Builds 3 days and 3300 miles later (1 Viewer)

[buckroseau]

Matt,

I am back from my expedition and after work hell finishes Saturday I should be able to take a drive Sunday and take a look at the potential I had in mind for you.

Just didn't want you to think I'd forgotten and hope it is still there.

Don't drive to far.......going to be calling on a 66 frame tomorrow and making the guy an offer I'm about 99% sure I'm going to be getting it along with a box that may or may not be restoreable?? Based on my other thread https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=110482 , I don't think the difference's are enough to make me not buy it.

If it doesn't pan out, I'll let you know. If it does pan out, I'll let you know also


Thanks, Matt

 

[brownbear]

Maybe look to central america for a frame. Cruiser_guy on here mentioned he could get quite few frames down in south,

Also maybe you could get a frame from ENS from a 75 series pickup or 79 with coils. I have seen a 75 with a 45 bed on it. so it is do able, not sure on how the cab would mount, other than making your own mounts.

 

[buckroseau]

Got about 2.5 hours on the lpb tonight. Worked on a section of floor and started on the drivers side rocker.

Not a lot to say, pics say it all I think. I had to cut out the flat stock for the floor, took some time to fit it in nice. Welded it in, ground down and primed....I think it looks nice.

Started on the rocker panel. I have to make a couple inner braces and spot weld them in, that should take about 20 minutes. Then start welding it in.

Wife's got me booked up all day, but hoping to squeak in an hour or so tomorrow night if possible.

Matt

 

[buckroseau]

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[buckroseau]

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[usmcruiser]

Matt,

When you do these spot welds are you grinding down the primer inbetween the two pannels, or are you using a weld through primer, or are you just burning through the etching primer?

Thanks,

 

[buckroseau]

Matt,

When you do these spot welds are you grinding down the primer inbetween the two pannels, or are you using a weld through primer, or are you just burning through the etching primer?

Thanks,

I am burning through the etching primer. I spray it pretty thin when I know I'm going to weld in that area. Probably wouldn't be a bad idea to clean the primer off, but seems to work ok.

Matt

 

[buckroseau]

I was able to sneak in about 3.5 hours on the lpb tonight, got a fair amount done.

Went to work on the new rocker panel, made brackets on the inside and spot welded those in....just like the original ones. Took my time and tacked it in, slowly welding a little at a time. In then end, turn out great I think.

Then moved onto the front quarter panel piece. Pretty much copied the original, included reinforcement brackets on the inside. Same as above, slowly tacked and welded in.

Moved onto the pice of floor that I had cut out. That was a little complicated...just so many bends and angles. I also had to cut the one end, flatten it out and close it up to duplicate the closed bead roll on one end. In the end, turned out pretty nice. I guess it wouldn't have really mattered since I'm going to spray on that SEM sauce on the bottom to seal it up. So you wouldn't have seen it anyway, but still wanted it to be original.

Blasted the back of the body mount bracket and primed that. Positioned it on the orginal spot weld holes I had drilled out and welded that back in. Once everything was in, cleaned it up with the blaster and shot 2 coats of DP50LF epoxy on it. So...I guess the entire drivers side is done.

I think overall, turned out great. Still need to shoot some ureathane primer on the outside and sand out a few times, but that will be done when all the metal work is done. Hopefully get some time to work on it tomorrow. Plan on starting on the front on the other side tomorrow. That should go a little better up there since it isn't quite as bad.......well see I guess.

Matt

 

[buckroseau]

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[cruiser ken]

You just HAVE to admire a guy who goes to this much trouble for a corner that nobody will ever see.............

D-

Not no one, we saw it.

 

[Texican]

Checking this thread out is like going to hear an amazing musician perform, I don't care how much ya' know as to the ability, it still astounds ya'

 

[denis]

I discovered the last one 1 year late, this time I'm watching it live on my screen

 

[semlin]

Matt do you track the hours you spend on the cruiser? I think you should. You seem to be moving faster this time. I know it's a labour of love for you but for others watching it is interesting to know how long this takes...

 

[buckroseau]

Matt do you track the hours you spend on the cruiser? I think you should. You seem to be moving faster this time. I know it's a labour of love for you but for others watching it is interesting to know how long this takes...

I am actually tracking my hours pretty regilously on this one. Anything that happens on this, it get's posted on this thread. And at the top of each post where I have done somthing that day or evening I am stating the hours I put into each work session.

I imagine I could go back when I am done and total the hours up, at least that is what I am thinking.

I think it also is going a little faster because this isn't nearly as bad as the lv was.

Matt

 

[subzali]

So you have like what 10 hours into bodywork and the driver's side is already done? And that was the worst side? You'd better slow down, you're going too fast . You're a technician, it's a pleasure watching you work and dreaming of the day after I've graduated and will try my hand at some welding skills and hopefully bring a truck back to life. Still enjoy your plow truck story..."the rear was rusted so bad I just cut it off and made a dumptruck bed and a half cab softtop"...classic

 

[Cruisin'Carolina]

simply amazing......

 

[buckroseau]

Got a solid 6 hours on the lpb today. Started on the passenger side, pics are a little all over the place so you'll have to forgive me for that.

Started right up front....different than the other side since I started in the back. But, since the rear quarter on this side is a bit worse, I want to end there. Pics pretty much say it all. Pulled the body mount bracket, rusted through the floor, but not near as bad as the other side. Cut out what needed to be cut and started welding. Did the inside floor first and then the outside.

I had to do a little work on the front portion of the door sill. It had rotted out and it needed to be replaced. I cut a piece of door sill out of that other parts rig I had drug home with the lpb. I think you can see what I hacked out in the pics. Marked everything off and cut it out and welded in. That piece fit perfect and worked out really well, you would never know it was replaced right now in bare steel.

I moved down to the mid floor bracket. Little hole underneath there, just as the other side. Drilled the spot welds off and took that out. You can see in the pics where I cut out and welded a new piece in.

Moved upto the front quarter panel piece. Copied the old one, obviously made a new one. Welded in, very happy with how that turned out.

Started on the rocker panel tonight. Got it cut out and bent up, fit.......but decided to call it a night. So at least that is ready to go next time I go out there, which hopefully is tomorrow night. I should be able to get that rocker welded in and ground down in a few hours. After that, going to flip the tub upside down and start on that rear quarter......that will take me probably a full day, but should be very doable.

Matt