What did you do with your truck today, Part 3

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by MiraclePieCo

How about this for an option: build the cowl out to meet the hood instead. Way less warpage that that big floppy hood edge.

Very good idea, I thought about that, may just do it.

Brian

[Marty68]

MartinSr. is that spi grey epoxy? i have used the black and the red..

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by Marty68

MartinSr. is that spi grey epoxy? i have used the black and the red..

Yep, so far so good. Used the black on chassis parts and under the cab.

Last night, most certainly 5 minutes was about it. I did get my wife's 1957 Murray Hot Rod put together so I can clean it up and sell it. She is not a biker and we have stored it for 25 years in the shed, think it's about time. I'm going to sell my '39 Columbia hot rod bike too, so we don't have to move them to Idaho and store them there right?

But I also got some planning and thinking on the hood done too, really thinking I am going to split the front and move the top forward, I am really thinking this now. It lines up pretty good, pretty amazing in fact.

The one thing that is surprising me is the bracket that goes across the back that the hood hinges mount to. I carefully shortened the right one the 2.5 inches that the cab is sectioned to, and the way the thing rotates as it moves on the hinges some how changes all that and I am about 3/8" to short! With the hood side sitting there in place the bracket at the proper height in the middle, it is at least 3/8" up off the bottom of the hood where it mounts!

Soooooo, thank goodness I didn't do the other side yet and I only tack welded this side together so I can go back that 3/8" or so. The funny thing is I had to work my butt off shaving this and that to get that 3/8"! 3/8" up will be much less work, so that's good.

Tacking and trial fitting saved my butt on this one!

Brian

[Black_Sheep]

I had a professional auto appraiser check out my GTX and '58 to prepare for an insurance review. The inspection process was very thorough and he asked some really good questions, it will take a couple days to research comparable vehicle pricing and put the report together. When he asked what value I would put on the truck, I didn't have an answer other than high enough to avoid being totaled.

[MiraclePieCo]

Originally Posted by Black_Sheep

I had a professional auto appraiser check out my GTX and '58 to prepare for an insurance review. The inspection process was very thorough and he asked some really good questions, it will take a couple days to research comparable vehicle pricing and put the report together. When he asked what value I would put on the truck, I didn't have an answer other than high enough to avoid being totaled.

Thanks for the reminder: now that my truck is running and driving it's time to increase my agreed value coverage!

[Black_Sheep]

Originally Posted by MiraclePieCo

Thanks for the reminder: now that my truck is running and driving it's time to increase my agreed value coverage!

That’s where I’m coming from. My GTX was last appraised in ‘06 so I wanted to be sure coverage aligns with current market value. It came back $20K higher than the ‘06 number.

The truck came in at $50K which is probably a fair number, although I wouldn’t sell it for that due to sentimental reasons. Now I can upgrade the agreed value coverage with the confidence that I won’t take a financial hit if something bad happens.

[MARTINSR]

I was devastated that I had nothing to post here last night, what did I do on my truck, not a damn thing. But alas, I forget that yesterday I called LMC and ordered my bed cross sills and mounting bolts and blocks. So YES I did do something on my truck, WHOOO HOOOOO!

My cross sills by the way had to be gotten for a 47-49 because I am running the tank on the frame under the bed that they used in those years before it got moved behind the seat in the cab.

Brian

[Dyslexic Dog]

Got my cab in 100 grit. Starting to fit the doors back on.

I am trying to order the side beds for my short box but they keep trying to add $300 in shipping. Anyone have a better alternative for shipping to Michigan?

[MiraclePieCo]

Prepping my running boards for bed liner. I loosened the running board-to-fender bolts to make a slight gap for painting, then masked and sanded. Yes, it would been easier to have done them before I installed them, but my goal back then was to get the truck on the road first, then finish the details.

[MARTINSR]

Brian

[abig84]

Put the front clip back together today. Props to you guys who do it with freshly painted sheetmetal i would have scratched every panel. The cow pusher didnt really help much either

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by abig84

Put the front clip back together today. Props to you guys who do it with freshly painted sheetmetal i would have scratched every panel. The cow pusher didnt really help much either

I am an auto body professional, I can cut the floor and quarters and rear body out of a 2015 Mercedes and replace it all using manufacturers guidelines to a tee, I can install fenders on late model cars with my friggin eyes closed making a perfect fit at every seam to hood and door. That being said, these frigging trucks are a LIVING HELL to assemble and align!

