My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!

[Modges'66]

Well, I have started fitting-up the front sheet-metal in an effort to start making this thing look more like a truck!
Let me tell you, workin' with painted panels is slow-going!!!
Attempting to get the inner fenders all set-up without messing-up the finish was a real challenge. I must have had them on & off 5 times before satisfied! Mainly because the radiator that I had originally mocked it up with wasn't the same as I ended up using, and I needed to cut holes for the power-steering hoses.....Add to that, the weather-strips at the firewall. What a pain!
Some of the pics aren't that great, I took them with my phone...



Check-out the weather-strips!





I also started working on the grill!!!
I needed to recover all of the headlamp buckets/adjusters from the original grill and build a new grill assembly.
I sand-blasted the daylights out of them, painted them with Imron, & reassembled them using Stainless pop-rivets.



The new grill in place, and lookin pretty tight!!
Starting to look more like a truck!!!!


I am pretty Amped-up right now!!!

[Bomp]

Darn right thats tight!!!!

[flips72]

beautiful, don't know what else to say, attention to detail is where its at:metal : and don't skin the paint

[Ta2Don]

that's all I got…

[chad64chevy]

that frontend looks awesome! how is the bed coming a long??

[McMurphy]

Man Modges, that is really coming together

Looking really good there !!

[Strodder]

You're right about it being a PITA putting it back together. The last one I did I used lots of blue masking tape to protect all the edges while assembling it.
BTW, NICE JOB

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by Bomp

Darn right thats tight!!!!

Thanks buddy,
I am so excited to be putting finishing touches on some items!

Originally Posted by flips72

beautiful, don't know what else to say, attention to detail is where its at:metal : and don't skin the paint

Dude, I am putting masking tape & towels everywhere that the panels may contact during fitment....
I have said it several times before, I really only want to perform this exercise only if possible, so I am trying hard to do everything correct the first time!

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

that's all I got…

Thanks Don!
I really appreciate your comments!

Originally Posted by chad64chevy

that frontend looks awesome! how is the bed coming a long??

My bed?
It is sitting in the spare stall of the barn totally ready for paint, but my painter has been really busy, and I really don't have a good way to transport it through the slush & snow, so i haven't pushed the subject.
It seems that I have a lot to do without the box being an obstacle to work around right now.
I gotta get my air-ride management, brake-lines, & exhaust figured out before I really need it, so I am really in no hurry at the moment.

Originally Posted by McMurphy

Man Modges, that is really coming together

Looking really good there !!

Thanks Murph!
Things aren't moving quite as fast as I want, but I am making progress, none the less!

Originally Posted by Strodder

You're right about it being a PITA putting it back together. The last one I did I used lots of blue masking tape to protect all the edges while assembling it.
BTW, NICE JOB

Thanks man!
Tape, towels, rags, & fingers, in order to protect every paint edge possible!
What a job to try to protect all of the surfaces!
Thanks for lookin-in & commenting on my build!

[Modges'66]

I have been doing a lot of work on my doors lately.
I have managed to install all the side window glass, & also install the power window motors and get them adjusted properly.
Then it came to wiring-up & installing the window switches...

A person could only assume that when you purchase really nice billet power window switches, that you would also get an equally nice retention device to aid in the mounting of those said switches...

Window Switches...


Super-Cheezy retention bracket...
Notice the super-secure screw mounting, which allows for precise positioning of the screws, with no misalignment possible...NOT!


And my solution to this mess?
I made a few retention rings that truly secure the switches, an do not allow them to just flop around it the opening that you had hoped for them to reside in!

...All of this kinda makes you wonder about the items that you never get to see on some of the cars at the shows.
Well, at least I know that I don't need to worry about how my vehicle was put together!

Here is a shot of the retaining ring on the switch...


And finally a pic of the switch in the door panel!

[Shooters_7]

Love the paint color and how everything is coming out on this! Its been awhile since I read through your thread. Keep up the great work!

[Jeff La]

Truck's coming out really nice, love the switches. All this means it's getting really close to rolling down the road.

[McMurphy]

You know, you would be done with this by now if you were not always screwing around making switch backing plates.... sheesh !!

[clemdaddy]

mighty fine craftsmanship there. assembly of beautiful parts to make bada$$ components is the best of times. keeper going...

[bj383ss]

Looks awesome. Can't wait until I can put painted parts back together. I just removed that same weather stripping yesterday and through it in the trash. Love the blue!


Bret

[chad64chevy]

nice backing plates for the switches! you attention to detail to make things work better, and fit right are perfect! NOW only if these aftermarket company could do the same, people would be a lil happier! keep it up, I'm waiting to see the rest of the frontend put on!!

