Not Another Rebuild Thread....

[McMurphy]

Originally Posted by 1963c-10

Nice job....waiting to watch the taillight mods.

Well then this post is for you bud, see below !! Probably not what you are looking for just yet, but there are about 5-8 related parts or sections that are coming into play for this mod, so please be patient. In the end, just like my grille, it should all make sense.... or it will be an epic fail. We will see.

Originally Posted by markeb01

Nice improvement. It's tedious working with straightening and polishing stainless, but the results can be a great reward.

It can be, I agree, but it is nice to just focus on one thing for a bit and let your brain forget about all other cares in the world for the while you are working it. That was me with this trim.... still not sure I am even going to use it yet.

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Good Progress!

Thanks Low, I sure do like looking at your build too sir !!

Originally Posted by jlsanborn

Glad to see you busy on the truck Murph! Trim is always cool

Thank you, like I just told Mark, not even sure I am going to use it, but it is there, lurking in the back of my mind....

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

Taillight Mock-up...

The trim is looking good, patience Grasshopper!!!

Great Work Murph!!!

Thanks Don, you are the epitome of what I would call a "Fan Base" !! I sure do appreciate all the support and encouragement you offer up man !

Originally Posted by Grizz1963

Looking at the price of a full set of trim pieces for my Short Fleetside landed here in the UK vs your results so far, I am wondering if repairing or having mine repaired, as every piece is damaged, does not make some sense, especially if I could find an old skool craftsman to involve.

I have been looking to find you a set of old London Taxi Cab rear lights like I have on the teardrop trailer for months now, just to mess with your head but have not been successful ( yet )

I revisited photos of your trailer to better identify what you are talking about and those tail lights are pretty cool looking.

*******************************************************************************************

Ok kids, here we go...
Like I said previously, I was not happy at all with the initial shave job I did on those rear tail light spots on my fenders. So, back at it went I...

They look pretty rough here, but we ran out of our spool of .30 wire which I was REALLY starting to like better than the smaller .23. For me I was laying better welds with lower heat with the bigger wire, and it seemed to be less time consuming to weld stuff, so this chore got to be tedious very quickly; aside from the fact that it was a re-do...


I had to go with much bigger patch panels than I originally anticipated to take as much of the factory contours out of play as possible, which I discovered were more than what initially meets the eye...


I also used more bondo on this than I have any other mod or project I have done. Not so much to asuage my disappointment, but to get as close to a professional looking job as possible, without spending a week on this one project. I think they turned out pretty good:


As smooth as a baby's butt:


Here is what I finally settled with, though props to Alan and all you other pro-body working guys for the info and guidance you provide !! I am certain however that my amature status is in no danger of being upgraded any time soon LoL !!!


Thanks for looking dudes !!

[McMurphy]

I do like to provide never before seen images and concepts, so here we go again.
How about an exploded view of a step side tail gate?

TaaDaa:


This one is for all you guys that are itching over what my tail gate mod is going, or maybe, going to be...
As stated in my post above, this is one of the 5-8 parts or sections that are coming into play for my tail light mods... I know that is so ambigous to tell you all, but like the grille, it will all make sense in the end.

Well, maybe a certain amount of McMurphy sense, is a better way to turn that phrase....

Enjoy !!

[likaroc13]

Nice job on the fender patches Murph. Look forward to seeing your idea come to life for the Caddy taillights & tailgate!

[markeb01]

I agree. To the unknowing, those look like non-back up light factory fenders. Nice work!

[CRGRS 66]

Nice work on the fenders bud, looking forward to seeing what you have in store for the tail gate!

[Ta2Don]

Thanks for the compliment, "Epitome" of your fan base… Not really sure if I deserve that one… there are more than a few members here that look in on you as much or more than I do… but I'll remain humble as I say thanks...

Well played on the Fenders... and I know what you mean about those factory contours... My tail-light buckets will be on the finished list this weekend,,,

I have a long day planned for tomorrow, and if all goes well, plenty of updates finally!!!

…and I must admit, the tailgate mods truly have me guessing...

GREAT Work!!!

[piratexpress1369a]

well as i see it , red led lights in the letters ..just my 2 cents

[McMurphy]

Originally Posted by likaroc13

Nice job on the fender patches Murph. Look forward to seeing your idea come to life for the Caddy taillights & tailgate!

