My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble

[rgunlock]

Well, this post is just to prove I haven't been totally slacking the last few weeks. Started bodywork on the cab. Kitty hair first over the butt joints on the patch panels. Pretty much done with that on cab and started filler. What you see isn't nearly done. Got a LOT of sanding and more filling between now and done! Also, finally got a nice weekend here and been blasting the bed. Actually started it a couple weeks ago, then it got to sit in the rain. Plan to blast all but the outer bedsides, but damn this is a SLOW process - at least for me. At the current (lack of) pace of progress, this phase of the project is going to take a lonnnnggggg time!

[MTCK]

Looks good, keep it up!

[mjensen]

Coming right along!

[boynton]

Coming along very well. Wanted to let you know I sold the white truck and started another one...

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=617630

Now you don't have to hear it from Jared, you are the first to know (I think).

[rgunlock]

Just realized its been 4 months since I posted on this build. You guys have probably forgotten all about it. I haven't dropped off the face of the earth or even stopped working on the truck - just been slowly doing filler work - slather and sand, slather and sand, etc. Not much fun I've decided so its going slow. In the meanwhile, I just spent 3 weekends working on my son's truck. It is the first and only vehicle he's ever had (he's 27 now). He was rear-ended by a woman most likely texting. Insurance was going to total it, but he kept it and got a reduced payout of $2600. So far, he's about $900 in repairs, which includes a couple hundred for tools he bought me to compensate for labor and materials :-) as well as new shocks and struts which he needed, but only one rear shock was broken in the accident. Had to cut off and fab new ends for the rear frame, and straighten brackets. BTW, that is member boynton (and my son) in the last picture helping out. It was what I've learned on this project of mine which gave me the confidence to tackle my son's damage.

[rgunlock]

As mentioned, been doing filler work for a while now. Have the cab close. Just a little more work on the firewall and windshield frame. Got a new toy for Father's Day which should speed things up. It's a Hutchins 3800 Orbital Action Long Board Air Sander. I did some research and most that got this sander said it was great and sped things up. The inline air sanders - not so much. I'd read a bunch of reviews where it was used once and the owner didn't like it so never used it again. I've only tried this one on the firewall - vertical surface. A bit tough to control but I'm getting the hang of it. After I finish these couple areas of fillerwork, I need to sand down the entire cab and hit it with epoxy primer. Even though I hit it with a rust converter months ago, it's been so long its getting surface rust in places anyway.

[Mustard72]

Nice work on the Yota. I bet your kid is happy with the extra money. I had a similar situation with an old Buick many moons ago. A kid pulled ou in front of me and my 69 LeSabre. I think I got something like $400 from the insurance company and spent much less than that on a junkyard bumper and grill.

Good to see some progress on your truck, too.

[rgunlock]

Thanks for checking in Nick. Good luck on your kitchen remodel. Tonight I decided to follow Mike's (mjensen) lead and will go with aftermarket AC/heat. Cut a huge hole in my firewall where I'd done a ton of rust repair and applied a lot of filler. Wasn't real happy with how that was turning out anyway. Now just have to do one large flat patch.

[mjensen]

Oh dear! If you're following my lead, we're in trouble

Progress looks great!

[rgunlock]

Mike, I figure I have given you enough of a head start to keep me out of trouble ;-) I'll be looking for a detailed update when you mock up your system. Right now, I don't even know if I need to keep or patch that big hole for the blower motor!

[mjensen]

Haha! Well, since mine is out of a newer style blazer, I'm going to keep the hole because the fan is mounted on the outside of the firewall just like the old one. Newer aftermarket units move the entire assembly under the dash, so you wouldn't need the hole. Are you going with something like a Vintage Air unit or something along those lines?

[rgunlock]

Honestly, I haven't really decided but I'm leaning toward something along the lines of Vintage Air. I've read in more than one place that they are more efficient (work better) than what came factory. I like the idea of getting rid of that huge heater core enclosure in the engine compartment also. In any case I was not having much success trying to get a flat surface with all my welded in patches so figure worse case after I patch that area flat is to just re-cut the holes if I change my mind back toward factory. There wasn't really much of the system left when I got my truck so most would have to be bought anyway for a factory setup.

