1965/73 Cheap Build Up

[bubba327]

looking good Dennis Keep posting pictures of the progress as you go !!
Internet body shop class!

[Strodder]

You know I will. I'm a posting whore.

[juanz1947]

Dang look good

[66-PMD-GMC]

Nice mend work. Its so much like art... oh yeah, it IS art...

[Strodder]

Your right it is like art. You have to have an imagination. Then make it happen. Then cross your fingers and hope it works. If this didn't work I was just going to shave the door, and install solenoids. Looks like it's going to work. The linkage is the only challenge left. I have a plan.

[watahyahknow]

i seen a combination of the two once , he mounted a microswitch behind the knob inside the door so the handle triggered it and triggered the solenoid that pulled the lock to open it you have more choice where to place the inside handle too
if you screen the solenoidlock combo inside the door with a metal plate and hook a relay for the power to a wireless alarm it will be verry hard to open the car or truck without you knowing about it with regulair tools of the thief trade

[Strodder]

I also thought of something on that line, but I want it to be all mechanical and not rely on electrical. But if my plan doesn't work, that's the next thing I'll think about.

[Alan's Classic]

Very nice you posting whore. Really, nice work!!

[Strodder]

Originally Posted by Alan's Classic

Very nice you posting whore. Really, nice work!!

Thanks Allan

[ruffrida2005]

I really like that way that look Dennis. something some people just wont know that it doesn't belong

[Strodder]

I finished welding the rest of the door patch, and also finished the bear claw latch install. I had to fill where the door jam wasn't flat. This made it look a lot cleaner. While I was at it I fixed the gap in between the door and body near the post. I also twisted the door so the top and bottom would fit flush. Now just a skim coat of Bondo. Then do the other side.





I almost forgot. I made linkage from the handle to the latch. Works perfect. I'll take pictures after I make brackets to secure the handle from the inside.

[Strodder]

Originally Posted by ruffrida2005

I really like that way that look Dennis. something some people just wont know that it doesn't belong

Thanks Paul

[watahyahknow]

looks good take a ful size pic once you put on some primer i like to see how it looks on the whole truck
i read about a english sheetmetal worker/painter who closed the doorgaps by welding thick acetileen weldingrods to the edge of the door and grinded / filed it down untill the gap was the same across the doors , its a lot of work but it made sence to me if youre making a real showcar , and because american car manufacturers never where great on getting the gaps equal all over

[Strodder]

Originally Posted by watahyahknow

looks good take a ful size pic once you put on some primer i like to see how it looks on the whole truck
i read about a english sheetmetal worker/painter who closed the doorgaps by welding thick acetileen weldingrods to the edge of the door and grinded / filed it down untill the gap was the same across the doors , its a lot of work but it made sence to me if youre making a real showcar , and because american car manufacturers never where great on getting the gaps equal all over

The cab is the only thing I'm working on right now. It's just sitting on dollies. When I finish this side I'll primer it and take pictures. As far as a show truck? No it's going to be a nice driver that I'll put in local car shows. I filled the door gaps with a mig welder, and built up a bead, and ground them down to the shape I wanted.

[Strodder]

Got some good news yesterday. I got approved to buy wholesale from Hoffman Group. I reactivated it from when I was Sportruck Specialties 10 years ago.
They handle companies like, Keep it Clean, Helix, Autoloc, Aurora, Stellar, Vintage, and Zirgo.
Let me know if any of you guys need anything.

http://www.thehoffmangroup.com/autoloc/

Check out what they have.

[watahyahknow]

pretty neat stuff , i like those touch to open doorhandles .
would combine them with an alarmsystem that has a dongle to release acces to those touch doorhandles at aproximity

some shops are suffering from the way most americans are struggling financially (you could say some shops are actually going hungry )
this is the right time to see if you can get an account at a wholesale shop since they now willing to do a lot more for customers to get income

[Strodder]

Every shop I talk to out here that do what I do, says they're busy. Even my son that builds Cafe Racers is busy. Repair shops are slow, along with the car dealers repair and sales.

[daverod]

what makes the bear claw things so good? nice work.

[Strodder]

Thanks Dave. Come on over and try it out. Works real smooth, and you don't have to slam the door, besides with that handle the stock latch wouldn't work. Also if your shaving your doors, and installing door solenoids the bear claw latches work great. Stock won't work with that mod either.

BTW I can sell the solenoids, and door poppers now.

[Strodder]

Finally on track and working on the truck today, Friday. Made the brackets to hold the door handles in place. Did a quick bondo skim coat, and primmered it so you can see how it's coming out. I'm happy how it looks. Better than I thought it would.

[scotts62]

Man that looks good!

You should move to another side of town those bullet holes are getting close

[Strodder]

Next I'll install the brackets inside the door, and hook up the linkage. Also fill the lock hole with epoxy to make it look like a Corvette handle. Then this post whore will show more pictures.

[Strodder]

Originally Posted by scotts62

Man that looks good!

You should move to another side of town those bullet holes are getting close

Thanks Scott. Nice touch with the billet holes...huh?

[scotts62]

Originally Posted by Strodder

Thanks Scott. Nice touch with the billet holes...huh?

Ya i like em

Come around here at the right place at the right time and you can get some real ones

[protrash64]

That looks really good Dennis!! Any decision on the wheels and tires yet??