Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step

[jaros44sr]

Great progress Vic.....i always enjoy stopping by and getting ideas for my build, as always your tool assortment is quite extensive

Engine looks amazing! Great work

[swamp rat]

Lookin like a truck!

[SamsAutoParts73-87]

Very nice!
-Sam

[Elliot949]

Originally Posted by Vic1947

With another turkey day in the books, I continued with the front clip assembly. Scott got off work a little early today and came by to help me lift it onto the frame. Slipped right into place, and after bolting it up, the fit looks fantastic for the first go around. I have an excessive gap between the inner fenderwell and the Z support on the firewall. I think (hope) the fastener will draw it up, but don't want to get it into a huge bind since the gaps at the cowl and rockers look so good. If I have to, I'll shim it, but my immediate focus is on getting the leading edge on both front fenders looking better. The repro dies did their usual subpar job and those areas will require a lot of massaging.

Scott and I had some fun putting the air suspension thru its paces. We decided it would look even better by modifying the rubber stops on the rear to give the suspension about another 1.25" of travel. Useless for driving around but will look good parked at a cruise in.

Man Vic... This thing is looking Great... It really looks like you are real close to going to paint with it... Are you going to paint it yourself?...

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by jaros44sr

Great progress Vic.....i always enjoy stopping by and getting ideas for my build, as always your tool assortment is quite extensive
Engine looks amazing! Great work

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Lookin like a truck!

Originally Posted by SamsAutoParts73-87

Very nice!
-Sam

Originally Posted by Elliot949

Man Vic... This thing is looking Great... It really looks like you are real close to going to paint with it... Are you going to paint it yourself?...

Thanks, everyone!

Dan, twenty-five years ago, I'd have painted it myself, but no more. Bodywork, primering and blocking are all I can handle these days. I've done many a paint job in the garage and/or driveway, but sanding the dust nibs and buffing it out is too big of a job for me now. I'll deliver the parts and pieces to Precision Collision in Gladstone in primer and ready for them to do final blocking. They'll paint and buff everthing out, then I'll reassemble it here. i still have major work on the doors and a lot of nitpicky things here and there, but it should be in the paint shop by the first of the year.

[Elliot949]

Originally Posted by Vic1947

Thanks, everyone!

Dan, twenty-five years ago, I'd have painted it myself, but no more. Bodywork, primering and blocking are all I can handle these days. I've done many a paint job in the garage and/or driveway, but sanding the dust nibs and buffing it out is too big of a job for me now. I'll deliver the parts and pieces to Precision Collision in Gladstone in primer and ready for them to do final blocking. They'll paint and buff everthing out, then I'll reassemble it here. i still have major work on the doors and a lot of nitpicky things here and there, but it should be in the paint shop by the first of the year.

Man I get it Vic... I have a guy here in Mulvane that I may do some paint work for then My truck will be the last paint I will do... I am sad about that but my body just says no more, so when I am done with this truck I will sell all of my body and paint equipment...

[snipescastle2]

Woo Hoo! Nice job Vic!!! great progress! my rotating assembly is at the machine shop getting balanced, getting the stroker clearancing done, bore/hone, the works, should have it back Wednesday. I'll be glad to get that portion done. My Brother in law had a medical situation that couldn't be avoided, so I'll have to make a road trip to Sioux City, Iowa to pick up my
700 R4 trans, I would have made some progress this holiday weekend, but my son seen it fit to blow up the engine in his car, so I've been stuck underneath his Grand Prix, changing the engine out....it sounded like all six rods were trying to exit the block.... I found a used 3.8L V6 in St.Joe for $150.00 (couldn't beat that deal anywhere) it has 140K miles on it, the guy I bought it from said the only reason he was selling so cheap was because he had removed a coil pack and sold the computer prior to my purchasing the block. He bought the car (2004 Grand Prix) for the transmission, the car had a minor front end collision.....so, because I couldn't start it, hence the cheap price..... (I pulled the pan just to make sure everything was sound) had to change the upper plenum of the intake, (the
'04 had a drive by wire Throttle Body and the original TB was drive by cable) other than that, everything fit like a glove. I still have two or three hours of work left to do, but mostly exhaust, coolant hoses, spark plug wires,etc....
my uncle was kind enough to allow me the use of his shop and lift to do all the work. Guess I'll be buying him a great Christmas gift this year!

Now, if only my work (and my Son) will refrain from occupying all my spare time, perhaps I can get my truck put back together! Sorry this was so long!
Have a great Day!
Ben

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by snipescastle2

Now, if only my work (and my Son) will refrain from occupying all my spare time, perhaps I can get my truck put back together!

I understand how that goes, Ben. Sounds like you've been making progress in spite of the side projects, though. Getting the engine together will be a big step. One benefit of an occasional side job is how it helps refocus the truck effort. I still get overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of all that needs to be done during a frame off and a diversion seems to clear my head. And believe me, I could use a clear head about now. It feels like it's packed full of bondo dust. The fenders are both ready for primer after re-contouring the areas around the headlight bezels. Now it's on to the doors ...and more bondo dust!

