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

[hgs_notes]

Small update, Finished the first round of sanding and filled the low spots with metal glaze. I'm not sure I'll get back out there tonight (probably not), but I just need to knock the glaze down and re-primer the front driver quarter and top of the cab. Then another spray of guide coat and start all over again, hopefully with flatter results.

[Steve-W]

what a discipline and patience..respect!
keep up the good work and I think I speak for all the followers if I say we're all rooting for ya

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by Steve-W

what a discipline and patience..respect!
keep up the good work and I think I speak for all the followers if I say we're all rooting for ya

I appreciate that, really. I'm sure everyone wants me to go for the gold and do it all myself. Who knows, we'll see, no promises. I'll just keep taking little steps and maybe one of these days, I'll turn around and find it all done.

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by hgs_notes

I appreciate that, really. I'm sure everyone wants me to go for the gold and do it all myself. Who knows, we'll see, no promises. I'll just keep taking little steps and maybe one of these days, I'll turn around and find it all done.

go for the gold...get back out in the garage j/k. I am impressed that you're making good progress on it almost if not every day!!!

[67_ShortFleet]

Looks good! I'm going to door door skins soon. Subscribed.

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by 67_ShortFleet

Looks good! I'm going to door door skins soon. Subscribed.

I made one mistake when I did my door skin. I ended up having the door just a bit too tall to fit the door opening properly. If you have the rocker already replaced or set in, you need to make sure the panel is in the right position on the door. They can be moved around a bit, mine should have been slid upwards about 1/8 - 3/16" for a better fit. If the rocker work will be done later, no problem, just fit the rocker to the door when you do that. Also, avoid using any hard clamps like the vise grip style to hold the panel in place because it will dimple the panel and need some filler work later to flatten it back out. A softer spring clamp with a broader tip would be better.

I think I'll copy this paragraph into the posts from back then also.

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

I am impressed that you're making good progress on it almost if not every day!!!

Not every day, but as much as my schedule allows and wife will tolerate.

Had to drive up to Minneapolis this morning to bring my oldest home for a week of sitting on her butt resting. College freshman and a good student and active social life. She said she was going to sleep for 3 days.

Once we got back I headed out to the garage and got my metal glaze sanded down. I wiped the dust off and since we are have a very windy day, I opened the garage door and the man door and started blowing as much dust loose as possible. The garage is covered top to bottom, side to side, in and out with primer/putty dust.

I just sprayed some wax/grease remover on it, wiped it down and letting it dry off before the next layer of primer goes on. I'm going to spray it kind of heavy in a few areas because I think I'm going to need it. By tonight I should be right back to where I was on 2/5/2011, post 384.

Hopefully with better results this time. Should just be spot repairs after this round of sanding though. Pics later.

[VA72C10]

I think you've been doing good one it. (Not that my opinion is worth much )

Every time you prime it and sand it's just going to make the paint job that much better.

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

I think you've been doing good one it. (Not that my opinion is worth much )

Every time you prime it and sand it's just going to make the paint job that much better.

And that much later

[hgs_notes]

Got 2 coats of primer on, with a couple extra coats in the known low spots. I hope it's enough to block out good this next time. I have to work tomorrow and get some things done with the wife, so I'm not sure when I'll get back on my sanding block again. Probably in a couple days.

One picture, probably 8 hours of work...

[VA72C10]

Only one pic? Hope this next round comes out how you want. I have a feeling you're in the home stretch now.

[hgs_notes]

I had a short work day today, so I got some garage time. I started by cleaning up my work bench a bit. I was struggling to find space to mix primer and clean the gun, etc.


But while I was doing that, I was letting the guide coat set up.


Started sanding the hood and top of the cab. It's going alright, not perfect, but much better. I think I'll just have some spots to fix and it'll be good to go.



This is the biggest low spot so far. I also had one small spot on the top front corner of the cab. Easy fix.


