My 55 Chevy 4X4

[rgunlock]

Sounds like a good excuse to get more metal working toys to me!

[marc55]

Exactly. I have been eyeing the Eastwood TIG plasma combo. I love my miler MIG but 2 things for less than the cost of one. I figure if I build a frame and a roll bar it will pay for it's self.

[marc55]

Truck is getting primer should have some pics next week. I finally made a welding table. Just need to put the shelfs in. It was good practice for the TIG welder.

[marc55]

Half the truck is in guide coat the rest next week. Primer and wet sand in the next couple. Painter says should be 100% done is about 5 weeks.

[marc55]

Well over budget and over time but the light can be seen at the end of the tunnel. Need to pick a final color. Looking at a completion date by the end of next month. Unfortunately I am digging into my engine money to finish the paint.

I have also been able to get a couple project done while the truck is gone. I like to wood work and I just bought a TIG welder so I thought this would be a good project to learn.



The wood working was not cutting it. Every day I have to look at my long term no buck project so I did my first chop last week. 4 inch 1 out of the rear window. Very surprised how well it went.

[rgunlock]

Was wondering how things were coming along. Over budget and haven't started paint yet - ouch! Doing your chop should put your fledgling tig skills to the test, or did you already know how to tig weld before you bought the rig?

[marc55]

The budget sucks somethings just would not fit right and needed a lot of work but you have to do things right. I knew what I was getting into. if I did all the work it was going to add a year plus to finishing the truck. So I picked money over time. I have painted plenty of cars and just did not want to put in the time. A good garage paint job is a lot of work. TIG is new to me but I always wanted to learn, same with the chop. I figure read a book watch a video and go for it.

[rgunlock]

Originally Posted by marc55

A good garage paint job is a lot of work.

Tell me about it - even a somewhat good garage paint job is a lot of work, and I still have to redo a couple of panels.

Originally Posted by marc55

TIG is new to me but I always wanted to learn, same with the chop. I figure read a book watch a video and go for it.

Seems to me that is how we figure out most of the skills required for this hobby!

[marc55]

WOW 6 years. Life hit hard. I usually paint my cars but I decided to save time and have it done. That was a mistake. Painter was a total flake to make a long story short truck was in paint jail for 3 years. I was also able to build our dream house and shop 64x40. So the truck was in storage during the 2 years it took me to build the shop. I am finally up and running and have started working on the truck.

[dsraven]

not usually a fan of the 4x4 trucks becauise guys usually put too much tire under them that sticks out way past the fenders, to look like a monster truck I guess. yours is more tastefully done, nice.
64 x 40........jealous. mine is 26 x 30 and usually has too much stuff piled along the sides.

[Southcity]

Welcome back! glad you are able to pick back up on this 4x4, nice truck! now we need more pics of it and your new shop!

[marc55]

I usually like as a deep rim but the look was not right. I have had plenty of 4x4s that throw rocks down the side of the truck and I did not want that. The shop is a hybrid so I could make it match the house. I did all the work except the floor and install of the garage doors.

[marc55]

I will go back about 6 month to when I started working on the truck. Glass is in. I like wing windows so I refurbed them. I know they will leak but I like the look. Put bear claw latches, and power windows. The way the door hinges makes it tough to run power to the door. I don't like the sliding looms. I think I am going to go with a contact switch.

[marc55]

Yep, LS everything. Engine trans is set. I will need to modify the trans x-member for the front driveline. engine has a mild cam. Just started the plumbing and exhaust system.

[57FleetsideC4]

Coming along nicely. I like the vent widows also and will be putting them back in on my build. Nice progress!! Steve

[62 Barnfind]

Paint looks good! Is that Brewster green?

[dsraven]

curious what style of construction that is, wall studs with cross studs. joists on roof with beams spaced far apart. is there a name for that? engineered for some heavy load?
do you plan on a hoist since you have that tall cieling.

[marc55]

The color is real close to 2005 GM Silverado. Don't know the name. The building is a "vaulted clearspan truss". It uses pearling's and gert's to tie in the steel trusses. Building uses cables for shear wall strength. I have a 3/12 roof and is fully engineered for snow load in WA. state. Usually you side it with steel but I sheeted it with OSB and put Hardieplank siding to match my house. The nice thing is you can put a door or window anywhere you want because the walls are not structural. So I was able to put 2 16' and 2 10' wide doors in.

[dsraven]

nice. the wall loading was what I was wondering about, I thought the truss system was prolly what holds the building.

[Kevin_C]

Truck looks great but I'm jealous of the garage. Been trying to build a 24x42 for two years now. nothing fancy just an open shell. Most contractors don't even call back. got one quote for 78k. Im sure its probably even more now with the way the world is.

[marc55]

Thanks, I came in just under 80k, but I got lucky purchased building in 2018 and was buying OSB for $11 a sheet. Back in 2019 bids were about 130k so the sweat equity was worth it.

[Southcity]

You nailed it on the garage, great job! and yeah, most of us on this board would love to have such a sweet setup. Curious about the color on the 55, looks real nice, custom blend or?

[marc55]

I found the paint code.

[vintovka]

Originally Posted by Kevin_C

Truck looks great but I'm jealous of the garage. Been trying to build a 24x42 for two years now. nothing fancy just an open shell. Most contractors don't even call back. got one quote for 78k. Im sure its probably even more now with the way the world is.

Feel your pain. Had to go with a cheapy 24x26 metal building only 2 years after building a first quality stick built garage for same price of 22K!! Remember to spec door height at least 6" taller than your rig.

[6DoF]

jealous of the shop!

gota feel good getting back to real progress, glad ya didn't let it go in the mean time.