My Free Truck-Project Rhino

[BigDan3131]

Pre-clear shots of the other massive project.

[1963c-10]

Nice work....looking great!!!

[BigDan3131]

So, as usual I'm up to my eyes in work projects but have spent the last two weeks for two hours a day plus six per weekend on my truck. I shot two gallons of undercoating on the inside of the cab, the only thing not shot is the upper half of the doors and the dash. Which I will do a flip flop on, the outside is black top silver bottom. The dash and upper door half will be silver, but only as a base coat for the pearls and candy. After the undercoating dried I shot Hammerite smooth gloss black over everything so the cab is now water and air tight. I also shot low expansion foam into every open gap and filled that panel below the widow. I bought my light weight foil backed insulation and will put a double layer on the back wall. I plan to fill the whole wall in as a panel to hold at least one if not two 8" subs plus the amp and head unit. Those pockets right behind the doors are the perfect place to put a panel with two 6x9's I never used in. I'll put that poly stuffing in first though.
I figure two more weeks to get it in its final color then I start plumbing my fuel system...oh joy!

[BigDan3131]

So its been a month plus and it still isn't in paint but much closer than it was. I had to take apart the dash and prep it for paint and of course I changed my mind again...So the dash will be silver base and the doors will be all black. Since I'm building this into not just a DD but a long distance driver I shot the lower half with undercoating as well since the roof has it already. I will shoot the smooth black Hammerite over it and touch up areas that needed additional repairs. I decided to do the black on the lower because the pearls barely show over the silver base. I still need to find another one of those fuel doors.

[BigDan3131]

So with three more projects done I feel like I can work on my truck again before I start on the 65 nova project and the 70 roadrunner project cars. I got the hood based and decided to raise up the lower black section so the silver will only be 6" tapering down to zero up front. I will shoot the rest of it next week and maybe the dash too.
I wish I could change the name of this build since we stopped shooting Rhino and the only thing shot in it is the light bar and the radiator panels.

[BigDan3131]

I cant believe I haven't posted anything here directly in this long a time frame. Once I get done with the paint I will probably have to start a new build thread dedicated to the interior and driveline. My budget is ever changing and for now I will finish the paint the proceed to do the bed.

The bed has already been shot with Transtar Rubberized Undercoating along with two coats of paint. You can see the pictures of it in the 60-66 What Did You Do To Your Truck Today Section. What I have left is to mount the 4' X 7' section of aluminum plate to the center of the bed and then attach the mounting hardware for the lift up door using a combination of universal trunk hinges and the hydraulic cylinders we use on everything these days. Most of the bed will be covered with one of those heavy rubber mats they sell from Summit Racing.

On the interior I will build a shifter stand that has two cupholders on it and a place for my remote control for the radio. All of the stereo equipment will be hidden so the dash remains uncut with its block off plate intact and glove box useable. After reading thru the seats posting I have decided a pair of Corbeau bucket seats with slits in the back for a 2" wide 4 point seat belt setup will look nicer than trying to retrofit a 3 point system from a donor vehicle. I have a set of gauges ready to go in and my boss gave me a set of visors and arm rests that are brand new. I have very little to buy as far as actual truck parts go, door and window cranks, outside door handles and peep mirrors and new tail lights.

Back to the paint, I have the last coat of silver base on and will proceed to lay down the purple candy/silver ultra flake to all the current silver areas. The stripe, my GMC lettering on the tailgate and my engine compartment. Once all of that is shot I will lay down the rootbeer candy in the engine compartment and clear it. Of course I have to mask that off so I can reinstall the hood, mask of the body and shoot the back of the cab and roof with the rootbeer and clear. Then mask that off and shoot the rest of the body the purple candied stripe and the whole tailgate. But wait the fun doesn't stop there... I have to mask off the entire outside so I can shoot the interior...whew! Its a lot of work doing candies and pearls but its worth it. As to why I have to shoot the cab and roof separately, well with candies and pearls you have to make full passes across the surface otherwise it will have streaks in it. Same goes with the cab, you have to walk the entire length back and forth to cover plus overlap each coat 75%.

