SkinnyG's '61 Apache

[cwcarpenter98]

Looks like it never even rusted out

[SkinnyG]

And the next day final welding of the last patch, and now it's off to pound dents.



Plus, I picked up some pipe to make myself a Pipe Anvil, something I wish I had when I built the Lethal Locost and the Fiendish Firefly. Video on the fabrication to come.

[pdxhall]

I haven't looked in for while so I got caught up on your build. You are doing some real nice rust repair. You've got some skills and you're not afraid to use them.

[SkinnyG]

Thanks!

I'm really just cheap, stubborn, fiercely independent, but mostly cheap.

"Skill Acquisition" and "Skill Mastery" are important to me. I'm getting there.

[SkinnyG]

Pipe anvil made:

I wish I had one of these five project cars ago.

[SkinnyG]

Coming home from work I was inspired to get some more done on the fenders. Blasted specific areas of repair, and cut out some more rust in anticipation of patches.

[Paul Y]

Originally Posted by SkinnyG

Pipe anvil made:

I wish I had one of these five project cars ago.

Not come across one of these before. How does it work, or rather how do you use it?

EDIT. YouTube is your friend....

P.

[SkinnyG]

Funny you should mention youtube....

Build a Pipe Anvil - YouTube

[Paul Y]

Originally Posted by SkinnyG

Funny you should mention youtube....

Build a Pipe Anvil - YouTube

Will be making a small version of this in the near future!

P.

[SkinnyG]

I was going to put wheels on one end so it's easy to move around, but through a comedy of measurement that didn't happen. I may still do it, though.

[SkinnyG]

Three patches here. Left side inner and outer, leading edge inner, and right side inner and outer. There was some bubblies in there that the blaster couldn't get at, but the needle-scaler attachment on the air hammer took care of that AND created some holes. Combination of MIG and TIG. Shrinking disc took care of oil canning nicely. Now to pound out all the dents in this fender.

[88Stanger]

that is really awesome job!!

[SkinnyG]

Mostly yard work today, and trying to chase down a decent used mower.

I did get the passenger fender flange components sprayed in epoxy in anticipation of welding together. That's about it.

[SkinnyG]

Picked a nice mower from a guy who fixes them up and sells them out of his home. He took my knackered one in for a bit of a trade-in.

Mowed the lawn, of course, just to make sure it worked.

Pretty much finished pounding all the dents out of the driver's fender. Not "zero-filler" perfect, but certainly "wee-skim-of-filler" or "thick coat of high-build" good.

[SkinnyG]

When you get down to the final few low spots that need to come out, you'll wish you had one of these. Took me an hour and a half to make.

[SkinnyG]

Used the bullseye pick today. Sweet tool. Y'all should build one. So much easier than blind braille and trying to hit the right place that you can't see.

With that, the driver's fender is ready for blast and primer. I'll peck the passenger fender tomorrow, after I weld the flange reinforcement on. Then that fender will be done.

[Paul Y]

Not sure what I like more on your thread Skinny, the body work or the tools!

P.

[SkinnyG]

Another patch I neglected to do, now done:



Flange reinforcement now added to passenger side fender, plus relocated rear support rod mount (tab at rear - support was hitting tire at full drop):



Used to be where I'm pointing at. Will need to lengthen the support rod a couple inches.



Driver's side support mount moved as well:



About as good as my patience will allow:

[SkinnyG]

Bed sides.

There is quite a bit of corrosion where the fenders mounted (and subsequently rusted the fender flanges). I'm curious if the bed was assembled bare and then primed and painted, or primed first. Nevertheless, they will be epoxy primed at a minimum when I'm done.

Left side with no patches:





Right side with patches, all TIG welded so as to be very malleable:

[88Stanger]

Originally Posted by SkinnyG

Bed sides.

There is quite a bit of corrosion where the fenders mounted (and subsequently rusted the fender flanges). I'm curious if the bed was assembled bare and then primed and painted, or primed first. Nevertheless, they will be epoxy primed at a minimum when I'm done.

Left side with no patches:





Right side with patches, all TIG welded so as to be very malleable:

Seems like you are in the same place i have been, should I prime and paint the cab then set it on the frame and start assembly. Well honestly this can be done, BUT with inevitable "Oppsy" when trying to fit the fenders and doors and so on. I know the best way is to get everything close to final fit on the cab, set it on the frame, retest fit the doors then test fit the fenders, hood and such and get everything close and ready for final THEN paint.... this is not what i want to do, but I know it is the best. So, honestly, for you, I hate to say it but i would test fit everything first, get it ready, then dis-assemble and then paint. I am guessing this is not exactly what you want to hear and it will not be the fastest by any means, but i think in the end you will be happier. Either way, great job so far!!

[SkinnyG]

Latest Video!

61 Chevy Apache - Part 17: Repairing The Hood -...

[SkinnyG]

And for a little break, I CNC Plasma-cut a gauge mount for the air ride. I -think- I'd like to mount it here, but I will likely finish the edge such that I don't sever my leg in a collision.

[jkeating1]

I don't guess they'd fit behind that ash tray lid, huh?

[SkinnyG]

I looked at the ashtray deal - I honestly prefer them there. It looks like I could fit them if I gut the slider thingies behind the dash and fabricate some sort of mount. I'll try and find the ashtray door in my boxes and see what I can do.

Both sides are patched. Now to make them flat.





Also fabricated an adapter to use the air brush I bought in about 1981 so SkinnyKid1 could do this:





I wasn't sure what this is - must be some kind of trailer brake balance adjuster?



Then I was starting to get O Hungry and irritable, so I came in for some tea.

[jkeating1]

Originally Posted by SkinnyG

...It looks like I could fit them if I gut the....

I know a guy who said that as he was looking at a V8 engine and a Pontiac Firefly.