.

[texasld]

Vic, You need to slow down, You are making the rest of us look bad...

Just kidding, Keep it up!

[Low Elco]

Lookin' great, Vic! Congrats on the progress!

[jeh]

Vic, I just did a catch up on your build, looks like your making some good progress

[snipescastle2]

Vic,
talked to the machinist yesterday, said everything should be finished Wednesday,looking forward to assembly of the short block. On a side note, I got my Son's car finished last night, so that beast is done and out of my hair....now to get back to work! great progress thus far!
Ben

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by texasld

Vic, You need to slow down, You are making the rest of us look bad... Just kidding, Keep it up!

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Lookin' great, Vic! Congrats on the progress!

Originally Posted by jeh

Vic, I just did a catch up on your build, looks like your making some good progress.

Originally Posted by snipescastle2

....now to get back to work! great progress thus far! Ben

Thanks, guys! The major bodywork is starting to wind down. The doors have all work done on the interior and exterior panels as well as the jambs and are ready for Slick Sand. Tailgate is not far behind. Doors I understand because they're original and have seen a lot of abuse. Brand new tailgate, not so much. Lot of whoop-de-do's on both sides of it. But it's all under control.

Stopped by Precision Collision on Monday and discussed a plan for paint. They said they're slowing down with deer season about over. No snow or ice yet to refill the place, so I'm hoping to get everything to them no later than the end of the year. Still have a few minor places to tune up yet.

[jlsanborn]

Bet you're glad to be nearing the end of the DUST stage. Great work!

[Elliot949]

Mavic... I can't wait until I am this close to seeing the end of the tunnel... I am in reality probably only about 30-35% of the way there...

[sduckworth13]

Looking good Vic.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by jlsanborn

Bet you're glad to be nearing the end of the DUST stage. Great work!

Thanks, John, just a little more dust and then the shop will get a break and I can clean up.

Originally Posted by Elliot949

Mavic... I can't wait until I am this close to seeing the end of the tunnel... I am in reality probably only about 30-35% of the way there...

Yeah, Dan, I know what you're saying. Despite how good the pictures were when you brought yours home from the body shop, there's a thousand little places that need fixing. Fix a few and even more pop out that you missed. I'd be wiping everything down getting ready to squirt color and find a spot I'd missed. Makes you want to pull your hair out. Now that it's in your garage, you can rub on it all you want, when you want.

Originally Posted by sduckworth13

Looking good Vic.

Thanks, Scott. You going to be home tomorrow? I'd like to put the hood on and check the alignment.

[Elliot949]

I have got to get to KC and see this truck... Not to mention you and your lovely bride...

[Low Elco]

I shoulda stopped by today... blew right past, got kids to keep up with! Glad to see ya movin' forward!

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Elliot949

I have got to get to KC and see this truck... Not to mention you and your lovely bride...

Originally Posted by Low Elco

I shoulda stopped by today... blew right past, got kids to keep up with! Glad to see ya movin' forward!

Company is always welcome, guys. I feel like a hermit since I'm here most all the time. Scott did come by today after work (Thx!) and helped me install the hood. I have several minor discontinuities to correct, but nothing a little bondo won't fix.

[sduckworth13]

That hood looks great Vic, looks like you got it lined up pretty nice.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by sduckworth13

That hood looks great Vic, looks like you got it lined up pretty nice.

Yeah, the lines are pretty close, but since taking that photo, I had to remove the hood latch to fix the guide pocket. Don't have a single one around that isn't cracked and broken where the hood pin sits. I've also determined it's going to need a pair of new hood hinges to be right. Until you get everything bolted up it's hard to tell. I could have removed the springs and checked them a long time ago, but noooo, waited until I was in the middle of the adjustment process for the light bulb to go on. Options for a pair range from $80 reproductions from Taiwan to $700 billet units from Eddie's. I may opt for Tabco pieces, though ($100 plus shipping). The website says their stuff is made in the USA and uses heavier gauge material and better manufacturing dies. You could also have new oversize rivets installed by a hinge rebuilder for around $200, but you have to factor in the time as well.

Did get the doors hung and the driver side gaps look pretty close. I'll need to massage the passenger side some. To get the door gaps to fit better on that side, I had to put 1/8" spacers between both hinge plates and the front jamb. So now I have a bit too much gap in the front, but I can manage it. The cowl will also need some work on that side as well, but I believe I can kill two birds with one stone since all the crappy gappy is in the same general vicinity.

[sduckworth13]

Nice job Vic getting the doors fit up, looking forward to the " how to " on the gaps.

[swamp rat]

This might be another option you may want to consider?

http://www.hoodhingerepair.com/

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

This might be another option you may want to consider?

http://www.hoodhingerepair.com/

Thanks, Mike. I saw them on another thread and checked out their website. They're the ~ $200 option and they typically rebuild the ones you send to them. I need something a little more quickly.