have i lost my mind????

[Richard8971]

Originally Posted by BB70c10

are these the sanders your talking about?is the mud hawg the same thing as a DA sander

http://www.nationaldetroit.com/tools...px?model=900DE
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=91773

A DA (dual-action) is not the same as a hawg. In principle they are related but a DA is smaller and can be locked into a grinder. (hence the name DA) A hawg is larger, heavier and much beastier than a DA. A DA pad is 5-6 inches while a hawg is 8 inches. I prefer using the hawg over the inline sander, you can cut alot of filler quickly.

D

[BB70c10]

Originally Posted by Richard8971

A DA (dual-action) is not the same as a hawg. In principle they are related but a DA is smaller and can be locked into a grinder. (hence the name DA) A hawg is larger, heavier and much beastier than a DA. A DA pad is 5-6 inches while a hawg is 8 inches. I prefer using the hawg over the inline sander, you can cut alot of filler quickly.

D

since i wasnt sure if they were the same,i bought a mac tools DA sander and inline sander from harbor freight(only $20 so if it atleast works until my truck is done i wont complain).i knew i needed the DA regardless,but can it be used in place of the hawg,with slower results maybe,or should i still get the hawg also?

[Rokcrln]

Originally Posted by BB70c10

since i wasnt sure if they were the same,i bought a mac tools DA sander and inline sander from harbor freight(only $20 so if it atleast works until my truck is done i wont complain).i knew i needed the DA regardless,but can it be used in place of the hawg,with slower results maybe,or should i still get the hawg also?

Just my take on it (personal use non buisness) I used a DA with 80 grit for most of the paint removal. Then I used a chepo in-line long board for rough in with 36 grit, 80 grit then I switched to a long board with 120, 220 grit by hand for final shapping and finish work. I also have a real nice Hutchens DA long board that I have just started using with great results but it is not needed at all ($$$), you will spend a bit more time using the above items but you can get a real good feel for what you are doing and good results.
Do you have a link for the DVD's you mentioned from martinsrs I am always looking for more info. I bought a set from Eastwoods by Kevin Tat called Paintucation and it has alot of great info for beginers and advanced guys as well.

The cab lift should be able to be built for well under $100. Mine I built out of scrap I had around but it is all common tube that should be easily found and if you look around you can get cut offs at the steel yard and build it that way as well. The longest bar is under 4'.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[BB70c10]

Originally Posted by Rokcrln

Just my take on it (personal use non buisness) I used a DA with 80 grit for most of the paint removal. Then I used a chepo in-line long board for rough in with 36 grit, 80 grit then I switched to a long board with 120, 220 grit by hand for final shapping and finish work. I also have a real nice Hutchens DA long board that I have just started using with great results but it is not needed at all ($$$), you will spend a bit more time using the above items but you can get a real good feel for what you are doing and good results.
Do you have a link for the DVD's you mentioned from martinsrs I am always looking for more info. I bought a set from Eastwoods by Kevin Tat called Paintucation and it has alot of great info for beginers and advanced guys as well.

The cab lift should be able to be built for well under $100. Mine I built out of scrap I had around but it is all common tube that should be easily found and if you look around you can get cut offs at the steel yard and build it that way as well. The longest bar is under 4'.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

i'll be ordering the plans from you soon then, for sure.for a $120 bucks its worth every penny.i know nothing about paint and body,but autobody 101.com has alot of detailed info. and you can down load basics of basics for free to be printed out.he knows way more about this stuff than i do,and like you guys,spent alot of time making his website free for anyone wanting to learn.alot of his stuff is under truck faqs under martinsrs"basics of basics".heres the link for the videos

http://www.autobody101.com/videos/

sorry man,i just went to that web site and i think its actually the same videos you already have.i guess i just assumed they were made by him,but i think he just offers kevin tatts videos.but im going to invest in them for sure now

[Weezer67]

I am so glad to see you just abandon all fear and plunge into your truck. You are motivating some of us "older builders" and even I went out and worked on a fender after reading your thread. Just dont give up!
Weezer67
Dodge City, Kansas

[Rokcrln]

Thanks you just reminded me I have a DVD on color sanding and buffing New family movie for tonight But yes they are worth the Money.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[BB70c10]

Originally Posted by Weezer67

I am so glad to see you just abandon all fear and plunge into your truck. You are motivating some of us "older builders" and even I went out and worked on a fender after reading your thread. Just dont give up!
Weezer67
Dodge City, Kansas

thanks for the encouraging comments.im glad i motivated you.we need you "older builders" out there to stay sharp so you can guide us "fearless builders" and keep us on the right track.hopefully theres some kid close by taking the time to learn a thing or two from you so these old cars and trucks can stay on the road for years to come.

