Build: I've never done bodywork...but I can change if I have to! (bagged '67 SWB BBC)

[smoknbarrels]

had some progress today, mounted the shock brackets.. its a tight fit, but will be very effective in this location. used some 2X1 channel, had to notch it quite a bit as the shock tube would have hit the sides, also had to make little ears for it up top as 1 inch isn't enough to drill a hole and mount a bolt.

[canadian sledneck]

looking great with those big meats on the back! Sweet set up!

[smoknbarrels]

Originally Posted by canadian sledneck

looking great with those big meats on the back! Sweet set up!

Yea, i spent way too much time getting those things to fit with stock arms and my shock arrangement.
Would have been 1000% easier if i used a tire just a few inches narrower..ah well.


Spent a bit of time last few days doing re-work. Ripped off my shock mounts and located them a little more inboard, also took off the trans and clutch, as i didnt feel i loctited the bolts on flywheel well enough. And flipped the rear disc brakes upside down, so the e-brake cable would fit better, so that meant pulling the axels out and unbolting everything on the rear! So as far as getting something done, i did manage to mock up my pan hard bar, so that should get welded in tomorrow, and perhaps i can go shopping for a few brake parts i need or start assembling the box to get started on welding in side marker fillers and wheel well widening...oh the joys!
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[NSK]

Originally Posted by smoknbarrels

wow am I tired tonight! worked 14 hours straight on the truck today , sanded off about 10lbs of old paint. figured I'd be all rested up from the vacation, but turns out it's harder to get motivated when off the project for a few weeks, today was the first day I worked on it since back, and I got home last wednesday!
I slaped the 9 inch Moser diff together, but now I am worrried I went too narrow, we'll see tomorrow when I fit it between the frame rails with tires on it.

got most of the cab sanded, still need to blast the bottom floor.
Attachment 902617
this Moser diff and axels are quite heavy duty
Attachment 902618
setting up the wilwood disc brakes
Attachment 902619
all ready to snap some u-joints!
Attachment 902620

whats the width on the rearend?

[smoknbarrels]

Originally Posted by NSK

whats the width on the rearend?

I ended up going a little too narrow... its 56-1/2" I needed to go another 1/4" wider for these rims, I plan to upgrade to 20's next year, so it will be fine then as with 15's the trailing arms just touch the inside because of the depth and small diameter. so i have to get a small 1/8 spacer for now.

[smoknbarrels]

Well got the cab painted fully last night, so it is done! ... finally! only took 3 tries. still a few issues, one paint run, and some how, which I will never understand nor will any scientist... a mosquito somehow flew and landed on the paint, just inside the drip rail, I seen it fly as I was spraying my second coat of clear, and the little bugger went straight to the paint.
Unreal!!? how could one be flying around March 2nd in this area with still a foot of snow everywhere? I had to do a double take to actually believe it! we are all doomed, they are adapting to winter, I opened the main door a bit to release the flashed paint, and I seen him fly in, so now he's buried in my 3rd coat of clear.

[canadian sledneck]

Cab looks great! Good job on the paint! Can't believe the mosquito, must like a chevy...

[Bomp]

Good job on the cab.
I hear ya on the stupid mosquito kamikaze stuff.

[jmorri34]

@^$%#* mosquito, Well at least you can use it as a story, and he will be there forever lol... Hey man its looking great. When mine gets to that point, Im thinking of doing some of the paint as well but not sure. I may just go single stage orange though, acrylic enamel maybe no metallic for me, Id never do as good as you lol. Great job!!

[smoknbarrels]

Originally Posted by canadian sledneck

Cab looks great! Good job on the paint! Can't believe the mosquito, must like a chevy...

Yea, thanks, you'll have to come down sometime and check it out!

Originally Posted by Bomp

Good job on the cab.
I hear ya on the stupid mosquito kamikaze stuff.

Thanks, i like watching your build, it's got some serious stuff happening there!

Originally Posted by jmorri34

@^$%#* mosquito, Well at least you can use it as a story, and he will be there forever lol... Hey man its looking great. When mine gets to that point, Im thinking of doing some of the paint as well but not sure. I may just go single stage orange though, acrylic enamel maybe no metallic for me, Id never do as good as you lol. Great job!!

Dont get discouraged, i would maybe shy away from water based paint, but a nice 2K oil based is still forgiving enough to do yourself... Just practise more then I did!
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[chevy88]

Great job on the body work/paint, looks like your a fast learner.
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[smoknbarrels]

Originally Posted by chevy88

Great job on the body work/paint, looks like your a fast learner.

Looks like i have it figured out but i made my share of mistakes! But i am happy with my last attempt. I hope you challenge painting your project, its a rewarding experience.


Today, i got a few things done, did the last of the brake lines, had to move a shock mount for the third time... Hopefully tomorrow is more productive, running behind on this as spring is coming near.
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[Graham57a]

This is a great build. I'm late to the show but I'm subscribed now

[54belair]

I can relate to your initial fears, it looks like you have "overcome and adapted"---truck looks good man,,,

[smoknbarrels]

Originally Posted by Graham57a

This is a great build. I'm late to the show but I'm subscribed now

Thanks, you have a nice clean build goin on, i like what you're doin!

Originally Posted by 54belair

I can relate to your initial fears, it looks like you have "overcome and adapted"---truck looks good man,,,

Thanks, its trying sometimes.


