Project "Tracy Lee" 59 Apache

[texascowboy593]

OK, Heres the progress report:

The old gas filler hole is now filled/smoothed.
I ran and bent the fuel line properly.
I had to move the Blazer tank down about 1 inch so the neck could fit under the bed.
I also tried to get the bottom of the driver side door in better shape.

Before everyone goes crazy... I am trying an experiment in this semi-controlled environment of a shop: I am trying the "JB Weld Industrial Strength" method for repairs etc. I have used it on the bottom of the door to hopefully re-form the door to where it needs to be. I cut out a piece of metal to fit into the fuel filler hole and "JB'd" it and I'm also trying the JB Method on the smooth dash panel. THIS IS ONLY A TEST!!! If it works, then I'll feel pretty good about the money I've saved. If it dosen't, Then I'll clean it up and get Professional help. I have only myself to blame if these things don't hold up, I'm just a trial and error kinda guy...Everythings clamped into place until I get out there Tommorrow. We will know the fate of the "experiment" at that time. I do know that the fuel filler hole is a success

Wish me luck on my findings tommorrow! Thx, James.

[texascowboy593]

More pics...

[55ChevyPU]

looks scarey, good luck ! :-D

[texascowboy593]

Heres the latest:

The JB worked on the bottom of the door to hold it together. I also used it on the door skin. I let it dry overnight then today I sanded it down and smoothed everything w/ some bondo. I just need to get the door aligned properly. It fits ok up top and matches up w/ the striker but the bottom on the backside sticks out about 1/4 - 1/2 inch...

The JB for the dash panel inside has done well...but not perfect. I have to go back and take care of a couple of things in that department...

Looks like the last weekend this month will be paint time! I'm getting everyone involved on notice and lined-up for the big event!

Heres the door:

[Jebb1978]

Wow Tex, nice work with the fuel tank and plumbing. Looks nice and clean. In regards to the JB Weld, I have not tried that myself. My thoughts are, it just may hold up for small stuff like the filler hole. I have conserns about you putting a nice coat of paint over that door though. It is a huge piece there and with it opening and closing I just fear it's going to start cracking within a few weeks or months. I wish you the best my friend, I hope it holds up.

[watahyahknow]

i have to agree .... even on welded doors that have a light skim of bondo across the welded area the working of the two pieces is enough to make it crack .
if you want to test it to make sure it stays good i would drive it around with primer only for a while so when it does crack it can be fixed propperly without having to do a respray
if i would've fixed that door i would spotweld a extra strip inside the door front to back across the cut so it doesnt fold in or out

[texascowboy593]

Thx for the comments guys. I did put some backing material underneath the panel to help from flexing... Here's the bad news. I may not get the truck painted till springtime. I've had some unexpected expenses come up over the past couple of days and they are not small. I might still get it into primer and deal with that till spring but I won't know for a few days if that will come to pass. It maybe 95 degrees here today but it will be cooling off soon and the amount of time I have to raise the money for paint is running out. The shop has no form of heat and thats not good...

[watahyahknow]

maibe thats for the better , you can drive the truck in primer and if something cracks you can still fix it before paint .
those rad rods drive around in black primer all the time

[dwcsr]

Good job on the doors. JB weld should hold up fine.

[CAL 58 GMC]

Good luck on the primer or paint, I hope it all works out for you.

[Jebb1978]

Don't frett Tex, everything happens for a reason. It will look fine in priemer for a little bit and as said above, you will get a chance to test out that metal work prior to putting a shiney coat of paint on her.

[texascowboy593]

Thx guys...Like you said Jebb, Test it out in primer...not a bad idea. I guess the hotrod/ratrod kinda look will work for awhile...

[texascowboy593]

UPDATE: I have ordered from Totally Stainless $150.00 worth of fasteners for the truck and I got a marine gas filler (just like the "Cool Cap") for $30.00. Both Items should be in by the beginning of next week. The gas filler will go into the pass. side fender on top...

I did more body work on the truck over the weekend but nothing worth pics. I'm in the process of painting the front bumper, grill and headlight bezels white. The PO had painted those bright red and that just ain't gonna jive. I ran out of my white paint so the bumper is hanging in the shop only half-painted. This is only temporary as I will be buying all-new chrome components for the front end in the spring... I also bought a new electric fan and put it on the front of the radiator... Just a standard O'reillys special

I'll check in later with more info...Thx, James.

[Jebb1978]

Cool man, I was thinking of doing the marine style gas door in the bed aswell. I saw it done once and I liked the way it looked. Keep fighting the good fight.

[texascowboy593]

UPDATE: My Totally Stainless Fasteners came in yesterday! Those look like some high quality, stout stuff! The marine gas filler is still "pending" as of the 8th according to the website I bought it from... I did a little more sanding and smoothing on the body and on the doors where I removed the mirrors. Funding came through and If the planets line up just right I'll be going down to San Antonio this Friday to make the paint purchase.

I installed an electric radiator fan last weekend and finished painting the front bumper, grill and headlight bezels white yesterday. It's just rattlecan but it will hold me over til I buy new brightwork this spring.

I also started hooking up the gauge cluster but ran out of time to complete it. I figured I'd test it out. Some of the wiring was installed already by the PO so I hooked it up to test what he had done. It seems OK.

More later, James

[GATORBUILT '59]

Evverything looks good 'TEX'. Send me the link to those Fastners.

[texascowboy593]

Originally Posted by GATORBUILT '59

Evverything looks good 'TEX'. Send me the link to those Fastners.

www.totallystainless.com

[Jebb1978]

I bought that same bolt kit for mine.

[texascowboy593]

It's Prime Time! We got most of the primer on. My buddy used his suction gun with great results but when it was time for another refill, one of the the dog-ears to hold the cup to the gun broke off . He had a gravity feed gun that he never used and the results sucked. I went out there today to sand out the runs on the cab. He will re-shoot the cab mid-week and we hope to have color on sometime this weekend!!! For ya'll who were worried about the door repair cracking, that is a risk I'm going to take. My time out at that shop has pretty much run out and I need to get it gone from there. I think it will hold just fine but if it dosen't, then I'll just have to deal with it when the time comes.

[84 400]

great work man !!!!!

[texascowboy593]

Thx 84. Hope it works out.

[texascowboy593]

Look what the UPS man brought me! I'm glad it got here before the big paint weekend. I didn't want to delay it waiting for this. The filler is going into the top of the pass. side fender. Woo-hoo!

BTW: Don't order from Camden boat store. They never updated the progress of my order as promised on their website and when they finally e-mailed me back, they finally shipped it out-that was 2 weeks after I sent it in. I also asked for a UPS tracking # and they never responded

[84 400]

VEry nice !!!!!!!! i like that alot i prefure the in bed location but i am all for the wheel fender for useablity i can only imagine how much of a pain filling in the bed would be

[pgf545]

Hey Cowboy, that sucks it took so long to get. I bet I could get one tomorrow right here in town. There are about 5 boat supply stores around here that probably have one instock. If you are ever in need for something like that again let me know and I will look for ya. I think BoatsUS has a web site also and they would probably have one.

Bernie

[entourageguy]

Its great watching the progress on you truck.
There is a company that has a kit to recess a hole for the boat cap filler. It sets it into the metal so the boat cap is not flush with the fender.


I put my fuel cell under the box and used a billet door off of a pickup and set it in the bed. Works well with a bit of a lean over the tail gate.

Brian