Project Cheap Thrills!

[BMERDOC]

Thanks Dave, I was hoping for better results. Its kinda humbling to post pics of something that didn't turn out like you wanted it to.

[CrazyDave]

I could start my own tread with pics of projects that didn't go quit right lol
Atleast ya tried chalk it up to a learning session
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[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by BMERDOC

Thanks Dave, I was hoping for better results. Its kinda humbling to post pics of something that didn't turn out like you wanted it to.

It's only through posts like yours that people learn. I've posted some things that didn't work (like a pvc and plastic paint booth that blew down onto the blazer I was painting )

[BMERDOC]

So I'm on CL last night looking for nice original sheetmetal. I typed in 1967 and up pops an ad for 67 C10 sheetmetal. One part was a grill...$50. I immeditely call the guy and told him I wanted it! Turns out his house is three doors down from the house I grew up in! Hadn't been there in a while, couldn't wait to go. After shuffling my schedule I was finally able to get there at lunch time today. The little dirt road neigborhood had changed so much! Looking around and thinking about my memories of the place made my bottom lip quiver. I told him how the policeman who originally lived in his house wrote my buddy a ticket for spinning wheels on the dirt road (his first day with a license) while mowing his grass. He still gets ribbed for getting pulled over by a cop on a riding mower. We talked about who lived in the neighborhood, who moved and who died there and we traded other nice stories.

Onto this grill...So he musta built the garage when he moved in because it wasn't there when I moved. I go in and there sits a Rat Chevy truck. Well its the cab sitting on boxed rails with a 78 Malibu rear suspension and a Nova front. Im smtten. I told him that he woulda never gotten rid of the 12yo down the street if he lived there when I was there. He didn't even bat an eye, he smiled "free labor".
But about this grill, it is nice only one dent in the trim some surface rust pitting ( a few finger dabs of bondo and light sanding) but otherwise in great shape. Can't wait to put it on. Mine is so mangled its ridiculous! I scored a new friend today (Facebook request already sent) and got a bargain basement deal!

[VA72C10]

Nice score! And cool rat truck!

[LadyBird]

If it makes you feel better, my sealant around the drip rail came out sort of ****ty too. Mine was also supposed to be "self leveling". Like the above post said, chalk it up to experience.

[BMERDOC]

Originally Posted by LadyBird

If it makes you feel better, my sealant around the drip rail came out sort of ****ty too. Mine was also supposed to be "self leveling". Like the above post said, chalk it up to experience.

Thanks! I just wish I had the video I dug up prior to doing it so that I could see how it was laid. I noticed he had a super-mega-powered gun and I was using a manual gun. That changes everything when your shaking trying to squeeze that stuff outta the gun!

[BMERDOC]

Ok so after checking out my new grill its not the perfect piece i thought it was. It does have a couple of dings. I will say this though, it is waaay better than my existing grill. I'll get it mounted up and see if I can smooth out the problem spots.

[VA72C10]

must have had your rat rod goggles on (kinda like beer goggles)

[BMERDOC]

Well, reinstalled the windshield today! It went waaay smoother than I thought it would. Went in the first time. I had some trouble getting the bottom down low enough to get the top going in. I pulled the rope at the bottom to the lower corners, pulled the top to the corners, pulled the bottoms up to each upper corner then pulled the upper corners. Easy Peazy!

I swapped the upper control arms back to their proper locations. That was a left over project from my alignment thread. I realigned toe then took it for a drive with my buddy Rj. 40* with the windows down!

[VA72C10]

Nice work! Looks like you're enjoying it

[BMERDOC]

Did some work on it. I've gotta dig up a useable radiator support. I wont be removing the fenders until I do. I've found some Chinese parts that are cheap and will make it look better. Guess I'll have to get out the hammers and prybars to make that stuff fit. I'm trying to track down some O.G. pieces too.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=518755

[VA72C10]

Glad you're back at it!!! Wish I had an extra core support....I have a new 67-68 one that's going on my truck

[BMERDOC]

Yeah, I figured it was time...the paychecks are getting bigger. I looked around for a low cost one but I know what "low cost" means. I'd hate to put anything super new or super nice on it at the moment, I just want it to look better. I'll be seeing ya soon!

[BMERDOC]

So I met with 2manyprojects today (Richard). Good guy. Still haven't found the elusive local rad support. I did get a set of grill supports and an auto column from him though. Looked over his 67 SWB. A rolling project is still a cool truck anyday! Mr. Rowland does it look familiar?

[VA72C10]

Yep....that cab and clip were in my garage for a bit...but on a lwb frame...

[VA72C10]

I also recognize the wheels off Merlot (luv2xclr8's old 2wd bagged blazer)

[BMERDOC]

I guess in retorspect I shoulda asked him if we could move those boxes to take a better pic. I believe its on a '72 SWB now. I hope he doesnt mind posting pics.

[2manyprojects]

Originally Posted by BMERDOC

I guess in retorspect I shoulda asked him if we could move those boxes to take a better pic. I believe its on a '72 SWB now. I hope he doesnt mind posting pics.

Posting the pic is cool. It is on a 72. Here is a pic without boxes and less stuff in the back ground.

[BMERDOC]

Sweet! I'm so used to seeing my truck seeing one with straight panels was kinda foreign. Great truck!

[Vintage Windmills]

Any updates Nick?

[BMERDOC]

I saved my answer for a minute to finalize a couple of things. I am in the midst of plunking down about $600 worth of bright work and associated fasteners. The flat white got dirty quick so I think we are gonna go with all Satin black (yeah, i know but Im on a budget!) I went against my #1 rule of keeping it running and driveable and took it apart too much. The weather has been almost unbearable here so I'm not too worried about it. All that lead me to the next phase. I'm gonna get at it with some 60 grit to get through all the paint layers and get it down to the steel, straighten a lot of stuff and paint it to protect my recent work. Im gonna reinstall my grill that I worked over and clean up the frame and do some detailing. I wanna get the heater and wipers working solidly (for Fall VA driving) and then I'm going to concentrate on the interior, all black or maybe black and red. I want to install the Autoloc Headlights and the Spaghetti Enginering Digi-tails tail lights. When it come time for the Ultimate Build the black, lightly used stuff will be an easy resell when it comes time to switch to the OG blue. I have a small stack of parts I have and Brown should be dropping off packages soon so I'll let you know how things go!

[VA72C10]

Cool deal! Looking forward to the progress!

[VA72C10]

Good talking with you today...sorry my phone died on ya! Looking forward to seeing all those shiny parts

[BMERDOC]

New news and some venting. Looks like I have a new hobby. I like to call it body work. I have exhausted every body shop we are affiliated with and I can't get anyone to do the body work that I didn't want to do. All of them have been known to do resto work but it seems they are too busy to handle my jobs. So its up to me now. I bought a HF stud gun to do the gouges and dents down the sides. I'll be building a body cart and I'll be working each panel to figure out what I can keep and what I have to replace. Its time to get the Old Man back up to the shop and start rippin!