My build up thread 67 small window short/fleet

[ChevyDude]

Progress looks great!!! Frank is going to be awesome, coming along nicely!

[msgross]

what did you paint the frame with? nice truck...

[byrd]

Originally Posted by ChevyDude

Progress looks great!!! Frank is going to be awesome, coming along nicely!

Thanks, I hope it turns out as nice as your shorty, but we'll see

[byrd]

Originally Posted by msgross

what did you paint the frame with? nice truck...

I used Eastwoods 3 step chassic paint kit. Two part converter, rust encapsulator(wasn't any left on the frame anyway but I had it so I used it) and then about 2-3 coats of high gloss epoxy chassis black.

[454_72_4X4]

Originally Posted by byrd

Thanks Tracey, I hope it will turn out that nice when are we going to see some action out of the 4x4 your building?

It'll be that nice.

I guess I'm at a stand still on mine for awhile. Had a few seconds of bad luck a couple weeks ago that's put everything here on hold for awhile.



I won't jack your thread with the details though.
Maybe I'll start a thread with the story sometime.

I gotta get my wife's 80 done before I can start on mine. LOL

[ChevyDude]

Originally Posted by byrd

Thanks, I hope it turns out as nice as your shorty, but we'll see

Oh it will...just take your time and do it all "right" and it will be VERY nice. I am hoping to get my Lil Red driveable this Spring/Summer. I'm not going to say finished because I have too many plans for her...Vintage Air...Posi...and a few other things. I have my eye out for a 67 small window shorty that will be a frame off! Already have a brand new Tri-Plus short wood complete bed for the "to be found" 67'.

[watahyahknow]

cars are not desighned to bump intoo stuff ..... its goiing to be expensive to fix it .
doubt if its going to get straight enough to handle properly again

[454_72_4X4]

Originally Posted by watahyahknow

cars are not desighned to bump intoo stuff ..... its goiing to be expensive to fix it .
doubt if its going to get straight enough to handle properly again

Ain't that the truth. LOL
Worst part was I was on the recieving end....

[byrd]

Got a little more done on Frank, started to get the DS inner and outer rockers on. I couldn't just use the inner rocker patch as the little bit of rust was just outside the reach of that panel So I had most every patch panel from a previous cab so we used part of the rear floor patch for half of the inner and a little piece of the floor. We then tried to use the inner rocker part of the front floor patch and found it was WAY different and too short on one side to make it look right. So not having a break I grabbed some patch metal Rick brought over and headed to a local HVAC supply house. I took the piece needed to show the guy, he says no problem take me about 10 minutes @ $1/minute. He starts to cut and shape it for me and asks me what it is for and I tell him for my 67 shorty, and he tells me about one he had and a story or two while he worked. Took him about 20 minutes as he machine was making square cuts and the inner bends are more rounded. So anyway he gets it close enough to bang on little at the shop and tells me don't worry about the $$, just bring the truck by when your done I was like sure will and may be back for for more panels if the rest are this chitty

The first pic shows an old piece of DS firewall I had and used to make the needed shape on the PS for where I shaved the blower motor. Well my first attempt turned out OK (second pic) but it was too weak. So I had another idea, I needed to have the same piece between the outer lip and the firewall to make the panel sturdy enough. So I cut the rest of that old firewall and then sliced one side and shaped it to what I needed and then welded it up and cleaned it up a little.I left most of my old piece in there just shaved the top edge about 3/8" to give me a nice and easy spot to weld to. You can see in the pic with the piece in the vise that I still havce the back side so I can weld it to the firewall of the cab for strength. The best part is that the piece I made the second time has a better, more defined lip so that it better matches the original It is not welded up yet but just in place to show what it will look like.
We welded up a couple small holes in the DS cab corner(that is Rick welding BTW) and got the door hung and mocked up the outer rocker. The door fits really well, except a little tight at the top of the winshield pillar. will have to grind and shape the door a little there.Got the rocker back off and drilled out to spot weld it back in place and put back on for a final check of gaps ect and all looked great. Ran out of time for the week bu will get more in next week as the weather gets better. Here are some pics of the progress with several more to follow.

[byrd]

more pics, I also spent about an hour with my razor knife cutting all the crap out of the rear cab seam to get it ready to weld up. That was fun

[byrd]

Last pic for now, it has the mocked up second try at matching the firewall on both sides, you can just barely see the line from the old try to to the new pieceslid down in behind.I forgot to get a side pic of but will to show the it looks almost like it was there from the start. I think it will turn out nice and be very rigid.

[RACINJASON22]

I just read the whole thread awsome story awsome build. GR8 work and I'm not gonna sleep over the whole wheel issue Can't wait ta see "Frank" finished. Gotta love this place.

[byrd]

Originally Posted by RACINJASON22

I just read the whole thread awsome story awsome build. GR8 work and I'm not gonna sleep over the whole wheel issue Can't wait ta see "Frank" finished. Gotta love this place.

