Project Coppertone Or Goin Broke

[AH619]

WELL HERE MY FIRST TRY AT MY OWN BUILD THREAD.
FIRST OFF LET ME SAY THAT A LOT HAPPENED BEFORE I GOT A CAMERA SO THERE ARE NO PICS OF THE CAB BEFORE THE NEW IN/OUTER ROCKERS,CAB CORNERS AND FLOOR PLATES WERE WELDED IN.I ALSO CUT THE DASH AND FIREWALL TO MAKE IT AN AIR CAB. ALSO NOTE AS WE GO ALONG HOW MUCH WAS DONE OUTSIDE BECAUSE MY SHOP HAS NO CONCRETE. JUST CREEK GRAVEL SO IF I NEED SOMETHING LIFTED I HAVE TO BORROW THE SERVICE TRUCK FROM MY WORK AND USE THE AUTOCRANE.WHICH WILL NOT FIT INTO MY SHOP.
OK I BOUGHT THIS AS A BASKET CASE. I GOT THE FRAME WHICH ALREADY HAD THE 4 INCH LIFT KIT INSTALLED.(HE HAD ALREADY TRASHED THE ORIGINAL SPRINGS OR IT WOULD BE BACK TOO STOCK)I GOT 3 CABS 2 BEDS,
MULTIPLE DOORS,FENDERS, AND HOODS. AND 3 TRAILER LOADS OF SMALL PARTS. INCLUDING A 327 ENGINE WHICH I CANT SEEM TO GET RID OF.THE FRAME HAT A4SPEED AND NP205 WITH 3/4 TON AXLES IN 410 RATIO. NO POSI. I WANTED AN AUTO SO I FOUND A TURBO 350/NP205 SET UP AND HAD A GOOD FREIND TEACH ME TO REBUILD THE TRANNY.

I FIRST PAINTED MY BED AND MOVED IT OUTSIDE. THEN I PAINTED THE FRAME AND SET THE BED ON IT TO SAVE SPACE. I THEN STARTED TO WORK ON THE CAB.



I THEN GOT THE CAB AND DOORS READY FOR PAINT ON THE INSIDE. I ROLLED ON SOME BED LINER FOR SOUNDPROOFING






THEN I PAINTED THE TOP OF MY CAB AND DOORS WHITE SO ALL THAT WAS LEFT TOO PAINT WAS BACK OF CAB,HOOD, INNER FENDERS, AND UNDERSIDE OF HOOD.

AT THIS POINT I BUILT ME ENGINE AND TRANNY.




I THEN BROUGHT EVERYTHING HOME ONE BRIGHT HOT SATERDAY AND ACTUALLY STARTED PUTTING IT BACK TOGETHER.






NOW I HAD TO WAIT FOR THE SPRINGFIELD MISSOURI SWAP MEET BECAUSE I WANTED A COWL HOOD AND SEVERAL OTHER PIECES AND DIDNT WANT TO PAY FREIGHT. MEANWHILE I TEST FIT MY AFTERMARKET FENDERS AND BOY AM I GLAD I DID. 1 SOLID WEEK OF TWEEKING AND THEY STILL DIDNT LINE UP PERFECT. SO NEXT TIME I COULD REPLACE SOME RUSTED PIECES EASIER THAN TRYING TO MAKE THAT JUNK FIT.
ILL POST MORE LATER SORRY THIS IS SO LONG

[68GMC454]

looks like a sweet motor...i like the color...man i miss harrison...

[AH619]

OK SO NOW ITS TIME TO PAINT THE INNER FENDERS AND UNDER HOOD.
AS YOU CAN SEE I DECIDED TO TRY MY HAND AT GHOST FLAMES SO
I TAPED OFF THE UNDERSIDE OF MY HOOD AND INNER FENDERS.


I ALSO PAINED THE 2 STRIPES ON MY LOWER MLDGS. COPPER INSTEAD
OF BLACK.THEN CLEARED WHEN I SHOT MY FLAMES.

[AH619]

NOW I TOOK THE TIME TO PUT MY INTERIER IN AND I DONT LIKE THE COLOR
OF THE SEATS. WHEN I REMOVED THEM AT THE SALVAGE YARD THEY WERE
IN A TRUCK WITH TAN CARPET AND THEY LOOKED TAN? IN MINE THEY LOOK GREY. OH WELL FOR NOW.


NOW I INSTALLED THE INNER FENDERS AND FENDERS AGAIN. ANOTHER 2 NIGHTS TO MAKE THEM FIT AGAIN.



AS YOU CAN SEE THOSE TRULY WERE GHOST FLAMES... THEY
DISSAPEARED TO NEVER BEE SEEN AGAIN.