The first 2k primer I used was from transtar and was recommended by a local body shop as what they normally use. Not having any other experience, I went with it and was not happy with how it sanded. I had also used SEM guide coat, which seemed very heavy to me, not just how I sprayed it, but it just seemed thick and spattery, which also made sanding harder.

This time I used the Summit 2k primer and a duplicolor guide coat (also from summit) and what a world of difference. The primer was thicker and I had some trouble spraying it with my 1.8 tip gun, but it was filling better. I kept it thick when I was spot spraying, then added some more reducer for whole panel spraying and it was fine. The duplicolor guidecoat is much lighter and almost like spraying dust.

This combination was much easier to sand. Can't even compare the 2. The transtar would clog up the paper in a few strokes, faster if you hit the epoxy. I was constantly clearing it or replacing it. The summit sands great and I had no problems with clogging the paper. I would blow it off with air sometimes, but I did not have to replace it once during the sanding I did today.

Transtar= bad, summit= much better. I can't say its great because I haven't used anything else, but it worked great for me and was about half the cost of the transtar. I saved me money in paper also, which I also got from summit in rolls, and has been working good.

[VA72C10]

Good info on your experience!

[nuke1]

looking good!!

[xludan]

What brand epoxy primer did you go with? Did you have any problems with the recoat window before you shot the 2k primer? (i.e. did you have to scuff up the epoxy primer before you shot the 2k?)

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by nuke1

looking good!!

Thanks

Originally Posted by xludan

What brand epoxy primer did you go with? Did you have any problems with the recoat window before you shot the 2k primer? (i.e. did you have to scuff up the epoxy primer before you shot the 2k?)

The epoxy primer was martin Sr crossfire CP400 I think. I did not scuff it before the 2k primer, I honestly didn't really think about it. I probably made other mistakes along the way too. The body shop said it didn't matter what I used under the 2k I got from them. One thing I did do was use brake cleaner (didn't have the standard wax and grease remover then) to wipe everything down before the 2k primer and that stuff will basically wipe it off if you use too much for too long. It wasn't the smoothest surface either because I don't think my gun was set up right when I sprayed the epoxy, is seemed almost textured to me.

I wouldn't recommend doing it that way, but that's how it goes sometimes. I think the length of time the primer had to dry/cure and shrink (if any) before it was worked on makes a difference also.

[hgs_notes]

Been a few days, time for an update. Yesterday I spoke with the local paint rep for Martin Sr about their products. They supply the local Napa and he gave me some tips, etc. Then today I was at the local body shop and talked to them a bit more about what I was doing, what my plans for progression were, and got some more (and conflicting) advice. I'm also going to check the other part store in town that handles Dupont and Nason products.

I was doing more blocking today and during that, when the mind tends to wander, I was thinking about a pneumatic in-line sander and if it would make this job easier. The body shop was dubious and said I was 'cheating', but loaned me a sander anyway. All I can say is that it has pros and cons. They will be doing some painting next week and said I could watch if I was around and learn. My main worry is that I know my own habits of laying it on too heavy and getting runs and/or orange peel. I want to see how the gun should be spraying, how heavy the coats should be, what it should look like when sprayed properly, etc. I think it will help me a lot to see it in person and not a picture in a book or online, or from a DVD.

Pros: definitely faster, seemed to leave a pretty smooth finish using 180 grit, and it didn't load up too bad.

Cons: The sander was pretty hefty and not really a shoulder saver for the work like I thought it would be. I was pretty tight between the shoulder blades after a couple hours work. It's a total air hog and I had to stop and let the compressor catch up more than any other tool I have. Sandpaper did load up more than hand sanding. I was also having some problems with the sander bogging down, not sure why, drops of oil didn't help. Probably just a well worn tool.

Anywho, on to the progress and pics. Sanded some more, found a few lows and highs, but just a few. Overall, it is coming out pretty flat and I won't have too much rework to do.

Got most of the hood done.


