Saving the silver 70...

[MrMoMo]

Measured up the hood, marked it out, and tacked the scoop down in a few places, and put a few tacks on each seam. (Backer plates on the other side)

I actually widened the scoop a little by flaring out the sides. Currently 18-1/2" wide at the base

Next I welded up the seams

And buffed it smooth again with flap discs on the grinder and die grinder. Not perfect, but with a super thin skin coat it will be fine.

I've cut it back off again, and next I need to weld in the front plate that the screen will attach to.

 

[MrMoMo]

Perspective...

Well, I spent about 5 hours this morning doing video editing. Added to the 2 hours last night, I had just finished up the 5 minute segment I was doing. Ran the finishing, and all the clips were off by about 1/2 a second. That was a big suck. So completely frustrated with the junk software I've been using, I downloaded some new software that is supposed to be pretty good. Next my computer crashed. That sucked. Then it only booted to a blue screen. That really sucked.

Pretty frustrated at that point. Major waste of time with nothing to show for it. I hate doing work for nothing. Spent the rest of the afternoon just being frustrated.

Then I got a text from a friend. It said "Bad day" - which surprised me a little, as I hadn't said anything to him about it. Then he sent me a picture. He and his brother were welding up patches on their BJ60, and it caught fire... Kind of put my day into perspective.

They are fine and managed to put it out, looks like mostly interior & cosmetic damage - carpets, seats, maybe dash... And lots of soot. I'm stopping by to provide some encouragement tomorrow, I'm sure it's saveable, and I'm ready to donate my spare 60 parts to the cause!

So, with the realization that my loss earlier in the day was purely data (fingers crossed!) I headed out to the shop and did some work on the hood scoop so my day at least had some progress...

Cut and bent a strip for the screen frame. (90 degree bend at the top goes inside the scoop to help stiffen up the front)

Welded up in little stitches to reduce warping...

And then ground down smooth with flap discs on the grinder and die grinder... Yes, the majority of this will be cut back out again, it's just going to be a little 1/8" or so lip to attach a screen to.

As it sits (not attached)

Stay safe people, if you are welding on your truck, please periodically STOP and make sure the other side is not on fire.

 

[MrMoMo]

Why is there always one nut that refuses? (not me!)

Rusted nuts between the lower and inner fender are a pain!

But I won, and pulled the passenger side lower fender tonight...

 

[cruiserdan]

Have you considered moving to the desert? I did and I have the old cars to prove it

 

[MrMoMo]

Have you considered moving to the desert? I did and I have the old cars to prove it

Every time I work on anything....

Unfortunately there are no desert climates in my country (except arctic tundra), and I need a visa to have a job in yours ;cD

 

[MrMoMo]

Well after the fight to get the lower fenders off, it was nice to work on the relatively clean upper fenders. With one exception, this spot on the passenger side upper.

Sanded it down to expose all the nasties, then cut a section out

Close up.

Section cut out and section cut to replace it (has a 90 degree bend on the back to wrap down inside the hood opening)

New part in place ready to weld (minus the small amount of curve needed to roll down to the outside edge)

Welded in and ground down. One dent at the bottom from when I was trying to curve the bottom in, and accidentally dented the metal below. Skim coat will take care of that.

 

[MrMoMo]

While tackling the skim coat on that section, I did a full sand down of the rest of the upper fenders. Sanded with 280/320 on the orbital, got rid of all the clear coat that was peeling, and then took it back a little further. Hit the spots that went through to bare metal with etch primer. Did a final sand with a 600 sponge, feels nice and smooth.

Final coat of etch primer over the skim coat still needs a final sanding.

Used a scotchbright pad to get in the recessed areas where the signal lights mount, and a sanding sponge on the corners, and strange curves like around the back edge at the door, and front edge where it ticks behind the grill.

Hoping to get the hood tackled and back on shortly and get to paint this week.

 

[MrMoMo]

Well I got a start on the hood, first round of sanding and etch primer on. Need more sanding around the scoop, and there are 3 small dents in the front that I'll fill once the back end of the hood is done, and I re-mount the hood.

 

[MrMoMo]

Little bit more progress. Hood scoop is starting to look like it belongs. Hood still needs more prep work though.

Also cleared off the nasty rust on the top sides of the fender wells, treated the remaining spots with a rust converter, and then hand applied and hand textured my own secret polyurethane undercoating (I'll be doing the same to the entire underside of the truck eventually)

Trying to line up the paint shop!

 

[gkanai]

Impressive bodywork!

 

[MrMoMo]

Impressive bodywork!

Thanks! I'm by no means pro quality, but I have achieved what I set out to do so far.

Talked with the paint shop today, he said to drop it off Monday, so one last push to get little bits done and then load it up on the weekend... Hopefully by this time next week I'll be close to a painted truck!

 

[Burbot]

Nice to let it outa the barn eh? Looks like a sweet run. I just scored an 86 in silver and have big plans. Our poor old girl has been sitting in a barn since 2003 and will soon see the trails half a million kms has left the susp pooped tho. As a Mb. Toyota rust is an issue but not as severe as some I've done and I have an extra engine.

 

[Burbot]

• Thanks! I'm by no means pro quality, but I have achieved what I set out to do so far.
  
  Talked with the paint shop today, he said to drop it off Monday, so one last push to get little bits done and then load it up on the weekend... Hopefully by this time next week I'll be close to a painted truck!

  V nice job!! Every L cruiser should get this level of TLC!had a li hole about the size of a looney now have half the inner tub cut out, sheesh.
  

 

[mmcinnis]

Thanks! I'm by no means pro quality, but I have achieved what I set out to do so far.

Talked with the paint shop today, he said to drop it off Monday, so one last push to get little bits done and then load it up on the weekend... Hopefully by this time next week I'll be close to a painted truck!

Read most of your thread last night. Wow, what commitment. I need to take care of a few spots on my troopy. Subscribed!

 

[MrMoMo]

Loaded it up yesterday and took it to work with me. Unloaded it at lunch and drove it to the paint shop (yeah, no fenders on!)

Hopefully picking it up Thursday...

 

[MrMoMo]

Woohoo! Back from paint today! Unloaded and got the signals and marker lights on, then the lower fenders. Only takes 9 extensions to reach the rear 3 bolts ;cD

Anyway - here are some pics.

(And FYI, I HIGHLY reccomend the $14 marker lights from Rock Auto. Absolute perfect fit. )

 

[NM Frontier]

Wow! That came out great, looks nice and clean now!

 

[MrMoMo]

Wow! That came out great, looks nice and clean now!

Thanks, still a bunch of small things to do, need to get the snorkel plumbed, turn up the fuel, install boost and pyro gauges.... Never ends!

But first - hopefully - if it's not raining tonight we are going camping in the back yard!!

 

[MrMoMo]

Woohoo!

Big pile of wood to burn, and still in wifi range from the house ;cD

 

[MrMoMo]

Got my RGB LED lights rigged up as well. Blue and green and white look the best. Unfortunately the adhesive tape sucks - so I'll have to pull it all apart and silicone it on.