here's a pic of what I've been doin' the last year

[Hawk]

Well gang,
For you old timers, this is the first pic posted since the tear down which began in October 2000. Its been a long struggle, and I'm not anywhere close...........but crap at least its starting to look like a truck.
That's the first coat of blue epoxy primer only. I've still got a LOONNNNGGGGGGG way to go. I'm now a pro welder, I completely rebuilt the cab..........some of ya' may remember what I had to start with, and I'll have to toot my own horn cause dangit it looks good!!!!!
But hey, it ain't the destination its journey right????..........

[Stano]

Lookin good! What kind of bed will it have?


Duh!! I just read your signature.. swb fleetside Cool!

[Reumster]

What's on the front of the frame? Some sort of makeshift skid plate?

[Hawk]

Thanks Stano........at this point I really need the words of encouragement.
If you'll look close in the photo, up at the puke green building you'll see my fleetside shortbed, and hood. I've put the 3/4 ton axles from a 76 in her, and put the Rancho adjustables in place. As soon as I run across a good stepside bed, I'm gonna' buy it, but for now, I'm still stuck with the fleetside.........I've just always liked a stepside bed on these trucks.

[chucks70]

Is that a set of those infamous tow hooks on the front? If so, better put a set of locking nuts on them or somebody from here is liable to take them. lol

[Hawk]

Reumster...........that's actually a drawbar off my dad's tractor with a cumalong hooked to it............the stupid SOB that owned this truck before me, had 6 holes drilled on the right frame horn, and 5 on the left..........and I never could find a factory V-8 ed 4wd that hadn't been messed with...........so I picked a hole so to say to put the motor and drivetrain in..............well guess what, I had it too far back, and so I made that little device to pull the drivetrain forward to get the cab on.

Chucks.........you'll note I've never mentioned my "Factory" 67 tow hooks...........and I'll probably end up taking them off or something, just because I don't want to lose em!!!!! But they are mean lookin'!!!

See ya'
Brian

[72shadetree]

looking good youll get there

[red71cheyenne]

Lookin Good!! What is the purpose of the blue epoxy primer? I still don't understand what all the different paints are for. Jeff

[Hawk]

Hey Red, The purpose in the epoxy is to seal. It is waterproof, if you've ever sprayed primer from a can on something and left in the weather...........you know that it really doesn't do much other than delay the chemical reaction we all love......oxidation. Epoxy primer (sprayed with a gun, not a can) stops that action. Now then I used a non-sandable base, because I'm gonna' build on top of this coat with a sandable. That way I can get the body perfect, therefore, I can lay a beautiful base/clear coat on top. I chose blue, because I like to always use the same color primer as I do my final paint..............I don't know where I picked that up, but its what I've always done........and what I'll continue to do.
I will tell you this..............lay down the old brown primer on a piece of metal, then lay down the gray..............now top coat those with the same color (whatever you choose) and look at the difference in paint colors.........all because of the different color primer.
I appreciate your comments on my truck, I've worked hard to get it to this point.
See ya'
Brian

[Myride]

getting there

[O'l Buck]

so far, so good........I really need to tear mine down and go through it from front to back.......maybe after I get a couple parts trucks and a few grand I'll get started.......for now, still rusting and still hauling wood and draggin the boat around.