Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build

[Black_Sheep]

Sanding, sanding and more sanding. I took a break from the dust tonight and put together some new plug wires. If you want them to look good you have to make them yourself. Hopefully a little acetone will take the lettering off the wires.

[Black_Sheep]

Also planning how to extend the floor in to the footwell so the floor is flat from door to door...

[Black_Sheep]

Got the frames built for the floor extensions, all that's left is to cut some 18 gauge steel for the tops and weld it to the frames...

[Black_Sheep]

The FatMat RattleTrap I ordered showed up, so I finally got some sound deadener on the flat trans cover. The upper firewall, kick panels and floor exrensions will get the same treatment...

[Black_Sheep]

It's been a busy week but I did manage to finish up the floor extensions and fit them to the cab, turns out the stepwell was 1/2" different from side to side (all original sheetmetal}





Now the floor will be flat from door to door...



My goal for this weekend is to finish up minor bodywork on the cab, final prep the exterior and jambs, epoxy the bare spots and give it a coat or two of slicksand. Hopefully I can pull it off.

[_Ogre]

nice 4 eyed build
i'm sure your brother would like it

i believe we have a lot of black sheep on this forum
welcome to the crowd

[Russell Ashley]

Started out nice but will be a lot nicer when you finish. Yes, I think your brother would approve of what you are doing.

[Black_Sheep]

Been plugging away with no visible progress, until today. I was hoping to have the cab in primer last weekend but it just wasn't quite ready. I kept picking away during the week and put in a long day on Saturday.

[Black_Sheep]

Today I built a "paint booth" and shot the cab with a coat of epoxy primer and a couple rounds of sanding primer.

[Black_Sheep]

I'm pleased with the result and the bodywork looks good despite a couple of minor issues that became apparent with some paint on it. There's still a lot of blocking and priming to come but I'm feeling pretty good about it...

[Black_Sheep]

More sanding, only 306 louvers left to go...



The first round of blocking on the cab is about half done, I should be able to finish that up this weekend.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Black Sheep, Everything's looking really good. I wish I'd thoght of the floor extension idea - I like it. I bet in a few years guys will be doing, "The Black Sheep floor thing".

If/when I machine some L brackets for the carpet edge I plan to include an oval recess for the "Body by Fisher" coach emblems the cars had. Maybe you could add that to yours if you like the idea. Keep the pic's coming. If I missed it, what's the main body color going to be? I read your comment about metalflake white roof - cool.

[Black_Sheep]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Black Sheep, Everything's looking really good. I wish I'd thoght of the floor extension idea - I like it. I bet in a few years guys will be doing, "The Black Sheep floor thing".

If/when I machine some L brackets for the carpet edge I plan to include an oval recess for the "Body by Fisher" coach emblems the cars had. Maybe you could add that to yours if you like the idea. Keep the pic's coming. If I missed it, what's the main body color going to be? I read your comment about metalflake white roof - cool.

I am planning to a 90 degree brushed aluminum strip to finish the edge. I've always thought the "Body by Fisher" logo was cool, adding one would be a neat little detail.

This is the color I am leaning towards...

http://us.vibrancecollection.com/get...-Metallic.aspx

[Black_Sheep]

I needed a break from sanding and dust today so I took care of some loose ends that would be easier to do before the cab goes back on. I eliminated the hydraulic brake light switch when the brake system was re-plumbed so I fabbed up a bracket to correctly position the new mechanical stop light switch.




I also finished installing the Lokar neutral safety switch, a required item to pass the MSRA safety inspection...

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Black_Sheep

I am planning to a 90 degree brushed aluminum strip to finish the edge. I've always thought the "Body by Fisher" logo was cool, adding one would be a neat little detail.

This is the color I am leaning towards...

http://us.vibrancecollection.com/get...-Metallic.aspx

Cool color. Looks kinda pearlescent. Big thumbs up!

[Black_Sheep]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Cool color. Looks kinda pearlescent. Big thumbs up!

Thanks Dan! It's fine metallic and I think it will give really nice highlights and shadows to complement the beautiful contours on a TF truck. The white metal flake roof will give it a little flair, the look I'm going for is my concept of what a sport / muscle truck might look like if Chevrolet built one back in the day...

[Black_Sheep]

Put some heat wrap on the head pipes this morning, will be block sanding after lunch...

[Dan in Pasadena]

I'm thinking of doing Jet Hot coat on my exhaust manifolds then switch to wrap after that on the mufflers. Will you be wrapping your H pipe? I ask because it crosses under the transmission tailstock.

[Black_Sheep]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

I'm thinking of doing Jet Hot coat on my exhaust manifolds then switch to wrap after that on the mufflers. Will you be wrapping your H pipe? I ask because it crosses under the transmission tailstock.

My main concern was that the drivers side pipe which passes beneath the master cylinder and booster, I need to get more wrap for the crossover and the tailpipes. It's probably overkill but the tailpipes are close to the sides of the fuel tank and having heat wrap on them will make me feel better.

[Black_Sheep]

Another productive weekend, blocking the cab with 180 is almost done. Just a little left on the driver's door jamb and rocker. Next up, some 2K primer and another round of sanding, this time with 400. It should be easier to block out because the bodywork is now very straight and smooth...

[oldman3]

Looking good...Jim

[Black_Sheep]

I got what should be the final round of primer on the cab and the first round of 2K on the hood. There's a lot more work left but things are moving in the right direction...

[Dan in Pasadena]

Looks really good!

[oldman3]

Looks sweet...Jim

[Black_Sheep]

The stainless tail light housings showed up so I got them all put together, the studs still need to be trimmed so I can use stainless acorn nuts to attach them to the brackets.



The plan for tomorrow is to paint my lower dash, steering column and column drop pieces Ford HP White, followed up with white micro flake and a couple coats of clear.



The remainder of the interior will be painted '63 Chevy Laurel Green...