Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step

[swamp rat]

Wow!

[Low Elco]

Love the front. Looking at the rear, wonder if you could make an angled slice on the ends to tip the bottom in and take the "bulge" out of the base? Just a thought.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Elliot949

That has,worked in great Vic...can't wait until it is primed so we can see all the lines... Great work buddy ..

Getting closer, Dan, but I'm not nearly as fast as you with the body and paint.

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

Doing great Vic. Keep up the great work. It's going to be a fantastic looking truck!

Thanks, I appreciate it!

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Wow!

Hey Mike, good to hear from you. Weather up there lately sux from what I hear... good time to lay low and lurk on the forum.

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Love the front. Looking at the rear, wonder if you could make an angled slice on the ends to tip the bottom in and take the "bulge" out of the base? Just a thought.

Thanks, Chip, we think a lot alike. I knew the ugly ends on the rear would need a bit of hammering. After I got them cut off, I used the press, vise and dolly to reform the edges similar to the front. I then tacked the shortened pieces back together and put the bumper back in place. Used some tape to mock up a filler piece that follows the line of the quarter panel a bit better. I sawed out a piece of mild steel flat stock using the tape as a template and have it taped in place in the last photo. All the mounting bolts have been welded in and smoothed out also. Not sure if this look is what you envisioned, but being a fundamentally "straight line between two points" person, this how I approached it.

[Pick]

Vic, even though I've seen pictures of the stuff that has fought with you, you still make it look so easy and virtually seamless. As usual, I am very impressed by your work and your approach!

I must figure out how to straighten my line(s) between two points. My tiny little mind tends to wander and overcomplicate stuff WAY too much!

[mcbassin]

Very nice work on the bumpers and body Vic! looks great!

[Low Elco]

Diggin it!

[knomadd]

You do some nice work Vic! The front turned out great. The back looks like you're already on a good path. Keep it up!

[Vic1947]

Nachos Garcia, everyone! I've only been able to spend a few hours in the shop due to other stuff that needed tending, so not much progress. The filler pieces for the ends are tacked on and I modified the bumper mounts very slightly to get the fit I wanted. Next up is to weld some 1/8 x 1/4 flat bar on the ends of the filler pieces to give them a more finished look. Then it will be time for the filler between the bed and the top lip of the bumper. Stay tuned.

[Possmguts]

Dang Vic... This level of build is something I could only dream of. I'm so jealous not only of what you are able to do but of that shop as well... I may have to stop checking in on you because it always makes me wanna just burn mine lol

I cant even get the 3 stupid SS brake line sections I need flared done right now... I should have never gone that route.

You are doing a Beautiful Job!!

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Very nice work on everything Vic! I like the bender project too. That's right in my wheelhouse. I do that kind of stuff all the time. I have a long machinist background.

Thanks, Mike! I finally finished the tubing beader just today. Still waiting on a 40mm silicone hose (coming from Australia) to get back on the radiator hose project, but at least the beader works. Photos below...

Originally Posted by Possmguts

Dang Vic... This level of build is something I could only dream of. I'm so jealous not only of what you are able to do but of that shop as well... I may have to stop checking in on you because it always makes me wanna just burn mine lol

I cant even get the 3 stupid SS brake line sections I need flared done right now... I should have never gone that route.

You are doing a Beautiful Job!!

Thanks a million for the kind words! I need to be propped up now and then when things go south. I know what you're saying about SS lines. PITA! I gave up trying to get my old flaring tools to work on them and invested in the Inline Tube / Eastwood style setup. It's much much better, but not foolproof. I usually do a couple of test pieces to get the hang of it. Then hold my breath on the actual line.

The tube beading project has finally ended, except for doing the actual pieces I plan to use. I've done three beads, two successfully, one not so much. What I found is that if you have tubing with inconsistent wall thickness, you have to start on the thickest section and work it back and forth until you get it started all the way around. The mandrel bends I bought were either deformed during bending or the tubing was crap from the factory.

The beader body is made from a chunk of 1" X 3" aluminum about 6" long. The block that holds the male roller is Delrin with a bronze bushing pressed in that the roller rotates in. The female roller is a piece of 17-4 stainless that I had previously made for a brake piston project. I parted it off and used a R12ZZ bearing so it free wheels. The male roller and the shaft the bearing is pressed onto are 12L14 steel. I recessed a small brass disc into the Delrin where the adjuster bolt contacts it to distribute the load. The whole thing cost less than $25 since most of the stuff was in my junk boxes. And it only took me two weeks...

[knomadd]

Originally Posted by Vic1947

I know what you're saying about SS lines. PITA! I gave up trying to get my old flaring tools to work on them and invested in the Inline Tube / Eastwood style setup. It's much much better, but not foolproof. I usually do a couple of test pieces to get the hang of it. Then hold my breath on the actual line.

That's exactly how I do it too! I had to start with a 37 degree flare (I bought the AN flare kit too) on one of mine since the 45 degree chuck wasn't holding the line. It kept pushing it out without flaring. Using the 37 degree got the flare started enough to hold it in the chuck. Worked great after that.

Nice work on the tubing beader Vic! Want to make one for me? I'd love to have one for a custom radiator hose I want to build.

