Pieces

[Frizzle Fry]

That's very nice!

[earl87gta]

Looking good.

[Palf70Step]

Ended up being able to work on it some more today. I am replacing the factor dome light with one from a 97 C1500 extended cab.

I had to cut out the inner panel of the cab to be able to have it set in correctly.

I then had to make some stiff tabs to go behind it. I got the tabs welded in, but have to clean it up a bit before I go further.

I also welded in the extra holes from the sun visors and started welding the lower rear edge portion of the driver's door in order for the door to fit more evenly. I didn't take any pictures of that cause it is UGLY at the moment. I didn't want to embarrass myself too much since this was my first attempt at filling seams that way.

Now to rest.

[skokie]

Thanks for the detailed pics on the fuel cell and fuel door install. I will eventually be doing the same to my 68. Only difference is that I will be using a aluminum fuel cell. Looking good. Keep at it.

[caminokid]

Nice job! i wish i had as much space in my garage as you do. My 69 needs so much right now. When i am done with my truck everything will be new. To try and save my cab is useless. It needs way too much.

[Palf70Step]

Well it has been a couple weeks since I looked at, let alone touch the 70. Between some other auto duties today I was able to work some on trying to clean up the door alignment. I worked on the rear of the driver's door. Because of the way the door had been repaired by someone else (supposedly a professional body shop) it was very crooked and sort of cut wrong when the replaced the lower half of the door. Most of the door lined up OK except the lower front and rear edges. I took care of the front end (I hope) a few weeks ago, no onto the rear.

Basically I built up the edge of the door with welds and then ground them off even to get my corner back on the door right and fill in some of the gap.

I still have to finish smoothing the welds, then skin coat it, but I was pretty happy with the results. I may run the bead up a little further above the crease, but I'll look at it later. It's pretty close now and not sure I would do much better other than making a mess.
That was my morning work after serving the Bonneville. Spent rest of day (like yesterday) helping EdB tear up his 94 looking for n electrical short.

[samwise68]

i really like those two way visors!

good work, as always. you're more patient then i am...i absolutely hate tedious work, like aligning. especially when you *think* it's about right, then it slips and you have to start all over.

...yeah.

but good work!

you'll get 'et yet. just wait til hear that baby purrrrrrr.

-Sam.

[krue]

Good going Bill. Did you get Ed straightened out?

[Palf70Step]

I think so Krue, but NEVER go chasing wiring without a FACTORY/correct wire schematic :

[krue]

If I have any wiring issues I'll just get you to come figure it out for me.

[Palf70Step]

Well today was the attempt to fix the passenger side door fit. As you can see the top part of the door is way out of wack, but the lower portion lines up really well.

First thing was to strip down to see what type of welds were used to hold it in place.

There was a LOT of welds, big ones in this area and ti took a lot to get it free, but finally as you can see I was able to play with it until I got the top to align.

[Palf70Step]

With it aligned, I welded the door back together. Besides my welds not being pretty, you can see how big an area the original welds covers.

After the first grinding I filled in a few more areas, then filled in the area fith some fillers.

It fits like it should now.

Next step is tweaking out the front fenders to door on this side. I am hoping I will not have to weld a bead on the front of the door skin to fill in the gap with the front fender.

[Chevyman63]

That's a lot of work to make it fit. I talked to my painter a while ago and he told me that this is exactly what they do with after market doors. Pull them apart, line them up and weld them back together.
Nice work!

[Palf70Step]

Not a lot done today. Had to cut-up and haul off a bunch of fallen tree limbs from our storms this week.

I went to work on the passenger door again and messed with the hinges, a BFHammer, and a couple hours and I think I finally got the thing lined up. It stands out a bit on the front side since it has the color coat underneath, but much much better. Tomorrow, I hope, back to some grinding/sanding on the interior area. I have to tweak my center AC vent hole a bit and finish up the new interior light.

[Palf70Step]

Mostly little things again on the truck today.

I finished welding in and setting up the braces for the new dome light. The second shot shows how the frame sits in its new hole. Cleaned up the welds and drilled the mounting holes.

I also finished the opening for the center AC vent. Got my practice piece to fit in their good now.

Cleaned up the welds where I filled in any unused holes from the old mirrors and visors.

Before I do the final priming and paint I will probably need a little finish sanding, but for now it all got primer in a can.

[Palf70Step]

Sanding and filling.

Tedious crap, but it has to be done. I sanded down a lot of spots on the driver's door, fender, and for the old fuel neck hole. I am using an angel-hair glass filler to smooth out my less than perfect welding areas. The space from the gas filler, with it's compound curves, is giving me fits. I'm out of practice with this, so hopefully I'll keep my patience and let time work out the bugs. I think I should be just about done with this batch of sanding. The driver's door edges that I had to build up may need an additional trim coat, but I think this is getting closer.

On the passenger side door, the only areas are again smooth out less that perfect welding of the mirror holes and one spot where some nitwit banged the riding mower into the door.

Hopefully I'll get a good bit of the sanding done tomorrow afternoon.

[Palf70Step]

It's been a while since I was well enough or had time to work on the truck, but I was able to get some time on her today. Some more sanding and prep is all I got to, but mad some progress. It's just slow and time consuming at this point. Hopefully I'll get more time on it over the holidays.

What I worked on today.

The area around the fuel filler patch, the driver and passenger doors. I am of practice and it just seems for ever sometimes to get a good blend and level things out. The patience of body work

[Hart_Rod]

Good progress Bill. Looks like you'll be ready to cruise by summer........

R

[Palf70Step]

Did some more sanding and filling out some rough spots on the ole girl today. I think I am getting close. I am a lot happier with the area around the fuel filler door now. I have one small spot I need a touch of glaze, but other than that I think it is about ready for the good primer. Same goes with the passenger door. One of these days I'll be through snorting sanding dust. Oh well, gives me something to do.

It got too damp this afternoon to do anymore work with filler, so I goofed off up at EdB's.

[samwise68]

looking good!

you have more patience then me, i'll say that much.

when i was filling and sanding, i got frustrated, not mention pressed for time to lay paint before it froze, and said, "good enough for now", and that was that. lol.

but you're doing an absolutely stellar job, enough to make some people envious.

keep at 'er!

-Sam.

[heavy71chevy]

definently have more patience then me...i wish i possesed an eight of the patience you have..id prolly have finished my truck by now..but fixing stuff that was rushed usally take more time lol good work

[GSFMECH]

Hey Bill,
The trucks looking good. Boy it made a big difference in that door frame. I have one on my drivers side with a similar problem and I thought about doing the same thing. After seeing yours I'm convinced now that's what I need to do. Thanks for the tip.

[Palf70Step]

It was too cool to be doing bodywork, so I clean the shop and since I unpilled enough stuff from around the truck, I just had to take a photo. I have the grill on temporarily mainly to get it off the floor, besides it makes it feel like a truck again.

I am working maybe some idea changes for the inside. I think I will use my radio delete, mount a new style CD player in the heater control area. The when I add the vintage air, I'll mount their controller in the glove box or maybe in the console.

The mind is dangerous when left to think. I guess I need to keep my mind on the sanding then I don't drift on new subjects.

[Palf70Step]

I didn't realize how long it was between working on the ole girl. Soccer season and honey dos will get you every time

Anyways, I had some time and needed to work off some frustrations, so off to body work. I think I am finally satisfied with the drivers side of the bed. I started on the passenger side before I got distracted on another project in the shop. With luck, I'll get some more on the passenger side done tomorrow.

[krazy_texan]

man that thing looks alot different from the day that you bought it