What did you do to your truck today? Chapter II

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by Metaldoc

Nothin like smoked ribs, My smoker runs at least once a week.

Suddenly I'm hungry.

Not worth posting a picture of my transmission crossmember, just a cleaning idea. I didn't want to remove the rivets, and without doing so they're a bear to clean, baked on transmission fluid and such. Anyway, after some effort I found it was going nowhere. So I soaked both ends in a bucket of boiling water, with a splash of grease remover on occasion. It still required pipe brushes, but came off easily and clean as a whistle.

[Jim Boy]

Originally Posted by Metaldoc

Nothin like smoked ribs, My smoker runs at least once a week.

You don't live too far away. I love ribs????? Have a good one.

[stevenfromtexas]

Originally Posted by Metaldoc

Nothin like smoked ribs, My smoker runs at least once a week.

hahaha I'm on my way...be there in a little bit

[3757chevy]

mmmmm.... smoked ribs sure sounds better than boiled cross member .

[stevenfromtexas]

tried my hand a wet sanding and buffing my hood. turned out ok i guess. the peel that is still there is not any different than on my daily driver, i guess ill stop before i screw something up.
prolly start on on the pickup tomorrow.

[SoCoC10]

Moved on to the fenders today. Removed all the trim, cleaned up, painted, taped on new woodgrain, installed deluxe side markers(I know they're wrong, but I like them) and reinstalled. Hope to hang them soon.

[cgster]

I had my seat recovered today. Haven't bolted it back in yet.

[stevenfromtexas]

wet sanded/buffed and polished the bed, drivers door and drivers front fender (ran out of daylight for the other side).....huge difference.

before

after

[Metaldoc]

Originally Posted by stevenfromtexas

wet sanded/buffed and polished the bed, drivers door and drivers front fender (ran out of daylight for the other side).....huge difference.

before

after

Looking great man, you've spent more time on the fender than I've ever spent cleaning the outside of my truck. I've actually never washed the outside of my truck, it might remove some patina.

[stevenfromtexas]

Originally Posted by Metaldoc

Looking great man, you've spent more time on the fender than I've ever spent cleaning the outside of my truck. I've actually never washed the outside of my truck, it might remove some patina.

hahaha thank you

never thought how much fun this would be.

[JMD]

Started disassembling 2 different NP205s in order to make one functioning tcase that will bolt up to a TH400.

[VWNate1]

Be sure to check very closely for hairline cracks in the large opening of the cases....


-Nate

Originally Posted by JMD

Started disassembling 2 different NP205s in order to make one functioning tcase that will bolt up to a TH400.

[JMD]

Originally Posted by VWNate1

Be sure to check very closely for hairline cracks in the large opening if the cases....


-Nate

Will do, thanks for the tip!

[VWNate1]

Back on the 1970's when I worked at the Dealer we sold lots and lots of the cases when doing routine transfer case overhauls .

One simple way to find hairline cracks is : wipe it clean of loose oil then pass a propane torch lightly over the surface ~ cracks will *instantly* show up as oil/grease comes out of the crack as the flame heats it .

[weq92f]

Originally Posted by stevenfromtexas

wet sanded/buffed and polished the bed, drivers door and drivers front fender (ran out of daylight for the other side).....huge difference.

Wow! Nice.

Can you give a quick rundown of your methods and tools/compounds for us who are considering doing this?

Thanks,

-klb

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by VWNate1

Back on the 1970's when I worked at the Dealer we sold lots and lots of the cases when doing routine transfer case overhauls .

One simple way to find hairline cracks is : wipe it clean of loose oil then pass a propane torch lightly over the surface ~ cracks will *instantly* show up as oil/grease comes out of the crack as the flame heats it .

Good to find that out then, rather than waiting until it comes back with a leak, or the case finally cracks completely.

[RodnRudy]

I got the engine and trans mated up and reinstalled in the old girl. Lots of stuff still to hook up but it's progress none the less.

[Jose's 69]

Put my new 8 lug smoothies on from Detroit steel wheel. 20x9 275/40r20 all around.

[69GMCCustom]

Polished my interior door handles, and waited for my LMC suspension kit to be delivered.

[stevenfromtexas]

Originally Posted by weq92f

Wow! Nice.

Can you give a quick rundown of your methods and tools/compounds for us who are considering doing this?

Thanks,

-klb

Let me start off by saying...."I am a total rookie".

I had orange peel that looks like I sprayed with a texture gun for doing walls inside your home. Honestly, an orange would be offended if I mentioned his name in the the same sentence as my paint job...hahaha

I used a very unconventional method than most, but I'm hard headed and cheap And, I like being different

first off.....
I have a turbine spray rig....( TPtool Showtime 90). I researched a bunch and I was always planning to do everything my self in my garage. The turbine sounded like the best thing for the "low" overspray issue and "garage hobbyist" guy.

as far as the sanding goes....
I knocked down the orange peel with 400 ( I know, I know....) please don't shoot me, but the orange peel was, well...look at the pictures. ( don't forget, I'm learning)
I used the squeegee technique ( wipe with squeegee after sanding and washing off "milky" clear coat )and watched my peel begin to disappear ( sand, wash off, wipe off, look, get a beer, sand some more.....repeat). Then I went up from there.....
800, 1000, 1500, 2000, 3000 All was done wet and the paper was sitting a in a bucket of soapy water

after all that "fun".....
Maguairs swirl remover with a wool pad then Maguairs show car glaze (I think that's what it's called )with a foam pad

I am learning all I can from you guys. As you know there are things that are better learned on your own and by trial an error. I am very proud of my little pick up but there are things I will do different on the next one I do.

Thank you so much for your compliment and I feel very flattered that you would ask how I went about this. Sorry for the long reply to the other wise short phrased post for this particular thread....hahahaha

I just looked up and noticed, you asked for a "quick run down"....hhahahahaha.....I'm a dork

[66clow]

Extremely productive day. Got the new front tires mounted on the rims. Installed 2 in blocks. Finally ride height is where I want it to be after 2 years. 5 7 drop. Installed hidden hitch.

[weq92f]

Originally Posted by stevenfromtexas

Let me start off by saying...."I am a total rookie".

<snip your post>

Thanks very much for that!

-klb

[stevenfromtexas]

Originally Posted by weq92f

Thanks very much for that!

-klb

yes sir

[OregonNed]

My friend came over to help out with a tune up and timing. She’s running fantastic now.

[yuccales]

Originally Posted by 66clow

Extremely productive day. Got the new front tires mounted on the rims. Installed 2 in blocks. Finally ride height is where I want it to be after 2 years. 5 7 drop. Installed hidden hitch.

That hitch looks great. Ride height looks great also. What's up with the gas can near the frame?