Project Lemon Drop: anything but stock!

[jugernot]

Wooh Hooo, my first block party. It should be fun learning something new, I just hope I don't screw it up. I have my filtered mask ready to go. The pics look great, I will add them to the DVD slide show I'm making.

[Sonny]

Kevin,

Thanks for the recharge to get going on my project. I bought a set of your flip dolly plans last year and I am finally going to get it done. I just purchased a Lincoln 140c mig welder. My big question is what bodyworking tools do you recommend I get? I can't wait to get started.

Sonny

[Rokcrln]

Originally Posted by Sonny

Kevin,

Thanks for the recharge to get going on my project. I bought a set of your flip dolly plans last year and I am finally going to get it done. I just purchased a Lincoln 140c mig welder. My big question is what bodyworking tools do you recommend I get? I can't wait to get started.

Sonny

Buy what you can afford. Eastwood has some good deals now and then. Do not buy the $29 kits from your local parts store's because the dollys are hollow to save costs. You want solid heavy dollys to take the hammer blows. Also get some books or dvds on the prosess.

Note on your tip and flip, if think down the road you may want to get the "One man cab & bed lift" than use 6" casters not the 4" I call for in the prints. It is not a must but it make your life alot easier trust me. I still have 4" on mine and it is a pain only when using the cab lift.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[Rokcrln]

Well I only had one person show up for the block party so I put him to work on the drivers door and burgers were served for lunch! We got one door finished inside and out, jambs, window rail and all. We also finished the hood and one fender. Next week end will finish up the front sheet metal. After each part was finished we sprayed them down with prep-all for a nice wet film that will show any flaw before paint and they look great! Here are a few shots of the one guest working. I think he thought I was joking when I handed hit a 1" stir stick and told him to have fun!

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[AKChevyman]

You are having him do what my friend the body man is having me do. All the Grunt work ;o)
I also thought about putting 6 inch wheels on the dollie I really wish I had now but other then that I love the thing I modded it to fit my long bed and it still works great. All I do to get the cab and bed lift to work I jack the dollie up and put the legs on it and when I am done I just reverse the process. It would be a lot quicker with shorter legs ;o)

[Rokcrln]

Hey I was right along side him doing the hood and fender Yeh I do my cab removal the same way but I will fix mine before next weekend!

Kevin
LFD inc.

[jugernot]

It is very nice of Kevin to say that "We did it", but actually it took me 5 or 6 hours to do that door. (My first time block sanding a car) Kevin completed the hood and one fender.

Boy let me tell you, I have a new respect for those die hard body guys. My fingers, upper arms, lower back and neck hurt from all that sanding. But it paid off, because the parts look great. Thanks for the schooling, Kevin. I am looking forward to giving a hand with other customer's projects in the future.

Now if you excuse me I think my pain medication is kicking in.

[67chev"BIG-Bertha"]

Originally Posted by Rokcrln

I started the bed today and spentt a few hours getting the shell done. I installed the new gate latches and they seem nice but I don't care for teh rubber O-ring they supply for the catch. I thing a piece of delron (sp?) would be nicer. These tend to pop out of place if you are not lined up just right.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Hey Kevin are those saw horses your using to hold the bed while you work on it? That's the way I am gonna do it for my truck.
By the way you are a freakin genius when it comes to building trucks.

[Rokcrln]

Originally Posted by 67chev"BIG-Bertha"

Hey Kevin are those saw horses your using to hold the bed while you work on it? .

Yes they are saw horses made out of 2x2 1/8"

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[Rokcrln]

We got some more done on the truck today. Fenders, hood, cowl and one door are done. The grill is ready for it's 320 grit sanding and I had to touch up a spot on the door where the old mirrors were filled in. I then pulled the cab and modified the fire wall for the 8" booster. I had to raise the hole about 1" and fill in the bottom portion, make a new push rod shaft and do some body work due to the new hole and the A/C mount I welded to the inside of the fire wall for the Vintage Air mount. We hope to have the bed pulled and modifications done (fuel filler door, bed rear mount, roll pan, cap off the end's of the rails) by monday so I can send the frame back home and get ready for paint real soon. Here are a few pic's

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[Rokcrln]

And the rest of my messy shop.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[jimmydean]

That booster looks great. Progress is good, even when it's only a little.

