Donz '65 SWB Stepper Budget Build...

[Ta2Don]

I did start sanding on the hood this evening, although no pics yet...

[TJ's Chevy]

Glad the hunt was productive.

[Ta2Don]

Didn't get any sanding done today...
too dang hot to do much, so the lovely wife and I and JoJo decided the pool was the best bet…

I had planned on some sanding this evening, but got sidetracked on the spare tire carrier… Since I have 5 lugs all the way around, I am planning on cutting the end off an old axle that was unusable…but in the middle of starting that process, the boy called…
IMG_4728 by Donald Olivo, on Flickr
IMG_4729 by Donald Olivo, on Flickr

the call resulted in this, something is missing now...
IMG_4730 by Donald Olivo, on Flickr

So as long as all goes as planned, these will be ordered tomorrow...

[mjh1965]

Don these are still my favourite wheels . I saw these as an alternative at the show yesterday in 6 stud and in 20inch so there still hope





What size are you going to run on yours ?

[TJ's Chevy]

Diggin the wheels brotha.

[Grizz1963]

i am now positively Envious Don....... Definitely my all time favourite wheel.

Martin, those in your pic are 6 spoke, OK for what they do, but Don's are 5 spoke...... Big difference, and a compromise like that is not acceptable. You may as well bolt on some random Nissan or Toyota alloys.

5 spokes are 5 spokes and that is where the look comes from.

I would not bolt on those 6 spokes as a compromise....... Think 307 vs 350

[Ta2Don]

Thanx guyz...

I plan on ordering 18x8s for all four corners, but am contemplating 17x7 for the fronts... considering my love of old skool looks, wider tire out back and a small rake with the rear a touch higher... decisions, decisions...

Now Martin needs to convert to 5 lugs to rock 5 spokes...

[ibrown50]

Or Martin could buy these? 6 lugs 5 spokes



However looking at prices in the UK he may have to sell a kidney to buy them

Spotted a couple of these "birds" yesterday in their natural habitat, they look far better on the hood of a C10

[mjh1965]

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

Thanx guyz...

I plan on ordering 18x8s for all four corners, but am contemplating 17x7 for the fronts... considering my love of old skool looks, wider tire out back and a small rake with the rear a touch higher... decisions, decisions...

Now Martin needs to convert to 5 lugs to rock 5 spokes...

With friends like you Don . I will never get this truck finished . I did consider buying a 5 lug set up for the front , when I got the disc conversion . But then I would have had to sort out the rear axel . The cost was just going up and up so I decided to go for 6 lug in the end
I too also like the bigger on the rear smaller on the front look . Even my Mercedes has bigger width rear tyres on the rear compared to the front ones

[dwcardfan]

Oh yea! New wheels!!!

[Ta2Don]

Originally Posted by mjh1965

With friends like you Don . I will never get this truck finished . I did consider buying a 5 lug set up for the front , when I got the disc conversion . But then I would have had to sort out the rear axel . The cost was just going up and up so I decided to go for 6 lug in the end
I too also like the bigger on the rear smaller on the front look . Even my Mercedes has bigger width rear tyres on the rear compared to the front ones

My pleasure mate...

Originally Posted by dwcardfan

Oh yea! New wheels!!!

Soon… Soon...

[Ta2Don]

Finally got around to sanding the hood… Yep I still dislike bodywork...

Here are the pics… got a handful of areas that will need attention before the primer is sprayed…
IMG_4732 by Donald Olivo, on Flickr
IMG_4731 by Donald Olivo, on Flickr

Some of the problem areas…
IMG_4733 by Donald Olivo, on Flickr
IMG_4734 by Donald Olivo, on Flickr
IMG_4735 by Donald Olivo, on Flickr

nice long scratch hidden by previous primer
IMG_4736 by Donald Olivo, on Flickr
another scratch…
IMG_4740 by Donald Olivo, on Flickr

a rippled area…
IMG_4737 by Donald Olivo, on Flickr

more of the same…
IMG_4738 by Donald Olivo, on Flickr

That's all for tonight guys...

[mjh1965]

Don when you fit those wheels nobody will be looking at the hood ,they will be so busy drooling over the wheels .
I don't know anybody that likes doing the prepping side of the bodywork , the painting side of its different that's enjoyable. I am sure you'll make a good job of it though .

[Ta2Don]

Thanx mate...

