"52 3600/3100"

[Mains52]

Thanks Gig!! I told my wife last night that about $3500 and the truck could be running driving and she thought I was insane wanting to put 3500 more into it. haha. It cracks me up that she doesn't realize if I had a bagged truck with a 5.3 on the road for a total of $5500 I would be doing pretty well.

[gigamanx]

Originally Posted by Mains52

Thanks Gig!! I told my wife last night that about $3500 and the truck could be running driving and she thought I was insane wanting to put 3500 more into it. haha. It cracks me up that she doesn't realize if I had a bagged truck with a 5.3 on the road for a total of $5500 I would be doing pretty well.

$3500..yeah that's what it cost me to purchase and fix the SBC 350 I got off craigslist then needed a torque converter and transmission. I thought it was an awesome deal haha.

I'm just shy of $14,000 with a running, driving, truck. That is from the day it rolled off the trailer until now. Its all a matter of perspective as I cringe at spending $800 on new brakes for my Hyundai Santa Fe daily driver, but went and spent $800 without blinking on some sweet wheels for the pickup truck.

I can't explain it really.

[Mains52]

Originally Posted by gigamanx

$3500..yeah that's what it cost me to purchase and fix the SBC 350 I got off craigslist then needed a torque converter and transmission. I thought it was an awesome deal haha.

I'm just shy of $14,000 with a running, driving, truck. That is from the day it rolled off the trailer until now. Its all a matter of perspective as I cringe at spending $800 on new brakes for my Hyundai Santa Fe daily driver, but went and spent $800 without blinking on some sweet wheels for the pickup truck.

I can't explain it really.

Oh I am with you. I can't stand putting money towards daily drivers. I am just about to the end of all of the 40-50 dollar crap I can sneak past her. Its almost time for the 200+ purchases. Shes not going to be as cooperative with those I am sure.

[Erics51chevy]

I tell my girl i could always go buy a new car for over 30k. Which would you prefer? Ha

[gigamanx]

At some point I just started taking boxes into the garage before she saw them.

Wife: "Hey that looks new"
Me: "Oh no, it came like that, I just cleaned it up a bit"

Or, try the significant other's approach...

Me: "How much did those shoes cost?"
Wife: "I saved $60!"
Me: "Yes, but how much did they cost?"
Wife: "On sale!!!!!!"
Me: "Oh, nevermind"

[dsraven]

I tried this when it was paint time on one of my projects.
ask her how much a bottle of finger nail polish is, then extrapolate that into how much per gallon, then tell her how much a gallon of that really cool car paint is. waaaay less. don't mention the other stuff, like air compressors, sanders, paint booth rentals and such.

[Erics51chevy]

I would cut it out. Brace the floor so nothing moves. And then go to town. The back of the cab might be a little tough because the whole radius has a lip

[Mains52]

So I cut some out and made my first patch ever. I also managed to mock up the rocker also. I am by no means a body/ metal work expert but I was pretty happy about how it turned out. I still have to finish tacking it in but its a start.

[gigamanx]

Originally Posted by Mains52

So I cut some out and made my first patch ever. I also managed to mock up the rocker also. I am by no means a body/ metal work expert but I was pretty happy about how it turned out. I still have to finish tacking it in but its a start.

Very nice metal work!

[Mains52]

Got the lower jam tacked in and mocked up some more stuff yesterday. I figured out that I need to lift the cab up and get the jam raised up into the right position but Ill wait for help to complete that. I also was having a little trouble fitting my new kick panel piece in with the lower jam piece in there. Have any of you guys struggled with new reproduction parts and fitment? I feel like almost everyone on here has had some sort of issue with the new pieces.

[Mains52]

Went to the GOODGUYS show in Des Moines this weekend and scored a full set of control arms for $180 and a rack and pinion for $35. Just have to get some garage time. I am ready to put this thing together.

[Erics51chevy]

Looks good to me. Nice job.

[oldman3]

Yes, nice repair...Jim

[dsraven]

before getting too far into it you may want to install a door in the opening, as best as possible, and then brace the cab. you wouldn't wanna do a bunch of work and then find out the door doesn't fit or the windshield won't fit etc. also, do the work with the cab bolted down to something, like the frame, so it stays how it should be when bolted to the frame for real. welding tends to slowly bend stings due to heat/shrink.

