Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

With some sealer and color. A couple runs on the inner fenders stalled progress, I let them dry overnight so they can be sanded out. I'm hoping to get some more color and matte clear on everything today...

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

That's looking great......

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

I came to the conclusion that my body working skills are not good enough to achieve the final result that I'm looking for. It's a bitter pill to swallow because I take pride in my abilities, but for this build to move forward I had to enlist some professional help. Since the truck is blown apart I'm bringing a couple pieces at a time instead of the whole truck. When the front fenders are done I will bring in the rear fenders and swap. In the meantime, I will keep doing what I can.

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

maybe if you pick up a spare hood or fender and practice body work on those to bring your skills up to par. I personly think you can do it.... it just takes quite a bit of practice .. its the only way you're goin to learn. But you do have the skills

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

I know how you feel Black Sheep, my body skills suck but seem to get better little by little, knowing when to stop sanding has been hard for me to grasp, painting scares hell out of me but I decided its the only way to learn, Be brave "Just Do It", think I'll be happy with a 20 footer I did my self, we'll see.

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

I know I can do it. Honestly, I'm getting burned out from spending my nights and weekends working on it. To make room for working on the truck, I have my hot rod stashed at a buddy's place an hour away, I drove it for exactly one weekend in the past year and a half. I miss hanging with my friends at cruise nights and car shows. I miss taking a rip through the countryside, just because I felt like it. I love hanging out with my friends and family. The prospect of doing without for another summer is stressing me out. This is supposed to be fun.

I finished my GTX almost 20 years ago, I suppose I had more energy and ambition back then...

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

After sanding out the runs, I repainted the inner fenders and core support. The temperature was a lot better for painting and it laid down nice. The color is Ford HP White with satin clear, it almost has a pearl look to it. As the paint was drying I cleaned up the front of the motor and polished the tanks on the radiator.

I got the core support level with the cab, now to get it centered and square...

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

Nice...Jim (also posted on the other thread)

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

A quiet day in the garage after finishing up yardwork...

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

Very nice work on the truck! GTX looks sweet too.

Many of us have been there...do I work on the project or take this Saturday to go to a car show or cruise in? Getting burned out and keeping going. I’ve tried to do a balance (some summer cruise ins or shows, winter project building with no time pressure) and then I enjoy the project build more. Of course the build goes more slowly.

Then I’ve also set a goal to make a specific show or event, which helps keep me motivated, then burn the candle at both ends to make it. That has worked for me on several projects. To make it, I selectively hire help or farm out some work. That feels more like work and project management to me, though like I mentioned, it has worked to get one “done”.

Enjoying your work and continuing to tag along!

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

Front fenders are done! I picked up the fronts from the body guy and dropped off the rears. When those are done I will bring him the doors. The truck will be ready for paint soon.

In the meantime, I am taking care of a bunch of loose ends. I finished up the dome and courtesy light wiring, stripped and reprimed the radiator filler panel and blocked out the steps and tailgate so they are ready for another coat of 2K.

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

Moving right along...Jim

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

That’s startling to look like a real truck again :)

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

looking good.....

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

My brother in law Ronny made some custom bed rail end plugs to match my tail lights (60-61 Chev passenger car lenses). We trial fit them, after he chamfers the end that goes into the rail they will be polished

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

The body shop finished up my rear fenders, all that's left is the doors and the truck will be ready for final prep and paint.

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

Bro

That mobile storage rack is fandamtastic

nc

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

Yup! VERY cool. Looks easy to make too!

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

I need to make me one of those. Might help from burning bridges with my wife - keeping them in the guest bedroom and all.

:lol:

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

The rack keeps stuff from getting bumped and dinged up. It also saves a lot of floor space...

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

Recent progress...

On the 3rd attempt I finally got the filler between the radiator and grille surround painted

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

Fixed the low brake pedal, finished the heat wrap on the H-pipe, mocked up the tail light wiring, and got the bed rail plugs finished up.

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

Finished up the custom fit carpeting...

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

Black Sheep - I went back to page 6 to see what you had posted about your carpeting but there wasn’t much detail.

Did you do it yourself? If so it looks great. What did you use for the edge, some kind of continuous whip stitch or banding/edging? I really like the look.

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

Because I filled the step well, a stock carpet set would not work. I bought some auto carpet by the yard and cut it to fit the modified floor. There was enough left over to make a full front floor mat too. After it was cut to shape I brought it to a local shop that sews the edging (called binding) on the carpet. A special sewing machine folds the binding evenly over the edge and sews it on. The corners were additionally glued with a hot glue gun. I agree that it gives the carpet a nice finished look. The difference is in the details...

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

Dan here's the modification done to the floor. Filler panels were added to eliminate the cut out for the cab steps. The floor is flat from door to door...

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

Very interesting. So when you open the door is there storage space under these filler panels? Or is it closed off permanently?

I’ve never thought of it before but if someone did this with hinged panels it would create quite a bit of storage space and these truck have ZERO storage especially if you’ve added AC like i have.

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

It’s like a shelf so it’s open underneath. There isn’t as much room as you might think in terms of storage. I will probably mount a fire extinguisher on the driver side

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

I spoke to the painter, he says in 2 weeks he can get it in for final prep and paint. In the meantime there’s still plenty to do...

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

Got a little care package. The UPS delivery person probably hates me, the box was pretty heavy...

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

Quick update, I guide coated the louvers and finally finished blocking them out. Box crossmembers and a few other small parts are back from powder coating and progress continues. Shooting for getting it to paint in the next few weeks.

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

Door hinges in, just waiting on the doors...

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

Nice and clean............

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

Black Sheep, If you said and I missed it I apologize in advance: What's with all the door switches? I assume the one with three contacts is for speakers or maybe electric windows in the doors? The single black button one is for a dome light? What's the other one?

Also, I'm curious what brand/model the single button dome light switch is as mine is still manually operated only and I want it to work with the door opening. Thanks for any help in advance.

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

The topmost switch is for the dome lights,it grounds a relay and completes the circuit so the relay turns on. Beneath it is the hole for the door popper. The bottom one is the contact for the door solenoid. It’s a spring loaded contact, an identical one is on the door. They get current to the solenoid without having a wire running from the jamb to the door.

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

The door switches and the headlight switch can all turn the dome on and off via a relay. I will post the wiring schematic when I can get to my home pc...

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

You sure have a way to keep my attention going! Great Work

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

Previously mentioned schematic...

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

Link to door jamb switches

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/aww-500101

Re: Brother's keeper - '58 Stepside build
 

Thursday I brought all of the sheetmetal except the cab and doors to the painter. My goal for the weekend was to block the jambs and get them in paint. Once the doors are hung the rest of the truck will be ready to go.

Color is '63 Chevrolet Laurel Green...