Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step

[sduckworth13]

Looks great Vic, I like how your mounting and routing the wiring harness.

[Low Elco]

Looks great, Vic! Slick work on the harness. I'm vote #2 on the painted to match centers.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Looks great, Vic! Slick work on the harness. I'm vote #2 on the painted to match centers.

Couple of buddies from Sedville came up yesterday to see the progress and the vote for the painted centers is unanimous …so we will make it so. Charlie had a phone photo of his 18" kidney beans with painted centers that sealed the deal.

[jlsanborn]

Man that's looking good! It's funny, me sitting here turning my head trying to figger out what I'm looking at then it's suddenly like I found Waldo - Ahhh that's the cab without the firewall! Are you planning a cover for the fuse panel? Sounds like you've got a great plan for routing the wires!

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by jlsanborn

Man that's looking good! It's funny, me sitting here turning my head trying to figger out what I'm looking at then it's suddenly like I found Waldo - Ahhh that's the cab without the firewall! Are you planning a cover for the fuse panel? Sounds like you've got a great plan for routing the wires!

Yeah, sometimes the angle of the shot doesn't match the real world orientation. Since posting that photo, I've rotated the fuse box 90 degrees which tucks it up much better and should completely hide it from view. I'll only build a cover if it ends up being visible.

[Vic1947]

Today has been tiny patch day. The corners where the windshield gasket goes had some tin worm, so I opened up the areas and made a couple of small patches and welded them in. The entire pinch weld was gone, so there's both inside and outside patches.

[Low Elco]

Now, that's slick.

[mcbassin]

Very nice metal work!

[snipescastle2]

Vic,
Great Work! I finally got my drivers side rust repair done, now working the passenger side, although it wasn't nearly as bad as the drivers side. I too, had to do some windshield area repairs, found those areas once I welded in my A/C dash to the original dash metal. I am contemplating filling the speaker louvers in the center, better to do that now I guess. I'm also thinking of blocking off those side vents, probably use the space for kick panel speakers.
Keep up the great work!
Ben Smith

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by snipescastle2

Vic,
Great Work! I finally got my drivers side rust repair done, now working the passenger side, although it wasn't nearly as bad as the drivers side. I too, had to do some windshield area repairs, found those areas once I welded in my A/C dash to the original dash metal. I am contemplating filling the speaker louvers in the center, better to do that now I guess. I'm also thinking of blocking off those side vents, probably use the space for kick panel speakers.
Keep up the great work!
Ben Smith

Thanks, Ben. You're right, with the windshield out, now's the time for mods like smoothing the speaker grille. I bought a set of the molded in kick panel speakers for the silver truck. The sound quality was not anything to write home about. I wished later that I'd invested in some nice surface mounted ones. By blocking off the vents, you end up with a lot more usable space to mount larger speakers and not have them in the way of your feet.

[jlsanborn]

Again, you make it look sooo easy! Well done!

[Xeen]

The cab is looking great Vic.
Whats the projected eta on the completion of all the cab work?

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Xeen

The cab is looking great Vic.
Whats the projected eta on the completion of all the cab work?

Thanks, Brian. I figure I have at least another 3-4 weeks of work on it. The floor and firewall are all fitted up and ready to weld in, but I need to epoxy primer the area under the dash before doing so. A bit too cold for that right now. Then, it will still need replacement kick panels, lower door pillars, rocker panels and cab corners. At that point, it will be ready for bodywork. However, I plan to start on the bed shortening project before slinging any mud. Maybe by the time all the tinwork is done, spring will be around the corner. I much prefer to do bodywork with the doors open to cut down on the mess.

[Vic1947]

We just got back into town from our second trip in a month to Houston. My buds at Cryotech Precision Machine asked me to help configure a new computer system for their shop when we visited them in December. Delivered four networked boxes to them and setup all their software this past week. While I was down there, they graciously CNC'd the flats on my center caps. All that remains is to drill and tap the holes for the set screws and get the caps anodized. Then if the weather will cooperate, maybe I can get the wheels painted and the tires back on.

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by Vic1947

We just got back into town from our second trip in a month to Houston. My buds at Cryotech Precision Machine asked me to help configure a new computer system for their shop when we visited them in December. Delivered four networked boxes to them and setup all their software this past week. While I was down there, they graciously CNC'd the flats on my center caps. All that remains is to drill and tap the holes for the set screws and get the caps anodized. Then if the weather will cooperate, maybe I can get the wheels painted and the tires back on.

Awesome work on the custom center caps. That's right up my ally.

[Vic1947]

The temps were in the low 60's yesterday, so I laid down some epoxy primer under the dash and on the firewall. Taped the edges to make it easier to do the spotwelds. Today I took a deep breath and committed to the task at hand. All the last minute measurements looked good and I could find no reason to put off welding in the floor and firewall any longer. Won't be long till it's sitting up on buckets and getting fitted for new rockers, cab corners and etc. although there's still a lot of welding and grinding to be done.

[bguild]

Those caps turned out great!

[sduckworth13]

Very clean work Vic.

[jlsanborn]

Sharp! What color anodize?

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by jlsanborn

Sharp! What color anodize?

I was thinking I'd have them clear anodized to more or less match the rims. Alternatively, I could glass bead and clear coat them for an even closer match. The clear coat would be less expensive but not quite as durable. Plus, I'm not sure I want to obliterate the machined finish. Decisions, decisions...

[rich67]

vic what kinda of primer and paint did you use on your frame?

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by rich67

vic what kinda of primer and paint did you use on your frame?

The frame was sandblasted to bare metal and Chassis Black applied directly over it with no primer per the instructions. Chassis Black is a POR15 clone. It cures in the presence of humidity, is very hard and forms a tight bond to bare metal. Later on, I smoothed out the tops of the frame rails that are exposed in the engine bay then primered over the filler. When I spot finished them with the Chassis Black, it acted much more like conventional paint. Not nearly as slick and hard as directly over the metal.

I outsourced the frame painting to the company that sandblasted it. They did a pretty good job, however there were a few rough spots where it looks like dust settled on it. All those places will be hidden from view so I decided to let sleeping dogs lie.

[rich67]

Originally Posted by Vic1947

The frame was sandblasted to bare metal and Chassis Black applied directly over it with no primer per the instructions. Chassis Black is a POR15 clone. It cures in the presence of humidity, is very hard and forms a tight bond to bare metal. Later on, I smoothed out the tops of the frame rails that are exposed in the engine bay then primered over the filler. When I spot finished them with the Chassis Black, it acted much more like conventional paint. Not nearly as slick and hard as directly over the metal.

I outsourced the frame painting to the company that sandblasted it. They did a pretty good job, however there were a few rough spots where it looks like dust settled on it. All those places will be hidden from view so I decided to let sleeping dogs lie.

i see. thanx vic. awesome thread sir. very informational. like useful stuff! lol

[Low Elco]

Caps look great! Shoulda had them engraved with the CRLS logo while you were playin' with the fancy fancy! Can't wait to see how the wheels turn out.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Caps look great! Shoulda had them engraved with the CRLS logo while you were playin' with the fancy fancy! Can't wait to see how the wheels turn out.

Now see, that's what I get for not consulting the board before forging ahead. Great idea, Chip! Might not be too late, I'd just need to find a local shop that can do engraving. I know my sign maker buddy in Sedalia has an outfit that's done that kind of thing for him. I'll do some investigating.