About 90% of the driver door and bedside done.


Then turned the truck around and got most of the other door done.


Then got a start on the pass bedside. The lower portion had the most work done and I wanted to see how it came out. Pretty good, but needs a little more work done.

[VA72C10]

Looking really good! Paint should lay down super slick!!!

[seldomseen65]

Originally Posted by hgs_notes

Been a few days, time for an update. Yesterday I spoke with the local paint rep for Martin Sr about their products. They supply the local Napa and he gave me some tips, etc. Then today I was at the local body shop and talked to them a bit more about what I was doing, what my plans for progression were, and got some more (and conflicting) advice. I'm also going to check the other part store in town that handles Dupont and Nason products.

I was doing more blocking today and during that, when the mind tends to wander, I was thinking about a pneumatic in-line sander and if it would make this job easier. The body shop was dubious and said I was 'cheating', but loaned me a sander anyway. All I can say is that it has pros and cons. They will be doing some painting next week and said I could watch if I was around and learn. My main worry is that I know my own habits of laying it on too heavy and getting runs and/or orange peel. I want to see how the gun should be spraying, how heavy the coats should be, what it should look like when sprayed properly, etc. I think it will help me a lot to see it in person and not a picture in a book or online, or from a DVD.

Pros: definitely faster, seemed to leave a pretty smooth finish using 180 grit, and it didn't load up too bad.

Cons: The sander was pretty hefty and not really a shoulder saver for the work like I thought it would be. I was pretty tight between the shoulder blades after a couple hours work. It's a total air hog and I had to stop and let the compressor catch up more than any other tool I have. Sandpaper did load up more than hand sanding. I was also having some problems with the sander bogging down, not sure why, drops of oil didn't help. Probably just a well worn tool.

Anywho, on to the progress and pics. Sanded some more, found a few lows and highs, but just a few. Overall, it is coming out pretty flat and I won't have too much rework to do.

Got most of the hood done.


About 90% of the driver door and bedside done.


Then turned the truck around and got most of the other door done.


Then got a start on the pass bedside. The lower portion had the most work done and I wanted to see how it came out. Pretty good, but needs a little more work done.

the whole job on the sanding is looking great ,,learning from you at this time ,,,I also am at the point of starting to do some more work on the side of the bed on my truck,,,thanks for the pics,,doing good

[hgs_notes]

Finally got a couple hours out in the garage to sand some more. Yippee! Finished most of the pass side bed and door, then started the tailgate again. It might need just a bit more touch up work, but the bedside and door are looking good. Hopefully I'll finish this stage of sanding this weekend. There are just a handful of small low spots to fix so far. I think I'll do a thin coat of primer to fill the sanding scratches then move on to the finer grit.

[67_ShortFleet]

Finally got a couple hours out in the garage to sand some more. Yippee! Finished most of the pass side bed and door, then started the tailgate again. It might need just a bit more touch up work, but the bedside and door are looking good. Hopefully I'll finish this stage of sanding this weekend. There are just a handful of small low spots to fix so far. I think I'll do a thin coat of primer to fill the sanding scratches then move on to the finer grit.

Looks great. Hang it there you are almost there!

[VA72C10]

Nice job man! Keep at it....you're closer to paint than you were last week And closer to driving it too!!!

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by 67_ShortFleet

Looks great. Hang it there you are almost there!

Originally Posted by VA72C10

Nice job man! Keep at it....you're closer to paint than you were last week And closer to driving it too!!!

Thanks guys. I keep telling myself I am so close to paint, yet it seems like I never get closer. I think I'll get over that hump this weekend. I ordered another $40 worth of sandpaper last night, 220, (already have a bunch of 320), then 400 and 600.

[67cheby]

just start telling yourself ....... I AM SAVING A TON OF MONEY, I AM SAVING A TON OF MONEY !! that should be great motivation

[1956cameo]

The truck is looking good! I would be ecstatic if any of my projects were that close to paint.