1969 Short Wide

[screaminchevypickup]

Great job mike..

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by SeTx67

Vent windows look great

Thanks, I'm glad to have them done (for now). I'm going to continue to look for some nicer wing window frames. Mine were a little pitted. They turned out pretty good after some polishing, but I would like to find some nicer ones. Not too sure about the fine scuffs and scratches in the glass. Hope it doesn't clash with my shiney new paint.

Originally Posted by screaminchevypickup

Great job mike..

Thanks Kyle.

[mcbassin]

Got the other vent window done this morning. Crappy cell pics.


Rivet installed:

[Hart_Rod]

Looks great Mike! Do you need a special rivet gun to use your rivets? Are these going to be for sale? I still need to redo my vent windows for my 68 and my burb.

[litew8]

"Oh, I'll just make my own rivets..." That's probably the smallest fab work I've ever seen. Nicely done! Nothing can detract from shinny new paint.

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

Looks great Mike! Do you need a special rivet gun to use your rivets? Are these going to be for sale? I still need to redo my vent windows for my 68 and my burb.

Rob,
I used the $6 tool from Classic parts in KC. It worked okay to get the roll crimp started but I had to finish it off in the vise. The cheapy tool is made from soft metal. I think if you grind a hardened pin punch to stake them it would be much better. Also, the cheapy tool worked great with the other rivets that are used to mount the rubber. But You have to hold your mouth just right....
I made a few extras. Just let me know when you're ready, I send you a pair.

Originally Posted by litew8

"Oh, I'll just make my own rivets..." That's probably the smallest fab work I've ever seen. Nicely done! Nothing can detract from shinny new paint.

Thanks but I have made way smaller parts. This is quite easy on our small CNC lathe. I hope you're right about the paint...
I'm not having much luck finding a deal on re plating the chrome pieces.

[jlsanborn]

Vents came out super nice! How do they operate? When I got done with mine they seemed awful stiff. Hard to tell without them in the door...

[Dean'smeanmachine]

moving right along mike! she'll have paint on before long

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by jlsanborn

Vents came out super nice! How do they operate? When I got done with mine they seemed awful stiff. Hard to tell without them in the door...

Thanks. They turned out pretty good. The seals fit good. Yes they rotate tight, but I don't plan on ever opening mine. I had to grind some material off the back of my latches to make them latch. I'm looking for some nice chrome pieces and some NOS latches to upgrade them before assembly.

Originally Posted by Dean'smeanmachine

moving right along mike! she'll have paint on before long

Thanks, I have been working on the fenders and doors. I will have some more paint shot in the near future if the weather holds for a while. This winter has killed progress.

[knomadd]

How'd you make the rivets, if you don't mind me asking? Was it just stainless rod that you cut to length and used a lathe to cut them to shape?

Nice job on the vent windows!

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by knomadd

How'd you make the rivets, if you don't mind me asking? Was it just stainless rod that you cut to length and used a lathe to cut them to shape?

Nice job on the vent windows!

Don't mind at all. They were turned and drilled on a small CNC lathe, then polished on a small manual lathe. The rod was just some scrap 316 ss that was laying around. 316 polishes out real nice. It's tough to cut but looks good.

[jeh]

Vent windows look good Mike. I bet it's nice having access to "specialty tools"

[knomadd]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Don't mind at all. They were turned and drilled on a small CNC lathe, then polished on a small manual lathe. The rod was just some scrap 316 ss that was laying around. 316 polishes out real nice. It's tough to cut but looks good.

Awesome, thanks for sharing! The more I see you do, the more I'm sure I need to have a lathe and a milling machine. I'd love to have the space to own the tools you have at your disposal... and the skill to use them. Keep up the great work!

[screaminchevypickup]

Mikes a great machinist!!!

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by jeh

Vent windows look good Mike. I bet it's nice having access to "specialty tools"

Thanks Jason. Fringe benefits are good.

Originally Posted by knomadd

Awesome, thanks for sharing! The more I see you do, the more I'm sure I need to have a lathe and a milling machine. I'd love to have the space to own the tools you have at your disposal... and the skill to use them. Keep up the great work!

Thanks Duane. I will eventually have a shop of my own, With modern CNC machines. It's just a matter of time. Then look out for some real custom parts like THESE

Originally Posted by screaminchevypickup

Mikes a great machinist!!!

Thanks Kyle I appreciate the complement. Now if I could just get hàlf your skills with bodywork and painting.

[Bennett68C10]

I'm still amazed that you made those rivets yourself, I know it is probably no biggie for you especially if you do that kind of work every day but man I could never make those. Like I said before you did a great job on those vent windows.

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by Bennett68C10

I'm still amazed that you made those rivets yourself, I know it is probably no biggie for you especially if you do that kind of work every day but man I could never make those. Like I said before you did a great job on those vent windows.

Thanks Keith, Yeah no biggy. I enjoy making things for this old pile of bolts.
Seems more satisfying than buying parts.

I have to admit this project has been more overwhelming than I ever expected. I figured. I could throw $10K at it and be rolling in a real nice classic truck. Not so.... The amount of time it takes just to refurbish all the little pieces is amazing. That's why when I see someone on here knock one out in less than a year, I'm always amazed. I see light at the end of the tunnel now
Sorry for the rant....

[mcbassin]

Busy weekend.
Got the cab back off the frame and started blocking the inside for paint prep.
Hope to have color on it soon. Crappy cell pics
The messy shop has gotten so dusty in the last year, it will take a whole day just to clean it.






Got the hood and cowl primered too:

[screaminchevypickup]

Looking good Mike!

[Bennett68C10]

Awesome Mike you should see light at the end of the tunnel, your knocking this truck out now. All I see is darkness at the end of my tunnel

[Zoomin]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

I have to admit this project has been more overwhelming than I ever expected. I figured. I could throw $10K at it and be rolling in a real nice classic truck. Not so.... The amount of time it takes just to refurbish all the little pieces is amazing. That's why when I see someone on here knock one out in less than a year, I'm always amazed. I see light at the end of the tunnel now
Sorry for the rant....

I tell you one thing, now that I've been through a couple builds, I have a whole new appreciation for cars at shows. A lot of people have no clue what it takes to bring something back.

Both of you guys are doing great - keep it up and you'll both be on the road soon.

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by screaminchevypickup

Looking good Mike!

Thanks Kyle.

Originally Posted by Bennett68C10

Awesome Mike you should see light at the end of the tunnel, your knocking this truck out now. All I see is darkness at the end of my tunnel

Thanks Keith. I am hoping things fall into place in the next 2 months or so.

Originally Posted by Zoomin

I tell you one thing, now that I've been through a couple builds, I have a whole new appreciation for cars at shows. A lot of people have no clue what it takes to bring something back.

Both of you guys are doing great - keep it up and you'll both be on the road soon.

Right on Steve. You have first hand experience of all the little things that are never even seen but they have to be done. Hope we can get a meet up later this year and I'll be driving mine and you can drive one of your many classics.

[Dean'smeanmachine]

awsome!

[jlsanborn]

That cab is going to look great in RED! Must be a little warmer? Glad to see you back in the shop.

[jeh]

Mike, just like a cats tail in a room full of rocking chairs, "It Won't Be Long Now"