Thanks man, stay tuned... there are a few things that have to come together as this advances.

Originally Posted by markeb01

I agree. To the unknowing, those look like non-back up light factory fenders. Nice work!

Thank you Mark, I keep adding to the list of things I want to go back and either re-do or touch up when I do the 10 year resto on this rig.

Originally Posted by CRGRS 66

Nice work on the fenders bud, looking forward to seeing what you have in store for the tail gate!

Thanks for stopping by!! Seems with your build, camping and the impending move, you have a plate full !!

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

Thanks for the compliment, "Epitome" of your fan base… Not really sure if I deserve that one… there are more than a few members here that look in on you as much or more than I do… but I'll remain humble as I say thanks...

Well played on the Fenders... and I know what you mean about those factory contours... My tail-light buckets will be on the finished list this weekend,,,

I have a long day planned for tomorrow, and if all goes well, plenty of updates finally!!!

…and I must admit, the tailgate mods truly have me guessing...

GREAT Work!!!

Oh no no no sir, I did not mean to imply that you were simply "my" fan base.... I see you all over the builds on this board, and you never hesitate to offer up encouragement or inspiration to tons of others as well!! You may possibly be the friendliest fellow on the site !! And that is NOT a bad thing at all, you sure keep me motivated But I think I hear your truck calling your name, you may want to get out there on it, should be time for an update from you !!!

Originally Posted by piratexpress1369a

well as i see it , red led lights in the letters ..just my 2 cents

Ahhhhhh Pirate, you know me too well !! Not sure I want to go see a movie with you though, you may figure it out faster than I would !! (though honestly, back in December you caught on real quick as I recall)

Going to whip up some stuffed crepes for the wife, then down to the garage go I.... see you all laters !!

[McMurphy]

Not a truck update...
A few weeks ago I wanted to make cheese cakes to take to a couple different offices in the Hospital to show my gratitude for the excellent care they gave me, but I wanted to show a small variety without having to take 2 different pies to each clinic. So I thought up these dividers:


on the left is obviously rasp-blackberry, and on the right is jalapeno.
They are in the oven now as I type this, and if this idea plays out like it looks like it is going to, I will be pretty jazzed !
Though it is not a truck related post, I did cough up some of my 18ga sheet metal to make the dividers....

More on the truck soon

[TJ's Chevy]

OOOH! Send me some!

[CRGRS 66]

Could we get more pics on the pie plate mod???

[piratexpress1369a]

what can i say GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE lol...ahhh cheese cake you are going to send me the recipe looks great

[McMurphy]

Originally Posted by T.J. MCCAULEY

OOOH! Send me some!

If only you could ship a pie....

Originally Posted by CRGRS 66

Could we get more pics on the pie plate mod???

Ummmm Ok.... will take a photo tonight for you.

Originally Posted by piratexpress1369a

what can i say GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE lol...ahhh cheese cake you are going to send me the recipe looks great

I will post the recipie tonight for you, it is absuredly easy!

Should have an update soon...as I am getting closer to getting a few aspects close to completion.

[TJ's Chevy]

Hey UPS has refrigerated shipping!!!!!

[McMurphy]

Ok here is my pie pan mod:


Now that I know it works, I will super heat it to 500* and shoot it with some of the VHT 1300* paint and go from there. In the first photo you can see where I used some waxed paper to keep the steel from the pie. I will still do that even after I paint them. The paint is just going to make them easier to clean (I hope)

Now the recipie:

preheat oven with a lasagne pan that has about an inch of water in it at 325* while you start mixing the filling.
3 bricks of cream cheese (set them out a few hours prior to get them to room temp)
3 eggs (start mixing one brick of cream cheese and one egg at a time until smooth, then add a brick and an egg until smooth, repeat)
1 tsp Vanilla
1 cup Sugar

Mix until all smooth.

(at this point if you are going to add any friut or sliced/diced jalapeno peppers you can fold it into the mix, or lay them in the pie pan on top of the crust. When I make the jalapeno pepper cheese cake I like to use fresh peppers as they dont tend to cook all the way and are not mushy. The flavor and the crunchy are exceptional when done in this manner)

Pour into pie pan that has a graham cracker or oreo cookie crust.

Set the pie in the lasagne pan making sure the water does not crest the pan and get into your pie then bake for 50-60 minutes

While that is baking you can make this optional topping:
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Once your pie is out of the oven and relatively cool, pour this on top of it, sprinkle with cinnamon and/or nutmeg and bake again at 325* for 10-15 minutes.

