Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

lol, ya and i'm the guy next to you saying the samething!!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Ha-Ha! Funny!
I can honestly say that I watch your posts religiously, and enjoy them.
I am getting so geeked as things come together and I get closer to paint. I have started to pick apart every little imperfection in the primer & re-do areas. I reworked the entire passenger boxside, and re-primed & block-sanded it again, because I didn't like the reflection that I saw in the primer.
Now I have realized that I will probably be cutting a hole in that same boxside for a fuel filler door....And THAT is the definition of poor planning!
Thanks again guys, for the comments!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Not much real visible progress has been made by me for the past few weeks.
It all looks pretty much the same... Block-sand, prime, block-sand, prime. Repeat if necessary.
But I did take a break from sanding to work on my tailgate hardware yesterday.
I tig welded a few tabs to the gate, and spun up some little bushings in the lathe, to install the restraint cables.
I am very happy with the way it turned out.
Another item to cross off from the to-do list!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

And a few more pics...

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

I noticed while comparing my fenders to each other that a small area was missing near the top-front corner of my RH fender.....F-ing re-pops!
I decided to make a small three-sided filler piece, to weld into the void to complete the fender......So that it didn't have a big gaping hole that I would see every time that I looked at it!
Here are a few pics of the process. I still need to need to prime it, but now I will probably also fill the seams to match the headlight support.

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

just read your build thread and yes, you are doing a great job but what really got me is your knack to find the small imperfections of the factory stampings and make it perfect. stuff i used to say 'thats the way it's supposed to be' i no longer think that way... wish i had caught this build before getting close to finishing mine.

keep it going dude... we'll be following.

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

lookin Good !

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Thanks for the comments guys!
I've been bustin a$$ to get this thing to paint before it gets cold outside.
I just started working on the hood....The final piece to the puzzle, and a real rough piece at that!
I hope to post some pics this weekend, if and when I make any progress!
I had never really looked at the hood since I brought it home. just hoisted it into the rafters to get it out of the way, and now that I'm starting to work on it, I'm wondering if I shouldn't be spending my time looking for another....Seems like somebody may have walked on it... Several times!!!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Takes a lot of discipline to keep up the high quality of workmanship you have. I like it.:metal:
Great job I'll keep checking back.

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Thanks Bomp!
I don't know that i will be going through this exercise again real soon, so I want to make sure it is right this time!
I suspect that I will own this truck for a good long time, so I want to make sure it's up to show-car standards...My dad has been getting too many trophies at local shows lately, time to take him down a notch....Ha-Ha!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

It seems as though the PO's answer to EVERYTHING was rust, seams, or dents, MUD THEM UP!
I am glad that I discovered this early on, and questioned all of the bodywork before just moving on in the build...I would rather do this correctly right-now, than to re-work things after the truck is painted...I told my dad that I would be done with bodywork, if I didn't have to fix all of the F-ups.
Sooooo, over 200 welds across the front of the hood to keep things on the seams intact, pulled, hammered & dollied dents to beat the band, & also shrunk metal in a few spots that were tin-canning, so that I could get to FLAT!
THIS HOOD WAS A POS! But I convinced myself that I was saving something on the point of extinction. I'm taking the long road on this, but I will be proud when all of the work is completed!
First pic shows an area that was mudded-up about 3/8" thick. I ground it all out & made a slide-hammer attachment in order to pull the dents out, and hammered & dollied the rest, then welded the seams to give support, so that the filler doesn't crack....If time wasn't an issue, I would look for a different hood!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

LQQKS great so far.

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Here's some more pics of the progress!
Wait!...Double rainbow all the way across the sky ...OMG...Ha-Ha!
So this is what a half-gallon of plastic filler looks like!
I wasn't kidding when I said somebody walked across it several times!
But I think I have saved it!....Still an abundance of block-sanding ahead of me!Attachment 976365

Attachment 976368

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Great job on the hood this is my next step welding the seam solid and shaving the turn signals also I'm opting for the speedway headlights with the signals made in the bottom looks great keep up the good work:clap:
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Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Thanks Bomp!
I took my dad's pro-street on a cruise this past weekend, and now I can't wait to get my truck finished...He drove his Rat-Rod, and it has way too may HP for what it is, so that is all that he wants to drive now. Good for me though, What a great time!...

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

I finally got the my hood block-sanded this weekend (for the second time) and it looks like money!(making me happy anyway)
I couldn't be happier with the way that it turned out, I thought it was close to worthless!
So many dents & wavy areas, that I would have pitched it if I had another lined-up, but also had so much time invested that it would all be a waste if I did so.
Well, things finally came together, and it looks awesome...The outside anyway!
And why didn't I do the inside first? I had way too many dents to hammer out!
I also seam-sealed the front fenders to match the contour of the grill support.
Seamless beauty, hood & fenders both!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Again......................Great Job!!!!!!!:metal:

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

that's some good stuff....

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Looks great man!
I am itching to get back on mine this weekend too !!!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Thanks all for the comments guys!
I am glad that you took time to stop by!
My painter buddy took time this week to come & look at the progress that I have made & was impressed.....But now he needs to find time in his schedule for it.
I may end-up helping him get a few jobs completed, so that he can get to this sooner.
We have done this several times in the past, and it all works out.

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

I didn't get a chance Friday-night, or Saturday to work on the bodywork, so I resorted to working on my instrument panel...
My intentions were to clean up the factory bezel, and to paint it. By the time I was finished, it was polished, and I made a filler panel to cover the existing holes, as I am not sure that I will be needing any of them.
Here are a few pics!
It is amazing what a person can do with a little #800-grit, scotch-brite, Kitchen-cleanser, & Mothers mag wheel polish!
This will be soooo sweet to look at!! I am stoked!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Awesome build!!

I've been looking at the Dolphin gauges..what's your initial impressions of them? Do the sending units come with different adapters for different thread sizes?

Thanks!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Thanks!
These gauges were included in the many boxes if stuff that came with my original purchase of the truck. I don't know squat about them, and I have always been an Auto-Meter guy.
My dad said that some of his buddies have them in their street-rods, with no complaints.
I don't know if the senders come with adapters for different hole/thread sizes, as all of the original packaging has been opened, or is gone altogether.

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Thaks for the reply!

I'm so jealous of your build...your talent is amazing!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

:agree: