Irish's 1966 LWB Fleetside

[irish1966]

Originally Posted by Frizzle Fry

Another local here. Nice progress David. I've enjoyed the darker stuff for many years. IPA's have been my brew of choice lately. So many to choose from around here. Been to the Guinness brewery too. 12hr shifts in Hillsboro? hmmmmm ...sounds like Intel to me. No?

How did you guess? LOL. Where are all you guys hiding these trucks in Hillsboro and Cornelius? I've seen one 65 done all black around the back of Burgerville, but It has since gone. Shoot me a PM. I'd love to shoot the crap. I'll throw a crate of Guinness in the back of the dodge on the way home from the job. LOL

[fryer1979]

Originally Posted by irish1966

How did you guess? LOL. Where are all you guys hiding these trucks in Hillsboro and Cornelius? I've seen one 65 done all black around the back of Burgerville, but It has since gone. Shoot me a PM. I'd love to shoot the crap. I'll throw a crate of Guinness in the back of the dodge on the way home from the job. LOL

Man, I just had to see that picture now, and I am only 1 hour into my shift. Now I can't wait to get home, must have Guinness...

[irish1966]

Well, back to work againg and I had better update this thread. I got my Power steering adapter plate from CaptainFab. Thx man. Looking forward to putting that in soon. The weather here has been insane and has been so changeable, that I decided to get some of the inside work done, instead of having to move stuff in and out every time it decided to rain. Here's a before and after of the hood and I also got the grill cleaned up a bit. I'm planning on getting to finishing the rest over the next couple of nights. I am getting a loan of my buddy's BIG air compressor next week, so I can get stuck into sanding the bed and primering all of the newly sanded pieces.

[irish1966]

ANyone any ideas on what to do with this rust inside the hood??? And the last pic......she doesn't like loud noises, so when she hamgs out with me in the garage PPE is a must. Now all I need to do is teach her how to sand. LOL

[Frizzle Fry]

I have a couple little shop munchkins too

I've got a '68 hood with some of that on the inner layer. I plan to cut it back to good and tack it down there. Replace with patch material where needed like around your latch. Looks like it's gone through both layers in some places on yours so you may be better off on the hunt for a new hood, or at least one to source some sections from.

[irish1966]

Originally Posted by Frizzle Fry

I have a couple little shop munchkins too

I've got a '68 hood with some of that on the inner layer. I plan to cut it back to good and tack it down there. Replace with patch material where needed like around your latch. Looks like it's gone through both layers in some places on yours so you may be better off on the hunt for a new hood, or at least one to source some sections from.

I was planning on swapping in a bug-eye hood, if I can find one. For now, I'm using what I have to learn how to do the bodywork. I was planning on putting filler on the front pinholes until I got underneath and had a good look. Then I was looking on craigslist and found a 61 stepside in Washington and now, I don't know what to spend my dwindling paycheck on. LOL

[CHIZZLER]

what do you think

[daverod]

Man you are kickin that old truck butt. Lookin good.

[irish1966]

Thx Daverod! I'm learning a lot about these old trucks. I'm already planning my next one. Lol. Now all I have to master is the patching of the rust and I'll be grand.

[daverod]

I'm thinking when you get done you will be a master. I love fixing rust makes me feel like a doctor. I like reds bed lifting idea.

[irish1966]

Yeah, I'll be using his bed lift idea next weekend when I move the bed inside to finish sanding and spraying the primer. I'm even looking for a local bodyshop to work part time at to help fund my project and learn some more.

[daverod]

Good idea. Hope you get one. I was thinking the same.

[monolith]

Just found this thread- man, you are going to town!

Keep it up!

I can attest that the engine hoist will be one of your best friends as a lone mechanic- you can use it to lift the cab on and off the frame as well by going in through the door opening(there are pics here about it somewhere.)