[Ol Blue K20]

I'm very impressed Vic. I always liked the rear bumpers the way they came from the general. But it's looking awesome, I may have been wrong. I'm looking forward to see it completed.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

I'm very impressed Vic. I always liked the rear bumpers the way they came from the general. But it's looking awesome, I may have been wrong. I'm looking forward to see it completed.

Thanks, Dale. I agree the stock bumpers look pretty dang good on this series truck. Looking back a month, not sure if I knew then what I know now that I'd drag out the cutting wheel. Might have been working on things that actually make the truck run by now.

Spent all day yesterday taking Dad to doctors and the ER. Thought he might have a fractured hip, but the CAT scan turned up gallstones and a cyst on his kidney. I reckon walking must have put pressure on that area and he was reacting to the pain. Anyway, he's doing better today and I was able to sneak downstairs and get some welding done. The ends are taking shape and I'm pleased with the edge I added. Now just need to do the other side.

[jeh]

Vic, you nailed it on the front bumper.... I've looked at some trucks at the shows and always thought of how good that looked. As far as the rear, I would of never thought about doing what you've done, it looks awesome as well. Keep it up and get some paint on that thing.

[sduckworth13]

X2 what Jason said . Awesome work Vic!

[Oregon 1967 GMC]

Hope your Dad is doing alright.

[Low Elco]

I like the way the back came out. Good job!

[Elliot949]

The bumpers look great.. the back certainly looks like it was easier to do than the front... LOL

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by jeh

Vic, you nailed it on the front bumper.... I've looked at some trucks at the shows and always thought of how good that looked. As far as the rear, I would of never thought about doing what you've done, it looks awesome as well. Keep it up and get some paint on that thing.

Thanks, Jason. I'm falling behind my schedule a little bit, but it looks like spring may be here early, so I hope I can catch up.

Originally Posted by sduckworth13

X2 what Jason said . Awesome work Vic!

Hey, thanks Scott.

Originally Posted by Oregon 1967 GMC

Hope your Dad is doing alright.

Thanks for asking... he's had a few setbacks recently. Thought he might have broken a hip, but after multiple doctor visits, the MRI indicated he had a muscle tear in his hip (plus gallstones and a cyst on one of his kidneys)... no wonder he was in pain. He starts physical therapy in two weeks which was the first opening they had. He's a tough old bird, though. I'm sure he'll walk it off.

Originally Posted by Low Elco

I like the way the back came out. Good job!

Thanks, Chip.

Originally Posted by Elliot949

The bumpers look great.. the back certainly looks like it was easier to do than the front... LOL

It definitely was, Dan. Plus I took it a lot slower on the welding so I didn't create as many problems as I did up front.

In between doctor appointments and other "stuff", I've been making a little progress. The front bumper is ready for a coat of Slick Sand and I've got the filler panel for the rear under construction. As with the front, the rear bumper is curved, so the filler panels have to be massaged to follow the bumper lip. Had to remove the tailgate for access, but once I had the filler panels cleco'd in place, I took off the rear bumper and started doing bodywork in earnest. More to come...

[Elliot949]

That is just sooo sweet... I can't wait to see this in person...

[Low Elco]

I like the just a hint of a peak in the rear filler.

This is gonna be too nice to leave in red oxide, just sayin'....

[knomadd]

I really like what you're doing Vic. It's going to look fantastic when you're all done.

[jlsanborn]

I've been lurking Vic but it's a PITA on the phone. Great looking work! I'm with Chip on the primer deal. I don't think you can stop there!

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Elliot949

That is just sooo sweet... I can't wait to see this in person...

Thanks, Dan, I plan to take a break and drop in on a cruise night this spring when you have Papa J out and about 'cuz I'm dying to see it too.

Originally Posted by Low Elco

I like the just a hint of a peak in the rear filler.
This is gonna be too nice to leave in red oxide, just sayin'....

Thanks, Chip! The rear bumper curves just like the front did, so naturally, the filler had to also.

Originally Posted by knomadd

I really like what you're doing Vic. It's going to look fantastic when you're all done.

Hey Duane, been following your driveshaft saga. Hope you're making progress.

Originally Posted by jlsanborn

I've been lurking Vic but it's a PITA on the phone. Great looking work! I'm with Chip on the primer deal. I don't think you can stop there!

Thanks, John, it's been fits and starts around here. Lots of other irons in the fire, but I have a little stretch coming up and I hope to get back going. The primer dealio is killing me too, but I'm determined to drive this puppy for a change. Nice looking stuff has a habit of sitting in the garage too much.

I had a nice day recently and shot some Slick Sand on the bumpers. The front is blocked and ready for a second coat, but the rear is still waiting its turn.

[Vic1947]

BIL Rick is here from Seattle and we were talking about my tailgate and how it would be a problem to install it with the filler panel in place. One thing led to another and next thing you know we were at Classic Parts getting a square body pivot. Unfortunately, it was too small and the bolt pattern wasn't right, but it served as an outstanding template. I determined the angle of the pivot was 20 degrees, so I threw mine up into the mill and lopped it off to make it the same width as the one from CP. A little welding and filing and next thing you know, it looks pretty much like the pattern except it fits CRLS. I notched the bottom of the tailgate on the right side and it works like gangbusters. Now someone can walk up and steal it just like they used to do when I lived in Houston.