My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by shok

Whoever said measure twice and cut once was not a welder!

Ha-Ha-Ha!
Toooooo funny,...but true!!!

[Modges'66]

I took some time to accomplish a few things outdoors this past weekend, as the weather is still cooperating (in the upper 70's Murph!). I received my sound deadener, so I started installing it...Kinda time consuming, but I really want for this to be as enjoyable to drive as possible, so I am adding sound deadener to every surface that I can.
I bought Fatmat's 80mil thick super-stick product, and it seems to be pretty nice. It makes a heck of a difference on the areas that I have applied it to. I am going to wait to apply it to the floor until later, as I haven't figured out what I am doing for a seat, and don't want it to get messed-up during wiring & A/C instalation.











And, the new routing for dome light wiring!


Oh, I almost forgot to show just how shiny that the dash is after scuffing it slightly with #2000 grit & rubbing!


Thanks for lookin at my build, guys!

[McMurphy]

I really like your steering column install....it is guys like you, doing stuff like this that constantly makes me think that if I like or want something for my build, then I can find a way to make it work.

Your dash looks amazing! You used 2,000 grit and polishing compound? Did you do any of that wet?

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by McMurphy

I really like your steering column install....it is guys like you, doing stuff like this that constantly makes me think that if I like or want something for my build, then I can find a way to make it work.

Your dash looks amazing! You used 2,000 grit and polishing compound? Did you do any of that wet?

Yeah Murph, I used soapy water with #2000 grit to take off any little imperfections, then wheeled it with this sweet little pneumatic buffer that I bought from Ingersol-Rand, It has like a 3" wheel (model #3129K)...Works awesome for small areas, I have a bigger pneumatic buffer that I use for larger areas!

[Ta2Don]

I cut it 3 times and it's still too short... where's my welder???

Seriously, that dash is Spot-On!!!

[Bomp]

Thanks for showing. Nice Nice Nice verrrrrrrry Nice!

[Low Elco]

Man, I keep needing to buy one of those 3" buffers-can't make myself cough up the coin. They are sweet. I LOVE the little mini DA sanders, too. Your stuff looks great!

[aggie91]

Dash looks great!

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

I cut it 3 times and it's still too short... where's my welder???

Seriously, that dash is Spot-On!!!

I can see that you know the drill too!
Thanks Don, I am too proud of the paint work thus far!

Originally Posted by Bomp

Thanks for showing. Nice Nice Nice verrrrrrrry Nice!

Thanks buddy, as you can probably tell, I like to show it off all that I can.
Honestly, the pics do NOT do justice, I am still in awe...

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Man, I keep needing to buy one of those 3" buffers-can't make myself cough up the coin. They are sweet. I LOVE the little mini DA sanders, too. Your stuff looks great!

Dude!
I have both!...If you didn't know already, the right tools make the job easy!
My painter buddy ordered it for me without me knowing about it along with a paint order, and told me when it arrived that I wouldn't be disappointed...He was sooooo right!

Originally Posted by aggie91

Dash looks great!

Thanks a ton, I couldn't be much happier!

[Modges'66]

Check this out!
Did you ever feel that just when you were starting to get things under control, somebody drops something into your lap that suddenly changes ALL of your plans?



This happened to me today!
(I am soooo Bummed)




NOT!!!!



Look what just arrived at the shop!
I could hardly concentrate on work crap!
As soon as I was done with work, I was opening boxes like it was Christmas!!!
I just spent the past few hours de-burring everything, and contacting our powder-coat suppliers to see who has the best timing at the moment!

[Ta2Don]

Originally Posted by Modges'66

Check this out!
Did you ever feel that just when you were starting to get things under control, somebody drops something into your lap that suddenly changes ALL of your plans?



This happened to me today!
(I am soooo Bummed)




NOT!!!!



Look what just arrived at the shop!
I could hardly concentrate on work crap!
As soon as I was done with work, I was opening boxes like it was Christmas!!!
I just spent the past few hours de-burring everything, and contacting our powder-coat suppliers to see who has the best timing at the moment!

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by aggie91

Awesome! So, how long at the powder coater?

Powder coater said it would be ready on wednesday!

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

Thanks again Don!

[aggie91]

Awesome! So, how long at the powder coater?

[Jmorales3181]

Everything is coming together very nicely!!!!
What Re you doing for wheels? And how much of a drop are you going for?