[Weezer67]

You will never be alone on this board! As for my children helping me...they would rather drive some tuner out of "Fast and the Furious" instead of getting into American Muslce. Maybe someday, they will come around and appreciate what you have already discovered. Keep up the good work!
Weezer67
Dodge City, Kansas
Kansas...It's not the end of the world, but you can see it from here!

[BB70c10]

Originally Posted by Weezer67

You will never be alone on this board! As for my children helping me...they would rather drive some tuner out of "Fast and the Furious" instead of getting into American Muslce. Maybe someday, they will come around and appreciate what you have already discovered. Keep up the good work!
Weezer67
Dodge City, Kansas
Kansas...It's not the end of the world, but you can see it from here!

thats alright, i guess,at least they have some interest in cars.im sure they'll see the light someday.i work on hondas for a living,so the last thing i want to look at on the weekends is another 4 cylinder.you just cant beat old iron and the ground pounding power of a v8.i've been hooked since i was a kid.my very first car was a red 1964 & 1/2 mustang with a 351 under the hood(i know it was a ford-sorry).that was in 1992 so ive been hooked for a while.i guess once it bites,it dont let go.as far as this board,it still blows my mind how much information there is, and how willing people on here are to help total strangers.

[67L30WGN]

If you've lost your mind, then so have I. I'm doing a similar thing on a '65 Nova SS. Not making a short bed of it, but teaching myself to do a project like I've always read about in the mags just because I like the challenge, not because it makes sense. It's a lot of work, and it isn't perfect, but it's about as good as any job I've ever seen done by a professional (so far). Of course, I have the luxury of time that a shop doesn't have. There is a lot of measuring and fitting before welding. Check it out. It will make you feel better. I started on the project last spring. Drove it over the summer and am back at it. I hope to have it painted inside and out by this summertime.

http://picasaweb.google.com/westsail43/65NovaSS

By the way. I find that my MIG is a little cold on start-up, so I set it for making a bead (sizzling bacon) and then kick it up a setting (both wire speed and amps) for tacking/spotting. Otherwise I don't get good penetration when I flick the trigger. A self dimming helmet or helmet insert is the best thing since Chevy trucks.

[BB70c10]

Originally Posted by 67L30WGN

If you've lost your mind, then so have I. I'm doing a similar thing on a '65 Nova SS. Not making a short bed of it, but teaching myself to do a project like I've always read about in the mags just because I like the challenge, not because it makes sense. It's a lot of work, and it isn't perfect, but it's about as good as any job I've ever seen done by a professional (so far). Of course, I have the luxury of time that a shop doesn't have. There is a lot of measuring and fitting before welding. Check it out. It will make you feel better. I started on the project last spring. Drove it over the summer and am back at it. I hope to have it painted inside and out by this summertime.

http://picasaweb.google.com/westsail43/65NovaSS

By the way. I find that my MIG is a little cold on start-up, so I set it for making a bead (sizzling bacon) and then kick it up a setting (both wire speed and amps) for tacking/spotting. Otherwise I don't get good penetration when I flick the trigger. A self dimming helmet or helmet insert is the best thing since Chevy trucks.

your nova's turning out nice.unlike me,you could actually fool someone into thinking you've done this before.makes me want to practice welding again.thats what sets us apart,i have no idea how to weld(that and your grasp of common sense and mastering the use of the whole opposable thumbs thing).i actually never intended on documenting my build,was just posting a few pics of my progress with hopes of some feedback.then i read 72blckbty say he was signing up to watch this build,i thought holy crap,now i gotta do a build thread and i have no idea what im doing.(i noticed while ago how many views this build has,looks like 72blckbty has looked at it a little over 1500 times,i gotta be boring the hell out of him )but im glad i did.i've gotten some great advice and i feel like these guys are kinda taking me under their wings and looking out for me.appreciate the welding advice.if you ever get bored and have absolutely nothing else to do(which is usually not the case when doing projects like these),feel free to post anymore tips you might have on here.i'll definitely read em.i read on line about welding as much as i can,but it seems like they dont run into any problems like i do,and leave out little tips like you gave me.im like the new guy in the shop you tell to get the sawzall and cut that panel out.when he aks you whats a sawzall,where does the blade go, and how do you hold it,you think, who the hell hired this guy.i may not be quite that bad,but i do use all the tips i get no matter how basic they may seem.keep posting pictures of your nova as you go if you can,definitely want to see how it turns out.just try not to make me look too bad

