1sxybst

[fogblanket]

"Keep in mind I have not a clue of what I am doing. Every time I fire up the cutting tool I crap in my pants. Will I cut something out that makes the truck blow up? Is this whole thing going to fall apart if I remove the quarter pannels? I figure as long as the welder keeps spitting the wire out, I have a fighting chance on getting this thing back to life. "

I feel in the same boat sometimes.I have been messin around welding as many things as I can before i start on the lv.

I did follow Matt's lead and am painting everything inside and out with an epoxy primer. it seems to bond to the metal almost like the old boat finish "Imron". i am tring to spray it in as many areas that I can get the spray gun into but some of those areas like the inside of the doors, are only getting wire brushed and prepaint solvent wiped before the primer goes on. but i feel atleast its something.

Where are you moving too? if to a coastal enviorment, and you plan on using por-15 I would use it in your current enviorment now before you move I have not had much luck with it in a humid coaastal place.

keep the pics coming I will hopefully have the rest of my lv home by christmas (time) and will start postig pics as well
HTH Jason

 

[Ground Up]

A couple of things that may help.

1. I would use a heavier gauge metal, 18 gauge or maybe 16 gauge.

2. When welding on a flat open panel (Flat seam) get yourself a paice of brass stock at least 3/16" of an inch thick. You will want to place it behind the seam. What this will do is add as a heat sink. It will also keep the back side of your weld smooth, by limiting your penetration (similar to welding s/s and using solar flux). If the brass stick just give it a small tap until it loosens.

3. I would also follow Matt's lead and drill holes so that you can plug weld the panels on. This will add back structural strength were you have removed any original spot welds.

4. I would check the wire diameter to the gauge of metal you are using. Also I did not catch it but, what is the gas you are using. The gas mix can effect the "heat" of the weld.

It is looking good. It is suprising when you get started the amount of time it takes.

In regards to the rust issues it may be worth picking up a small sand blaster. Home Depot has a cheap ($20) Cambell Hausfeld thast you stick in the bag of sand or bucket full. It really helps to have the old material clean. I would try and sandblast about an inch back from where you are going to cut and weld. It will come in handy cleaning the rust underneath those panels before applying POR15 or Zerorust.

It looks good.

 

[buckroseau]

One thing I failed to mention.

I am using 20 gauge steel for all my stuff.......but that's the thickest steel my 52" metal brake and shear will handle

Matt

 

[warrior_1515]

I was able to put a little bit of time in today. Spent most of the time working on the drivers side corner. I am pretty happy with how it turned out.

Yesterday I did some shopping around and picked up some 20 gauge sheet metal. My brake is very low budget and won't bend anything thicker than 20. Couldn't be happier with the 20 gauge. Welded very nicely.

To answer a couple questions:

I am using 75% Argon/25% Carbon? Gas. The wire is .023 in diameter. Guy at the welding shop recommended that I use the thinest stuff possible. However I do have tips and wire that is .030. If you guys think this might work better I can switch over.

Next time I can work on this will most likely be Thursday. Thanks again for all the tips and advice guys. They deffinately are helping. I am starting to think that the passenger side of the rig will look nicer than the drivers since I am working that direction. Here are some pics of today's work.

 

[warrior_1515]

Last Two for tonight.

 

[buckroseau]

.023 wire if perfect.

Looks like your doing an awesome job! You'll be done before me at the rate your going.

Matt

 

[fjwagon]

I agree nice work. I was wondering how that corner was going to turn out. It turned out nicely. +

 

[Ayyla]

That corner looks fantastic! Can't wait to see how it all turns out!

 

[warrior_1515]

Yesterday I had the old man over to help on the 45. It was awesome having him there since he is the one who got me started on fixing old cars. He did a little grinding while I patched a couple spots and prepared the other corner.

Today, I finished the second corner. Not completely thrilled with what I have, but it is good enough to not start all over again. My wife Chelsea was also out sanding the inside. For the most part everything has it's first rough sand. Once all the rust is repaired, then get some plastic and finally the primer. Here are some pics.

Dave

 

[74fj40]

wow, looking at, ive never relized how the rear quater angle down. was it difficult to get it jsut right?

 

[89s rule]

I guess you decided to not spray the inner panels? Or are you going to do that from the inside?