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by Jmorales3181

Everything is coming together very nicely!!!!
What Re you doing for wheels? And how much of a drop are you going for?

J-mo,
Not lookin to lay rockers...
Gonna be more of a Pro-touring look!
I haven't decided for sure, but I think that I am leaning towards the Rushforth Rated-X wheels, with the brushed centers and polished lip.
20x8.5 fronts, and 22x10 rears.
I just wanna sit low & handle like a bi+ch!...tryin to figure out what rear sway bar to use...

[Modges'66]

I started making some room for the Porterbuilt pieces this past weekend.
I took out the rear shock crossmember. I decided to drill out the rivets, as opposed to torching off the heads & driving them out. I didn't want to burn the existing paint if at all possible. Things went surprisingly well, I learned quickly, that a sharp drill-bit is the key to this! I think that most drill-bits do not have the relief needed to cut fast at the point. I center-punched the rivets on center, then I re-sharpened a brand new 1/4" drill with better relief at the point (after struggling with it for what seemed like eternity) and then it cut like no other. I then drilled out those holes with a 7/16" drill to remove the rivet heads.
Then I took a dowel driver & knocked the rivet thru with a couple of blows with a hammer.
I thought that this would be a bigger job than this, based on the posts that I have seen!
2 hrs. start to finish! From picking which tools to use, to sweeping up my mess.
I am not saying that it is not hard work, but I thought that it would be more difficult than it was.


Center punching of the rivets.


Drilling with a 1/4" drill.


Re-drilling with a 7/16" bit.






Crossmember outa there!


Ready for bussiness!

[Ta2Don]

Nice Job!!! And yep dull drill bits are not fun...

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

Nice Job!!! And yep dull drill bits are not fun...

Thanks Don,
I know, but when you have a bit that is sharpened correct, it is amazing how fast it will cut!

[Modges'66]

I received my stuff back from powder-coat, so I started hackin & drillin!
I really want to get all of the suspension work completed before putting the cab & the rest of the body on....I have been waiting patiently for way to long for this stuff, so now it is game-on!!!!
some of these pics are not the greatest, but I think that you will get the idea.
I finally got a chance to put the plasma-cutter to really GOOD use this week!











I also had a little bit of time to work on the front tonight!



Pretty amazing how different that the OLD looks from the NEW!



I cannot begin to tell you guys how happy that I am right now!
I can hardly wait to set this thing on the ground to see the difference!!!!!

[faribran]

This thread is most entertaining, and educational... Not to mention I feel the excitement mentioned. Every chance you get you should tell your painter how good he is..and yes, i know your finger prints are slowly growing back into place. Nice truck !!

[Ta2Don]

Looking Great!!!

[clemdaddy]

man that looks fantastic. your build took a giant leap right there.
push on brother, push on.

[chad64chevy]

wow, modges! that it looking really good, I wish I would have bought a few thing from porterbuilt! what are to going to do about filling your gas tank??

[Jmorales3181]

Looking great man!!

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by faribran

This thread is most entertaining, and educational... Not to mention I feel the excitement mentioned. Every chance you get you should tell your painter how good he is..and yes, i know your finger prints are slowly growing back into place. Nice truck !!

Thanks for lookin in!
I try to show descriptive images with the work that I am doing to try to give photo references to others!..My buddy Tom knows that he is good, he has a proven procedure in a somewhat primitive spray-booth (his barn)...he does side jobs all of the time, and knows what works!

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

Looking Great!!!

Thanks again Don!

Originally Posted by clemdaddy

man that looks fantastic. your build took a giant leap right there.
push on brother, push on.

Thanks Clem, I have been waiting for this point in my build since the day that I bought it!!!...No lie!

Originally Posted by chad64chevy

wow, modges! that it looking really good, I wish I would have bought a few thing from porterbuilt! what are to going to do about filling your gas tank??

Thanks Chad,
Early on I was gonna graft-in a fuel door, but got so caught-up in the body work that I had the bed sides all block sanded before I realized it, and didn't want to take a step backwards...So I guess that I will put a filler in the bed-floor....Heck, I am not even sure that I will use the tank that I have yet.

Originally Posted by Jmorales3181

Looking great man!!

Thanks Jmo, I am getting more excited each and every day!!!