Black. All black.

 

Did some mud and sanding with blocks today. Tis the pinnacle of tedium!

 

I'm liking that "Super Duper" tailgate more every time I see it!!!

 

How is the engine coming?

 

I haven't done anything on the engine. I've been focusing all of my spare time on prepping for paint because I had until January to vacate the shop, so I figured I'd work on the things for which I needed a roof overhead, then once painted, I'd park the truck in my driveway while building the engine in my garage at home. Then once the engine was ready, I'd trailer the truck to a different shop that has a 4 post lift to hoist the cab while I drop the engine into the frame, then trailer the whole package back to my driveway to button up the build.

My friend whose shop I'm in now just let me know that I can stay until spring (not January), so I'm reevaluating my plan. I may build my own paint booth and spray it myself.

 

Gives you some more breathing room

 

You don't actually have to lift the cab to install the engine. I've seen several people, including Anthony, who only removed the front core support.
Just a thought

 

honestly, I would have done the engine and drivetrain before tackling the body work.
the major work has been done, why not get it running under its own power, that way you eliminate mishaps with fresh paint.
its also easier to move around in and out of the "paint booth".


I will be running mine around for about a year before Its painted.
1/3 for shake down 1/3 financing 1/3 too many projects over here.


"with any build, a shake down period you will have." - Master Yota

 

I agree that would have been ideal, but I was operating on the assumption that I only had the shop until January, so I was going to do the things I needed a roof overhead for (bodywork and paint).

 

Over the past few days I've read this whole thread and this is awesome. My brother-in-law has an '02 6.0 rollover we're going to stretch, and I have dreams along the same lines in the future as well for myself. This has been very educational and makes me think that those dreams aren't too far-fetched!

Thanks for sharing so many details about the build, it's helping me plan out my hopes.

Subscribed!!

 

I've been sick for weeks with a respiratory infection and bronchitis, so I haven't done anything on the truck since before thanksgiving. I finally got a super antibiotic and I'm feeling much better now, so I did a little work today.

I finished stripping the wire harness, brake line and fuel lines off of the donor frame. Then I cut out the damaged roof support ribs and mocked in the new ones:




Next I'm going to finish redoing the roof seam, then I'll take it to the paint shop!

 

This will be cool when done.

 

I went to the doctor and got fixed up. I'm feeling better than I have for 2 months, so The Boy and I worked on the Super Duper today. We worked on dressing the weld on the top seam and built the adaptor pieces to bolt the 06 radiator support on the 09 frame. I think I'll sandblast them, parkerize them, then primer and paint. Parkerizing is a chemical treatment used on guns to inhibit rust. I think it will serve me well in this application as it leaves a matte finish that paint can bite into.




The old frame from the hiphopopotamus served as my welding table.


I still have to drill the holes on the top and bottom.

 

Today I built an Uzi for a customer, so while I was sandblasting and parkerizing it, I threw the adaptor brackets in the mix, then I primered them:

 

great build so far, i love it!!