Nevemind one is a 70's model and this one is 80's

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/pts/5429979940.html

 

So...these are some of the tools and materials used to rework the outer skin:

 

Soooo....Rather than watching paint dry....I've moved on to the inner skin....

This should be a lot easier to rework! It's not even all that bowed: pic #3.

 

Last post was giving me fits loading pic #3.....Sooo...

 

Sooooo....First off...no..the interior skin is not perfect...but....this truck is not going to be rolling across the Barrett Jackson auction block any time soon....but be a working carpenter's work truck....

At the same time though....I'm a perfectionist to the point of being ****....so...when I test fitted the tailgate....I noticed the body lines weren't exactly matching up with tge taillights....sooo....I beat on that a little bit....(more to come) ...

 

Fantastic! Can't wait to see it painted

 

The other thing I forgot to mention is the way the side rails got spread....(that's what the last pic shows).... so....I'll be also trying to get that right.

 

Sooo....the first pic shows the outer skin dusted with black lacquer ready for wet sanding....the second, trying to re-attach the inner skin....

And the third....a little problem with a huge gap where I used a grinding wheel....

I'll get into how I deal with this shortly...

 

So....What I do...is use my el cheapo HF wire welder....but I stick extra wire in...(in this case: rebar tie wire...but I've also used coat hangers....) And build up the welds.....(not pretty....but it closes the gap!)

 

Well...not much progress lately, first I had an intestinal bug for a couple of weeks, (actually while I was working on this tailgate) ...but then I got that flu, and like so many others...developed pneumonia afterwards...

Been hard to kick and all told...been pretty darn sick for over a month....

The real pisser: nearly that whole time, the weather has been sunshine with highs in the 70's....now that I've finally turned the corner, thunderstorms every day....

But...I guess I can always do that wet sanding on the outer skin....

 

I don't know the first thing about welding. I had a cheap HF well cost wise it was $299 but yes still HF wire feed and I couldn't ever master a weld even to look like yours. I'm curious though how did you get the cost hanger in there? Did you weld into the hangar material or cut it and weld around it? Please do share I'm curious how that works. Thought about getting another welder and practice lots of course this time maybe a little better brand.

 

I feel your pain. I have a flux core welder and have been wanting a gas setup for a while now. It all just comes down to the money, and I haven't been able to justify it yet.

 

Yeah...Laying the wire in might work...but what I do is feed it as I go. (Think of it this way: a double wire feed...the flux core is producing the gas and the second wire is absorbing a lot of the heat...making burn through a little less likely and providing a bigger weld puddle.)

With my welder sheet metal is a challenge anyway...That being said I wouldn't do this on any structural welds.

Now ...I'm still trying to get the hang of welding myself...(I can almost lay a decent bead)...but I get it done...

And for you guys with Harbor Freight wire welders...the first thing you need to do when you get it home is open it up , remove the wire spool...and deposit it in the nearest trash can. Buy a spool of Miller or Lincoln and you'll be much, much happier!!!

 

Well...haven't driven this thing much....Tried to go about 10-15 miles and it almost hit red overheating. I'm afraid it may be a head gasket, but the mechanic I wanted to verify with was off today for his ASE recertification.

So....still had some more prep before paint, but it was close, but I just got PO'd and flipped it over without any protection to put the guts back in and slap it on the truck. (I have other problems to deal with....screw cosmetics) ...

I've got a bunch of other issues besides the overheating.

 

Well...This is a different design than I'm used to seeing....apparently, these trucks use a metal on metal pad/rotor system!