[BB70c10]

finally got the truck stripped to pretty much the bare frame.only thing left is the two bolts that hold the trailing arms to the the cross member(didnt have a socket big enough).not quite as exciting as cutting the bed and frame,but i can finally start learning what body work is all about.
my plans are to POR 15 the frame instead of powder coat to cut down on cost.also planning on boxing the frame while i have it apart(not sure why,but it just seems like a good idea?).i hope to start welding the frame and bedsides next week so i can post some pictures worth looking at.heres a few from this weekends progress.theres a few in there showing how i removed the frt springs.it was pretty straight forward.i just supported the lower control arm,removed the u-bolts,and lowered the arm until the spring pretty much fell out.the only scary thing about it was that,with no weight on the frame,the frame jumped off the jack stands about two inches when the second u-bolt was removed.it wasnt violent,but i wasnt expecting it to move.
i also found out that the old sawzall had met its match with the rear springs.after fighting the bolts that held the spring brackets in,i decided to just cut the springs since i was replacing them anyway.the cutting wheel made quick work of em,but with the rear wheels off the ground i found out those suckers are bowed.i thought i was going to have to clean my pants when the spring jumped(straightened up) once it was cut into.not sure i recommend that way to anybody,but i did cut the other side the same way.i just took into account that it was going straighten out and cut it from the front side of the spring(the side facing the frt of the truck) so it sprung away from me.if i ever had to do it again i would probably research the right way to do it because i know they aint nothing to play with.there wasnt any danger of the springs flying out and hitting me,but it still didnt seem very safe.other than that,everything else was pretty much "idiot safe" work so i didnt have any more problems.the only advice i have here is to take pictures(if this is your first time, like me) of everything as you go.theres alot of holes in the frame where fuel and brake lines mount to and run through,and as long as this build seems like its going to take me,theres no way i could remember where everything went without them.

[slammed1]

Your doing a really good job my friend. Always be careful and try to see what "could" happen before it does......makes you much more safer if you think it out first.

As far as boxing the frame........it makes the job look good but isnt really necessary. I made my own c-notch out of 1/4" thick 6.5" round pipe and welded it in and boxed that rear portion and it looks great and works great but just boxing to be boxing will just give you e more experience in fabbing and welding.

For your welding practice.......I would always find scrap metal to weld and play around with heat settings and wire speed until I could set the welder up for different thickness's of metal and such. If you have a friend who welds I suggest getting yourself a helmet and watching as he makes a few passes to see what motion he uses and how fast he pushes or drags the tip while welding. Penetration is key for bond and your weld length and placement determines how much warping.if you can draw you can usually mig weld fairly easily is how I teach people.

[franky69c10]

man nice build

[greasy68]

your build is inspiring. I am going to keep watching until I get off my lazy butt and do some more work on my truck.

[BB70c10]

Originally Posted by slammed1

Your doing a really good job my friend. Always be careful and try to see what "could" happen before it does......makes you much more safer if you think it out first.

As far as boxing the frame........it makes the job look good but isnt really necessary. I made my own c-notch out of 1/4" thick 6.5" round pipe and welded it in and boxed that rear portion and it looks great and works great but just boxing to be boxing will just give you e more experience in fabbing and welding.

For your welding practice.......I would always find scrap metal to weld and play around with heat settings and wire speed until I could set the welder up for different thickness's of metal and such. If you have a friend who welds I suggest getting yourself a helmet and watching as he makes a few passes to see what motion he uses and how fast he pushes or drags the tip while welding. Penetration is key for bond and your weld length and placement determines how much warping.if you can draw you can usually mig weld fairly easily is how I teach people.

thanks for the comments and advice.i know i go after things sometimes without thinking(this entire build for example),but youre exactly right-safety is #1.i had a family member a few years ago,that was killed when the car he was under fell on his head.he was supporting the the car by the bumper with his tow truck and the bumper came loose and killed him instantly.he had done it that way for years,but with these heavy vehicles,it only takes one accident to end your life.i havent made any big mistakes yet,but those little mistakes can get you too,so maybe i can save somebody else a little pain along the way.

as far as boxing the frame-how much power do you think i can make before i need to worry about boxing the frame.i have high aspirations of apprx. 850hp on nitrous and plan on drag racing the truck some too.is that enough to worry about.if not,i can definitly use the time and money elsewhere.

im going to take your advise and watch my buddy when he welds the frame.i may even get him to weld up one of the bedsides,then get him to guide me on the other one so maybe he can keep me out of trouble

[BB70c10]

Originally Posted by franky69c10

man nice build

appreciate it man.if your truck looks like your avatar when youre done,its going to be badass.if you need help making your truck look that way,feel free to ask any questions as i go.then maybe one of the guys keeping an eye on my build will chime in and we'll both learn something cause i have no idea what im doing.if it werent for this site and the guys on here,my truck would have a new motor,rebuilt trans,a set of wheels and tires,and maybe a new steering wheel.that would about tap out my ability as far as a truck build would go.not saying theres anything wrong with that(these trucks are awesome no matter how theyre done),but i could never had this truck the way i want it if i had to pay somebody else to do the chop,paint,and body work