[Bomp]

I've had to take a serious break from Steiner cause that stinkin bar you've set is so high that I sprained my neck trying to keep an eye on it.

Damn your hi quality tricked out doo-dads for vertical window moving ability.

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by Shooters_7

Love the paint color and how everything is coming out on this! Its been awhile since I read through your thread. Keep up the great work!

Hey "7" thanks for lookin-in!
Your truck is looking pretty nice!
Are you still in Michigan? If so, where abouts are you located?
"Finished by the Power Tour" is a pretty aggressive plan. It looks to me like a lot of work, but I have no idea how much time that you can devote to it.
Good luck! it will be so fun!

Originally Posted by Jeff La

Truck's coming out really nice, love the switches. All this means it's getting really close to rolling down the road.

Hey man, thanks for stopping by!
Yeah I really want for it to be drivable this summer...Although I really don't think that it will truly ever be done!

Originally Posted by McMurphy

You know, you would be done with this by now if you were not always screwing around making switch backing plates.... sheesh !!

I know, I know!
Every time that I turn around, I have some little roadblock challenging the progression of my build.....I'm just pacing myself, so that I don't get done before you do! LOL!

Originally Posted by clemdaddy

mighty fine craftsmanship there. assembly of beautiful parts to make bada$$ components is the best of times. keeper going...

Thanks Clem!
Sometimes I think that with my design/tooling background, that this type of work is what I do best!
It feels so good to be at this stage of the build!
On most days lately, I can work on it for hours and never really get dirty! But I clearly remember the steps taken to get to this point!

Originally Posted by bj383ss

Looks awesome. Can't wait until I can put painted parts back together. I just removed that same weather stripping yesterday and through it in the trash. Love the blue!


Bret

Thanks Bret!
I cannot express how nice it feels to be putting things back together, instead of taking them apart!....This blue looks so much better in person than the pics reveal!!!

Originally Posted by chad64chevy

nice backing plates for the switches! you attention to detail to make things work better, and fit right are perfect! NOW only if these aftermarket company could do the same, people would be a lil happier! keep it up, I'm waiting to see the rest of the frontend put on!!

Thanks Chad,
I always feel challenged to make things a little better than what you can just buy!...
I am truly an a$$, it seems like I can find a problem with almost any purchased part!

Originally Posted by Bomp

I've had to take a serious break from Steiner cause that stinkin bar you've set is so high that I sprained my neck trying to keep an eye on it.

Damn your hi quality tricked out doo-dads for vertical window moving ability.

DUDE!
S#!t like that makes me laugh so hard!!!!
I am trying hard as hell to keep up with your pace!

[notsolo]

Your building a 1 of a kind truck, some parts can be bought off the shelf, but few can be truly bolted on ready to go. Fit and finish is sweet, takes time and patience, Talent to blend all that into a very cool ride. ....

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by notsolo

Your building a 1 of a kind truck, some parts can be bought off the shelf, but few can be truly bolted on ready to go. Fit and finish is sweet, takes time and patience, Talent to blend all that into a very cool ride. ....

Thanks a bunch!
I take that as a huge compliment!
My philosophy has always been "if it is worth doing, it is worth doing right".
I have no intention of looking back on this and saying "I wish that I woulda done that different" or, "maybe I coulda spent more time making sure that looked good".
Believe me, sometimes I find myself thinking "why am I doing this? nobody will ever see it anyway!"
....But, then I also think about being able to point out all of the custom touches to others admiring at shows/cruises.
Thanks for lookin at my build!

[Modges'66]

I have decided to focus on the doors right now, and try to get them buttoned-up, so to speak.
One of the first things that I worked on in this build was the doors, and mocking-up of power windows....Right now, I wanted to get some kind of closure on something, so I have set out to do just that.
I purchased these peep mirrors early on in the build, and decided to install them the other day.
Somehow, the way I had originally envisioned their placement, and how they actually ended up were totally different.
I had intended to mount them to the top part of the door frame, but because of the swing of the vent window, and how useless that they would be, I ended up mounting them in a similar position to where a stock mirror would be, only, the method of mounting them was somewhat unconventional, although I think it looks great!



Here is a shot from behind looking forward...



And last, but not least, some shots of the mirror wired-up!
BTW, the passenger side looks equally as nice!





That is all for now.
More pics real soon!

[Strodder]

I love that mirror. Lookin good

[glos55]

Very Nice!!!

[aggie91]

Very nice indeed!

[Trsmotrhed]

Looking good. Hey, you fire up that engine yet?

[Bigru]

Very Nice!