1969 Short Wide

[El Campo]

Good idea about using sheet metal to block the media when u blast braces on hood. I'm def going to try that one out when I blast mine. Have two hoods just have to decide which one to dump a thousand hours into in order to perfect it
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[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by Zoomin

After the work you did on the hood, this shouldn't Be a big deal.

It has been a big deal. I'm going to use it for now but I am still in the market for a nice GM gate if you run across one "reasonable".

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

When I got to my gate, I just kept searching for a nicer one to start with so I could have one panel that didn't need 40hrs to look decent. It might be worth buying a really nice one IMO.

I have looked high and low for a nice one. No luck locally and not many guys are willing to ship them. I have close to 25 hours in this gate already and not close to done.

Originally Posted by raull

kicking butt mike !!!!!! may fly you down for a week to work on mine as its been neglectet for 5 months now !!!

Thanks Rual, I'm ready to go to FL just to get away from the metal work for a while.

Originally Posted by nasqar

Your pickiness will reward you down the road man. It's gonna be awesome when you're done.

Thanks and I sure hope so Eddie. The bodywork is getting old. I remember why I quit doing it along time ago.

Originally Posted by El Campo

Good idea about using sheet metal to block the media when u blast braces on hood. I'm def going to try that one out when I blast mine. Have two hoods just have to decide which one to dump a thousand hours into in order to perfect it

Thanks,
It worked really good. The hood isn't near as bad as other parts have been. At least it's somewhat flat area to work with. I bought a 30" long Dura-block that thing has been a life saver on these last few panels. I have been skim coating them with Evercoat rage gold, and then sanding most of it off.

[litew8]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

I am trying to use all GM 40+ year old sheetmetal on this old thing.

There's NOTHING like U.S. Steel from back in the day.

Great job Mike Slow and steady wins the race
Man, you must have some nasty hail down there but you cleaned it up real nice. Hood looks awesome now

[mcbassin]

Thanks. Yes I agree nothing better than GM metal. How about super slow and somewhat stable.
The hail here sucks! I have had 2 cars totaled and my home roof from it. I used the shrinking method with a torch and cold water. Works like a champ unless the metal is really stretched. Then I use a stud puller.

[Crash_OK]

Looking good Mike.. I need to come out and have a cold one with you soon.. Keep at it.. it won't be long before you are cruising in it.

[litew8]

Went through you build Mike. Nice! job on the suspension. Really nice machinist/fab skills.

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by Crash_OK

Looking good Mike.. I need to come out and have a cold one with you soon.. Keep at it.. it won't be long before you are cruising in it.

Thanks Mark. One of these days.

Originally Posted by litew8

Went through you build Mike. Nice! job on the suspension. Really nice machinist/fab skills.

Thanks for checking out the build. It's very long process to get through one of these trucks with a busy life.

[Zoomin]

Originally Posted by Crash_OK

Looking good Mike.. I need to come out and have a cold one with you soon.. Keep at it.. it won't be long before you are cruising in it.

That sounds like a plan!

I'm keeping an eye out for a gate for ya.
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[mcbassin]

More progress on the gate.

[mcbassin]

I did find out I can straighten the majority of bow out of one of these gates, however I didn't take any pictures. It involves a hydraulic jack, several boards, and a Suburban. I still need to get some finished pics but I'm pretty happy overall.

More:

[jlsanborn]

That gate needed some love! Nice work!
How did you lift the cab and how heavy do you think it is? I have mine finished, ready for paint and now I want to pull it from the chassis WITHOUT hosing it up.

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by jlsanborn

That gate needed some love! Nice work!
How did you lift the cab and how heavy do you think it is? I have mine finished, ready for paint and now I want to pull it from the chassis WITHOUT hosing it up.

Thanks, I have a bunch of time in it. Too much time, but I really wanted to try to save it. I'm going to get some better pictures of the finished product. You cant really tell how straight it came out from what I posted. I did have to use some filler to get it to look good but nothing like the 3/8" that was on the orange gate.
On the cab, We used an engine hoist/lift with a 6" x 2" Cee perlin. Shown HERE on my friend Crash_OK's 69 K-10 project. I borrowed his hoist and he helped me test fit it. It won't be long I will be putting it back on my frame for final test fitment.

[68 Four on the Floor]

Looks good. My step gate has too much rust for me to consider using so im going with an aftermarket smooth one. Ill only have 3 pieces of aftermarket steel on my truck with the rear cross sill and the cowl hood. Keep up the good work Mike
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[jlsanborn]

Thanks for the link! I was worried it might be too much weight on the pinch welds. By the looks of that cab I'm sure you wouldn't have risked it if you felt it was sketchy.

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by 68 Four on the Floor

Looks good. My step gate has too much rust for me to consider using so im going with an aftermarket smooth one. Ill only have 3 pieces of aftermarket steel on my truck with the rear cross sill and the cowl hood. Keep up the good work Mike
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Thanks Drew. I have seen several of the step gates for sale. Those are far easier to come by, they made them for chevys up till 1987. If you look around I bet you can find a nice one.

Originally Posted by jlsanborn

Thanks for the link! I was worried it might be too much weight on the pinch welds. By the looks of that cab I'm sure you wouldn't have risked it if you felt it was sketchy.

No problem. Mark has moved his several time with this bar and no issues. I wouldn't do it with the extra weight of the doors though. I my look at bracing just to be sure it can't buckle. Now you have me nervous about it.

[68 Four on the Floor]

yea they are the same from 54-87. Im not a fan of the block lettering tho So im gonna get a smoothie and do some customizing.

[mcbassin]

Here's some of the tools I've been using to straighten and sand my panels.






My next project is getting all the cab stuff mocked up before painting. I really don't want to forget to weld something then after paint it's too late.

I started with the brake and parking brake assemblies, blasted epoxy primed and painted.

[big_al_71]

Great progress!!!!

[Bennett68C10]

Awesome job on the tailgate Mike
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[El Campo]

How do you like that longest Dura Block? Is it necessary do you think or did you rarely use it? Have heard varying opinions about it
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[Zoomin]

It's really cool to see you back on this again, Mike.
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[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by big_al_71

Great progress!!!!

Thanks for checking in Al!

Originally Posted by Bennett68C10

Awesome job on the tailgate Mike
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Thanks Keith, It turned out pretty good. I can't seem to get any good pics with my phone or camera though.

Originally Posted by El Campo

How do you like that longest Dura Block? Is it necessary do you think or did you rarely use it? Have heard varying opinions about it

The longest one is 30 inches. It's a must have. You don't think it's necessary till you try it. It makes it a lot easier getting long areas of filler blocked out. I have been doing a skim coat on all my panels and you would be surprised how wavy the GM sheetmetal is, even with original paint and no filler. I use the long one on bare metal to show the high points so I can hammer and dolly them too.
Second most used block is the 16" I think. I will measure it. I used to use it all the time till I got the 30". This one you can buy pre cut paper for, that's handy.
I use 80 grit paper on a roll for almost all my prep and filler. Once I get to start blocking I'll start with 240 grit and work my way up to 600 wet.

Originally Posted by Zoomin

It's really cool to see you back on this again, Mike.

Thanks Steve. I never stopped, just slow to update. Life gets in the way of my progress sometimes. I'm not fast like Kyle either. I'm getting close on the panels. All pieces are in epoxy or high build except the inner fenders.

[STOCKISH]

Amazing work on that gate Bro, you are a talented man. Wish we were neighbors so I could talk you into helping with mine! LOL

[jlsanborn]

Great updates and nice job on that gate!!! Your an artist man.

[P-DAWG'85]

[IMG][/IMG]
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