Slim's Gym truck build

[54 jimmy]

you could try wire wheeling with a 4 inch grinder. that worked good on some of my panels.

[Palf70Step]

Evercoat is a Filler (bondo)

The use of bondo is not bad, it's how much you use and how you lay it on. Even GM uses it on the assembly line.

I don't like media blasting large panels (just my preference). you can sand the rust, use a rust converter, then seal it and fill it and it will be fine.

[jjjmm56]

Originally Posted by slimneverdies

What is evercoat?

Evercoat is a form of filler, much better than any bondo. I've used it to fill key scratches ,fill, wet sand and paint right over it. It' best used for final body work. the only other option is to lead it but the tools alone are pricey.

[jjjmm56]

You can sand blast that small area with a small home blaster and not worry about warping the metal . I used a industrial blaster on mine without any damage. Plus the small blaster is nice to have around for other small parts ,bumper brackets and areas you can't sand.

[slimneverdies]

Thanks. I dont know if you noticed that little red blaster in the last pic? But you say it is used only on the final body work? In my mind I was thinking lead. I want it to be as solid as possible. Would that be your other option?

I didnt want to grind it anymore in fear of making the spot weak

[jjjmm56]

This is how I would do it. 1st use that little blaster and get some playground sand from lowes or Home depot. Blast the rust, don't worry about warping you won't create enough heat with a home air compresser. After blasting wipe on some ospho this will kill all the rust. Let it dry for 24 hrs, then use a DA sander and 80 grit to take off excess ospho. This will prep the metal for epoxy primer. I use PPG shop line epoxy primer this is a good inexpensive primer. then skim coat your rough areas with evercoat filler, then block sand with a long board and 80 grit to start. Be careful not to take too much off. Then prime with a high build primer, shop line carries this too. 3 coats should fill any sanding scraches. Then lightly spray (fog) some black spray paint I use a black spray can primer . This is guide coating. Then wet sand with a block trying to sand away all the black without sanding thru to bare metal. If you start seeing bare spots before the black is gone then those those spots are LOW, you will either need to skim coat again of use a shrinking disk to bring down the high spots. You tube has many videos on doing body work I hope this helps. And as for lead work not many people do it anymore because it's a PITA.

[slimneverdies]

Well Ive been out of commission for a few months cause me and the old girl are splitting up So now that I will be alone I can get back on my build. Ive been practicing up on my tig welding and am ready to build. While I havent been working on my truck a friend of mine said he had a truck he wanted to get rid of?

So I go take a look and what do I see?

[slimneverdies]

He said I can have it for free Of course there's always a catch. There is a 30yr old tree growing thru the bed. Lamo Belive it or not the truck is actually in good shape to be sitting in the same spot for lord knows how long.

[dammitmitchell]

OMG!!!!!!! what a great score!

[nickp51chevy]

Nice!

[bensimmons_05]

LUCKY!!!! I know how you feel about the trees man... Seems every truck I find is in the woods and I have to cut down trees. Good luck with your build!

[Bigblue29]

Funny how a tree never seems to grow very fast, until you find a truck you want to buy with a big old tree growing threw it! Nice score man!

[OrrieG]

It actualy looks like the tree grew under the frame and helped keep it from sinking into the mud, might be a pretty solid rig. I'd have it free in 20 minutes with my chain saw, most trucks need the bed replaced anyway. Grab it.....

[slimneverdies]

Yeah its a good score. I'll end up spending around $200 on finding someone to chop all the trees down cause its like two trees merging into a few others . The main one is about 50' tall and has a million branches speaded out. Have to find someone to cut it down without damaging the truck cause I sure aint gonna

[slimneverdies]

I dont know if its the trees or what but the sheetmetal is in very good condition. Its like a Rambo trick, the leaves keep all the salt so now its fresh water sprinkles LMAO

[Bigblue29]

If I was any where near ya I would cut'em out in a flash! Good luck on the logging expedition

[nickp51chevy]

I just noticed that it's a '47. LUCKYYYYYYY!

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Nice score on the free truck looks like your project will move quickly....

[IL boy]

hey slim did u ever find a lumber jack to get that truck out of the trees? do u ever make it to tower on fridays? Im just starting my first truck and have found the guys there extremely helpful

[slimneverdies]

IL boy, I can only say that im so frustrated with the Slim's Gym project that I havent even thought about going to pull the other one. I have a 83 el Camino that's in the works and my 86 C10 daily to worry about too. The 53 is my first priority though.

Where is this notorious Tower that I've been hearing about for the last 3years? Is it that spot in Pemboke Pines or the one in Davie? I've been to the one in Davie off of University and 595.

[IL boy]

its one in davie. there is a guy with a 54 with a 57 belair dash. a guy with a 55 1st that is pretty well done. i've seen a few 51's and there are always a couple of apache guys there too. i never heard of a cruise in pembroke pines but i've only been down here two years.

[IL boy]

hey slim you were looking for an 8.8 rear end?

http://miami.craigslist.org/pbc/pts/1236403682.html


idk if it will work, just thought you'd be interested in checking it out

[slimneverdies]

Thanks dude. I called and left a message for some measurements on the rear end. Yeah, theres this little show they do next to Maroone Cheverolet once a month. Ive been there a few times but when I usually get up on Saturdays its almost over.

[slimneverdies]

Hey IL Boy, thanks for the link. The guy actually drove down from Loxahatchee to deliver the rear end for me. He was a really nice dude. I wish I could find some people here in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale that nice.

[IL boy]

i am glad the info helped. i completely understand where you are coming from, people in S. FL are a breed unto their own. it seems the nice ones are from somewhere else, but i wouldn't want to live anywhere else. one of these fridays we will have to meet up at tower or something. i'm the guy walking around the pre 74 section wearing a cubs hat and long goatee. names Trent by the way.

this is my hubgarge link with pics of my trucks. www.hubgarage.com/mygarage/enrohtnotnert