Low Budget Mods
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From: St. Libory
Low Budget Mods
I was thinking today about what I can do to my '69 that won't cost me alot of money while I'm saving up for body work but will make a nice addition to the pickup. So far all I've come up with is polishing the grille/headlight surrounds. I've also thought about taking of my trim and trying to straighten it (it has a few dents) and polish it up as well.
What should I use for polish?
Any other thoughts?
Thanks,
-Jake
What should I use for polish?
Any other thoughts?
Thanks,
-Jake
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 29,941
Likes: 46
From: Drummonds, TN USA
I think what I would do is carefully remove the aluminum grill, and using a wood backing (2X4 or 4X4 blocks) begin to carefully tap the back of the grill with a small hammer to bring the metal back to straightness.
With practice, you can learn to hammer metal straight. What matters most is to have something under it that it takes the shape of as you hammer - and hammer very lightly!!!
That is aluminum, it doesn't take much force to work it.
A rubber mallet would be the first approach, but for detail you need a body hammer - I sometimes call them "ELF HAMMERS" because of the light flat end, and the PICK end opposite.
If you practice, get the technique right, and learn this - you can straighten any piece of metal that is bent. NO BONDO!
Metal working is cool - if you can add it to your bag of tricks you'll be far ahead of the game!
To get in between the fins you will need small blocks of wood or bits of metal as backing so that the hammer shapes the metal to them....
DO A GOOGLE SEARCH: Try the keywords "METAL FORMING"
You will find one heck of an education and inspiration waiting for you....
With practice, you can learn to hammer metal straight. What matters most is to have something under it that it takes the shape of as you hammer - and hammer very lightly!!!
That is aluminum, it doesn't take much force to work it.
A rubber mallet would be the first approach, but for detail you need a body hammer - I sometimes call them "ELF HAMMERS" because of the light flat end, and the PICK end opposite.
If you practice, get the technique right, and learn this - you can straighten any piece of metal that is bent. NO BONDO!
Metal working is cool - if you can add it to your bag of tricks you'll be far ahead of the game!
To get in between the fins you will need small blocks of wood or bits of metal as backing so that the hammer shapes the metal to them....
DO A GOOGLE SEARCH: Try the keywords "METAL FORMING"
You will find one heck of an education and inspiration waiting for you....
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From: St. Libory
My older brother used to be a body man and his tools are in our shop, so I have access to these hammers and dollies.
The grille itself is pretty straight, but the trim on the "bumpside" has some dings in it. I'm missing two pieces so if I screw something up I'll just take it all off and leave it off.
Thanks for the info Greywolf. I already have some practice at metal working.
-Jake
The grille itself is pretty straight, but the trim on the "bumpside" has some dings in it. I'm missing two pieces so if I screw something up I'll just take it all off and leave it off.
Thanks for the info Greywolf. I already have some practice at metal working.
-Jake
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From: St. Libory
I'll check into it.
As for the language.....I'm 19 and in my last semester at school for diesel tech......it doesn't bother me at all.
Having said that, it is nice to sit here on FTE and not have to read it all the time....
-Jake
As for the language.....I'm 19 and in my last semester at school for diesel tech......it doesn't bother me at all.
Having said that, it is nice to sit here on FTE and not have to read it all the time....
-Jake
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 29,941
Likes: 46
From: Drummonds, TN USA
I spent 20 years in the US NAVY - I have actually watched "PROFANITY" evolve.... 
It hasn't gotten any better.
There's no "POETRY" to it anymore - it was once a high art (disgusting though it may be to some)
One old tyme sailor saying used to be: "WELL I'LL BE BLOWED!!!"
It, uh, well - that can be taken much too far these days...
(Way out of context)
I believe it meant "TAKEN BY STORM WINDS"
I specifically did not suggest that you say such a thing to your classmates....
(He states, innocently)
It hasn't gotten any better.
There's no "POETRY" to it anymore - it was once a high art (disgusting though it may be to some)
One old tyme sailor saying used to be: "WELL I'LL BE BLOWED!!!"
It, uh, well - that can be taken much too far these days...
(Way out of context)
I believe it meant "TAKEN BY STORM WINDS"
I specifically did not suggest that you say such a thing to your classmates....
(He states, innocently)
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From: St. Libory
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 29,941
Likes: 46
From: Drummonds, TN USA
This is the ride we're talking about, by the way, so you can see it.
It's a nice truck with a ton of potential...
I think I'd deal with the rust first - shoot primer at least just to seal it a bit.
It's a good truck - you don't want the rust to eat all the way through! Even if you have to spray it with cheap paint.
In fact - the more I think about it keeping it from getting "ATE UP" is the first move.....
I hope you have a cheap source of sandpaper. Get the spots clean and covered.
NAVAL JELLY does a hell of a job on the areas that just don't sand out well... (it really works)
Why is it that this truck cries out to me like a puppy that needs love? It must be the angle of the picture....
It's a nice truck with a ton of potential...
I think I'd deal with the rust first - shoot primer at least just to seal it a bit.
It's a good truck - you don't want the rust to eat all the way through! Even if you have to spray it with cheap paint.
In fact - the more I think about it keeping it from getting "ATE UP" is the first move.....
I hope you have a cheap source of sandpaper. Get the spots clean and covered.
NAVAL JELLY does a hell of a job on the areas that just don't sand out well... (it really works)
Why is it that this truck cries out to me like a puppy that needs love? It must be the angle of the picture....
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From: St. Libory
Haha.....it does need some love. Near as I call tell the spot on the hood was a patch of bondo that fell off. There was a spot on the passenger side door that was probably the size of a basketball, but fortunatly my dad backed into that door so it's been replaced with a junkyard door. I have more pictures on my photobucket site. jseim44 - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
I'm trying to save up some money for this old girl, but being in college and buying tools makes it tough. Good thing I graduate in May and start working.......
-Jake
I'm trying to save up some money for this old girl, but being in college and buying tools makes it tough. Good thing I graduate in May and start working.......
-Jake