My build thread- 67 C10 SWB

[checkmate211e]

Originally Posted by 67cheby

WOW, impressive amount of sheet metal work in that cab !

Thank you sir, you have an impressive piece of sheetmetal of your own! Nice truck!

[67cheby]

thanks man !

[checkmate211e]

Now that the bed metal is here from LMC, I can work on that until the mufflers arrive. Like a idiot, I am piecing it together. I smart person would have just bought the complete steel bed already assembled. But I am probably saving a couple hundred bucks by welding it together myself.

[checkmate211e]

The Spintechs are here and exactly what I needed! (provided they aren't too loud) (1) 45 gets me right to the Xpipe and the other gets me right where I need the exhaust tips to be. These mufflers look like very good pieces, very well built! Still fabricating the muffler brackets.

[getsomegreen]

This is a nice build!

[NastyNate32]

Did you learn to mig weld starting on body panels? I just started mig welding myself and I have to weld on my rockers, fill old tank fill hole, and shave side markers. Any tips?

[mcbassin]

You did a great job saving that cab! For a second, I thought dang that was fast! Then I saw the date stamp 2011. Time lapse....? tetanus shot . Nice build.

[checkmate211e]

Originally Posted by NastyNate32

Did you learn to mig weld starting on body panels? I just started mig welding myself and I have to weld on my rockers, fill old tank fill hole, and shave side markers. Any tips?

My first adventure into mig welding was the 1 piece floorpan. My tips would be to use .023 wire (with gas, don't flux core), when possible use panel clamps and copper backing plates. Don't let the sheetmetal get too hot while welding, it cause warpage and burn through, I like to jump around tack welding (3 tacks) and then use a air nozzle to cool the metal off before doing more tacks. Study up on the uses of 3 different types of welds (there may be more, but this is what I can think of at the moment for sheetmetal): butt, lap, and plug welds. Use vise-grips, sheetmetal screws, and magnets to hold your piece in place when possible. I like Eastwood, TP Tools, and smartshoppersinc.com for bodyworking tools.

I really like the copper backing when working with sheetmetal because you can turn the heat up a little more to get better penetration an not worry as much about burn through.

http://www.eastwood.com/butt-weld-cl...ckers-kit.html

[checkmate211e]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

You did a great job saving that cab! For a second, I thought dang that was fast! Then I saw the date stamp 2011. Time lapse....? tetanus shot . Nice build.

Thank you. Lol, I started this truck in June 2011. This has been over 3 years in the making, and still a long ways to go. Then I decided to share what I have learned in the process after getting inquiries into the complete floor pan process.

[checkmate211e]

Originally Posted by NastyNate32

Did you learn to mig weld starting on body panels? I just started mig welding myself and I have to weld on my rockers, fill old tank fill hole, and shave side markers. Any tips?

I also like this copper backer because its soft, just drill a hole in it (or 2) and screw it to your repair area with small sheetmetal screws. As far as the rockers, I would use Zinc rich weld through primer on the inside wherever you are concerned there will be bare metal left.

http://www.eastwood.com/soft-copper-triangle.html

[checkmate211e]

4 more pipes left to take care off and probably need to add at least 4 more hangers.

[Z10]

Looks great Checkmate! I'm about to install a Magnaflow system on my 72. What cats are you using?

Thanks,

[checkmate211e]

Originally Posted by Z10

Looks great Checkmate! I'm about to install a Magnaflow system on my 72. What cats are you using?

Thanks,

Thanks! No cats, just flex pipes to absorb the vibrations from the motor. Decided to use flex pipes to avoid putting the torque stress on the exhaust pipe joints.

[Bennett68C10]

Nice job on the exhaust

[duallyjams]

um it's May already no update since January.

[checkmate211e]

I know man! Sorry, a lot of changes went down at work in January. So a lot more responsibilities got thrown into my lap, unfortunately, more pay was not. Overtime is now at my discretion, so that was my "raise". Also was "handed" a company phone, so even when I'm not at work, I am. Seems like the likelihood of raises went out the door when the current idiot usurped the Oval Office.

[duallyjams]

Huh my work schedule changed for the worse also, I feel like I'm always there and never have any time off unless I use vacation.

[checkmate211e]

I feel ya. I'm terrified to use vacation time because I'm the only true parts/tire guy. Inventory is hard enough to keep straight when I'm there, let alone being gone for a few days. I will be out doing forklift tires tomorrow, so I cringe at the thought of what the end of my day will be like.

Originally Posted by duallyjams

Huh my work schedule changed for the worse also, I feel like I'm always there and never have any time off unless I use vacation.

[checkmate211e]

FINALLY!!!!! AN UPDATE! Got around to tacking the exhaust and then got someone to TIG weld. Still a little more to go, but finally some progress.

[checkmate211e]

Managed to get some work done on the dash this weekend.

[checkmate211e]

Decided I need to get this bed together so its not taking up so much room in the garage.

[67chevy1]

That dash is looking great. What size exhaust did you put in it.

[checkmate211e]

Originally Posted by 67chevy1

That dash is looking great. What size exhaust did you put in it.

Thanks Matt. Kinda procrastinating on the dash, can be a bit stressful at times. The dash is my make/break on the build. If it looks like crap, I will look like an idiot. The exhaust is 2 1/2". The largest motor I ever plan on putting in the truck is a 383, so I should be good for a while. Most of it is 304 stainless, but the X pipe is 409. The mufflers are aluminized Spintechs. Once the bed is done, I can plan the position of the tips (forward of the rear tires).

[67chevy1]

The dash is defenately a monumental task, but it is looking as good as the rest of your build.

[mcbassin]

Very nice progress. Looking good.