Any particular reason you are going with the Blazer system? Just get a deal on a whole setup or do you like it for other reasons?

[rgunlock]

Ok, gaping hole mostly dealt with. All those red lines are pinholes I saw from the outside when my son was shining an LED flashlight from the inside. Took care of most of those after the picture, but have a lot of grinding and that hole in the top edge for later.

[mjensen]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

Honestly, I haven't really decided but I'm leaning toward something along the lines of Vintage Air. I've read in more than one place that they are more efficient (work better) than what came factory. I like the idea of getting rid of that huge heater core enclosure in the engine compartment also. In any case I was not having much success trying to get a flat surface with all my welded in patches so figure worse case after I patch that area flat is to just re-cut the holes if I change my mind back toward factory. There wasn't really much of the system left when I got my truck so most would have to be bought anyway for a factory setup.

Any particular reason you are going with the Blazer system? Just get a deal on a whole setup or do you like it for other reasons?

Well, I went with the Blazer unit because it came with the motor. After pulling a newer wiring harness out of a newer truck, I noticed that they only have the condenser (I think that's what it is...shiny silver thing ) outside the firewall. Then the rest of the stuff is tucked up under the dash. I think I'm going to switch to that route.

Progress is looking real good!

[Greenlee]

Nice work! I went with Vintage Air and I love it. Last weekend it was in the 90's and my wife was complaining that she was cold riding in my truck.

[rgunlock]

Thanks Greenlee! I am thinking I'm going to have to purchase the system fairly soon to do mockup before I consider the bodywork on the cab complete. Glad to hear that you are happy with yours.

[Greenlee]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

Thanks Greenlee! I am thinking I'm going to have to purchase the system fairly soon to do mockup before I consider the bodywork on the cab complete. Glad to hear that you are happy with yours.

As far as the mockup goes, the kit comes with a plate that covers up the big rectangle hole in the firewall and also acts as a template for the holes for the AC and heater lines. I actually have an extra one somewhere if I can remember where I put it. I wasn't ready to by the kit yet, but bought the plate from Vintage Air to cover up the big rectangle hole. When I finally bought the kit it came with another one. The plate is orientated by the factory screw holes in the firewall. I'm not sure if you have any of the holes left after your patch work, but I will be happy to take any measurements you might need.

[rgunlock]

I really appreciate the offer Greenlee, but I did get rid of the factory firewall holes, so I think I'll need the actual system for mockups. Guess I made my life more difficult by cutting out those holes.

[y5mgisi]

I would just about kill for your working space.

[boynton]

Originally Posted by y5mgisi

I would just about kill for your working space.

It is very nice. Rick has done a great job adapting it to work on his truck.

[rgunlock]

Thanks - I really like it too. A very understanding wife was ok with me using equity from our previous home to build the shop and paved area outside of it. Still need to finish out the interior someday, but it sure gets the job done in the meanwhile.

[rgunlock]

Last weekend my son and I finished up the repairs on his truck. 1st picture shows what the bumper bracket did to his bedfloor when it can-openered through it (both sides). I fabricated the patch, but my son did most of the work trimming the patch, welding it in and grinding it down. I think he did a dang good job for 1st try.

On my truck, I know that guide coat is supposed to be my friend, but the only thing it ever has to say to me is "Rick, your bodywork sucks!". The red circles show where I need to apply filler one more time - I've already done about 6 layers over this firewall section. That purple sanding block in the 2nd pic is mostly what I'm using. One of these days I'll get the hang of it, but the Rage filler gets stiff way too quick (adjusting the amount of hardener down is helping) so I never cover all that I intend, and the filler was about 5 years old so lately I've been using the bottom of the can which isn't particularly creamy anymore. Time for a new can. If you find that your filler is stiff scooping it out of the can, don't try to save the money and finish it off... Just not worth it!

[rgunlock]

Another one, but not just any other patch - I think this is the LAST patch on this truck!

[y5mgisi]

Thats a nice point to be at!

[mjensen]

Great work Rick!