What did you do to your truck today?

[fryer1979]

Not all of it was done today, but over the course of the weekend I finally got the front end off and the motor out of the donor truck.


Oh, and it really sucks when you find out this late that you don't have any more of the correct bolts for your engine stand. Guess the three engines I have on the other three stands took 'em all up. Oh well, gives me something to do tomorrow.

[Bkndsdl]

Originally Posted by SIR

waxed it...all of it.....a labor of love....

SIR - I am 'green' with envy! Awesome truck, can't wait until mine's to the point yours is - enjoyable.

[markeb01]

My cab is so air tight it’s difficult to close the doors without slamming, unless a vent window is left open. In the garage, this is what I do, and then push the vent window shut after the doors are closed, which isn’t very practical when left in public. I studied off and on for several years looking for a one way vent but never came up with a workable concept. I thought about installing the elusive one way valve in the kick panels since I no longer use the fresh air vents, but never came up with anything suitable. That wouldn't work any longer anyway because of the upholstery.

Yet again you’ve pioneered another great solution, thanks for sharing. I’m looking forward to seeing the finished install. Also, are those vents off a production vehicle, and if so do you know what they came from? I’m curious if those could be installed on the floor under the seats, or if they need to be mounted vertically in a protected area like the back of the cab.

[lakeroadster]

Originally Posted by markeb01

Are those vents off a production vehicle, and if so do you know what they came from? I’m curious if those could be installed on the floor under the seats, or if they need to be mounted vertically in a protected area like the back of the cab.

The vents I purchased on Ebay were original equipment on 03-08 Dodge Ram Trucks. But I got the idea from seing a new Dodge duallie at the local car lot that had the bed removed. So I am quessing that most new trucks have them.

They are designed to be installed vertically, gravity keeps the vent closed. And the reason they instal between the rear of the cab and the bed is to minimize the chance of water / debris getting into the vent. ‏

I thought about mounting them at the back corners that are exposed on our stepside trucks. I am betting water would get into them there though, but maybe not.

On my truck I plan to install them right behind the bucket seat backs.

[Stacked78]

shaved my door handles, then removed my windows so i could open the doors... lol

[burlapen]

Got parts back from powdercoat!!!!

[Delmo]

Originally Posted by burlapen

Got parts back from powdercoat!!!!

Sweeeeeeeeet.

[sams60gmc]

Today I machined some very thick. (.225'') washers for my control arms. Primed and painted them and greased the insides and installed them and the arms all with brand new nylocs.

[losthope]

i put my chrome bumper on and took it for a curise to the bowling ally!

[fryer1979]

Originally Posted by losthope

i put my chrome bumper on and took it for a curise to the bowling ally!

Man your truck is really making me want to roll mine around in satin black for a while. My group of fellow gearheads here all tell me it would be a shame not to since every project I have ever had has worn satin black at one point. If you've seen the pictures of my Camaro it has had it's satin paint the entire 10+ years I have owned it. All I know man is your truck is lookin good.

[losthope]

lol its not satin black its rustolem black primer rattle can ! but am planning on painting it john deer blitz black after i do some of the body work it needs! like i painted my 54 ford sedan it gives you that primerd/satin look but is real paint but is illegal to use in california but i got a gallon left to paint the truck! i also love the satin black look

[fryer1979]

Originally Posted by losthope

lol its not satin black its rustolem black primer rattle can ! but am planning on painting it john deer blitz black after i do some of the body work it needs! like i painted my 54 ford sedan it gives you that primerd/satin look but is real paint but is illegal to use in california but i got a gallon left to paint the truck! i also love the satin black look

Every one of my paint jobs has been Rustoleum rattle cans, I've just used the satin black instead of the primer. Check out my build thread (in sig), there is a pretty good shot of the Camaro in there on the first page. 16 cans of satin black, and 5 cans of satin white, some striping tape, and two weekends worth of work (5 years ago). Either way bro, your pickup looks good! BTW, why would that john deere paint be illegal in Ca?...oh wait, it must work really well.

[bigdaddy64]

Got my passenger side airbox welded back on. fixing all the rust. Now for the drivers side.

[c10Mang]

Dropped mine off for paint!!!

[c10sport]

Wrong forum...oops!

[lakeroadster]

Started mocking up tail pipes, routing them outside the frame rails. More details in my build thread..

[knuckledragger]

Took a wire brush and 2 cans of ez off to the donor front suspension .Looks good!

[losthope]

bondo cracks ,primerd,painted, and installed 1962 chevy bel air steerting wheel! and i had a 6x9 speaker in a box i had in garage that fit right under the bench seat!

[Rusteeze64GB]

Drove my truck 10 miles for the first day after getting the truck registered. Slow moving thats for sure. Need to get the rear end rebuilt, cant go faster than 50 miles an hour. Here it is in my new front yard after the drive and a wash.

[sams60gmc]

Originally Posted by lakeroadster

Started mocking up tail pipes, routing them outside the frame rails. More details in my build thread..

Nice work.

[markeb01]

From what I’ve experienced there isn’t all that much difference between Rustoleum and John Deere Blitz Black, particularly if applied with spray equipment. They are both synthetic enamels and have similar properties. My first Rustoleum job was rattle can flat black on a 49 Plymouth back in the 70’s:



It turned out great considering it was painted outside in a dirt driveway.

When I first built my truck the original hood was damaged so I painted it Rustoleum flat black (with spray equipment) while continuing to look for a replacement. After several years of North Idaho weather it showed no signs of deterioration. Here’s what it looked like when first painted:



After a decade of abuse most of the shiny lacquer was shot, and since nothing can go over lacquer except more lacquer or unhardened enamel, I started searching for paint. After reading the following thread many times (along with tons of others) the Blitz Black sounded like the way to go:

http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/w...tz_Black_paint

Fortunately I live in a state where this can still be purchased, but finding it isn’t much easier. Here’s what it looked like a year ago, and the paint remains virtually unchanged today:



The key to having the finish come out with the desired sheen using either brand of paint is to experiment with the type, ratio, and speed of the thinner. Acetone dries so fast the results look like primer, and tiger stripes easily. I tried a variety of normal, fast, and slow acrylic enamel reducers, and tested each on a spare panel. Once the preferred mix was decided on, it cannot be altered throughout the paint job or it will come out looking considerably different on the various panels. With rattle cans it’s just a matter of trying to get uniform coverage with enough volume to lay flat without striping.

[narx66gmc]

i painted some bits and pieces...

[sams60gmc]

Today I spent an hour and a half getting my old bushings out of 1 lower control arm. Hopefully I'll be able to get the other one done tomorrow.
My goal is rolling chassis by the end of the weekend!
Was thinking about taking it to Rat Rod O Rama to show off my frame but it says no trailers!!

[FRENCHBLUE72]

What if we push it in to the show?

[knuckledragger]

Pulled the front suspension out of the 78 donor.That is all.