[BigDan3131]

New Pictures!!!


I was reading thru this build and I have changed my mind about so many things. Time for another change due to myself becoming self employed again for the first time since 2005.
With the power lever I want and starting said business I'm building a 408 BB with a tight lash solid lifter cam. I have the same type in my SBC and only had to adjust the valves once every 18K miles so I can live with that. If I can find a cheap set of aluminum oval port heads by then I wont hesitate to add them. I'll be happy making over 400HP even 500 with the right cam on 92. With the 4L80E the 32" tall tires and 4.10's I think I can get around 18-20 mpg.

Now for the pictures...Yeah paint!

[BigDan3131]

A couple more pictures.

The closeup is what it will look like with sunshine on it. The rootbeer over the burple candy.

[canadian_diesel1964]

Looks great!

[BigDan3131]

I have more new pics...Hell I started my own business because finding a local shop is like finding a needle in a haystack. You either have to go south to Auburn or way up to at least Everett with nothing in between...except me now!

[BigDan3131]

Its a whole lot of work. I shot four coat of the mixed SG100 on it and you have to walk the whole length of the vehicle to apply it, then I let it dry overnight then came in scuffed it and shot four coats of clear. Today I started blocking it flat with 800 on a balsa block so anything low will get more clear and IF I do a cut and buff it will be miles deep but it might not need it, besides you never get the true shine back when you cut and buff it.

Once the outside is done then I will mask it off and do the inside. Just the dash and door panels will get the "Mix" everything will just get clear and then I plan to shoot some accents on my wheels to match and the back bumper when I get one.

Never ending...

[canadian_diesel1964]

That looks really nice man!

[Palf70Step]

Truck is coming along nicely. Like the looks of the other paint jobs too. You are very skilled!

[BigDan3131]

Thank you,

I was going to get pin stripes put over the stripe down the middle but I will just get a couple rolls of blue fine line and do it myself.

[BigDan3131]

So its been a while since I posted about the truck. I had issues come up that nearly brought me to tears. I lost my job then lost the shop I was working out of too.


But I'm getting back on track and have an interview next week for Maaco of all places...I know I know but they have what they call a Classics Bodyman position and for my skill level its $35.00 an hour. I can live with that until I can find another shop and pay off my truck stuff.


I am done with all paint now, after seeing it in daylight I decided a cut and buff was needed. So it gets a full show cut and buff and when I poured water over the flat areas its going to be something to see. In between sanding times[ my arms hurt] I do other stuff to it like re installing parts and such and prepping for motor and trans install.

[BigDan3131]

Sanding is sooo much fun, at least it builds muscle.

One pic of sanding one of it in the sun.

[BigDan3131]

I cant believe its been almost a year since I posted anything about the truck. I still haven't finished buffing it and it can wait. I might be able to do some future paint jobs out of a shop in the eastern extent of Issaquah. I found another job but not in painting...I'm an RSS at O'Reilly Auto Parts and I'm a proven salesman and plan to stay with the company and hopefully become the first West Coast sales Rep and or Trainer for PBE that lives on the west coast.


I had to pick an area to start from and decided on the wiring. My original harness is in an untouched state and was never chopped up. I will be adding power strips from Ron Francis Wire Works that will be powered separately from the main harness. My stock [modified]dash is almost done and will post pics of it this weekend. My radio delete plate is now my switch console and I have custom latches for both the hood and tailgate which can be locked. I am building custom one off hood prop rods since I removed the springs and stock latch for a cleaner look.

[Palf70Step]

Glad to see you back. I do love your trucks color.

