You've probably seen some of my recent postings in regards to transforming my '85 F150 into a "shop truck". In this thread I'll be documenting this process over the next couple of months, showing paint & body activity as well as rounding up other necessary items for the shop truck look.

While this truck is now mechanically sound and dependable, I felt that it would take too much time and money to get this thing back to showroom shape. I use this truck to go camping, and would hate to invest all kinds of effort into something I still use as a toy on the weekends. Why not make it into something that I can touch up easy, still use as a truck and not worry about every dent and ding it encounters in a parking lot?

The traditional door art and Rustoleum matte/satin paint will be used to pull this off, among other "accessories". Progress updates with pictures will be posted at least weekly. And as always, I'm open to any advice, and suggestions!

 

Subscribed! I think its a great idea. Personally I'd love to have a truck that was a frame-off restoration with performance upgrades - everywhere except the body and paint. Serviceable but well-used looking body.

 

Subscribed. This is similar to what I am doing to my truck right now. We use it for camping, HD runs, dump runs and such as that. I want the truck to be like new (with some extras/upgrades) and still be usable, without being worried about the use that it will receive. I want it to have a good paint job, the original color (black). And, since I am the one that is doing most of the body-work and maybe even the paint, there will probably a few of the "battle scars" still showing through on the new paint job. I am not adverse to having a few of those "battles cars", since we are the ones that bought the truck new, and were there to share each and every one of them.

 

A little after work body work this evening

Getting rid of the vinyl Explorer stripes on the junkyard bed and generally straightening things out. I have a patch panel ready for the crinkled up right rear wheel opening.





I'll be getting rid of the later model tail lights and aluminum wheels. I have a line on some stock steel wheels that I may check out tomorrow. The bed may see total primer by this weekend.

 

Custom1106,
Let me know if the wheels don't work out. I'll be getting rid of my stock steel wheels pretty soon, as I continue my project.

Ron

 

im interested to see this, i finally got my made up custom shop for the doors and im going to try and get them made this week

im glad you made this thread, i was just thinking about it haha

 

Subscribing:

I have similar interests with my 85. Resto-mod chassis/drive chain but with a workman/beater body.

 

Picked up the steel wheels today...can't beat FREE. They had some decent used tires on them that I sold...actually made money on them!

Starting the dark "primer" coat that will show through in places today. The bed should be done by this evening. Still have to find a tailgate and passenger door.

 

Decent looking set of wheels.

I agree with what you are doing since trucks are designed to work!
Pretty is nice to look at but that's it!

 

Subscribed

 

Got half of the bed in primer so far...Using the Rustoleum "rusty metal primer" and thinning it with mineral spirits. It goes on pretty good with the foam roller.

 

How wide are those white wheels?

 

15x6 I belive

 

I'm in too!
I want to see how this shakes out.

 

Got the steelies down to bare metal, cleaned a primed. Painting them with Rustoleum Appliance Epoxy paint. I've used it before with great results.



Found an in-bed spare tire mount as well...