*Raises a Guinness to you*

[irish1966]

thx Monolith, believe me, I went Egyptian on this thing at the start. I was using rollers and all sorts of techniques (before I bought the engine hoist).

[irish1966]

I haven't got much done the last couple of nights. I did get some 18 Ga sheet metal this morning from the metal shop. Thx to Frizzle for the headsup about the Forest Grove Iron place. I ran out there this morning and got a full sheet. I plan on practicing on my old cab, welding in some floor patches and getting used to the welder. I'll be running to Harbor freight either today or tomorrow for some air shears and a nibbler maybe. Anyone any insight as to the tools I will need to make this undertaking less painful?

[protrash64]

Nice work so far.....in my primitive metalwork toolbox, I usually have an angle grinder with flap discs and wire wheels; also a die grinder for use with cutoff discs and grinding stones. A plain old wire brush never hurts either. I also like the sawzall with metal blades.

For making new stuff tinsnips come in handy as well as some beater hammers and screw drivers. I also have stocked up on a bunch of 'vicegrip' type clamps for holding pieces of metal together. C-clamps work well, too.

.....and dont forget the saftey glasses.

[irish1966]

thx Protrash!! The clamps/vice grips, tin snips and die grinder have been added to the harbor freight list.

[Frizzle Fry]

I find it handy to have at least two if not three angle grinders at the work site. One with a wire-wheel, one with flap disc or grind wheel, and one with a cut-off wheel. Saves you from having to keep swapping them out on one. Don't forget your 20% coupon. print out as many as you need ...and if they try to pull the "only valid on one item" schpeel just tell them to ring it all up seperatly then.

...just want to add that most of the imported stuff from there won't last (as I'm sure you are aware). But it will get you by for a bit while you learn to use/appreciate the tools and get ready to step up in quality.

[irish1966]

It's funny coz in work I have a couple of screens. On the 2nd one is currently the Harbor freight website with the coupons on it.

Yeah, i hear ya on the grinders. My Da is a welder and I kinda had to listen to the "Never buy cheap tools" lecture. I currently have 2 HB air cut-off tools, a cheap HB 4' grinder that I use for paint removal/wire wheel and a makita 4" grinder for the heavy work. I'm thinking of buying one of the high speed aire saws and a shears. Any inputs as to which is better/more accurate for cutting the patches?

[Frizzle Fry]

I actually cut a lot of sheet out with the 4.5" cut-off wheel before I got the plasma. You'd be surprised how nice/clean you can make it with some practice ...even around curves (not tight ones). I have an air saw for reaching places other tools won't. The shorter stroke allows you to get closer to a junction than a sawzall where there is no access from the backside and blade space diminishes as you cut. For example, if you were to brake a sheet into a tight V then start cutting vertically down one side with a sawzall then do it again with the air saw you would find that the air saw can get closer to the bottom of the V. Of course, there's always the close quarters hack saw as a back-up:

[daverod]

I bought a stud gun from HF. Used it a lot. Ended up welding some vise grips on the slide hammer. I use a grinder to cut everything.

[irish1966]

Yeah, I noticed alot of guys had used stud guns in their builds. So, it's used primarily to pull dents/warped panels with a slide hammer? I'm very new to the whole bodywork side of this stuff, but I am gifted with a grinder. Learned that from my Da. LOL

[protrash64]

I wasnt thinking of air tools like Frizzle mentioned....they would be nice but I dont have the air capacity. I'm all electric and caveman ...

Harbor Freight does carry some name brand flap discs with the threaded arbor which simplifies changes IMO. (Maybe Norton?)

I've used my buddy's stud gun....it works well. You grab the pin with a slide hammer that has a chuck on the end, similar to a cordless drill. Thats where the caveman part starts,

[ol_skool_chevy]

looks like you got s nice run on your truck.....im here in Hillsboro also

[irish1966]

Thx Ol-skool. This weather is seriously hindering my progress, and now I have an I-ROC sitting in the driveway, that needs some work.