Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step

[Xeen]

After considering paint schemes and thinking about creative ways to allow for a second color you could do like the shaker hood cars and have just the raised part of the hood painted the secondary color of your choice in gloss with pin stripe outline.

[Vic1947]

Thanks, everyone, for the suggestions so far. A lot to think about for sure. The 68 stepper I had was all silver and I sort of wanted something a bit different for this build. My first inclination was to do a single color in the Mango Tango shade with chrome bumpers. All that has gone by the wayside. I've always liked two tone paint jobs, even though they're not everyone's cup of tea. I'm leaning toward the second version with silver on the bottom and the orange along the top of the bed, the entire top of the cab and most of the hood.

Monday, I went to the paint shop I'm planning to use and took a print of that view with me. The owner and I discussed it and he suggested running the orange color all the way to the front lip of the hood. I gave it a try when I got home, but decided I liked the other one better. The shop is booked up right now, but he hopes to have a slot in about three weeks. Told him I had a lot of stuff ready to go right now and should have the everything by then. I hope this works out. The guys at Precision do fantastic paint, but their bread and butter is collision work. The custom stuff takes up a lot of time and space, so unless they happen to be slow, it's tough to get them to take on this kind of work. Plus, laying out tape lines for a two tone scheme with a pinstripe is not in their wheelhouse either. The guy I'm talking with is very much into the custom work, but isn't like the high end shops that won't touch a project unless they do all the metal and body work from start to finish.

[knomadd]

I'm with you Vic, I like the nose of the hood silver. It looks more "finished" for lack of a better term.

[Vic1947]

So... today was one of those days. Haven't had one in a while, so I guess I was due.

We're supposed to have a chance for showers from now thru Friday night, so I've been blocking and priming while the weather is nice. Took my dad to his eye appointment this morning and then got busy with the 2K primer. Everything was looking great until I went to move one of the fenders for more working room and skinned a spot against my tape/paper dispenser. Grumble worthy but not the end of the world. Next up was the hood, where I promptly laid down a sag in the primer. Again not a big deal but I was just getting started. I moved the fender closer to spot a little extra primer on the skinned spot and when I finished the last of the material in the cup, cleaned everything up and went in the other room to take a break. I'd left the doors up to air out the shop and all of a sudden I hear a big crash. A gust of wind had blown over the fender and now in addition to the skinned place, I had a nice dent in it.

This still isn't the end of the world, but you can sort of see it on the horizon. After using the slapper tool to remove most of the dent, I laid down some spot putty and left it to set up good. Meanwhile, I had a few things I needed to do to the doors and cab, so I figured now was a good time. The doors need some trimming on the window frames, so with everything going the way it was, I donned some protective gear to be safe and got busy with the cutoff wheel to remove the strip I'd marked. Naturally, just as things were looking righteous, the cutoff wheel hung up and kicked back. Sliced thru the leather glove and put a smile in my knuckle. So now I'm sitting here at the computer bleeding and drinking a beer. I figure another foray into the shop today could quite easily be fatal. And tomorrow is another day.

[swamp rat]

You will live to shine another day Vic! At least you had the proper attitude right?

[bevis1]

Day like that calls for at least two more beers!

[Orange67]

I feel your pain, Vic. When I was working on my 67 a few years back, I had pulled the hood and front clip off. I had put my hood on the side of my garage, just to have it out of the way for a couple hours. Wind kicked up, blew it over. My perfect 67 hood now has a nice ding from 2" gravel right on the top front point.

And I agree. More beer, please.

[Xeen]

Yikes what a day, you were right to quit while you were ahead after that string of unfortunate events. Tomorrow will be better, keep your chin up!

[Oregon 1967 GMC]

Wow that was a bad string of luck. Sometimes I'll go back to bed and wake up on the other side.

[mcbassin]

Been there done that Vic... I feel your pain
Today is a better day..

[knomadd]

At least you had the forethought to notice the trend and stop before it became a catastrophe. Today's a new day. Hopefully you were able to sleep it off.

[Vic1947]

Thanks, everyone! Today was a much better day. Despite errand running and "Senior Day" at Captain D's I was able to repair the fender damage from yesterday. Also finished trimming the window frame on one of the doors, MIG welding and grinding it down. All without any further bodily injury. Apparently beer is a good coagulant. Either that or after a few you quit noticing you're bleeding. Regardless, I'm back on track today.

[Xeen]

I'm glad to hear you are back on track and I am looking forward to the rest of the build.

[Low Elco]

Glad it came around for you! To paraphrase Sally Field as Frog- " Yes, have a beer, it seems to help."

[jlsanborn]

Long time, no see! Radiator install is another home run for you Vic. The bead roller is sooo you, nice work! I think your two-tone scheme is great too. I knew you'd paint it by the way

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by jlsanborn

Long time, no see! Radiator install is another home run for you Vic. The bead roller is sooo you, nice work! I think your two-tone scheme is great too. I knew you'd paint it by the way

Thanks, John. I've been hit and miss posting recently, so catching up should be easy.

