Project Sloppy Jo.....

[71meangreenc10]

Started taking the driver side apart. Little more worse than the passenger side. You got to love the technique. The patch over the driver floor actually was welded to the rocker box. holding it up I guess.....

Smitty

[71meangreenc10]

So I remember in Casino, De Niro's car blowing up and he stated that no one knew that a steel plate on that model car was put under the driver seat. I think this was the idea when they added the plate under the patch over the cab mount......Nice

Smitty

[lks dcvn]

Wow - it's amazing what people do to their vehicles over the years...

I will say that over the past decade - more and more Blazer/Jimmy replacement sheet metal has hit the market so that helps those who are digging into restorations like you have done.

[71meangreenc10]

Aluminum pop rivets everywhere.......

Sad, just sad......At least I can reuse that big piece of steel for patches.....

Smitty

Originally Posted by lks dcvn

Wow - it's amazing what people do to their vehicles over the years...

I will say that over the past decade - more and more Blazer/Jimmy replacement sheet metal has hit the market so that helps those who are digging into restorations like you have done.

[71meangreenc10]

Got the A pillar patch put in. Mocked the toe board patch and put it in along with the slip on mount. Tomorrow, put the rocker box in.....

Smitty

[71meangreenc10]

Rocker box complete, front floor ready for installation. That gets done in the morning, then fix the back floor....

Smitty

[71meangreenc10]

Front floor is now one piece again......No more pop rivets and tin patches for this old girl.......Got the rear fender prepped for repair tomorrow along with the wheel well patch welded in....Keep on moving.....

Smitty

[lks dcvn]

Nice work on the rust repair - it's good to see all that old shoddy work replaced with new solid metal.

[71meangreenc10]

Thanks,

Front is so solid now. It was beyond terrible before....

Smitty

Originally Posted by lks dcvn

Nice work on the rust repair - it's good to see all that old shoddy work replaced with new solid metal.

[71meangreenc10]

Front floor sealed and ready for work.

Smitty

[71meangreenc10]

Got the top on and now the fun of getting the sides square and doors aligned......

Smitty

[71meangreenc10]

Weather is nice so it is time to get back on Sloppy Jo....Picked up a nice Single Wall top. Squared up the tub and welded in the passenger rockers today. Got the door shutting smooth. Should be able to finish everything on the passenger side tomorrow then it is on to the driver side....

Smitty

[71meangreenc10]

Passenger side is completed with all metal repairs. Now working the drivers side. Once that is done, strip it for paint....

Smitty

[71meangreenc10]

Driver side now completed. Got to weld up a few straggler holes and then it is on to stripping and prepping for paint. Had to stretch this rocker a little to make it work. Structural work is now completed.

Smitty

[71meangreenc10]

Got Frame?

Smitty

[71meangreenc10]

Got the aftermarket tailgate put on today. New tooling on this has turned out a great product. Keep working.....

Smitty

[71meangreenc10]

Fuel line issue is solved.....

That mastercool flaring tool is the cat's meow......

Smitty

[71meangreenc10]

Got the fuel tank mounted up today. Made the new cross member to mount the tank up in the front with the stock straps from a 88 blazer. Going to run rubber straps between the tank and braces and insert some in between the tank and cross members.

Smitty

[71meangreenc10]

Finally got back to focusing on Sloppy Jo after building a porch for the wife. Got some primer laid on the frame. So far so good. Shoot another coat tomorrow, flip it over and give the bottom some love. Will be in color next week.

Smitty

[71meangreenc10]

Started to get the black on the frame today. Not bad, not bad at all....


Smitty

[71meangreenc10]

Sent old Sloppy Jo to the blaster and I now get to see some more Bondo Bandit repairs. Driver rear was full of it. Wife said it looked like it was shot with a shotgun, I called it Bondo Buckshot. Passenger side it repairable as is. Header needs to be cut out and some one slung a ton of Bondo in the hood. I started fixing the hood today and will get the welds grounded down tomorrow. I am not even saying I am perfect and there is a need for filler, but man they went crazy here.....

Smitty

[71meangreenc10]

More.....

Smitty

[71meangreenc10]

Got to cut out old Buckshot today. Got to love the metal bracket that the bondo was holding. It really was holding the bondo together. Sad.....Old patch panel cleaned up, all the black marks are paint, it is a straight patch....

Smitty

[71meangreenc10]

Shot some epoxy on the hood, got some more dents that need fixing, but it should be easy fixes. Cut out the patch for the rear quarter, put it in tomorrow.

Smitty

[briank]

Always amazed at whats hiding under the paint. Doing a great job!