Here is a photo of my first Jalapeno Cheese Cake:


It sounds odd, and you get strange looks when you talk about it....but people who like Poppers and/or jalapenos absolutely love this pie !!

Hit me back if you give this a try, and let me know what you thought of it

Enjoy !!

[1963c-10]

I don't know if my fiancee will go for that. She barely tolerates the transmission in the den and the bench seat on the dens couch. (temp homes until install this weekend). But i'm going to run it by her anyways...neat trick

[CRGRS 66]

pie plate mod is the clearly the best ever on this site... needs to be added to the FAQ for sure, thanks for posting the details...

[aggie91]

Great idea for the pie pan. I'm going to have to try out the recipe...

I would not paint the sheetmetal, the paint could still cure and give off fumes in the oven and contaminate what ever you are cooking/baking.

I would "season" it like you would a cast iron pan...

[McMurphy]

Originally Posted by 1963c-10

I don't know if my fiancee will go for that. She barely tolerates the transmission in the den and the bench seat on the dens couch. (temp homes until install this weekend). But i'm going to run it by her anyways...neat trick

Not sure what you are referring to sir...

Originally Posted by CRGRS 66

pie plate mod is the clearly the best ever on this site... needs to be added to the FAQ for sure, thanks for posting the details...

Glad you like it, give it a try, its great !!

Originally Posted by aggie91

Great idea for the pie pan. I'm going to have to try out the recipe...

I would not paint the sheetmetal, the paint could still cure and give off fumes in the oven and contaminate what ever you are cooking/baking.

I would "season" it like you would a cast iron pan...

Capital idea !! Thanks you probably saved my dividers! I used to have a full set of cast iron pots and pans, lost them in a move many meay years ago.... sure do miss them !

[1963c-10]

Not sure she'd allow more metal projects in the kitchen.....sorry

[McMurphy]

Ok guys, probably time for an update on my craziness...

Back on the 19th I showed you the exploded tailgate photo and we teased about what I was going to do with that mess.
Well lets just jump into it shall we?

As some of you may (or may not) recall, WAY back in November of 2011, I showed the large Blazer fuel cell I got and mounted up for a rear facing/center fill configuration. I knew even then that I would be needing to raise my bed deck a minimum of 4 inches to accomdate this (because having the tank hang 5-8" lower was not an option LOL):


What can I say? My '66 Tempest spoiled me with being able to pull up to any pump at the gas station facing any direction.
Here I have the bed sides on, and am mocking up the modifications I have in mind.
Now I strictly do not have anything against the guys who do the step-up raised beds, where there is a 3-6" ledge when they drop the tail gate, but for me, that would bother me. I want my tail gate to lie flat with the bed of the truck like I am used to seeing.
So that means shortening the 21" tall tailgate down to 14" inches.
Here is the tailgate clamped in place, with the proposed fuel fill brace in place for perspective:


Since I cannot leave well enough alone, and I got bit by the bug some time back, I went ahead and cut out the CHEVROLET from one panel (I am actually combining 2 seperate tailgates for this mod. One had a major ding in the top, the other was seriously dinged on the bottom) this panel is going to get the same treatment as the grill did up front, only in red as opposed to the nice cool blue I used previously. (I want blue again, but I dont want any hassles with the fine folk of Law Enforcement)


The inside of the tailgate is getting a solid CHEVROLET panel that will be welded and smoothed into the tailgate contours. The outside panel will be affixed with countersink screws, and will get the back lighting. Here is the tailgate frame, already shortened, squared (to the best of my abilities without the benefit of a framing table) and already set with the release latches from the '85 Sierra tailgate.


Just another shot with the blue panel in place on the underside, and all my reference markings:


Going to get down to the garage and back on this.... AFTER I swap over my snow tires on the Sonoma (a task I have been neglecting to do)
Hope the rest of you get some quality time in on your builds this weekend, I sure hope to !!

[markeb01]

That tailgate looks particularly trick. Your creativity always amazes!

[Ta2Don]

Ditto what Mark said… and

How many Pizza boxes were sacrificed in this recent madness?

[likaroc13]

Cool stuff, Murph. I like where you're headed with the tailgate.

[Low Elco]

Off the chain! This is gonna be neat!