1969 K10 CST Full Restoration

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by smbrouss70

....It may have taken 3 tries....

Geez...like everything else on this truck.

[Ol Blue K20]

Nice work on the console. It looks fantastic. I would have been afraid the laquer thinner would soften the plastic. I learned a new trick..thanks

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

Nice work on the console. It looks fantastic. I would have been afraid the laquer thinner would soften the plastic. I learned a new trick..thanks

Thanks. I went through the prep protocol that SEM recommends for plastic because I wanted to ensure a good stick, but these consoles aren't what I'd call plastic. They're less hydrocarbon and more fiberglass or composite resin. They remind me a bit of a Blazer top. I didn't submerge the pieces in lacquer thinner, but I did wet well the section I was working on. I used the wipe it with a lacquer soaked cloth method on the earlier consoles and that just made a mess and took forever. When you've got it wet, after a second or two, the dye or paint or whatever the finish is will release and you can scrub it off all at once and rinse. Still took some time, but way more efficient than smearing a dirty rag. If you let it dry without getting the finish off, it's like you never dissolved it. Again I really wanted a crisp grain, so I thought it was important to get it back to bare before painting.

[402Bowtie]

Originally Posted by IronCanine

Thanks. I went through the prep protocol that SEM recommends for plastic because I wanted to ensure a good stick, but these consoles aren't what I'd call plastic. They're less hydrocarbon and more fiberglass or composite resin. They remind me a bit of a Blazer top. I didn't submerge the pieces in lacquer thinner, but I did wet well the section I was working on. I used the wipe it with a lacquer soaked cloth method on the earlier consoles and that just made a mess and took forever. When you've got it wet, after a second or two, the dye or paint or whatever the finish is will release and you can scrub it off all at once and rinse. Still took some time, but way more efficient than smearing a dirty rag. If you let it dry without getting the finish off, it's like you never dissolved it. Again I really wanted a crisp grain, so I thought it was important to get it back to bare before painting.

You mentioned fumes in a previous post. I used the stripper shown below on my console. I would describe my experience just like yours above. Might be another option in the future for you or others reading if you want to avoid fumes but still have good results.

I'm really enjoying this thread btw! Thanks for all the detail!

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by 402Bowtie

You mentioned fumes in a previous post. I used the stripper shown below on my console. I would describe my experience just like yours above. Might be another option in the future for you or others reading if you want to avoid fumes but still have good results.

I'm really enjoying this thread btw! Thanks for all the detail!

Thanks. Solid tip!

[69CST4x4SWB]

Originally Posted by 402Bowtie

You mentioned fumes in a previous post. I used the stripper shown below on my console. I would describe my experience just like yours above. Might be another option in the future for you or others reading if you want to avoid fumes but still have good results.

I'm really enjoying this thread btw! Thanks for all the detail!

Thanks for the suggestion! Did you get this from Amazon?

[69CST4x4SWB]

Originally Posted by IronCanine

As much as I've fussed over these decals...it's kind of hard to throw this repro jacking instructions decal in there...but I've made peace with it...or I'm tired, hard to say.

The console turned out nice. The main reason I stripped it as opposed to blasting it was that I wanted the best, freshest grain I could get and I'm happy with our results. Not a job I've been looking forward to...glad it's done. List getting shorter.

WOW... Great work, looks as good or better than new!

[402Bowtie]

Originally Posted by 69CST4x4SWB

Thanks for the suggestion! Did you get this from Amazon?

Home depot is where I got mine

[IronCanine]

More prep and paint progress. Eric has been working hard on the fiinal sand, prime, seal and now color on the cab and doors. Clear goes on tomorrow. Then buffing, before the same steps with the hood, fenders and bedsides.

Couldn't wait until it was shiny to post I guess. I like the way the flat base really shows the lines.

A busy two weeks ahead...one way or another she's scheduled for exhaust a week from Friday. A lot has to happen between now and then. As usual with Eric, hard to say what's slicker...the paint or the tape job.

[69CST4x4SWB]

Originally Posted by IronCanine

More prep and paint progress. Eric has been working hard on the fiinal sand, prime, seal and now color on the cab and doors. Clear goes on tomorrow. Then buffing, before the same steps with the hood, fenders and bedsides.

Couldn't wait until it was shiny to post I guess. I like the way the flat base really shows the lines.

A busy two weeks ahead...one way or another she's scheduled for exhaust a week from Friday. A lot has to happen between now and then. As usual with Eric, hard to say what's slicker...the paint or the tape job.

I was thinking the same thing. Looks awesome, glad you posted it!

[IronCanine]

Here are the shiny pics.

[Ol Blue K20]

All I can say is WOW!! it looks great!

[MDPotter]

Looks great! One of the most rewarding parts of the project is getting parts in paint.

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by 69CST4x4SWB

I was thinking the same thing. Looks awesome, glad you posted it!

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

All I can say is WOW!! it looks great!

Originally Posted by MDPotter

Looks great! One of the most rewarding parts of the project is getting parts in paint.

Thanks guys. And I agree, few things give you return on effort more than fresh paint on large panels.

[chewychevy67]

I'll bet by the weekends end the cab forward will almost be together. Speedy build.

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by chewychevy67

I'll bet by the weekends end the cab forward will almost be together. Speedy build.

Not quite. Still got to paint the fenders and hood. To that end the truck got moved out and tucked away so final prep and paint could begin on those remaining pieces (fenders, bedsides, tailgate and hood). I'm out of town at my Mom's this weekend...but Eric found time today to throw on a few more shiny bits and shoot me a pic before he sequestered her away from the impending dust.

[IronCanine]

Sure enough I arrived home today to find the queen tucked away and her back half taking center stage. The goal is to have them joined by week's end.

[DeadheadNM]

So close!

[IronCanine]

Fortunate to have the day off today. Most of it spent catching up on jobs around the house...but I was able to slip over to the truck for a bit and get one small job done. Prepped last night followed by a couple of coats of satin black this morning and the spare tire carrier was ready to go on. Woody (southern parts) hooked me up with the carrier and hardware a few months ago...Thanks Woody! I don't think the hardware was black phosphate coated from the factory (don't know really)...but I've found that if nuts and bolts aren't super slick...it's more esthetic to go the black phosphate route. D-ring retainer was in good shape and got clear zinc-ed. Just followed the assembly manual for install. Pretty straight forward, but let me know if I got it wrong. Never had a truck with it on there. Speaking of wrong...I'm going to break down and re-bend the rear axle brake lines. They just dip down too far at the spring bolts. Eric spent the day final sanding and prepping for color on the bed sides tomorrow.

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

So close!

Tantalizingly so.

[Ol Blue K20]

This is looking so nice..I luv it!!

Wow, just read the last two pages and now will start on page one to see the ashes that are giving birth to this Phoenix—- really nice work and great attention to detail!!

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

This is looking so nice..I luv it!!

Thanks Dale!

Originally Posted by Martyt

Wow, just read the last two pages and now will start on page one to see the ashes that are giving birth to this Phoenix—- really nice work and great attention to detail!!

Thanks for the kind words...

Ashes is a good way to describe a lot of what we started with. In fact there were many times that it seemed like a huge ash hole.

[IronCanine]

Quick pic for the morning. Hopefully an even better one tonight. This jewel is getting cut and buffed today and (hopefully with some steady hands) getting mated up with the rest of the truck for the first time in forever....(assuming the weather cooperates enough to roll the truck back in).

[Ol Blue K20]

Looks great!