[ChaseDale3and8]

Cool truck! Can't wait to see it all done! I like that copper color. You don't see many of this generation of truck painted that copper color anymore, and that's a shame because it is such a good looking color! I will be watching this build to see what it looks like in the end! ...Joe

[AH619]

SO NOW IS THE MOMENT IVE WORKED FOR. THE LAST OM THE PAINTING.
IF YOU HAVENT NOTICED BY NOW MY SHOP HAS CREEK GRAVEL FOR A FLOOR.
I ALWAYS THAUGHT I COULD SAVE UP ENOUGH TO AT LEAST DO HALF
IN CONCRETE BUT IT SEEMS LIKE I ALWAYS HAVE ANOTHER PROJECT FOR
THE MONEY TO GO.
OK I HAD IT DOWN TOO THE BACK OF THE CAB AND BOTH FENDERS.THE
HOOD AND COWL ARE ON STANDS FOR EASY REACH. AFTER 8 HOURS OF
MASKING TO KEEP THE OVERSPRAY OFF MY DOOR JAMS AND INNER FENDERS
AND ENGINE. HERE WE GO.
HERE IS HOW IT TURNED OUT.



NOW TIME FOR SOME BUDDIES AGAIN TO HELP PUT THE BED BACK ON
FOR THE LAST TIME

[AH619]

AND NOW AFTER 18 MONTHS, ALMOST 1 YEAR EXACTLY FROM SHOOTING
THE BED TO THE FINISHED PRODUCT.
I HAVE TO SAY IT TURNED OUT BETTER THAN I THOUGHT THIS COUNTRY BOY COULD HAVE DONE IT.I HAVE TO THANK MY BIGGEST HELPER MY
YOUNGEST SON LOGAN. HE IS 13 AND HAS HELPED WITH 3 OF THESE
TRUCKS. THERE IS NOT MUCH HE CANT DO. AND HE ALREADY SHOWS
WHATS MOST IMPORTANT ON A PROJECT LIKE THIS. PATIENCE..









AND I HAVE INCLUDED A FAMILY PORTRAIT. THE CLOSEST TRUCK IS MY
YOUNGEST SON LOGANS HE IS 13
THE MIDDLE ONE IS MY OLDEST SON DALTON HE IS 17 AND HIS TRUCK IS
STILL BONE STOCK AND UNMOLESTED.THAT WILL PROBABLY BE OUR NEXT
PROJECT AFTER I RECOUPERATE?

HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY. MARVIN ESTES

[AH619]

Somehow The Part Where I Faught These Aftermarket Fenders
Didnt Come Through Bu I Spent A Solid Week Trying To Make
Them Work. I Could Have Replaced The Rusted Bottoms
Quicker And Had Better Fenders Than I Ended Up With.

[Frizzle Fry]

Nice truck, collection, and helpers!

[ChaseDale3and8]

Man that is one beautiful truck! ...Joe

[N2TRUX]

Your truck is awesome, but my favorite picture is the last one with the boys and their trucks. That pic rocks....

[brianthelion02]

Absolutely beautiful!!!!!!!!!

[72BlckButy]

what a beautiful truck! It's great when you can make the build a family affair.

[manimal]

Very nice collection. It's awesome that oyur boys are into these trucks as well.
-Lance

[AH619]

what should i do about the gap between me bumper and tailgate?

[N2TRUX]

I would modify the rear brackets or build new ones that raise the bumper up as high as it will go and still allow your gate to open. Looking at it from the side the rear bumper is much lower that the front so raising it would actually look or aesthetically correct.

[Piece of Work]

Love the color. What brand paint did you use, how many gallons, and what color is it? I painted mine 2005 Viper Copperhead Pearl and wish I had used a different brand paint.


-Mark

[Chevyman63]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Your truck is awesome, but my favorite picture is the last one with the boys and their trucks. That pic rocks....

[AH619]

piece of work, i use american finishes bc/cc system.it is called manderin copper metalic. i bought 11/2 gals and had them mix it 3 qts to the can
then i poored it back and forth to make shure it was the same.

[AH619]

yes guys i agree, its awsome when you can share your passions with
your kids. we love messin with these and the way i look at it is if my kids are in the shop with me,there not out getting into trouble.

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Sweet build thread and some very nices rides you have there keep up the good work.

[AH619]

HERE IS THE RESULTS OF OUR FIRST CAR SHOW

[Chevyman63]

Well deserved!!

Sweet truck!!

[wrapumup]

I finally got to see the thread, nice job of putting the thread and of course the truck together!!

[AH619]

Originally Posted by wrapumup

I finally got to see the thread, nice job of putting the thread and of course the truck together!!

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP TOO.