[franky69c10]

Originally Posted by BB70c10

appreciate it man.if your truck looks like your avatar when youre done,its going to be badass.if you need help making your truck look that way,feel free to ask any questions as i go.then maybe one of the guys keeping an eye on my build will chime in and we'll both learn something cause i have no idea what im doing.if it werent for this site and the guys on here,my truck would have a new motor,rebuilt trans,a set of wheels and tires,and maybe a new steering wheel.that would about tap out my ability as far as a truck build would go.not saying theres anything wrong with that(these trucks are awesome no matter how theyre done),but i could never had this truck the way i want it if i had to pay somebody else to do the chop,paint,and body work

ahhahaah thanks but yeah thats how i want my truck 2 look like, i want it jet black and drop.

[BB70c10]

Originally Posted by greasy68

your build is inspiring. I am going to keep watching until I get off my lazy butt and do some more work on my truck.

well get up and get at it!!!your truck looks nice already.i checked out your profile when i saw your truck was midnight blue in your sig.any chance you can post more pics of your truck in different light.it looks like the blue i have in mind for part of my truck,but i have no idea where to find a name or code for it.im looking for a deep,dark blue that looks almost black at night.
appreciate you checking out my build.it took me almost a year after i removed the drive train and front end to get motivated to start on it again,but now i cant stop

[tommypic]

Good going man you like me got a long way . I have got to go and get the parts truck I bought . I am waiting on my floor pans to get here . Keep up the good work . I like pics helps me along the way

[Richard8971]

BTW, in case I haven't answered your question (IMO), yes you have lost your mind. In case you ever find it, would you tell me where you did so I have a starting place to look for mine?

Truck is looking good, keep us posted with more pics!

D

[BB70c10]

Originally Posted by Richard8971

BTW, in case I haven't answered your question (IMO), yes you have lost your mind. In case you ever find it, would you tell me where you did so I have a starting place to look for mine?

Truck is looking good, keep us posted with more pics!

D

man,i have no idea where to even start looking.but if i happen to run across yours along the way,ill be sure to let you know just as soon as my truck is finished.it might be picked to death when you got it back,but my truck would look pretty sweet.hope to have more pics next week of the frame welded up.progress is sloooowww right now.im trying to build a cab dolly i found on here so i can start sanding soon and i've cut my plates to reinforce the frame.not real picture worthy work but neccessary i guess.hopefully i can start some body work in a couple of weeks and you can give me your HONEST opinion on how its going.if you think it sucks or i'm doing something wrong,feel free to tell me.i swallowed my pride along time ago.i know that sometimes, advice that helps you aint always what you want to hear,but the fact is it helps you.

[BB70c10]

havent made any progress this week so i decided to post some pictures from the start of tear down to where im at at this point.everythings kinda all over the place right now,and,if you couldnt tell,im sorta long winded so the pics are way apart right now.by looking at it,i can hardly tell where im at or what im doing,and im the one doing it.hopefully i can get em in the right order

[Richard8971]

Originally Posted by BB70c10

hopefully i can start some body work in a couple of weeks and you can give me your HONEST opinion on how its going.if you think it sucks or i'm doing something wrong,feel free to tell me.i swallowed my pride along time ago.i know that sometimes, advice that helps you aint always what you want to hear,but the fact is it helps you.

The most honest advice I can ever give a person is to never let anyone tell you that you CAN"T do something. Nobody ever was a master at something without some practice. (Well maybe Beethoven, but that doesn't count here)

There was a time in my life when I had a block with some sandpaper stuck to it and my Toyota truck standing in front of me and I had alot of people around me telling me that paint and body work was too difficult for me to do.

Now look at me, 20 years later and I STILL can't do body or paint work. If you "screw" up, fix it. If you do something and don't like the way it looks, redo it! How do you think I run a body shop? Think EVERYTHING goes smoothly everyday??? I would be one rich fellow if it did. My guys are still learning and so am I. We pow-wow everyday and throw ideas on the table. I have to listen to my guys sugestions and sometimes follow them. But then again, they know that if I challange them, they know there is a good reason why even if they don't understand it. Sometimes I let them go thier own way and see why I told them to go another. Better to learn from a mistake then to never make one. Hell, I STILL screw up every day. LOL (Just don't tell my guys that, they love to razz me when I do)

Listen to all advice. Pick out what advice fits your needs best and try it. If it doesn't work, try another angle. Let everyone spout thier mind and let them. You can laugh at them later if you so choose. But sometimes the stupidest idea works the best and you are stuck saying "damn, he was right..."

D

[BB70c10]

not sure how many pictures you can post in one reply,so i broke them up.