[BigDan3131]

So for my latest update...to really get motivated I decided I need an engine in it to make me want to get it done. So tomorrow I'm headed to Lake Stevens WA to pick up an unmolested 402 BBC since the world has gone LSx crazy. Plans include a full roller cam and lifters [Racing Junk] plus a 7875 turbo or bigger on 10 pounds of boost just because. I'm an rpm guy I hate low rpm cruising and nothing beats a BBC screaming at 6800 rpm. 90% of my driving will be on the freeway so its geared and cammed to the rpm range.

[BigDan3131]

Well its a new year and I'm stalled on the truck. Every time I found a 402 and had the cash the seller sold it before I got there or it was at least an hours drive away. Then My landlord says I have to move out by Dec 31 which has been changed to Feb 28. Finding a room I can afford that wasn't a pos for $$$ has been tough. So when I first got the news I went house hunting instead and have found one in my price range an am finalizing my finances to buy it. I has a 4 car garage/shop so I can finish my truck and start my custom shop again.

I'm very happy right now.

[BigDan3131]

Wow!

Its been quite some time since I posted anything about anything it seems. God, everything went to hell since my last posting. I'm working my way up on the commercial side of O'Reilly's doing sales calls and selling. I shifted over to my El Camino because its in a bad way and have left it abused for too long. On my next week of vacation I will have all the body work done on it and prep it for paint. I recently priced out enough gold base coat from HoK and it blew my mind...so instead I will shoot a mix of ultra silver and gold flake [mostly gold] over a black base and shoot burgundy candy over it. I am adding a set of Wilwood brakes I got for free too.

The GMC is going to become a one off truck...instead of leaving it stock height or lowering it. I plan to turn it into a Pre-Runner truck with 35's on 18's and since no one makes fender flares I will build them myself since the tires will be outside the fenders up front. The flares will be sculpted and not raggedly put together.
The BBC idea went out the door because of Car Craft and Roadkill drove prices up too high so back to a single plane, single carb 6.0L making a touch over 500HP. Keeping the Elco as my hotrod the truck shouldn't need more than 500HP...but you never know.

[BigDan3131]

Well...Life sure can throw you for a loop sometimes. I will not be finishing the truck as planned, my S10 is just shy of 300K miles and I really needed a truck...now. A few months ago I bought a 2020 RAM 1500 Warlock edition truck. Hemi with the 8 speed, crew cab 4x4 with 3.92 gears a 32 gallon tank and the brightest red paint ever. I recently added the K&N Ramcharger and gas mileage picked up to 25 freeway with no other mods. Horsepower stock is 400 and with the K&N it picked up 15 with 34 torque.

As far as the 65 goes, it needs a final buff and everything to make it a runner. I will post it up here first with a complete list of items bought for it...soon. I decided the 64 El Camino needed help first since its complete minus upgrades I just bought.

[awbrown]

Oh how life gets inthe way of projects , it will be 9 years since I started mine and have not touched it much ... I have had Ol' blue out some this summer , but it will need love this winter if it will continue to roll down the road ...

[Palf70Step]

Yeah, life does bugger our time lines. Glad to hear you still have it though. Looking forward to seeing the pictures.

[88Stanger]

Originally Posted by BigDan3131

Well...Life sure can throw you for a loop sometimes. I will not be finishing the truck as planned, my S10 is just shy of 300K miles and I really needed a truck...now. A few months ago I bought a 2020 RAM 1500 Warlock edition truck. Hemi with the 8 speed, crew cab 4x4 with 3.92 gears a 32 gallon tank and the brightest red paint ever. I recently added the K&N Ramcharger and gas mileage picked up to 25 freeway with no other mods. Horsepower stock is 400 and with the K&N it picked up 15 with 34 torque.

As far as the 65 goes, it needs a final buff and everything to make it a runner. I will post it up here first with a complete list of items bought for it...soon. I decided the 64 El Camino needed help first since its complete minus upgrades I just bought.

Mind if i ask what exactly you got for the Ram in respects to the "Ramcharger"?
Sorry, its not a 60's truck question, but a truck question anyways... lol