in the middle back of the cab, repaired the middle cab brace and some other misc. metal work. I had them fill all of the holes in the toe board. I had the firewall painted satin black and bed liner sprayed on the top and bottom of the floor and up the inside of the firewall. They still have the doors, which need minor repair on the inside bottom.

Since I put the cab back on I discovered that I need to move the battery box I welded on (dangit) and clearance the top of the trailing arm cross member which is hitting the bottom of the cab. After that its married to the frame for good.

[LEEVON]

consolidating parts

[oldman3]

Leevon, that is looking so sweeeeeet...Jim

[99 to Life]

its amazing how good these trucks look coming back together. the long journey has an end in sight, congrats.

[LEEVON]

I used the cab dolly to hold the front sheet metal for power washing, and painting the inner fenders and hood latch area. I probably could have spent more time prepping some of the rust scale but it looks much better than it did. The underside of the fenders had about 20-30 lbs of ancient mud and wasp nests in them.

Just waiting on a package with cab mounts/hardware and radiator support mounts and the clip will be going on for good.

[reaper71]

looking good keep it up!!

[oldman3]

Glad to hear it's going on for the final time, looks good...Jim

[99 to Life]

you can "always" spend more time on these things. are you gonna coat under the fenders? if it were me I would just so you don't have to go back later down the road. even if you ever painted it (hope you don't) the undersides would be done. Id toss some rust inhibitor like por15 or chassis saver and then coat with the bedliner. looking real good though, you got a great patina on your hands.

[OrrieG]

Progress is a good sign...I did not look back, do you have the frame plumbed for fuel and brakes? a lot easier with the cab off..

[05snopro440]

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

you can "always" spend more time on these things. are you gonna coat under the fenders? if it were me I would just so you don't have to go back later down the road. even if you ever painted it (hope you don't) the undersides would be done. Id toss some rust inhibitor like por15 or chassis saver and then coat with the bedliner. looking real good though, you got a great patina on your hands.

Coating underneath fenders is always a good idea, painted or not. We use rubberized asphalt undercoating. It works great to insulate from sound, paint stars (if painted), etc.

Since it's a little more flexible than bedliner, I think it's the better option, but that's just me. I've done the inside of all my fenders with it and I'll be doing underneath the running boards in the spring.

[LEEVON]

Good news for Popeye...his younger sister "Black Betty" just sold so now he is fully funded to completion. I haven't done a ton of work lately, but I did get the sheet metal mounted for the last time, including one door hung. I will be on an ordering spree taking advantage of the holiday deals over the next few weeks and kicking this build into overdrive.

[LEEVON]

Brakes and air are plumbed. I think the next task after getting the front end back on will be the fuel system.