[Rokcrln]

Yes blocking for perfection is never fast. But it shows in the end.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[gferris5]

kevin-
A while back you mentioned a product, "Prep-all." Could you give some more details on that. I am familiar with using a black primer as a guide-coat to reveal high and low spots, but I'd never heard of a product like you described.

[jugernot]

Well it’s my turn to post an update. Kevin made a lot of progress today with some modification to the step bed. While I spent my third day block sanding the doors.

Kevin cut a square hole on the left side bed side, to make room for the gas door. He also added a vent tube for the tank which exits to the upper right of the gas cap.

Then He cut out part of the rear cross sill, so the rear roll pan could be mounted. The license plate cut out originally hit the rear cross sill.

He also welded up all the bed panel seems, removed the bolts holding the bed together on welded up the bolt holes. The top ends at the front and rear of the bed were caped off with a patch and welded. All of this to give the bed a clean smooth looks. Subtle modifications, but noticeable if you know what you are looking at.

Did I mention that Kevin did all that while I sanded one door and the grill.

The final thing we did was load up the frame onto Kevin's trailer. The drove it back to my house about 45 miles away. About 10 miles from my house the trailer had a blow out. Just I was pulling into my driveway, Kevin calls me and asks if I can bring a floor jack. The unfortunate thing is that Kevin did not have a spare tire for the trailer, but the wheel from my frame just fit. So the frame is safe back in my garage.

Anyway enough with the BLAH BLAH BLAH, there are some pictures. Sorry about the quality, I think it was operator error.

[jugernot]

Here are some more pictures.

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by gferris5

kevin-
A while back you mentioned a product, "Prep-all." Could you give some more details on that. I am familiar with using a black primer as a guide-coat to reveal high and low spots, but I'd never heard of a product like you described.

Prep-Sol, Prepsall or prep solvent. Basically a cleaner/degreaser. Slop a bunch on and it gives you a glossy surface showing any imperfections.

- Chris

[Rokcrln]

Originally Posted by jugernot

Did I mention that Kevin did all that while I sanded one door and the grill.

Now if truth be told the door and grill already had some work done the prior day you were over. But you did a great job on then and as long as I still know how to paint this thing is going to turn out great!

Oh and don't forget you got part of my shop all vacumed up while I was grinding!

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[Rokcrln]

Tailgate time!
I installed the gate keeper kit this morning. It went well but their are a few things left out in the directions I had to work around. I started by using their templet for the upper bolt stops. Then you have to cut away a notch on both sides od the gate for the stop arms to set in side of. After that bolt on the upper bolt stop and put on one of the bracket arms. This is were the directions fall short. They give a dimention from the bottom pivot bolt for the gate up to were you drill two 1/4" holes for the bracket to bolt to the gate. The dimention given is 27/32" and as you can see this does not work. What I did and would recomend even with a corect dimention is use a C-clamp and a square and adjust the gate so it is 90* to the rear of the bed. Once this is done take a transfer punch and mark your holes to drill. Once this is done bolt the bracket on and you will see that the bolts stick out too far and need to be cut off (also not mentioned in the directions). Once both sides were done I went to close the gate only to find out it would not close and I had to grind out a bit of the slotted hole at the bed end of the arms. This let it tuck up and allows the gate to close all the way with out binding. All in all it went good and works very well. I would recomend this kit for others that want the chain free look.

The kit is from Mar-K and if anyone has a contact with them please send them this link so they can update their directions.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[Rokcrln]

The rest of the pic's

[LUV2XCLR8]

Sweet, wish I lived closer, I'd luv to be watching and learning in person

[brak]

Originally Posted by Rokcrln

The kit is from Mar-K and if anyone has a contact with them please send them this link so they can update their directions..

MAR-Ktech posts on here fairly often, so maybe they will see this without need for a PM.


Looking good BTW

[Rokcrln]

Bed body work is done Just need to prime a few areas again and block. Now the fenders are left to prime and block, minor work to the steps and the gate needs to be blasted, sealed and prepped for paint. Notice their are no bolts holding this bed together
Next is a small amount of work on the inside of the cab and we should be all ready for paint!

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[Palf70Step]

Very Nice Kevin. Love watching your posts. Can't wait till I get back on mine again!

[Bob Moore]

Kevin - I got a little lost on the tailgate at first. I gather, after looking at the pictures, this is a lot like the fleetside tailgate hardware? As usual you have done an outstanding job on this installation.