My 50 roadster pickup build

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by lower50's

Good job with the hammer and dolly.

Thanks lower...Jim

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Good to see the updates Jim. Looks like you are able to straighten the panel?

Thanks Doug, Yes I had about 30 to 40 mins of hammer and dolly work. Had to reshape the panel to match the long curve of the fender. Plus had to remove a big goosebump from where the cruise unit hit the panel...Jim

[Indian113]

Slow and Steady Jim- You'll make it Soon!

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by donandal

I think this type of repair is the toughest.

Matching custom work and remembering how you did it the first
time so it comes out the same.

Very Nice!

Originally Posted by lower50's

Ya trying to match is hard. Where do the wires go into the bucket? or are the lights wireless

Originally Posted by Indian113

Slow and Steady Jim- You'll make it Soon!

Thanks guys, appreciate the comments.

Yes it is tough. After I did the bondo on rear of bucket, I remember that I used a body hammer to knock down the metal toward the bucket and it didn't take that much. This was about 13 yrs ago and I slept a few times since then..

Lower, wires go in from the back of bucket, haven's drilled the hole yet, wire-less lights, that's a good ideal.

Ray, slow and steady, well slow at least, that's me...Jim

[oldman3]

Well, I got out into the shop this morning for a few hours. Installed the inner and outer fender. Aligned most of the areas I needed. Looks to be ok for now. Still need to make some adjustments. I did take my 6" aluminum rule to check how the front lined up.

Pic 1 Looking across both fenders, everything to this point is good.
Pic 2 and 3 are close ups of each fender and rule. Inner and outer edge of both headlight buckets are touching so it is good.

I also brought up my grill to check on the fit, let's say for an hour and a half, I messed with it, and it's going to have to been fine tuned. Didn't take any pics of this, but tomorrow I hope to get back in shop, show what's not right and make some changes...Jim

[Advanced Design]

Checking fender alignment / fit with a long straightedge is something I've never thought of before. One more idea I've learned from you Jim that is in my ideas bag now....if I can remember it. Thanks Jim!

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Checking fender alignment / fit with a long straightedge is something I've never thought of before. One more idea I've learned from you Jim that is in my ideas bag now....if I can remember it. Thanks Jim!

Thanks Doug, I saw this somewhere a long time ago, and have used it several times...Jim

[Kim57]

Looking good.
Kim

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by Kim57

Looking good.
Kim

Thanks Kim, how's the back, hope you've been doing a little on yours...Jim

[Kim57]

Originally Posted by oldman3

Thanks Kim, how's the back, hope you've been doing a little on yours...Jim

Backs been doing fine.
Weather has been good so I'm able to spray again. Been doing a ton of sanding.
No fun but necessary.
Kim

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by Kim57

Backs been doing fine.
Weather has been good so I'm able to spray again. Been doing a ton of sanding.
No fun but necessary.
Kim

I know what you mean about the sanding, shouldn't be long before primers, sanding, sanding, sanding, paint, sanding sanding sanding...Jim

[oldman3]

Every have one of those days, that a half hour jobs becomes 4 hours. Anyway back on the grill work today. I was having fitment problems, so I brought up the old wrecked grill for some help. Starting with the outside of the grill sides, they were hitting the fenders and would go in very far. Old vs new showed one problem.

Pic 1 Notice the nut that is sunken into the bracket, like most of the other parts.

Pic 2 Notice the nut is not sunken, but rest of parts are. Now WHY would you not also put the detail on the new.

Pic 3 Shows how much paint was damaged due to nut hitting fender.

Pic 4 I cut down the nuts, but still may need more.

