To all the builders out there I ask you...

[GASoline71]

Mine has been far from easy... trust me.

Gary

[Mr.Hyde]

I usually sit down have a cigar an stare at the portion I'm working on for 20 mins and think what did I do wrong is anything not meshing right. How can I establish a proper datum to base the rest of my panels off. I'm currently working on my outer floor inner rockers, pillar a and b, cab corners, kick panels and rockers it almost is over whelming sometimes.. But I'd rather do this then goto the bar an waste my money. Also this is my first 4 wheeled vehicle build an first time doing body work so I'm still learning.
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[gale]

I guess my temperament avoids frustration. I just accept this as my chosen hobby and whatever comes up, I deal with it.

I'll never know how long one of my projects takes because I seldom work on just one. Currently in my garage: a '67 C20 step side, a '54 3100, a 1983 BMW R100S motorcycle, and a '74 Triumph Trident motorcycle.

My wife is quite a bit younger and she tells me that I could focus on just one and it would get finished. I don't say anything but she knows by the look on my face that isn't going to happen.

The BMW is painted and almost road ready. The Triumph is not far behind. The '67 is in pieces and needs a lot of rust repair. I just recently dismantled the '54 and the cab is on a rotisserie I fabricated. First time I've been able to remove a speedometer standing up. It has very little rust and I'll probably spend a lot of time getting the paint and body work just right.

[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by Mr.Hyde

I usually sit down have a cigar an stare at the portion I'm working on for 20 mins and think what did I do wrong is anything not meshing right. How can I establish a proper datum to base the rest of my panels off. I'm currently working on my outer floor inner rockers, pillar a and b, cab corners, kick panels and rockers it almost is over whelming sometimes.. But I'd rather do this then goto the bar an waste my money. Also this is my first 4 wheeled vehicle build an first time doing body work so I'm still learning.
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I spent a lot of time staring at the truck drinking and thinking while I was doing the floors and rockers.

[GMCjunkie]

Originally Posted by mmiddle

Oh ya. Remember, you are only seeing the glamor shots. not the knuckle busting, tool throwing, cursing that goes on in all our shops

Uh,,,, yeah, not to mention the hissing and growling. I would be too embarrassed to post EVERYTHING I have attempted.

[RenoKeene]

'Rose' took two years to build working on it after work and on weekends, mostly by myself. Had to do lots of things more than once...or twice. This is not easy and it is not for everyone but I can tell you that the end result was worth all the blood, sweat and beers.

[dubie]

the most important thing to remember in building a truck from the frame up is. "NOTHING is a direct bolt on application" I have ordered so many parts that said "direct bolt on application" but what they don't include in that description is that you'll have to grind this and cut that before you can drill a new hole for the bolt to go through etc etc. I just started thinking as all my parts being custom fit now, instead of factory replacement. It's a giant pain in ass but in the end, it's supposed to be worth it............................right?

[suspect]

I had difficulty with both cab corners. I just made sure once I had them welded in, it sat just below the body line. If I need to build up a panel more than 1/16, I will use fiberglass filler first, then body filler, then glaze putty, then primer. Fiberglass filler gets hard as steel. I use a DA to sand it.
My cab floor didnt turn out perfectly, but all I know is there isn't any rust under there, no holes, and it'll be covered by carpet.
Everybody doing a build has some difficulties somewhere. And I'll say it again, that's why you don't see many nice 40+ yr old rides around town. And everybody stares when they see one.
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[gale]

Originally Posted by suspect

I had difficulty with both cab corners. I just made sure once I had them welded in, it sat just below the body line. If I need to build up a panel more than 1/16, I will use fiberglass filler first, then body filler, then glaze putty, then primer. Fiberglass filler gets hard as steel. I use a DA to sand it.

I use lead but then I was around before polyester fillers. I haven't gotten to the cab corners yet but they appear to be a straight forward cut and replace. The cab floor presents more of a problem in my mind. I need the entire floor but I'm thinking of replacing it in quadrants so the structural integrity is never completely lost.

I haven't ordered those parts yet and there's not much difference in the money to go one piece or several. My concern is cutting out the entire floor and then finding I need to bang it around to get the big piece in place for welding.

[Mr.Hyde]

Ya I'm starting to find out how muc massaging it takes to get some things to fit. But I am in love with fabrication that's why I became a welder professionally. It's a passion. And honestly I always dreamed of being on of the big name car/bike builders.
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[treveiger]

Lol my projects are like vasectomy without pain medication. Like for instance looking and blowing money on two brake lines that can't be returned but still don't fit for over a week. That's just one thing of my brake project lol. Happens all the time.
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