My 57 Pro Street

[Kim57]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Wow, you guys doing frame-offs blow me away. Where do you get the time for all these millions of steps large & small? I "intend" to blow my truck all apart for a final "detail" I guess I'd call it years from now when it's done JUST the way I want it mechanically, but realistically I worry that I'll have trouble staying motivated when I do. I retire in a few years and that one of my plans but you younger guys with kids, yards, etc... I just know I'd be off on tangents and it'd just gather dust.
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Younger guys?
I wish I was one of those. I'll be 59 in August.
I became disabled back in 1998 from a bad back which led to 2 operations and a fusion so that's where I get the time to work on mine. I can only put a few hours a day in before the pain gets to be too much but such is life.
As far as the millions of steps I try and break it down into manageable parts like a puzzle. I set certain goals and if something isn't going the way I want or I get frustrated with it I step away and go on to another part.
Now that I'm at the body work stage it will probably slow down some as I'm new at the details of getting a perfect panel. Welding in patches is one thing getting them perfect afterwards is something else.
And the truck is my only vice other than being on this site to get inspiration and encouragement from the other builders.
Kim

[xpickup]

Kim57, great job on the hand made tools. I make most of my own because I love to do it and too cheap to buy them. That stinks with your back, it is hell getting old. I am only 38 and am starting to feel it. Back pain stinks, I torqued mine out around Thanksgiving. I came to the realization now that I can not do what I used to do. You just have work smarter with age. I am a slow learner.

Shannon
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[oldman3]

Dan, have to chime in with Kim on doing it in steps. I've been messing with cars and trucks since I was 15. I'm 67 now, have slowed down alot, but still keep plugging away. I've also had back problems for yrs, just have to work around it. I'll get off the soap box for now and turn this back over to Kim's thread, which I enjoy....Jim

[Kim57]

Originally Posted by xpickup

Kim57, great job on the hand made tools. I make most of my own because I love to do it and too cheap to buy them. That stinks with your back, it is hell getting old. I am only 38 and am starting to feel it. Back pain stinks, I torqued mine out around Thanksgiving. I came to the realization now that I can not do what I used to do. You just have work smarter with age. I am a slow learner.

Shannon
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Take care of your back. I have to get help to do things that were no problem before my injury. And like you stated I need to work smarter.

Originally Posted by oldman3

Dan, have to chime in with Kim on doing it in steps. I've been messing with cars and trucks since I was 15. I'm 67 now, have slowed down alot, but still keep plugging away. I've also had back problems for yrs, just have to work around it. I'll get off the soap box for now and turn this back over to Kim's thread, which I enjoy....Jim

I have no problems with these types of conversations. It just seems like old friends BSing in the garage. I also learn a lot from those of you who have been down this road already.

Kim

[Denee007]

Kim, you've probably seen the pics of My Little Mule? I bought it because I have a messed up back from lifting a patient years ago, something popped in my low back, no surgeries, but the pain is chronic, but this Modified Hoyer lift, or patient lift is a back saver, and a valuable second hand! You may could find a used patient lift in Craigslist for cheap, say less than 100, them modify the boom as you may see fit. I have two, one is hydraulic and the other is manual. Something to consider, I lift nothing too heavy or awkward.
Dne'


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[Kim57]

Tanks for the info Denee. That's a cool idea.
Kim

[ET56]

Hi Kim57, after reading the posts about making your own tools, which I like to do also, I just had to post this web site I recieved today. You may have seen this before but if not check it out. I found it very interesting.
HomemadeTools.net sorry I don't know how to post a link yet. Maybe there is a tool for that...

[Outlaw26]

Kim, very nice build, keep up the good work!!!

[Kim57]

Originally Posted by ET56

Hi Kim57, after reading the posts about making your own tools, which I like to do also, I just had to post this web site I recieved today. You may have seen this before but if not check it out. I found it very interesting.
HomemadeTools.net sorry I don't know how to post a link yet. Maybe there is a tool for that...

I've been there. Lots of cool things to see.

Originally Posted by Outlaw26

Kim, very nice build, keep up the good work!!!

Thanks.