Thanks for the props Nobody has figured out the wheels yet either, maybe I should have a contest to see if anyone can find out who and what they are

[NGN]

Man I think this was the longest thread I ever read !!!!!! It sure pumps my blood . ( Thanks I needed that . lol ) I also have that same truck , Well it's still the same as when you frist inherited the Frank truck. Keep up the good work , Can't wait to see it done .

[byrd]

Originally Posted by NGN

Man I think this was the longest thread I ever read !!!!!! It sure pumps my blood . ( Thanks I needed that . lol ) I also have that same truck , Well it's still the same as when you frist inherited the Frank truck. Keep up the good work , Can't wait to see it done .

Thanks Not near as long as it will be by the time I am done with Frank
We have made a little progrees(no pics yet) We got the DS inner rocker welded in and cleaned up ready for the outer, and I went back to HVAC metal shop and had Chris(2J supply for local guys) make me up another inner rocker for the PS with about 2.5" of floor on it to pick up some metal that I needed without another seam I also started shaving the rear cab seam and have it almost complete.I will post progress pics at the end of next week, hopefully both inners and outers will be complete

[byrd]

No progress to report,but I did pick up some for Frank over the past week or so. I got a chrome booster & M/C combo with chrome prop valve and chrome mounting brackets, and pedal rod. Man does that thing shine Won it on ebay
I also picked up a polished aluminum radiator also off ebay that is sweet!! as well I picked them both brand new!! GOT A SMOKIN' DEAL IMO Check out the quality of chrome you can see my reflection the booster bracket

[Palf70Step]

Bling Bling!!!

Nice stuff there Byrd.

[ChevyDude]

Make sure you PRE fit everything prior to paint!!! My painter DID NOT do this ,,,,it is a vital step that he skipped and was fired.

What color is Frank gonna wear???

[DAJ 67]

Getting me pumped about getting the young son one. I know where there is a 70 SWB that I may get and start on now. Keep up the encouragement and we will do the same. Can't wait to see more pix of Frank. Keep us posted.

[byrd]

Originally Posted by ChevyDude

Make sure you PRE fit everything prior to paint!!! My painter DID NOT do this ,,,,it is a vital step that he skipped and was fired.

What color is Frank gonna wear???

Everything is/will be pre fit, thanks for the reminder. Rick the bodyguy is making those calls I just pimp the tools for him and do some welding and grinding and a little shaping here and there. He is very knowledgeable and is doing it right the first time, it takes a little longer on the front end,but pays off at the rear

Frank will be wearing Onyx black(or similiar black) base clear

[byrd]

A little progress to report. We have gotten the PS inner rocker tacked in and the small floor patch tacked in place as well. Notice my custom made inner rocker, the inner rocker patch panel didn't have enough metal on it to repair the section of floor I needed at the same time. A local hvac shop mocked it up and Rick massaged it to fit perfectly,even forming the little spot in the patch to match the floor I also have made my last pass with the welder(4th and final ) and just need to grind a few small spots down and the shaving of the rear cab seam will be done Also made the final adjustments to the panel I am using to shave the heater blower motor spot and to match the DS of the firewall. Rick took it to work today to blast it clean and I will start welding it in tonight! The plan is to get the PS inner rocker, and floor patch welded in tonight and try to get the rocker on and mocked up to mark holes for spot welds, and maybe hang the door, but that is pushing it.Here are a few pics of the progress and hopefully more in a day or two...

[1969k10stepside]

Truck is looking good,keep it up and it will be done!Hey,your in Louisville,not to far from me

[byrd]

Originally Posted by 1969k10stepside

Truck is looking good,keep it up and it will be done!Hey,your in Louisville,not to far from me

Not too far, are you in evansville?



A little more progress tonight, got the PS inner rocker and floor welded,but still need to clean them up. Also got the blower motor area shaved out with the piece I made out of the scraps from an old cab. It s about 3/8" too short on the outside edge when compared to the DS, but still looks clean none the less, and shouldn't be noticable once the fenders and hindges are in place. I also go the gaps set and straight on the DS door along the window post, the rest of the door is where it needs to be. It was a little too tight for about the last 6" of the top of the door, as well as the first inch or two from the bottom of the window frame.Will need to be welded up the upper portion as it needed to be ground more than the thickness of the skin, very minor. A few more pics....

[1969k10stepside]

No,I'm about an hour north of Evansville,still fairly close though considering there isnt many members here locally.....and since you do such a good job doing body work,you can come over and do some work on the cab for my 71

[byrd]

Body work, me?? Rick IS the real bodyman, I am just his helper . I have done some of it,(mostly welding) and not to say I'm terrible at it, Rick is just SOOOOO much better//faster with his almost 30 years experience. He has been a blessing, making the build much more enjoyable, and great experience for me as well