[Mains52]

Originally Posted by dsraven

before getting too far into it you may want to install a door in the opening, as best as possible, and then brace the cab. you wouldn't wanna do a bunch of work and then find out the door doesn't fit or the windshield won't fit etc. also, do the work with the cab bolted down to something, like the frame, so it stays how it should be when bolted to the frame for real. welding tends to slowly bend stings due to heat/shrink.

Putting the door in is the plan for sure. I didn't even think of the windshield I currently have it bolted to the frame in the front. My dad is going to come double check my work for me before I get to far ahead of myself.

[Mains52]

Thank you ERIC and OLDMAN. I am having a blast learning all of this stuff on my own. Makes me feel proud when I do something and it works haha.

[dsraven]

a couple of tips you can try,
when welding 2 panels together that overlap each other, spray some weld through primer on the parts that will contact each other, then do the weld. that way there is no uncoated steel there to rust. it is near impossible to get a coating on these surfaces otherwise.
if mig welding always cut the wire tip to length prior to starting each weld so the wire is sharp on the end and will strike an arc right away, less spatter and better weld
always clean both sides of the weld area down to good clean metal so your weld will be good as well
for overlapping parts, drill a series of about a 1/4' diameter holes through one of the parts to be welded,spaced apart like the spots welds you had to remove, then put the parts together and vice grip or sheet metal screw the pieces together so they are how you want them (teck screws work well because they have their own drill bit on the end). then weld through the hole you drilled into the part that is behind so the two parts weld together well and you can see the puddle connecting the 2 parts. if you predrilled the right piece then that part will either be unseen where the weld is or else the weld area will be easily seen and cleaned up after welding to be smooth. a small hole can look like the parts connect as you welded but then the weld caps the hole so quickly you are really guessing as to whether the parts are actually welded or if the hole is just filled. practice on some scrap if not too sure.

[Mains52]

Originally Posted by dsraven

a couple of tips you can try,
when welding 2 panels together that overlap each other, spray some weld through primer on the parts that will contact each other, then do the weld. that way there is no uncoated steel there to rust. it is near impossible to get a coating on these surfaces otherwise.
if mig welding always cut the wire tip to length prior to starting each weld so the wire is sharp on the end and will strike an arc right away, less spatter and better weld
always clean both sides of the weld area down to good clean metal so your weld will be good as well
for overlapping parts, drill a series of about a 1/4' diameter holes through one of the parts to be welded,spaced apart like the spots welds you had to remove, then put the parts together and vice grip or sheet metal screw the pieces together so they are how you want them (teck screws work well because they have their own drill bit on the end). then weld through the hole you drilled into the part that is behind so the two parts weld together well and you can see the puddle connecting the 2 parts. if you predrilled the right piece then that part will either be unseen where the weld is or else the weld area will be easily seen and cleaned up after welding to be smooth. a small hole can look like the parts connect as you welded but then the weld caps the hole so quickly you are really guessing as to whether the parts are actually welded or if the hole is just filled. practice on some scrap if not too sure.

Thank you for the tips. I just ordered a can of weld-thru primer.

[Mains52]

I will have to modify the lowers for bags but it was too good of a deal to pass up.

[Matt_50]

Just read your build. Fun read. I liked your comments about getting a weekend day a while back. My wife was nice enough to give me a whole day once, until she realized I took it seriously, I was outside before sun came up and still out there when it came down. She was not a happy camper....

I'll keep following your build.

[Mains52]

Originally Posted by Matt_50

Just read your build. Fun read. I liked your comments about getting a weekend day a while back. My wife was nice enough to give me a whole day once, until she realized I took it seriously, I was outside before sun came up and still out there when it came down. She was not a happy camper....

I'll keep following your build.

Thanks Matt I’ve looked through your build and check it every time it pops up. This weekend my dad is going to come help me get my cab corner in and whatever else we can get done before the supercross comes on. Ha my goal is to have the M2 and 4link in and some roller tires on before the the end of March.

[joedoh]

sorry about your leg, good thinking on your feet though!

[8man]

Just found your build, nice metal work. I'm going through the poor fit of parts right now and have that left front pillar to do. Keep at it.

[Mains52]

Originally Posted by 8man

Just found your build, nice metal work. I'm going through the poor fit of parts right now and have that left front pillar to do. Keep at it.

Thank you I appreciate it. Its been head scratching at times but this is my first ever build so Im having fun with it. This forum has been a huge help.

[Matt_50]

Yea this forum has been very friendly towards me and all my new guy first build questions.