52 Chev Panel....repairable?

[olcarguy]

I know it's faster to order parts, but I have found that most of the time you end up having to rework the panels you buy to make them fit. So for the time it takes, I like to make my own...

Prt 1

[olcarguy]

Prt. 2

[vintovka]

Your skills are amazing. You should be a restorer at a museum.

[8man]

Great work. Also a nice anvil you have there.

[olcarguy]

Thanks for the complements Guy's, going to have to a bigger hat....to fit my swelled head..

[Matt_50]

Wow! You have some skills. I'm still learning how to use a hammer....

[NorCalGal]

You probably spent less time making those than I spent fixing the one’s I bought new.

[olcarguy]

NorCalGal:You probably spent less time making those than I spent fixing the one’s I bought new...…

Sometimes yes and sometimes no.

Here is a small fender repair I made, it might give you guys and gals some ideas... I cut the patch out before I thought about my camera to take some pics...happens all the time.

[Matt_50]

Do you do auto body for a living?

[olcarguy]

No Matt, I do it as a hobby. It is just something I like to do, more productive than chasing a ball around a lawn trying to put it in a cup in the middle of a circle of short grass, 18 times. all while wearing crazy looking spicked shoes and plade pants. Besides I was a Millwright for years building custom machinery and making engineers look smart.....

[olcarguy]

This is a modification I made to a pare of vice grips, it is free to use but please don't try to make money from it. Simply cut one jaw off long; other short then reweld back together to allow longer reach....

[8man]

Neat trick on the vise grips. Thanks.

[LT7A]

I am sorry to hear of your loss and the difficulties that it brought about. I'm encouraged by the blessing you found in a new companion. And even more that she finds value in something like an old truck. Your meticulous reproduction of the "over-ventilated" areas will make this one of the best restored examples. Keep at it and thanks for showing us.

[olcarguy]

Sorry if all these pics are not in the right order....

[olcarguy]

Trany cover fab to fit a th350 prt.1

[olcarguy]

Prt. 2

[olcarguy]

I installed a 85 gmc 1/2 ton front suspention in my panel...It works good but is too wide....this is my solution.....prt1

[olcarguy]

Prt.2

[NorCalGal]

Man that was quick! No wonder it’s taking me sooooo long.

[olcarguy]

That was not quick by any means...I sorry I guess mayby I wasn't clear....these pic are from before the ship hit the sand....only one side of the truck got sorta finished. a lot of my shots got destroyed when my old computer crashed....I'm a lot better at fixing and fabing stuff then I am at posting and computers. I figure it will be sometime in the spring befor my panel even gets inside of the garage...We are getting a snow storm right now, but such is life.....Roy

[Matt_50]

Wow I wonder when I'll have the skills to even think about making a fender wider.

Arnt 1 ton fenders wider?

[olcarguy]

Originally Posted by Matt_50

Wow I wonder when I'll have the skills to even think about making a fender wider.

I've been doing this for 50+ years so don't get down on yourself...just keep hammering away. Practice, Practice, and then do some more.

[olcarguy]

Welded some 3/16"brake line around the edges of the steering clearance hole, smooths it out.




I made a boot out of some old leather from a chair....lost the pics, but it turned out good...will try to take some new ones....

[olcarguy]

Not a lot left to work with...had to imagineer the shapes that I needed. Made the bead roller die in my 54 south bend lathe, it does a good job for being almost as old as I am. Fender is just held in place with sheet metel strips to aproximate where it will be when done. Enjoy....Roy

[olcarguy]

Inner fender was a real pain to work on...I often ask my self why do I try to fix this old rusty bucket of bolts. Because when you stand back and look what you have accomplished you get a sense of pride knowing that you have done the best you can, It might not be the best way or the only way but it's my way
….Roy