[47 Fasttoys]

Dang, you mean the headlight buckets are suppose to be aligned? Heck, I thought both in the same general direction was great. You obviously work at a higher detail level then I.
Looks great Jim, keep up the good work.
Rob

[Indian113]

Originally Posted by 47 Fasttoys

Dang, you mean the headlight buckets are suppose to be aligned? Heck, I thought both in the same general direction was great. You obviously work at a higher detail level then I.
Looks great Jim, keep up the good work.
Rob

Rob, You have to see this Truck in Person to really appreciate how much detail and fore thought Jim put into it. He even offered to let me drive it once when I was visiting him, just couldn't bring myself to take a chance on wrecking it but the ride I had was AWESOME!
Ray

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by Indian113

Rob, You have to see this Truck in Person to really appreciate how much detail and fore thought Jim put into it. He even offered to let me drive it once when I was visiting him, just couldn't bring myself to take a chance on wrecking it but the ride I had was AWESOME!
Ray

Ray, your going to give me a BIG head, with all this. Appreciate it greatly, next time your back, you have to drive it...Jim

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by 47 Fasttoys

Dang, you mean the headlight buckets are suppose to be aligned? Heck, I thought both in the same general direction was great. You obviously work at a higher detail level then I.
Looks great Jim, keep up the good work.
Rob

Thanks Rob, appreciate you checking it out. You camper is coming along nice...Jim

[Advanced Design]

Nice fix. Apologies the fender was messed up, I didn't know!

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Nice fix. Apologies the fender was messed up, I didn't know!

Hey Doug, NO APOLOGY NECESSARY. I'm very happy with the fender, I'm just a stickler for wanting things my way. Have no problem with cutting, moving and welding to suit.

That's why it took me so long the first time ...Jim

[RockinKees]

You are so unlucky to came across a hard headed deer....
Now you have a ton of work to get it right.

Respect to you (and Mark) that you get it done the way YOU want it and not go the fast route!!
Keep at it, your work is simply outstanding!!

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by RockinKees

You are so unlucky to came across a hard headed deer....
Now you have a ton of work to get it right.

Respect to you (and Mark) that you get it done the way YOU want it and not go the fast route!!
Keep at it, your work is simply outstanding!!

Thanks Kees, appreciate the compliments, Mark and I were on today, still a ways to go...Jim

[oldman3]

Posting late tonight.

Pic 1 This is what I was refering to in the last update. Here you can see it has been pulled downward, will need to be corrected.

Pic 2 This is a close up.

I was gone several hours to nursing home, etc.. Mark knew what I wanted done and he worked while I was gone.

Pic 3 Here Mark has brought metal together and tacked in place.

Pic 4 Welded together.

Pic 5 Metal finished.

[oldman3]

Pic 1 Checking gap from hood to fender.

After I got back, Mark and I worked on the grill. I had taken all three of the braces loose from grill and installed on truck. They all lined up OK by themselve and help straighten the latch panel.

Pic 2 Had removed the top grill bar and installed the grill into opening, better but still needs additional clearance.

Mark and I removed the fender, he did some more work on it and we reinstalled.
Better but still not what I want.

Pic 3 Now the latch panel and hood have same gap left to right.

Back again tomorrow to try some more. Mark even said if it weren't for the grill we would by a lot further along, oh well...Jim

[Dan in Pasadena]

Jim, Everything's looking excellent! Congrats.

Hey, I may have missed it but what kind of insurance did you have on your truck? Collector car insurance or conventional auto coverage? I ask because I wondered if they wanted to total it since it's, "just an old truck" - from a conventional insurance company's point of view. And if collector, did they hassle you at all about repairing it yourself?

[oldman3]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Jim, Everything's looking excellent! Congrats.

Hey, I may have missed it but what kind of insurance did you have on your truck? Collector car insurance or conventional auto coverage? I ask because I wondered if they wanted to total it since it's, "just an old truck" - from a conventional insurance company's point of view. And if collector, did they hassle you at all about repairing it yourself?

Thanks Dan,

I have collector car insurance called CHROME, company is Anpac. Good rates and good service.

No on the total deal. No hassle on me doing the repairs, but they wouldn't pay me the same hourly rate for work, since I'm not a licensed shop.

But the payout was fair, and I know I'm doing it correct...Jim

[ptc]

Coming along - body work is truly an art that in many regards is a lost art to this magnitude. Most body shops that do new(er) car repairs are just parts changers, remove the old and replace with a new one.... slap some paint on it, call it good! They wouldnt have the foggiest idea of where to even start with something like yours and all the little details to REALLY fix it to the extent needed. great job you guys are doing.