The old man was looking a little rough for his years so I did a little plastic surgery and took off a few years, or more like a few thousand miles. As you can see in the 'before' pics the truck came with the gray argent grill and front bumper that got a couple of pretty good gouges and was starting to rust for some reason on the top driver side corner. After a little glazing putty (no reason to do any 'real' body work on a bumper right?) and a few shots with a hammer I got the worst of the dents out and a couple of hours of sanding got it ready for some VHT frame/roll cage paint. The grill was in pretty good shape so just a few minutes with a red scotchbrite pad had that ready for the VHT too. (for anybody that hasn't used VHT before it's a high temp paint that doesn't require primer and dries fast, it's worked great the three times I've used it now) I also cleaned and sprayed the tow hooks, bumper brackets, and hit the header panel with undercoat where it is visible through the grill. I think it turned out pretty good, looks like a new truck to me. When finances allow I'll have a black billet grill and 05+ lights on it.
Before:




After:

 

Dang right Shade...looks better...mine had the same argent cheap look when i bought it...look at my photos and see the progression...i have not used that paint, but it sounds like a good brand...

I am getting ready to repaint my nose, but i don't think i'll be going black...does that paint come in all colors, or just specific ones???

 

Shade, looks really good. I like the glass lights and wish my truck had them.

Are you AFA affiliated?

 

They don't have a huge variety like Dupli-Color or Rustoleum but they have most of the basics. I think they're mostly trim/engine/frame type applications. They probably have more selections online than they do at my local O'Rielly's. I know so far it's been good, thick, easy to work paint.

 

Not yet unfortunately, I broke my right leg just a month after I finished school in Ky. and it took a while to get back on my feet. I was going to get certified this past fall but they cancelled the test due to lack of participants. Hopefully I can get it done next year either in Atlanta so I don't have to go all the way back to Ky.

 

Did you get kicked? My wife is an AFA CF. She's going to go for her CJF this year. She went to MSU in Bozeman for school. I learned the trade from her and a few of the CJF's here. It's actually pretty fun. We've got a couple of shoejobs and trims tomorrow - winter's slow. Are you through your shoeboard for certification? I'd like to get my CF, but I can't claim to be a pro of any sort. Keep at it and stay safe.

Sorry for the thread hijack.

 

No I have nothing on my shoeboard anymore. I picked up a good case of tendonitis in my left forearm so I can't work the tongs until i get that fixed so I'll just start over since I'll be out of practice anyway. I love working in the forge though so it won't be a problem getting it ready again. I'm glad to hear your wife is a farrier, I've only know a couple of lady farriers and they've been REALLY good.

(No I didn't get kicked, my idiot barrel horse through me into a fencepost at a dead run and snapped my femur in two. I've now broke my right leg three times and left one once. All but one break has been since farrier school!)

 

I'd say its time to shoot that horse, he has it in for yaa, lol.. J-K of course. The truck looks great, you'd be suprised what a can of paint will do, did mine too a while back..

 

Looks sharp Shade

 

that looks really good. it will look killer when you get the new lights.

 

Looks awesome. Great job.

 

GREAT JOB!! LOOKS GREAT!!! I actually like the XL glass headlights too!!

 

Great job Shade, looks years, oops I mean thousands of miles, younger!!

 

Man that sucks. My mom just had tendonitis surgery on her right hand and is all bandaged up still - she's going in for her left hand at the end of this month. Those barrel horses can be a bit too jumpy sometimes.

Here's our setup for now:


I think the forge work is a whole lot more fun than squatting under a horse. When I ride with her, I typically build the hind shoes, my wife builds the fronts. She trims and I usually pull shoes and clinch. I trim and shoe our horses and my mom's horse. I've got to get better at trimming before trimming paying customers horses. It's really not my profession, but I enjoy it and ride along whenever I can to help out. She's held in high regard and comes highly recommended by big gun CJF's and the equine hospital, so that's cool. I'm just a grunt.

 

That front end looks real nice. Good job!