TA_C10: Stage 1

[1971Stepside]

That new wheel set up looks much better. I like your original center caps as well.

[TA_C10]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

I like the 8's. Def a better fit for your set-up.

Thanks, they actually fit! And I'm surprised the 3.5" backspacing works, it's real close, but I have turned from left to right and in-between while flexing on uneven ramps and it doesn't rub so I'm happy with them.

Originally Posted by 1971Stepside

That new wheel set up looks much better. I like your original center caps as well.

I think I'm with you on this, plus I already have all 4 of those center caps so I wouldn't have to buy 2 more of the others.



I worked on the bedsides last night, got the high build sanded down to 120 grit. Just one more light pass with 220 and they are ready for sealer and paint. The rest of the panels aren't getting bodyworked except for wheel tubs. So I am hoping to have the bed, grill, and few other small parts in final paint by Sunday. It's gonna be tough because I don't have room, the bedsides take up almost all the space on my racks. And going between sealer and final paint constantly is both a little waste usually because of pot life, and also a time waste becuase of going back and forth. It's just easier to do all parts in sealer first, then all parts in paint last. All in one single pass each. If my air hose could reach the backyard I would hang everything in my tree......


You can see there are still a couple of low spots and high spots, but they are tiny. It's pretty decent actually and you'll never see them in my paint. And I've said it before, daily driver

[MDPotter]

Looking forward to seeing the bed on soon!

[TA_C10]

Originally Posted by MDPotter

Looking forward to seeing the bed on soon!

ME TOO!!!! I'm having a hard time staying motivated at this point... I'm plain wore out. 2.5 years this month.

.

[SkidmoreGarage]

You have been a big inspiration to keep me motivated. I do not find bodywork very joyful labor either, filled with mostly coming to terms with imperfections. Hang in there, momentum is critical when addressing the last 20%. Also, in aggregation, the minor issues you see now will disappear to the untrained eye upon completion. It is a daily driver. You can't tell the difference between a $3k paint job and a $20k paint job with a decent weekend's worth of bug guts and dust on it.

At a low point, I spiral into looking ahead and find that, if I'm not careful, this activity consumes my most productive time. This leads to slow progress, loss of prioritization, and a decrease in motivation.

I personally took a week off from bodywork and have done other small jobs. Cab mounts, wheel bearings, refreshed an axle that I may not even use, procured supplies, and did general shop clean up. I also reprioritized and got myself prepared for another big push forward.

[First c10]

Hey TA_C10
I read through the thread but cant see the pictures at work. I will read it this weekend at home so I can see/download the pictures.
Keep up the great work!!!

[TA_C10]

Originally Posted by SkidmoreGarage

You have been a big inspiration to keep me motivated. I do not find bodywork very joyful labor either, filled with mostly coming to terms with imperfections. Hang in there, momentum is critical when addressing the last 20%. Also, in aggregation, the minor issues you see now will disappear to the untrained eye upon completion. It is a daily driver. You can't tell the difference between a $3k paint job and a $20k paint job with a decent weekend's worth of bug guts and dust on it.

At a low point, I spiral into looking ahead and find that, if I'm not careful, this activity consumes my most productive time. This leads to slow progress, loss of prioritization, and a decrease in motivation.

I personally took a week off from bodywork and have done other small jobs. Cab mounts, wheel bearings, refreshed an axle that I may not even use, procured supplies, and did general shop clean up. I also reprioritized and got myself prepared for another big push forward.

Thanks for that, appreciated man.

Originally Posted by First c10

Hey TA_C10
I read through the thread but cant see the pictures at work. I will read it this weekend at home so I can see/download the pictures.
Keep up the great work!!!

Thanks!

[TA_C10]

Glove box door done. PO installed one of those ugly billet covers over the face and you have to drill holes through the original to install. The glove box door was in perfect shape before he did that, I don't understand dudes sometimes.... Welded up the holes, grind smooth, and body worked. Ready for paint.


Before:







Welded up:







Bodyworked:

[1971Stepside]

Welded up the holes, grind smooth, and body worked. Ready for paint.