Kim

[mdstitt]

Originally Posted by Kim57

As the coil packs seem to be about the ugliest part of the LS engines I decided to do something about it.
A little time and a little paint and they don't look so bad.
Kinda hard to see in the pics but the bracket is the metallic blue and the packs are metallic grey.
Kim

Your engine looks really good.

Not to be a downer, but I once painted a coil silver and had a ton of trouble with it. I chased a mis-fire for days before I realized the wire was arcing to the outside of the coil. When the lights were off, it looked like one of those static electricity balls that have the lightning inside them.

Remember, metallic paint is just that... metallic. Metal and high-voltage are not a good combination in close proximity.

I hope yours is okay.

[Kim57]

Originally Posted by mdstitt

Your engine looks really good.

Not to be a downer, but I once painted a coil silver and had a ton of trouble with it. I chased a mis-fire for days before I realized the wire was arcing to the outside of the coil. When the lights were off, it looked like one of those static electricity balls that have the lightning inside them.

Remember, metallic paint is just that... metallic. Metal and high-voltage are not a good combination in close proximity.

I hope yours is okay.

Thanks for the heads up. If I have any trouble I'll know where to start looking.
Kim

[lowdownstar]

That would really suck! after all that nice work... so lets hope to god that don't happen. i just love to see all the nice things you keep doing to your truck. thanks for sharing


Ray

[JR25]

Whats been going on with your truck lately? Ive been following you for a couple of months now, Ive got some great ideas from you and BAM, but havent seen any updates here lately!
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[Kim57]

Originally Posted by JR25

Whats been going on with your truck lately? Ive been following you for a couple of months now, Ive got some great ideas from you and BAM, but havent seen any updates here lately!
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I've been working on getting the body stripped and primed.
Tedious boring work. Not much to show yet as far as progress goes.
When I get something worth showing I'll post pics.
Kim

[Kabwe]

Yes it is tedious work but I'm looking forward to the pics buddy.

[Kim57]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

Yes it is tedious work but I'm looking forward to the pics buddy.

I've been researching epoxy primers and it seems SPI is the best bang for the buck so I'll be ordering some so I can get it primed.
Kim

[blue57]

Originally Posted by Kim57

I've been researching epoxy primers and it seems SPI is the best bang for the buck so I'll be ordering some so I can get it primed.
Kim

You dont need primer. I think I am taking mine to Brother's in five different colors.
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[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by Kim57

I've been researching epoxy primers and it seems SPI is the best bang for the buck so I'll be ordering some so I can get it primed.
Kim

Yeah I really like the stuff and its not bad on the wallet either.

Originally Posted by blue57

You dont need primer. I think I am taking mine to Brother's in five different colors.

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I hope to meet and your rainbow color truck in person buddy.

[blue57]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

Yeah I really like the stuff and its not bad on the wallet either.


I hope to meet and your rainbow color truck in person buddy.

Hey no rainbows here. Haha. I should be able to get it there. Just waiting on brothers for some parts.
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[Kim57]

Originally Posted by blue57

You dont need primer. I think I am taking mine to Brother's in five different colors.
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Sanding mine revealed in order:
green
grey
yellow
grey
red
black
grey
That's what was on all the fenders and hood.
The cab isn't quite as bad.
Kim

[mknittle]

Originally Posted by Kim57

Sanding mine revealed in order:
green
grey
yellow
grey
red
black
grey
That's what was on all the fenders and hood.
The cab isn't quite as bad.
Kim

it will be 50 pounds lighter when you get done sanding!

[JR25]

Originally Posted by Kim57

Sanding mine revealed in order:
green
grey
yellow
grey
red
black
grey
That's what was on all the fenders and hood.
The cab isn't quite as bad.
Kim

WOW!!! Mine was predominantly "rust" colored! LOL
The last coat of paint was red, so of course as it aged, it made the entire truck appear to be nothing but rust.

[oldman3]

Whoa, that's a lot of repaints, and a lot of work to remove...Jim

[Kim57]

Originally Posted by oldman3

Whoa, that's a lot of repaints, and a lot of work to remove...Jim

I used the clean and strip discs on my 4-1/2" angle grinder so it came off pretty quick but did make one heck of a mess.
Kim

[87Lowrider]

Just caught myself up on the thread. Nice work!!