I'm finally starting to work on Bella.

[swamp rat]

At least you have a teacher! I'll be flying solo soon, for the first time.

[Pick]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

At least you have a teacher! I'll be flying solo soon, for the first time.

It is definitely nice to have a teacher. I probably would have been throwing sanding blocks (or more) if he wasn't there to "talk me off the ledge".

[jlsanborn]

Cool deal man! Any more photos of the paint job? Is bodywork on Bella in the future?

[Pick]

Originally Posted by jlsanborn

Cool deal man! Any more photos of the paint job? Is bodywork on Bella in the future?

All we did so far is jamb the used doors before we hung them. This truck is a fairly low budget fix for an abused work truck. (Which makes it a good project for me to learn on)


There are more pictures on his Facebook page and two videos on his u-tube channel. (Links are in the previous picture post.) Please ignore the lack of finesse and technique in the video. Since I'm my own worst critic, I will point out that I know there are thin spots in the color and other spots where I got too light on the clear........but there weren't any runs.

Yes. Bella will eventually get the full bodywork and paint treatment. The plan is for a mostly stock appearing body with a couple of ideas that we've both always wanted to see on one of these trucks but haven't seen yet. (Don't worry....they are small and very subtle.)

[Pick]

Let's see if this works....

Dodge project video.

[Pick]

Yes, I am still alive and still trying to sneak in an hour or two of work on Bella every now and then. I did manage to make a little bit of measurable progress this week in between the other projects that have taken way too much time lately.

We managed to get the Dodge project almost all together and looking reasonable. If we cut and buffed the whole thing it would look great......but we haven't convinced ourselves that it really needs it....It is the customer's shop truck and he isn't concerned with overly shiny. So far anyway. Actual results may vary.

Anyway...Bella managed to get a few welds in the seams, fresh paint and new poly bushings for her truck arms. I also finished blowing a coat of paint on the rear. (Now that it has new bearings and seals).

It isn't much progress on Bella herself but I have learned allot next door.

[diver]

looks good it is slow go.friend butch

[jlsanborn]

Looking good man! I've been slow-go myself but a little here and a little there is still progress.

[Pick]

A couple of people have asked about the other project next door (and don't do Facebook), so here are a few of the "before" shots.

[Low Elco]

Jeez, did they have some sort of contest? I've worked trucks HARD and never done that to one!

[Pick]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Jeez, did they have some sort of contest? I've worked trucks HARD and never done that to one!

Yeah, you would think they'd have to TRY to beat one up that badly!

[aggie91]

Just finished reading thru this thread. I really like your approach to this truck. She seems to be in good hands and your not in a rush to get it done.

Tuning in for the rest...

[jlsanborn]

I bet it looks like new now in comparison to those shots!

[Pick]

Originally Posted by aggie91

Just finished reading thru this thread. I really like your approach to this truck. She seems to be in good hands and your not in a rush to get it done.

Tuning in for the rest...

Thank you, I appreciate it!

Originally Posted by jlsanborn

I bet it looks like new now in comparison to those shots!

It does. I will try to get some "after" shots tonight. It obviously isn't perfect and there are tons of little things that bug both of us about it. We have to keep telling ourselves "it isn't a show truck"........and it definitely isn't! (we can't fix everything and stay anywhere near the budget....his or ours!)

[Pick]

This is the "almost done with the Dodge" update. It isn't cleaned up for delivery and still needs the tailgate and back bumper installed....but you can see the difference.

[swamp rat]

Holy cow what a difference!

[Pick]

Finally.....an update with real progress......it has been too long.

I took the day and committed to getting stuff done. I guess I succeeded on some levels but I didn't get as far as I hoped. Fighting with the rear end....solo.....while kneeling or squatting and hitting my head...allot....took longer than I hoped. At least my head isn't a vital organ. I got new hardware and spring retainers from Speedway Motors since my originals were all in pieces, so that went fairly smooth. The panhard bar fought with me awhile since the old bushings were shot but still didn't want to come out.......then the new poly bushings made installation a bit more of a challenge to get everything lined up right. Then it was time to try fitting the rear disc kit. As you can see, the right side is together.....you can't see that the left isn't.......I still have to figure out why the caliper won't fit on that side. I am guessing the bracket didn't bolt up square with the rotor but I quit fighting with it before frustration caused me to break stuff.

Finally, I decided I needed a preview of how Bella was going to look for the moment and needed to see her back on her feet for a change before I got out of the sun. She still needs rear blocks to reduce the rake a bit but I didn't know what I needed until I got everything back under her.

And now the pics of progress.

[Bomp]

Nice clean work. Sometimes its a full on fight to get things apart and back on.
Glad to see you won round One!

[swamp rat]

I'm the king when it comes to things taking longer than expected, don't get discouraged and keep at it! Nice work too!

[Low Elco]

Y'all doin' the Lord's work on that dodge. Truck's rear work looks good!

[Pick]

Originally Posted by Bomp

Nice clean work. Sometimes its a full on fight to get things apart and back on.
Glad to see you won round One!

Thank you! This feels like round 15 at times!

Originally Posted by swamp rat

I'm the king when it comes to things taking longer than expected, don't get discouraged and keep at it! Nice work too!

I'm better today......I appreciate the encouragement! Thank you!

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Y'all doin' the Lord's work on that dodge. Truck's rear work looks good!

The Dodge is delivered and the customer seemed satisfied. Thankfully! There are some areas that we know could have been better but we learned allot.

[Pick]

Today was another pretty productive day...but it also revealed more stuff that needs done. As usual. I didn't get quite as toasted by the sun today so I guess I took the hiccups more in stride. I'm still moving forward, even with the hiccups.

45 years of spilled brake fluid obviously does wonders for paint....removal......so there will be more work to do in phase 2 and 3. The old master cylinder and assorted stuff came out relatively easily and the new booster, master and prop valve went in with very few hitches. Now I just have to figure out how to plumb from there to the wheels the right way. The prop valve has two outputs for the fronts and the '68 has one line that T's to go to each side. So......we shall see with fresher eyes tomorrow.

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by Pick

Today was another pretty productive day...but it also revealed more stuff that needs done. As usual. I didn't get quite as toasted by the sun today so I guess I took the hiccups more in stride. I'm still moving forward, even with the hiccups.

45 years of spilled brake fluid obviously does wonders for paint....removal......so there will be more work to do in phase 2 and 3. The old master cylinder and assorted stuff came out relatively easily and the new booster, master and prop valve went in with very few hitches. Now I just have to figure out how to plumb from there to the wheels the right way. The prop valve has two outputs for the fronts and the '68 has one line that T's to go to each side. So......we shall see with fresher eyes tomorrow.

Go look at my thread. I had the same issue. I call if inline tube and talked to there tech and he said I could just cap one of the ports off and use the stock lines routed to the stock locations. So far it seems to work fine.

[mcbassin]

Very nice progress!

[jlsanborn]

Yep, looking good!