Like watching a TV build you are so fast

I was working on my glove box door last night as well.

[TA_C10]

Originally Posted by 1971Stepside

Like watching a TV build you are so fast

I was working on my glove box door last night as well.

Hang tight, each night I am busting azz to get bed completed. This weekend paint. Next week will be install of bed.

[sprint_9]

Looking good, Im excited to see the bed on.

One thing I did when mounting my box was use different thicknesses of rubber for pads. I purchased a variety of 12x12 sheet rubber from Grainger on ebay, I used 1/16, 1/8, and 1/4. It worked pretty good having the variety to customize the fit and get good alignment.

[Scurry67]

Excellent job on the bodywork! Every time i check out your build I’m filled with envy with the pace you’re moving at. Keep it up. You’ll be on the road in no time!

[TA_C10]

Originally Posted by sprint_9

Looking good, Im excited to see the bed on.

One thing I did when mounting my box was use different thicknesses of rubber for pads. I purchased a variety of 12x12 sheet rubber from Grainger on ebay, I used 1/16, 1/8, and 1/4. It worked pretty good having the variety to customize the fit and get good alignment.

I will look into this, still trying to decide if I should use the pads or not... I am going to have to shim my cab no matter what.

Originally Posted by Scurry67

Excellent job on the bodywork! Every time i check out your build I’m filled with envy with the pace you’re moving at. Keep it up. You’ll be on the road in no time!

Thanks for the kind words, this is motivation for me to keep going.

[TA_C10]

Finished bodyworking the rear tubs last night. Ready for paint. And it's official, I no longer have fingerprints...

[First c10]

I just went through the build with pictures. Great job on the build Tom.
Great truck....you have done a great job.

[TA_C10]

Originally Posted by First c10

I just went through the build with pictures. Great job on the build Tom.
Great truck....you have done a great job.

Well thanks Scott, I feel my thread had too many pics, but when half the thread died it's easier to go through it now probably... Plus, the first half was pretty much all metal work anyways and that crap is boring


.

[TA_C10]

Grill, gas filler, misc parts, all scuffed/bodyworked and ready for paint. It's so close.

[TA_C10]

Question. Bought a 16" radiator overflow long time ago, it's too tall to fit inside engine bay. It won't fit behind grill on passenger side where rad cap is because of A/C hard lines, but it will fit in driver's side. Do you think this will work? If so, which location you think would be best? I figure I will eventually get a cover for this area and I can just fab a hole around the cap. Otherwise I will have to buy another overflow that is shorter to fit in engine bay....








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[rechinca]

I'd probably look at the shorter unit and keep on the passenger side. I like the idea of the cover with the hole for the overflow cap. This way the lines would be shorter.

[First c10]

I put mine on the passenger side of the radiator support. Right next to the radiator.
Where the battery would have been in the stock location. Right next to your ac lines from the condenser.
Weird how it doesn’t work for you.

[1971Stepside]

mine is on the drivers side inside of the core support next to radiator. Looks like you have your electrical stuff where mine is.

[MDPotter]

Originally Posted by 1971Stepside

mine is on the drivers side inside of the core support next to radiator. Looks like you have your electrical stuff where mine is.

Same here. The only thing to consider with putting it in front of the core support is that you will probably see it through the grille. I mounted my trans cooler in front of the core support and it sticks out like a sore thumb.

[TA_C10]

Well I got inspired. Took another hard look at it and made it work. The tube at bottom is really close to inner fender but it should work. I had to make extension for top bracket, and welded them to core support. The brackets are slotted too so the overflow bolts to those brackets and can slide up/down about 1/4 to 1/2 inch.

[TA_C10]

And no paint this weekend. Saturday was too cold, so I got up early and smoked a brisket and pork butt. Sunday rained and FedEx never delivered my paint supplies(supposed to have been delivered Friday....).

[TA_C10]

New AZ opened up in my town last week so now I have a close parts store. Dropped in last night a grabbed some 1/4" line for the new overflow. It barely fits with that 90 but no kinks, g2g