The body work is slowly coming along. Every time I think I'm down to a few remaining items, I uncover something else. The doors are finally ready to block and the gaps have been fine tuned a little. I readjusted the doors one last time and drilled locating holes in all the hinges to make it easier to get close when installing them after paint. Speaking of paint... I still haven't got a commitment from the shop I've been begging to do the work. Going to stop in there tomorrow and make one last attempt. If it doesn't work out, there's a place in Eudora, KS about 50 miles from me that has a downdraft spray booth they rent out. They also have work space to rent while you're in progress. It's been a long time, but I can do it myself under the right conditions. (Good lighting and lots of beer!)

The seats are in as well as the throttle pedal. The DBW pedal that came with the C&C kit is out of a Cadillac. It's not as sporty as the Corvette pedal, but I was too cheap to source another. I had to modify the mounting bracket and build an adapter, but it's in and has full travel without contacting the floor or the tunnel. I'll have the upholstery guys make a leather boot to hide the ugly.

[Elliot949]

The truck is looking Awesome Vic... I love the little touches you are doing with it.. That is what sets truck/cars apart and let them stand out...

Mine is in the garage collecting dust...

Dan

[Low Elco]

If you wind up going the Eudora route, let me know, I'm in to help.

[NewType72]

Great progress Vic, very tidy work on the radiator tubing can't wait to see the finished products

[swamp rat]

Was trying to see but the pic's don't show enough detail, on the cab door opening did you fill in the overlap spot weld seam in the door jamb with bondo and fine tune the door gap with the same?

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Elliot949

The truck is looking Awesome Vic... I love the little touches you are doing with it.. That is what sets truck/cars apart and let them stand out...

Mine is in the garage collecting dust...

Dan

Thanks, Dan. It's that time of year to be blowing the dust off them. I know you were sorting a lot of stuff out last fall, but hopefully you've reached the end of that.

Originally Posted by Low Elco

If you wind up going the Eudora route, let me know, I'm in to help.

Thanks for the offer, Chip! I went to see my paint guy today and he not only committed to do the job, he came by the house this afternoon to get a look at what he's faced with. We may be ready to start moving parts by the weekend.

Originally Posted by NewType72

Great progress Vic, very tidy work on the radiator tubing can't wait to see the finished products

Thanks, Dylan.

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Was trying to see but the pic's don't show enough detail, on the cab door opening did you fill in the overlap spot weld seam in the door jamb with bondo and fine tune the door gap with the same?

Didn't really have to fill it, Mike. Just brought the cab side edge forward a little bit. The inside edge of the spot weld seam looks stock where it lays against the jamb, but all the spot welds are smooth now. I didn't go for the really tight gaps like you see on the show vehicles. I left them wide enough that if I hit a bad bump, there won't be chipped paint on the door edge.

The cab is off the frame for the last time. I have a few places to repair and then it gets one last coat of 2K primer. The bed and front clip are 99% done and the doors need to be blocked and final primed.

They will do all the final blocking and repair any places I may have missed or done a substandard job... which I'm apt to do from time to time. It's great to have someone young with good eyes going over everything. I've abandoned the two tone paint job in the interest of speeding up the process. I have what I think is a nice color picked out, but will let the final pictures tell the story...

[Elliot949]

I am fighting a Steering issue and just can't get it figured out.... Once the new house is done then I will move back to the truck...

It is too bad I am tied up right now or I would love to paint this for you...

[Low Elco]

Good to hear! As always, the truck, trailer and bed cart Stand ready to assist!

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Elliot949

I am fighting a Steering issue and just can't get it figured out.... Once the new house is done then I will move back to the truck...

It is too bad I am tied up right now or I would love to paint this for you...

Thanks, Dan, I appreciate the sentiment! Afraid I'm not much good with carpenter tools, so you wouldn't want me down there lending a hand to free up any of your time.

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Good to hear! As always, the truck, trailer and bed cart Stand ready to assist!

Hey Chip, thanks again. I'll let you know if I get in a bind for transport.

The shots below mark an important milestone. The bodywork is complete and all parts have several coats of 2K primer ready for final blocking. I confess that I believed this moment would arrive two months ago. It was not to be, so I'll just have to adjust my schedule. Years ago I could burn the candle at both ends and crank out a project like this in a few months. Those were the days!

Tomorrow I need to haul the core support, hinges and hood latch to Eagle Stripping to be prepped for powder coating. The chassis is covered with dust from one end to the other and I need to clean it up then start working a rudimentary punch list. Need to reassemble the exhaust, track down an air leak, finalize the brake plumbing, layout the underbody wiring and install the electric e-brake. More to come...

[Xeen]

From Mild to Wild: Victor edition.