Brian

[DransportGarage]

Originally Posted by MARTINSR

Brian

You don't need no stinkin' hot water to work on your truck!

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by DransportGarage

You don't need no stinkin' hot water to work on your truck!

I could even live without the water heater, but the WATER, I need that!

Brian

[DransportGarage]

Originally Posted by MARTINSR

I could even live without the water heater, but the WATER, I need that!

Brian

So true! Sorry you had to go on a plumbing adventure!

[MARTINSR]

Sorry no photos, got some bondo work done on the rear fenders before I left for home today.

Brian

[DransportGarage]

Installed the sound deadener onto the underside of the roof.

Also continued the preliminary bodywork on the bed sides. They were so mangled I had to pull the tops back to 90 degrees with a come-along and weld them to the stake pockets.

[MiraclePieCo]

I chickened out on using bedliner on my running boards and just painted them instead. I still have nightmares of undercoating my Model A fenders; after I was finished I didn't like it and it was nearly impossible to remove! Paint isn't such a big committal and is easily touched up if necessary.

[DransportGarage]

Originally Posted by MiraclePieCo

I chickened out on using bedliner on my running boards and just painted them instead. I still have nightmares of undercoating my Model A fenders; after I was finished I didn't like it and it was nearly impossible to remove! Paint isn't such a big committal and is easily touched up if necessary.

You might consider some of this stuff:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/VViViD-Clea...item3b07239c8e

[idbeast]

Originally Posted by DransportGarage

You might consider some of this stuff:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/VViViD-Clea...item3b07239c8e

ooooh I bought some!

[MiraclePieCo]

Today I yanked out my seats and took them to the upholsterer. I hope the Speedway reproduction seat covers I supplied him fit well and I hope it's not too expensive. He's a long time friend who always treats me right so I trust him to give me the best deal possible. They're originally late '60s GM seats and I dig the low-back retro look so I'm sticking with them. While they're out I'll be quickly making patterns for carpeting and door panels.

[Marty68]

Originally Posted by MiraclePieCo

I chickened out on using bedliner on my running boards and just painted them instead. I still have nightmares of undercoating my Model A fenders; after I was finished I didn't like it and it was nearly impossible to remove! Paint isn't such a big committal and is easily touched up if necessary.

Good choice. If leaving it black like that it can be touched up. Can adhesive strips for traction be applied? I don't use mine. Wife does

[idbeast]

So I started out like this, then I got the fuel lines bent and fastened down, the go the fuel lines made, then got the battery box installed.
Then the glass guy's showed up because the windshield gasket was installed upside down, they came with a crew of 5 people and fixed it 20 minutes!
Then I put the new battery in and the bottom was to big, So I cut the side hold downs off. I was happy with the fit, so I grabbed the painted battery hold down, only to find out the battery has recessed posts so it won't work...

I figured out I can just take a 1 inch wide piece of spring steel I have and drill a hole in each end then powder coat it Black and all will be good!

[Black_Sheep]

Originally Posted by idbeast

Then the glass guy's showed up because the windshield gasket was installed upside down, they came with a crew of 5 people and fixed it 20 minutes!

Glad to hear they took care of you!

[MARTINSR]

I got out there for my five minutes after some other projects and a six mile evening walk. I have been sorting out in my head what to do here. I need to start with rear brace that goes from hinge to hinge. It's funny because it's really tied together with the cutting of the skin and kinda needs to all be done at once! Not do one then the other, one half then the other, nothing like that, it needs to be done all at one time!

This rear brace has to be cut properly and this is kinda challenging, more than the skin to tell you the truth. I cut this one on the right side 2.5 inches, done deal.....or so I thought. All I can think is that the arch of the hinge changes everything, because you can see that it isn't even close to fitting, I need to add a half inch or so, and it's not even, a half inch average, like a quarter on the rear of it and three quarters at the front! So that's where I will start go get that right then the other side then get back to the skin.

Brian