 

[warrior_1515]

wow, looking at, ive never relized how the rear quater angle down. was it difficult to get it jsut right?

Not terribly difficult. However, it isn't perfect and to get it absolutely perfect would take much more skill than I have. I feel I got real lucky on the driver's corner, actually more like beginners luck. The passenger's corner didn't turn out as nice as I was imagining, but I would be set back two more days if I tore it all apart and started over.

Dave

 

[warrior_1515]

I guess you decided to not spray the inner panels? Or are you going to do that from the inside?

No, I am going to spray the inner pannels once I finish all the welding. I am actually avoiding that right now. My dad is highly recommending that as well. He says that I will be right back doing this all over again if I don't within a year or two. So, his advice has sealed to deal and this rig will deffinately be getting a solid undercoating of POR-15 or something to that extent.

Thanks,

Dave

 

[warrior_1515]

Dude, you are killing me! It makes me want to cry, and very excited at the same time. Two quick points. The truck is not a '66. It was made in February of '65, but not sold/registered until 66, so it is tagged as a '66. That is what the brass tag by the vin plate is for (it is stamped '66). look at the frame, engine, vin numbers and check out Sor's list. It was made in Feb of 66. Not that it really matters, but always good to know those little facts, plus, I believe that teh 65 is a little rarer than the 66 models. Last, it is the original tranny in the truck. the original owner (Marty Frick, in Boulder) just had a console shift kit installed (that is what the receipt is for) but it is the original three speed tranny, just a floor shift now, rather than the original three on the tree. Some people say that the column shift can get difficult to shift as you can't put as much torque on the knob. So, maybe he had it changed for that reason, don't really know.
Abe
P.S.-- As far as I know, the truck never had a two tone paint job. Although I do think that they are cooler than the solid color scheme, if you want to keep it original, that one was a single color.

I know this is a few days late, but I wanted to publically say that Abe is the MAN!. Extremely honest and forward about everything. Always got back to me with in a very short period of time while we were figuring out this sale. He even has some really cool neighbors who are protective of his property. (Inside story). Anyways, Abe is correct, this is a '65. However, I am pretty sure this is a two tone 45LV. Reason why I believe this is because I have sanded through a couple layers of paint and I am seeing the "baby blue" on the roof and lower portion. And the white on the interior and middle portion.

Thanks again Abe, you are an awesome guy and I hope we can have a beer together some day.

Dave

 

[warrior_1515]

Got some work done today on the wagon. All of the work is directed at the passenger side. The pictures speak for themselves.

I found out that the paint is being shipped to me today from San Diego. From the sounds of it I am getting enough paint to cover a cruise ship. Plus 17 thousand different layers of primer. If I thought I was in over my head with welding in new pieces, now I am sinking fast with this whole paint thing. I am using Endura paint both inside and out and the colors will be a olive/green and white/creme.

Anyways, here are the pics.

Dave

 

[warrior_1515]

couple more

 

[74fj40]

VERY NICE WORK!!! that color combination sounds like it will look great!! do youhave and color palates that show the colors?

 

[warrior_1515]

More cutting and welding today. I cut a huge hole in the floor and now I am regretting it. I have already fabbed up a piece to fit in place, but during the process of cutting out the floor opened up an area that is full of rust that I didn't know existed. Of course this is a hole that is covered by one of the body mounts. A bit of a challenge and I hope to fix it tomorrow.

While I was at work tonight the UPS guy dropped off my paint. Very excited. 3 of the 4 boxes showed up. Each box is a different part of the paint. With its very own set of instructions. I would love to show pictures of the color, but I lost the swatch and a photo of the green will turn out looking brown and not do it justice.

One more thing, I am very excited about. BMAN shipped the ribbed quarter pannels today. So pumped. Once I get these installed I will finally feel like I am out of the woods with the body work. Then back into the forest with this whole painting thing. For those who have absolutely nothing better to do with their day... I am including the UPS tracking number. Just so you can hold your breath with me.


1ze308a20342355068

Dave

 

[warrior_1515]

Today I was in Home Depot and picked up the swatches of the colors we are using. Nothing big to report. Just posting a pic of the floor and rig colors.

 

[Ayyla]

The colors look good. Can't wait to see more of your progress and when it's painted!

143 Thanks for the updates!