Previous owner '68

[raggedjim]

So I had started welding up holes in the firewall to try to clean it up a bit. It's taken me awhile to decide what to keep and what to get rid of, hopefully I won't end up cutting them all back out!

I started with the seams at the panel joints around the window. Some people will say that if poorly mated panels filled with copious amounts of putty are good enough for GM then we should be happy with it. Sorry guys, that decision was made for the sake of assembly speed and because the bean counters wouldn't approve the time and money for full welds.

So I filled them with welding wire and marglas. Haven't got them prepped enough for paint but they aren't too bad.

[raggedjim]

I also welded the seams on the drip rail and tried to even it up as much as possible.

[loudchevy]

Originally Posted by raggedjim

I also welded the seams on the drip rail and tried to even it up as much as possible.

Looking good! I regret not welding the seams on mine. It looks way cleaner without the joint showing.

[raggedjim]

Originally Posted by loudchevy

Looking good! I regret not welding the seams on mine. It looks way cleaner without the joint showing.

Thanks! This is the first time I've filled them in, I always used to just gloop in a bunch of sealant and hope for the best.

I've got to stop looking at other people's build threads, it has caused a bit ( a lot actually) of project creep...

[loudchevy]

Originally Posted by raggedjim

Thanks! This is the first time I've filled them in, I always used to just gloop in a bunch of sealant and hope for the best.

I've got to stop looking at other people's build threads, it has caused a bit ( a lot actually) of project creep...

The "project creep" is real for sure, but I think the "might as well" hits harder sometimes.

[raggedjim]

Originally Posted by loudchevy

The "project creep" is real for sure, but I think the "might as well" hits harder sometimes.

That's for sure! I'm always thinking "Well, if I'm ever going to do it now is the time."

At least most of the welding is done. Still have lots of areas to grind and fill. Also need to flip the cab and clean up the bottom. Not shooting for perfect but I want to get all the old caked on mud, grease, and undercoating scraped off.

[raggedjim]

After welding the holes on the firewall I covered them all with fiberglass reinforced filler just because.

Then I drilled a 1/2" hole and used a square file to make it square for the cable style throttle.

[raggedjim]

Then I test mounted the gas pedal using a conversion plate. Not sure where I got the plate, I think I purchased it off of this board.

[raggedjim]

Finally flipped the cab, it was very easy, I don't know why I worried about it so much.

Bottom has thick mud, grease, undercoating combo.

[raggedjim]

Spent some time scrapping and finally hit it with phosphoric acid.

[raggedjim]

Then I sprayed the bottom with etching primer and then 2 coats of bed liner. I will probably hit it with one more coat before flipping it back.

It's not perfect but it works for me!

[hewittca]

I'm enjoying these updates and motivation because I'm about to embark on the exact same mission with my cab. The underside looks awesome to me! Nice work.

[7dee2]

Looks great, good job!

[raggedjim]

Brett talked me into it!

[raggedjim]

Well, I welded them shut...

[zicc1835]

I see AC in the future

[raggedjim]

Originally Posted by zicc1835

I see AC in the future

Either that or a bunch of sweating!

[raggedjim]

While I have the cab flipped I am trying to do any work I can do to it to help keep me from having to work overhead. Keeping these noodly arms lifted up for hours plays havoc on my shoulders!

[raggedjim]

This is one of those areas. Cutting out and welding the upper windshield frame almost killed me. Would have been much easier and less burning hair if I had waited until I had flipped the cab. Live and learn.

[Roostre]

This looks great! I was originally thinking about smoothing the tolerance gaps in my cab, but I've given that idea up as my project has drug out too long already.

I am also planning on tipping my cab to paint the bottom of it when I get to that point. The new floor in there has an e-coat on it, but I don't trust that to hold up on external panels like paint will. Although maybe I'll just scuff the e-coat and undercoat it rather than paint; that may be a viable option for me.

[raggedjim]

Originally Posted by Roostre

This looks great! I was originally thinking about smoothing the tolerance gaps in my cab, but I've given that idea up as my project has drug out too long already.

I am also planning on tipping my cab to paint the bottom of it when I get to that point. The new floor in there has an e-coat on it, but I don't trust that to hold up on external panels like paint will. Although maybe I'll just scuff the e-coat and undercoat it rather than paint; that may be a viable option for me.

It feels like this one is dragging out, but the only way for it not to drag out is to ignore things and I hate to do that. I've always top-coated e-coat, not sure if you have to, but I always have.

2 guys can tip the cab easily. Good luck, Rg

[Roostre]

Originally Posted by raggedjim

It feels like this one is dragging out, but the only way for it not to drag out is to ignore things and I hate to do that. I've always top-coated e-coat, not sure if you have to, but I always have.

2 guys can tip the cab easily. Good luck, Rg

My day job is for an agricultural equipment manufacturer. We have several suppliers that provide parts with e-coat. We always paint the parts even if they are meant to be black on the finished product, and I was told that it is because the e-coat does not hold up well to UV exposure. So my intention is to topcoat any e-coat parts that are exposed to the elements. Example: My outer roof skin was e-coated and I painted the top of it, but did not paint the bottom of it because it is sealed within the roof.

[raggedjim]

Originally Posted by Roostre

My day job is for an agricultural equipment manufacturer. We have several suppliers that provide parts with e-coat. We always paint the parts even if they are meant to be black on the finished product, and I was told that it is because the e-coat does not hold up well to UV exposure. So my intention is to topcoat any e-coat parts that are exposed to the elements. Example: My outer roof skin was e-coated and I painted the top of it, but did not paint the bottom of it because it is sealed within the roof.

It's easy insurance. I think I do it because I used to see rusty aftermarket fenders people had put on and not painted. Not sure if they were e-coat but I ain't taking no chances!

[68 C10 Driver]

Looks like you are doing everything I did to my cab. It was a lot of work! But cleaning the underside was very satisfying!

[68 C10 Driver]

Here is how the under dash cowl area turned out.