Project Checkbook 2: 1971 SWB BB Cheyenne

[jaros44sr]

nice work, that rusty bed floor pan cleaned up nice, was that just blasted?

[tristan]

It had a thick coat of red paint on it when I bought it. They started with aircraft stripper to get most of that off and then media-blasted it once dry. There were sporadic dings, some with old filler in them to straighten out, as well as weld repairs to the rusted areas around the wheel wells.

[tristan]

Went over for a visit today. All body work is now completed save for the final coat of epoxy primer on the bed floor and installation of the bucket seat attachment points. I talked with the painter and we are going with double stage paint this time around. I decided to have the engine removed from the frame to get a better quality of finish on both. No interesting pictures today but I should have some soon if I finally make it to the paint booth.

[tristan]

Big day yesterday beginning the painting process. All of the hidden edges of the bed have been pre-painted ochre prior to re-assembly and subsequent full paint. The bed has been put back together so now instead of having the truck in 1,000 pieces there are only 994.

[IronCanine]

Inch by inch! Paint progress is the real chicken soup for the soul.

[tristan]

Much progress to report today. First, all of the bucket seat conversion preparations are completed with an original crossmember and a mix of original and repop attachment points welded in. God bless whomever posted their detailed pictures and measurements for this operation on the forum. They were an invaluable help. Both bucket seat frames and the center console have been test fit and they will install perfectly. On Tuesday the cab goes to the paint booth to have thinned down U-POL Raptor undercoating applied to the underside.

[tristan]

The bed bottom has now been painted with a thinned down U-POL Raptor to give it some protection while still having an attractive satin sheen. I decided to have all of the bed seams sealed since they have been pre-painted prior to re-assembly. I'm not sure if this was factory practice but it will make for a better finish job on the final paint.

[tristan]

The frame painting is now completed and everything is protected with two coats of brushed-on Chassis Saver. Once the old shocks are replaced then the chassis and suspension will be new again. I had to record my matching frame number for posterity.

[tristan]

They still have to paint the Edelbrock intake manifold which cleaned up ugly but Chevy Orange will once again rule the engine compartment.

Hopefully the next update in a month or so will be from the paint booth with ochre and white in all of the right places on the cab, bed and tailgate.

[72 tigger]

Going to be a beautiful truck - nice attention to details

[tristan]

The bottom of the cab floor was Raptored yesterday as promised. Next up is seam sealing and painting the bed floor.

[tristan]

The order of things got jumped around a little but I am not complaining. The part of the firewall that the engine obscures is now ochre again, and it looks like I will soon officially have a roller!

[72 tigger]

Good news

[tristan]

Graduation Day from bodywork prison to paint prison. The cab may be in the booth next week and the bed should be back on the frame tomorrow.

[tristan]

Sorry ochre haters, the next couple of posts are going to be tough on you.

[tristan]

More

[tristan]

The lineup for the next round. All of the ochre will be put down first before taping up for the white striping and roof.

[IronCanine]

Love it.

[tristan]

More updates from paint prison. All of the ochre is laid down on the cab and bed and now the white cab roof and bodyside stripes are completed. I may get a look at it out of the wrapper early next week. A deluxe two-tone paint job involves a lot of taping on the cut points.

[tristan]

First look without masking.

[tristan]

Christmas morning with presents opened. The front clip, doors and tailgate are headed to the paint booth next week.

[69Tom]

Looks great!

[tristan]

Paint application completed on the other parts.

[IronCanine]

Giddyup! Lookin good.

[tristan]

Paint cut and buff is finished on the cab and bed and the truck has been moved to the mechanical shop for re-installation of the 402. It is nice to see the engine sitting back where it belongs in its renewed Chevy Orange. It is wearing a 7 vane BB fan with rebuilt clutch from Frank Ham. The mechanics will re-assemble the running gear and get the C-10 up and going, at which point it will be returned to the body shop for final re-assembly.