Is it practable to paint the fenders, grill & fender panels, assemble them and then install the whole assembly when finished? Would there be better allignment installed one at a time after the cab is in place?
Bill

 

It's my experienced opinion that if you have (or will) painted your front end sheet metal apart, it's much easier to put it together one piece at a time rather than as an assembly without damaging anything.

 

Thanks for the info and I think you are right. Be pretty heavy and trying to keep the fenders off the cab would be a bitch.

 

I personally prefer to paint the mating surfaces of the parts, assemble and adjust to fit and then paint the overall vehicle. With our old trucks there are many body seams you can tape off and paint single areas one at a time. You avoid the possibility of scratching parts while installing. If you do you still have the parts in primer which is a lot easier to repair than top coat paint.

 

Very good idea.
Thanks, Bill

 

We considered both ways and decided to assemble it piece by piece. It was easy to get everything lined up without damaging the paint. I thought maybe the fiberglass fenders would flex to much and crack the paint if all of it was together. Good luck either way you use. We started with the grille first. .

 

Its best to have the motor really to go before in frontend parts or inatalled then the radiator and support installed also. CAUSE THE FRONT FENDERS BOLT TO THIS SUPPORT. Some tape on the cab will help from any contact that may hurt your paint job.

 

Either of the suggested ways is practical. However, if it were me, I'd probably edge all of the body panels like Bob describes, assemble/fit/adjust them and then paint the whole assembly. I'd be afraid of scratching them during assembly if everything was painted separately. Plus, when you paint all at once, texture, color and coverage is the same.

 

Think that is the best approach, paint the edges, assemble piece by piece, paint the grill, poss grill backing and then after assembled, paint the cab & front end as a unit. How about fender whelts, any ideas on these? I was thinking of blasting the bottom of the cab, priming and add good quality of undercoat on the bottom. Engine, trans & radiator is in place now.
Bill

 

That all depends on how much talent you have as a painter. I never had much of an issue with that. But that's what 23 years of restoration and street rod building will do for you.

 

I used to run a body shop and also painted cars but that was 40 years ago. I have friends in the business that I will get to paint the truck. What is your experience with fender whelts?
Bill

 

Personally, I think fender welting looks out of place on our trucks. It was never there originally. On older cars where it does belong, we always installed the fenders loosely then slipped the welting in the gap (cut U slots in the welting flange to fit around the bolt) and tightened and adjusted as we went.

 

I like your answer as I remember messing with that crap on earlier cars. Since I'm a little new with trucks I didn't notice it was missing.
Thanks,
Bill

 

Do you mean the anti-squeak padding used between the front end components? I would use that, even tho it's a major PITA to cut / punch all the bolt holes and cut it to shape. The front ends on these squirm around a lot.

 

I will use the standard pads new that were original, no actual fender whelt.
Bill