long and hopefully good thread
 

So I get this 60 SWB Fleetside. Started working on it and got to the point of dig deeper and make it beautiful or go shallow and make it kinda nice. I can do anything with patience and the right coaching in particular areas. Hopefully this build thread can be the someones "Hey if he can do it" type.
I'm going to use this thread as a double check and a hey make it nice incentive for myself and hopefully gain knowledge from Forum members. I need to learn patience and when that happens the work will only get better so here is the beginning of a great project...

The PO put panels in over the dash board speaker grill and ash tray/heater control/radio holes. I have a whole cab from a 61 so I have plenty to rob from. So the first big sheet metal project will be the fitting and installing of this center section on my dash.

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when filling in the radio hole that the PO mangled it and when installing the patch panel I did not practice any patience and I now have a wavy panel. but I believe it will straighten and I will be happen in the end.

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Need to fit it better and then tack it in. Right now it is slightly too big of a panel. That;s good cause adding metal would suck!!!

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I taped the lines I wanted to cut on making sure it was slightly smaller. I can take metal off like a rock star but adding metal not so much. You can see the patch the PO put in. He did good work but the original dash is much better than a smooth dash. Should have an update when the dash is fully in place. hopefully soonish.

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any and all (non smart assed) replies are welcome and encouragement is the best form of a reply. Right now I feel in over my head but like I said Patience!!!

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Hi Badherb. There's no Smart Asses here... just a bunch of helpful dudes and a ton of information. Welcome, and keep up the good work!

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Thank you! Been watching many other peoples in progress stuff and there is more than a bunch of good and bad advice out there. but anything that keeps the work moving is a good thing. Oh yeah I must learn how people keep their shops so fricken clean while mid project. I just cant seem to get it done.

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badherb, welcome to this great forum! I echo Johnny's comments, you will get nothing but support and helpful advice here. I am a smart ass, but only in person... right Johnny?

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so my post about patience... It does help a LOT! This was very hard to do for me, probably the most time consuming and tedious thing I have accomplished in quite some time. While not perfect (as I would like) it fits and I can tack the whole thing in and no one but me will notice any mistakes. This was a great smallish project to learn on and I'm very happy so far with the results. I have cab corners and one rocker panel and one floor to put in and now I have some confidence that I will accomplish those tasks.
:metal:Chalk one up for a major ego boost.

just noticed one pic is upside down hilarious. That's how I felt putting it in.

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please look at the 3rd pic. what the hell is that crap on the dash. Doesn't sand off, loads up disks. Doesn't grind off have fibrous strings flying everywhere. Wire wheel does a good job but still stringy crap flying everywhere. Any ideas? It's all over the dash.

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Welcome to the forum.
Like your initiative, patience, believe me I've learned how to walk away and come back later.
On the dash residue, have you tried paint thinner?
I've been working on mine for 5 or so years now. Trying to do the best I can. Like you I want to make it right.

Slow and easy wins the race when welding in things.

Sub'd

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I wanted to inform the layman on this. Although I am no expert I do know the troubles I have had and I know the troubles any beginner will have. set up on the welder is really important. I suggest practice!!!! take same gauge sheet metal you are working on and put it on a bench and make a million tacks. adjusting your welder during the beginning so you can have a proper weld. VERY IMPORTANT!!. also burn out a few welds while practicing on purpose. the practice fixing them. when you get to the actual project you will be better equipped to not freak out and you product will be much better. You can ask me about my mistakes and I will aid you through how I worked it out. I have too many mistakes to list here so you will have to ask.
Oh yeah try to have one or more side projects sitting and waiting for your attention. this will allow you to step back from the main project and let it cool or let you think about what your next step is. right now I have the steering wheel ready for sanding after filling in all the cracks. I can now work around my welding step back and sand for a while then hit the welding again allowing my back and the metal to not be too stressed.

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Ok mid dash panel replacement and final product. Of course I will put a skim coat on it before the actual primer. The primer now is just so I have no rust growing on it. VERY PLEASED!!!

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This is an OG 1960 horn button just a little work between welding sanding and back resting although you see pitting and a crinkle red on the final product I'm not sure I can get better with out sending it away, and its ORIGINAL!

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gotta go get body filler to final out the steering wheel looks good so far remember Im practicing PATIENCE. me not practicing patience would leave me with nothing to do

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Below you'll see the products I used. I didn't know about a couple of them: the clamps for panel install and the spot weld cutter both at Harbor Freight. These alone will help the novice a great deal they did me. Also I have some crud on the dash and other places. I show you the crud and the stripper stuff works well. When I complete the dash I will show the result... Its much easier to take off CRAP this way and I can cover a bigger area in less time, plus its less tedious. Did i say less tedious -- that is my goal I hate tedious!!!

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Welcome and good luck with the journey.....My 62 was butchered in its previous life and like you I just repaired one thing after another....You will get into a groove and it will all come together

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Where we see the beginning of a the next step in my rusty panel repair. My rocker sucked and the floor sucks and the corners on each side suck, so here we go.I practiced with my spot weld cutter a great deal even though I will not really need it. I just wanted to see how it works. the phrase slow and easy is an understatement. take your time with these things you'll break them they will walk and will mess up stuff fun little tool if I ever need them again I have two and I now know how to use them if I need to repair a panel that need just the cutter.
As for removal of the panels a air chisel works great you can cut sheet metal no problem and you can F@#$ up any thing with them. so be careful. I didn't have to as you can see I will be removing most of the floor.
I wont take this any further until I have my panels in hand so I didn't mess up anything beyond the panels I have. I cleaned up my welding areas and go the rust off the things that will stay behind. I plan on getting a sealers that can be sprayed so my rockers and floor never see this problem again.

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my friend an engineer ask me one day "Herb how do you eat an elephant?" "I have no clue. "One bite at a time!"


so I leave you with this after a very productive day...

Its a project, its fun, you have no dead line, relax and enjoy the black boogers in your nose.:smoke:

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BTW just saw an all original 1950s GMC step side long box. I have to go look but I think its a driver!!! now I have to convince the wife!!

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You got a good start on the "elephant" your work looks good.

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One foot in front of the other and breathe in and breathe out...
Congrats on the progress on the truck.

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Thank you gentlemen

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well the truck is a 48. and as stated by the sign it was running when put away. get another engine with it. the floors on both sides have issues. I just visited quickly so can really give a good report but for $3800 and being totally original I might have to investigate more.
I got a sickness!

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Looks like you're off to a great start. Just focus on one little thing at a time, and you'll be surprised at how much you get done after a year. I was that way at first, and then started multi-tasking on my project, and as a result, not much has gotten done lately.

Looks like you're learning, which is the best way to do it! Gives hope to a lot of people here that their projects are something they can tackle too, and makes you all the more prepared for project #2, which inevitably comes.