Well I got a little more done, not a whole bunch, but some... got my sensors located and mounted in the rear for the Accuair, also test fit my box and made some fixes on the aftermarket sheetmetal bedsides, had to drill out a few spot welds are re align one corner.
also welded in a marker light filler too fast and warped half the bedside, so now i have to cut it out again and redo it all..

this is as low as I can get with a c-notch, not as deep as I would like, but I guess it will have to do for now, when I get 20's they should be able to tuck the rims a little better in the fenders.


well here I can finally see I went a little too narrow on the rear end, I guess I will have to throw in a 1/2 inch wheel spacer for these rims, and when I go to the 20's I will make sure to order the rims with 7 inch back spacing instead of 7.5 like these ones, then it'll be perfect. good thing i test fit with the el cheapo drag lites for now.

[smoknbarrels]

learned a few things, I guess its not a good idea to try weld sheet metal with .035 wire in my mig, haha! no wonder I am having a heck of a time trying to weld anything other then the floor! gonna hold off on welding anything else until I get some .023 dia wire.

I welded in a marker light with the .035 wire, and warped half the bed side, so I had to cut out the messed up marker light haz area, lucky the metal came back for the most part, so I've already got a new filler cut out and test fit, just needs to be welded in. then do some planishing and dolly work to get the filler to a minimum.
but since I have no wire at the moment, I might start looking at painting the doors and building front shock mounts tomorrow.

[ddubbs]

Coming along sweet. Subscribed!!!
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[Bomp]

.023 in my little Lincoln sp-100 is my favorite sheet metal welder.
Take your time. Slower is almost always better.
Looking great.

[smoknbarrels]

Originally Posted by ddubbs

Coming along sweet. Subscribed!!!

thanks!

Originally Posted by Bomp

.023 in my little Lincoln sp-100 is my favorite sheet metal welder.
Take your time. Slower is almost always better.
Looking great.

well this time I got all set up for the .023 wire, it is much easier to work with, but still warped the bed side massively, but only about half as much as the first time. I welded spots only one on each side of the patch at a time, then let it cool completely, I even tried to whack the welds with the hammer and dolly, that did absolutely nothing... How hard do you have to hit them? Same force as flattening a rivet? I swung pretty good and it didnt do a thing.
So it looks like i am gonna have to go buy a stud welder/puller and go to town on this thing.
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[Bomp]

Originally Posted by smoknbarrels

well this time I got all set up for the .023 wire, it is much easier to work with, but still warped the bed side massively, but only about half as much as the first time. I welded spots only one on each side of the patch at a time, then let it cool completely, I even tried to whack the welds with the hammer and dolly, that did absolutely nothing... How hard do you have to hit them? Same force as flattening a rivet? I swung pretty good and it didnt do a thing.
So it looks like i am gonna have to go buy a stud welder/puller and go to town on this thing.
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Glad to see you got some .023
Im no expert by any means but is the welder set a little hot?

[smoknbarrels]

Originally Posted by Bomp

Glad to see you got some .023
Im no expert by any means but is the welder set a little hot?

I have it on the lowest setting I can put it on, and the wire feed is set to just about 50 so its pushing it pretty fast, if I set the wire feed any slower it burns the wire back and sometimes gets stuck in the gun even. I dunno if its possible, but I wondered if my mig was maybe too big? its a miller 212 and is not a small unit by any means..



had some progress today, got the parking brake cables all finished up, was nice to use the wilwood brake cable kit, so now I did away with my intermediate cable! by some miracle, the brake cable threads were the exact size as the generic equalizing block that came in the kit from Wilwood, Finally something that didn't require modification!


Here is my shock relocation set-up, pretty simple but effective, still allows for full suspension travel. looks funky in the photo, but the angle is lined up nicely.

[Bomp]

Yes the 212 is a big machine. One of the best you can get but from what I've read its like taking a cannon to a gun fight. With enough practice on similar sheet metal material you can achieve anything.
I have a miller 210 and only use that on bigger stuff. (.035)
I don’t really like to use my Millermatic 211 on sheet metal if I don’t have to.(.030) Mainly cause I'm lazy. If I do use it on sheet metal I switch the pig tail end over to 110.
The little Lincoln sp-100 (.023) is a 110 unit and is easiest for me. I have a brief discussion on the welders I use in a vid on pg.16 Second vid on that page.
I use a argon/co2 (75-25) mix with solid core wire.
I really like your progress.
I may have missed it but your using solid core wire correct?
Like the shock relocation.

[smoknbarrels]

Originally Posted by Bomp

I have a brief discussion on the welders I use in a vid on pg.16 Second vid on that page.
I use a argon/co2 (75-25) mix with solid core wire.
I really like your progress.
I may have missed it but your using solid core wire correct?
Like the shock relocation.

yes I use solid core wire..
you sure put good useful work into your build for us!! great info and reference index, I am sure a lot of other guys are using it too! took a little easter break, hopefully get some work done this week on the truck.

[BLUIDVL]

Just went through your build....... looking good man

Congrats on the new shop & marriage.

Have you tried using Evercoat slick sand?

Let me know if you need any bodywork or painting tips.

[smoknbarrels]

Originally Posted by BLUIDVL

Just went through your build....... looking good man

Congrats on the new shop & marriage.

Have you tried using Evercoat slick sand?

Let me know if you need any bodywork or painting tips.

Thanks!

Never heard of evercoat s s, what is it?
My biggest problem is welding my body panels, even using .023 wire on the lowest heat setting, doing a few spots at a time far apart, still warps like crazy!? Its frustrating me like unreal. I tell ya, if a real bodyman seen what i did to perfectly new bedsides, he'd have a few sighs..
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