Today I drove the '72 out to my friend's new hot rod shop location and in exchange for a little assistance hanging some ceiling joists, I snagged some S10 Wiper parts for another friend who happens to work with me…

On to the pics…
IMG_4744 by Donald Olivo, on Flickr

The guy on the scaffold is Tim, it's his shop and he's the one I got the '72 from…The guy in the red shirt is Klown, he's another artist that works in the studio with me and my son…
IMG_4743 by Donald Olivo, on Flickr

New shop pics…
IMG_4745 by Donald Olivo, on Flickr
IMG_4746 by Donald Olivo, on Flickr

Me on a ladder working a framing gun…
IMG_4754 by Donald Olivo, on Flickr

After hanging the ceiling joists, we went over to the existing shop to get a wiper motor and steering column for Klown... Hanging outside is Clint's '64, He's known as ArkyHauler out here, and has Tim doing some work on the '64…
Clint broke his arm, but hopefully with Tim's help, the '64 will make the trek to Clem's in October...
IMG_4758 by Donald Olivo, on Flickr

…and lastly, after getting Klown's wipers working, I got a call that a box had arrived at the studio… Rian and Martin should be quite chuffed as their Firewall Pads have arrived…
IMG_4759 by Donald Olivo, on Flickr

More sanding throughout the week, thankfully drier air is filtering in and with highs in the upper 80's and low 90's it should be a bit more comfortable outside...

[mjh1965]

Thanks Don for letting us know . Love the grill on Clint's 64

[clemdaddy]

good work my friend. you're showing more talents all the time, but be careful up on those ladders and absolutely NO nail gun fights.

[TJ's Chevy]

Looks good brotha! Keep up the hard work.

[dwcardfan]

[Ta2Don]

Originally Posted by dwcardfan

Thanx Brother!

Originally Posted by TJ's Chevy

Looks good brotha! Keep up the hard work.

Originally Posted by clemdaddy

good work my friend. you're showing more talents all the time, but be careful up on those ladders and absolutely NO nail gun fights.

If you look closely at Tim's left leg, in the pic of him on the scaffold, you will see he has a prosthetic leg from the knee down… Gravity is very constant… He was carrying a laminated beam on a scaffold about 5 feet off the ground when the scaffold collapsed. The beam crushed his leg beyond repair. Hasn't slowed him down though...

Originally Posted by mjh1965

Thanks Don for letting us know . Love the grill on Clint's 64

No worries mate, although the pile is growing...

[Ta2Don]

While talking with Rian, he made an observation concerning the hood bird... the rear of the tail floats above the hood when the front 3 mounts are flush on the hood, his observation was to remove that screw and allow the tail to float.
My question is, will that tail floating be an issue with mounting stability?

See the hood bird pics on page 67

[TJ's Chevy]

Give it a shot! And if it flies off during the 1st burnout you'll know right away yu had mounting issues!

[Ta2Don]

Started the day off perusing a few of the builds I follow, and one of them, a fairly new one caught my eye… I had helped this guy with an extra Hood Latch I had lying around, and this morning he posted looking for a lens for one of his turn signal tubes… I happened to have an extra one or two… so one is now in an envelope waiting for the mailman… Glad to be able to help pay it forward… Here's a link to the Father-In-Law/Son-In-Law Project…
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=677935

Then it was off to the shed to fire up the welder… Melting Metal...
I welded up the 4th hole I had drilled for the rear mounting screw on the Hood (Bonnet) Ornament… Decided to let the Tail float...

Here's the hole welded and smoothed over with filler…
IMG_4805 by Donald Olivo, on Flickr

Then onto the rest of the hood… Sanding, sanding, and more sanding...
I am not a fan of bodywork, although I salute those who do this work professionally...
IMG_4806 by Donald Olivo, on Flickr
IMG_4807 by Donald Olivo, on Flickr

Here it is in Primer… Got a couple of small areas to address then another coat…
IMG_4811 by Donald Olivo, on Flickr
IMG_4812 by Donald Olivo, on Flickr

…and finally, a shot of the Bird with the floating tail…
IMG_4814 by Donald Olivo, on Flickr

til next time...

[Boedean1981]

That's some fine looking work there. Love the bird.

[TJ's Chevy]

Good work brotha! Hope ya had a good weekend. Like the way you mounted that birdie.

[dwcardfan]

Nice bird! Keep up the great work.