Project Step Aside, 1971 SWB/Step

[knomadd]

I just found your thread. Looks like you've done a lot of work. Looking good so far. I'll be following along.

[Bennett68C10]

Nice job on the doors, I know what a pita they can be. I had to do the same to mine, replace the lower inner skin and replace the outer skin.

[AJohn6]

So I completed my mini science experiment and it at least wasn't a complete disaster. First my normal charger is too smart to be used with this and I had to use an old battery in between. Then the charger knew the battery was bad and kept shutting off. This being said I had the best results with this setup. I went to TSC and bought a cheap $15 charger which worked on smaller parts but not on large parts. I started cutting out more of the bad parts of the door and wish I would have continued to search for a better OEM door. The hinge mounts on the DS door were rusted and cracked pretty bad so was the inner support structure were the Sharpie is pointing.

[shopteacher]

Great job on the build and an even better job for Sticking to it! Keep up the great work, cause there are a bunch of us following along!

[AJohn6]

Originally Posted by shopteacher

Great job on the build and an even better job for Sticking to it! Keep up the great work, cause there are a bunch of us following along!

Thanks for the support it is a long process made even longer by my job and trying to pursue my Bachelor degree, both of which can be a pain in the butt.

[mcbassin]

Very nice work on the door. I've thought about trying that rust removal process before. I have a crap load of doors if you needs some patches just let me know. I had a heck of a time trying to find a usable pair for my truck, I even over paid for a "rust free" one that turned out to have some rust.

[AJohn6]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Very nice work on the door. I've thought about trying that rust removal process before. I have a crap load of doors if you needs some patches just let me know. I had a heck of a time trying to find a usable pair for my truck, I even over paid for a "rust free" one that turned out to have some rust.

I looked around for a rust free doors too but didn't come up with much. One of the PO's had the truck repainted. The guy replaced the door skin and like most of the other work on the truck did a really bad job. I put a straight edge on the door and the 1.5" near the edge was 3/8" from the straight edge. Looked like they used a sledge hammer to do it. The inners had a fair amount of pitting and holes so I had to replace it.

[AJohn6]

More..

[AJohn6]

I miss my garage....

I got pulled away for work for the last couple months but at least I got to stay in the States. I should be getting home first week of May and I can't wait to spend some quality time with my truck. Right before I left home I let my girl talk me into buying the TIG I always wanted (I know, she's a keeper). I picked up the Miller Dynasty 200 DX from Indiana Oxygen Co and got a great deal. They have the lowest prices I found on Miller products, plus they have free shipping and no sales tax (if you don't live in Indiana).

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by AJohn6

I miss my garage....

I got pulled away for work for the last couple months but at least I got to stay in the States. I should be getting home first week of May and I can't wait to spend some quality time with my truck. Right before I left home I let my girl talk me into buying the TIG I always wanted (I know, she's a keeper). I picked up the Miller Dynasty 200 DX from Indiana Oxygen Co and got a great deal. They have the lowest prices I found on Miller products, plus they have free shipping and no sales tax (if you don't live in Indiana).

Miller makes some the best welders made. I love the one I use at work. Very nice score

[GEARBOXGARAGE]

Originally Posted by AJohn6

I miss my garage....

I got pulled away for work for the last couple months but at least I got to stay in the States. I should be getting home first week of May and I can't wait to spend some quality time with my truck. Right before I left home I let my girl talk me into buying the TIG I always wanted (I know, she's a keeper). I picked up the Miller Dynasty 200 DX from Indiana Oxygen Co and got a great deal. They have the lowest prices I found on Miller products, plus they have free shipping and no sales tax (if you don't live in Indiana).

I'll have to keep this in mind! Thanks for sharing this info.

[dnd1978]

wow. you have been busy. You have a lot of time in these doors.

[Graham57a]

Nice choice on the dynasty, a friend of mine has one and he loves it. Also killer job on the doors, lots a tedious work involved there. Looking forward to seeing some progress in the near future

[Bennett68C10]

Nice Tig you picked up, you will have no problem laying some really nice welds with that. Can't wait to see some updates when you get back on it.

[raull]

keep it up bud !!! great work !!!1

[AJohn6]

Originally Posted by raull

keep it up bud !!! great work !!!1

Thanks raull, I'm glad to see you back on. I know what you've been going through, I lost my father when I was 26 and everyday I wish I had more time with him.

On a brighter note...

I am back home squaring away the house and garage. I had a little financial setback while I was gone; the air conditioning in my house gave out. So I had to have it replaced which drained my trucks "fun money". I decided to stop dragging my feet and finish my cab mounts. The plan is to use some 1" thick aluminum blocks machined to fit in the holes. This way I can finally start installing the cage. No pictures though because there is really nothing to show.

[AJohn6]

I've been working on the truck a bit over the last few days. Finished getting the front end put together for mock up and alignment. Had some issues with the passenger side door gap and alignment. I finally figured out that the opening wasn't very square so I did what I could to make it look good. I also made some solid mounts to be used for mock up. Soon I will start getting the cage in.

-Adam

[Bennett68C10]

Looking good Adam

[AJohn6]

I worked on the truck pretty much everyday this week. I but the bed of the truck back on a started to finalize how I am going to mount it. Once I get it done I will post some photos. I also started to line up the body lines of the rear fenders and cab. I got them looking fairly good in my opinion. One thing that has always bothered me about these step sides is the actual step itself. I've never like how they didn't really seem to match any other body lines and sat lower than the cab itself. So I decided to modify mine to match the cab and rocker.

[AJohn6]

More...

[darkhorse970]

Nice build you've got going. What did you do to align the rear fenders to the cab? I like that idea!

[AJohn6]

Originally Posted by darkhorse970

Nice build you've got going. What did you do to align the rear fenders to the cab? I like that idea!

I had an extra set of rockers laying around and thought they would look good so I cut One upnand tried it.

[knomadd]

Nice touch with raising the step. It looks much better that way.

[AJohn6]

Got the front and rear roll pans on and had to see it outside.

[AJohn6]

I got quite a bit done other the last few days. I made a tube bender using one of Speedway Motors die sets and an 8 ton jack. Works pretty good for being made with scrap metal.