Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

I spent the whole day prepping the cab for epoxy. There are a couple areas that I need to go back and clean more thoroughly, but I wanted to get the whole thing in epoxy today. I was able to get two coats on this evening. This old body is a bit sore!!!

Oh yea, I was in the middle of scuffing the dash when I noticed that the radio area was cut-out for a modern radio.....damn, something to fix!! Now I'll have to find a patch panel....:sumo:

Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

:metal::metal::metal::metal:

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Today I put two coats of 2K primer surfacer over the epoxy. I also started working on two rust holes on the front right fender. Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Rear rust repair of right fender. Toward the end of finishing my patch panel welding, I blew out my air line and had a wild snake on my hands!!! Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Thanks moregrip

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Looks good Mike!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Thank you Master!! :bann:

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Today I acquired some garage space inside the attached garage to the house. I was able to roll the chassis into the garage without the Mrs seeing it until it was too late. Now I should be able to easily move everything outside and do a good cleaning tomorrow then resume body work. I don't have time to get everything done before Dad's 79 GMC gets back from Jayson's in a couple weeks. So, I've decided to paint the firewall (side and front) and just put the cab on the frame. I really need to get this thing running under its own power so i can move it when i have to throughout winter. Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Under the gun now brother! Looks fantastic all the way around....these are "GOOD" problems to have!!!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Change update: I've decided to go with original steal bed floor. I plan on using the wood bed floor on a future build. Since I'll eventually sell this truck, I want to keep my 1 of 1 wood bed floor. Hahahah!

So, today I took the bed apart and changed out the bed floor. Also began the body work on the cab. Back to the bed. I also used one of my favorite tools to move the bedsides back into place, now they align with the bottom of the cab on both sides.

Pictures:
1. Right bedside was severely bent years ago. I had to cut into the front-edge to get enough alignment then fill the void with a bit of welding (not complete in the pic).
2. My favorite tool. Lol!
3-4. Just a little cab work.

Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Today I spent about six hours working on the 78....doesn't really seem like I accomplished much! :) I definitely can't focus on one thing at a time!!! Worked on the firewall some more, then spent a couple hours re-stripping the passenger bedside and filling holes on the upper rail, then worked on the corners and etc etc etc! Fun! Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Today I was able to get both fenders clean enough for an initial spray along with the hood. I will epoxy both fenders and under the hood tomorrow. Under the gun!!

Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Coming right along. You're doing nice work!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Thanks Low Elco. I think I can finally put the welder away???

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Really great job, Mike! Have you decided yet what color you are going to paint this truck?

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Thanks Mr F!!
This is my inspiration!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

The next one will have to be white! Red, white, and blue, very patriotic!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Learned tonight that you can adjust the door striker from inside the door. Didn't know that you could gain access through the latch (see pic). I aligned the door along the rear edge with the cab and reached in tightened the striker.....bam! Also got some epoxy on the hood and fenders. Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Lost my cab!!! Hope it shows back up at some point!!! I need to focus on the 79s interior for now, so I’m taking a little break on the 78. Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

You have nice inspiration picture! We had also inspiration picture before we started our truck restoration. This picture was our inspiration...

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Nice!!!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Teaser!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Nice!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

ABSOLUTELY! I agree with you 100%. I'm in the middle of selling a home and moving. I'm really looking forward to getting into the new place where I can start tearing down my old truck for a complete restoration too. It's an exciting time for me and I'm really enjoying everyone's photos.

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Best of luck Woodyboat with the new house!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Your truck is looking fantastic. Keep up the good work!!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Thank you Sir. JaysonB is at it again!!!

:chevy:

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

So Jayson is painting this one too!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Yes Sir! That final work, I don’t have enough patience!! I really enjoy the metal work, hunting parts, chassis work and priming! JaysonB is too good and way more detail oriented than I. JaysonB is painting the truck in thirds. He has the cab and doors right now, clip next, then box.

:metal:

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Well, here we go again! When Mike came and picked up his 79 gmc, he brought the cab, and doors for his 78 chevy. He had all of the hard work done, but the winter weather was going to prevent him from making much more progress. I keep my garage sunny, and 72° all winter, so I offered to get it painted up for him. So far I have just had to do a little fine tuning on the cab, and have body worked the doors. I now have everything in final primer, and have the inside of the cab painted. :metal: The plan for this evening is to get the cab masked up, and get everything painted!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

;)

I think Jayson has done a little more than "fine tune" the cab. I had the passenger side rocker a little high in the back and he fixed that with some strategic surgery. Whoever gets this truck will have a nice one on their hands. Yes, the plan is to sell this one to fund the "80s Parts Truck Build" more to follow on that one.

While the 78 cab and doors are up north for a face-lift, I've been working on ditching the 2-link idea and am piecing together a 4-Link that I've been working on with a young man out in Washington (Matt). I will post his information when I post pics later tonight or maybe tomorrow on that progress. Here's a couple teaser pics.

Pictures:
1. 4-Link Axle Bracket. Robust stuff. Not tacked in nor straight :)
2. Bolt-on 4-Link Bracket

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Another pic. I had Matt build the bolt-on link bracket to match the factory off-set of the original front spring hanger. All pieces are built from 1/4 steel. Initially I sent him an MDF template for the base plate (that bolts to the frame) and he went from there. CNC magic!! Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Question for Jayson- How do you Vent your shop? I just built one, and the fan I pou in isn't cutting it, I'm considering some changes. What do you do?

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Unfortunately the way I have mine set up doesn't really work that great. I built my garage about 3 years ago, and used the fan that I had in the old garage. The fan has plenty of suction, but the garage is just to big to have fast evacuation of the over spray. I need to take the time to design, and build a booth that I can put up, and take down as I need it. This is the fan I use, and I have storm doors on the 2 entry doors to help keep the bugs out. The old garage was 12'x28', and with the fan I use now it would clear the air immediately, and the new garage is 28'x40', and it takes a few minutes to exchange the air when I spray clear coat.

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

That's hilarious. It's almost the exact same fan setup I have, vented out through the eaves. It's built into the ceiling with a trapdoor out through expanded metal in the eaves. (stealth) It works kinda ok, I was hoping for better. I have another squirrelcage that flat gets down, but it has the motor in the middle, which is bad. I think I just need more motor to spin it faster. I can tell you that if the man door isn't open, it'll suck it right open for you. I was priming last night at 33 degrees, and it wasn't bad sucking it out in shifts. The storm doors isn't a bad idea, I may have to look into it. My new shop is 26x28. Thanks for the reply! Sorry about the hijack!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

We have paint!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Looks awesome Jayson! I better move out on the other stuff!!! Now, to get it home?? Oh boy!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Man Jayson, you work fast, in just over 24 hours you masked, final sanded, cleaned that up, wiped down with cleaner and a tack cloth, shot the white, masked the white, shot the clear, unmasked the white and shot the clear. Cleaned up and staged for a picture...got er done!

Looks dang nice!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

aggie91, believe me, Jayson is definitely focused!! When I've gone up in the past to lend a hand, it's non-stop, all night. I'm good through about 0200, then I'm done!!! Of course, he works overnight hours, so he has a different "Battle Rhythm" than most of us. Great guy!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Thank you Sir! I agree, that was a pile of work in a short amount of time.