1957 Chevy truck re-rebuild

[ChuckDriver]

Incredible!

[RockinKees]

Man that looks Amazing!!!

[greystoke]

that's beautiful Jim, have you talked about where you do your spraying and any special setup you use.

[Rods57]

Really Nice, excellent job.

[Stepside Jim]

Thanks everybody, I suppose the toughest part of these projects is having the patience to keep going at times when you see no progress for weeks at a time.

As for any special place to paint, I do it all right in the shop. One main reason for painting the inside walls of the shop was to help keep dust down.

As for exhaust fans which is about the most important part of painting I pull air from an opening up into the attic space. I made a triangular filter support that once the attic door is opened it fits into the opening.


Attic has a benefit and a fault. Benefit because it creates a down draft, fault because if the sun is shining the temp in the shop can fluctuate due to pulling the warmed air in. I try to figure for the temperature changes by painting in the morning or cloudy days. I have considered making some duct work to pull outside air vs warmed attic air. I just don't paint enough to want to spend the time on duct work.

As for exhaust fans I do have a built into the wall system but I don't want to pull the paint contaminated air through it. So I use the garage door furthest from the attic opening and use two box fans. Then seal the door opening so the air has to be filtered air.


One thing I lack is enough lighting, I have to see how the paint is flowing as it hits the panel otherwise I'll have runs all over the place. May sound strange but I carry a drop light with a round florescent flood light bulb as I paint, I can hold it so I can see everything when I spray in shadowed areas. A pain in the butt to carry and hold along with holding the air hose at the same time, but I can see exactly how the paint is flowing immediately.

To have a paint booth with temp control, great lighting and exhaust fans would be great, but most of us have to get by the best we can.

[iowaboynca]

Love the paint scheme! Has a Hurst-Olds look to it from the early 80's. Loved those cars back in school.

[Stepside Jim]

Originally Posted by iowaboynca

Love the paint scheme! Has a Hurst-Olds look to it from the early 80's. Loved those cars back in school.

You nailed it, I knew I've seen the scheme before, Hurst Olds is it.

FarmerSid, so true, my problem is that I might not paint again for a couple of years so it's difficult to commit to making the shop really set up for paint work. So as you mentioned, do the best with what you got.

I have had a set back on progress, I had the sun shine on the hood which exposed some silver sparkles in the black finish. This was unacceptable so I ended up sanding the hood with 1000 grit paper then 2 coats of black and some clear. I did the cut and buff and all is well. There wasn't much sparkle but it was right in the front of the hood. I can only figure it transferred from the tack cloth.

Otherwise I've been checking fits and making sure I have all the screws and pieces to assemble. I did assemble some of the truck the other night and spent a half hour just sitting back enjoying the view.

A couple of pics to see how things are looking together.

[FarmerSid]

Nice setup Jim. I hear ya on using what you got and getting great results knowing how to use what you got.

[MIKESAD50]

StepsideJim, nice truck.

[oldman3]

Super nice...Jim

[Kim57]

Looks very sharp.
Kim

[tune_1]

Looking great.

Dwight

[Stepside Jim]

Thanks everybody, every time I walk into the shop I get excited seeing the progress. After 3 years of bare metal and body filler, black and silver is soooooo much better to see when I turn on the lights.

I've begun the process of laying down the sound deadening stuff. I can't remember why but I chose to use the Jegs brand. First time I've done this process and find that once I learned it's characteristics, it shapes, cuts and adheres quite cooperatively.

[oldman3]

Nice job, dash is sweet...Jim

[ChuckDriver]

Very nice for sure!!

[Stepside Jim]

Thanks Guys, I to am very excited about how this project is coming along. I've never been much to happy about winter time but if it wasn't becoming winter I'd probably be rushing to get things done right now and perhaps missing some fine details along the way.

Today I got some pictures with both fenders on with the truck outside in the sunlight, I'll get those posted tomorrow.

Right now I'm dealing with replacing all the weather stripping associated with the wing window and painting the exposed areas, then battling the installation of all the door glass. With the rear window being shaded, I'm liking the look so I ordered a light tint shade for the wing window and side glass. I figure it'll be easier to do before I install all the glass.

Thanks for checking in everyone, Jim

[Stepside Jim]

I got a few pics loaded, the outside pics.

The black is just amazing......

I wish I had the grill in place but I need to remove the fenders, those flaps of flat steel that flows inward with the radiator support need to be painted black yet. I don't want anything but black behind the grill when done.


The black had a wonderful reflective quality.


I cropped this picture to focus on the image. I have an old barn in the distance, as I did with the dogs before, I thought I'd capture the image of the barn in the reflection this time.


I know how we all like pictures, enjoy. Jim

[RockinKees]

That is an insane paintjob!!
How many hours of polishing is in it?
That looks really amazing!

[Kim57]

Truck looks great.
The picture with the reflection is very cool.
Kim

[Stepside Jim]

RockinKees, I have an uncountable amount of hours sanding and buffing. Know this, it is a ridiculous boring job to do but now you can see why I block sanded the primer stage over and over.

Although it takes alot of work to get the sanding and buffing stage completed, it is the only time you have to do it, once done, you have it for as long as the paint lasts.

I finished most of the body with 2500 grit paper. I found a 3M brand compound in a purple bottle that works fantastic. It has no grit yet removed the fine sand scratches well. This non-grit compound polished nice and didn't leave as much of the swirl marks usually associated with buffing.

Kim57, I took the picture of the barn yesterday, I forgot about it til I downloaded the pictures today. I had a huge smile when I saw it. If I didn't get some of the shop in the picture it would have a stronger antique look to it.

[RockinKees]

I know there are countless hours in it.
Al I can say is Respect!!!
The last pic is one for in a museum!

[oldman3]

WOW, that is just great...Jim

[Advanced Design]

Absolutely stunning!

[Stepside Jim]

Things have slowed down slightly on the '57, I had to take care of some odds and ends around the house before winter set in.

I have gotten a few things done, let's see where we are.

I can't believe the engine sat on the engine stand for 2 years, finally time to put it back in it's place.


I took this picture because I have seen people deal with the engine height when using a Camaro frame clip. Even with this height I don't think it is high enough to be centered with the radiator but this as all the higher I wanted to go before altering the floor of the truck.


Hmmm, the big block sure squats the front of the truck down.


The engine has radical cam, a high stall converter is installed.


This pic is for the completion of the stainless control arm bushing washers. I went stainless nuts also. I used nylon lock nuts but they were too long as compared to the originals. I used the lathe and cut them back about an 1/8", should do the trick. The original on the right, the cut stainless in the middle and the untouched stainless on the right.


Now installed, no rusting, no chipped paint, just clean and long lasting.

[oldman3]

Everything looking great...Jim