Fixin Dixie - 66 Short Bed Fleetside

[msg]

Finally kick started a long time coming repair on our truck Dixie. Bought her back in 1996 and for many years have had others make upgrades from time to time, front power disc brakes, power steering, electronic ignition, and most recently a 700r4 added. Now the plan is to learn as I go making repairs. I have bought and continue to buy tools and equipment to get this job done and have some fun as I go.

Today I took the passenger fender and sanded it down around the trouble spot to see how much I will need to cut out and replace. Ive been watching others make these repairs from this forum and want to try myself with my new equipment. Ive taped off where I think I will make the first cut and weld in the patch panel and brace (as much as I might need from them).





Here are some more pics of work to come.
















From a distance though things aint so bad





As much as we have enjoyed the color scheme the plan is to change the color to a white top and aqua marine body.

[1963c-10]

looks like a good project. some of the hood spots can be tough as there aren't, any patches available. keep us updated w/progress and pics. i think the new colors will look great.

[Jeff La]

Nice looking truck, hope it goes well for you. I'm still trying to learn more before tackling mine. There's some talented people on here showing their knowledge to others.

[rusty76]

Cool truck. I'll be watching.

[TJ's Chevy]

Cool truck. I'll be watching.

[Bomp]

Looks like you have a great build at the ready.

I thought like you at the beginning, well 20-30 yrs ago. Why pay someone when I could buy the necessary tools and learn to do it myself.
Here is a link to my build on lower door patch repair., Its similar to lower fender repair. My stuff isn't as good as the pros. Still learning.
There is also a gamete of tons of other stuff too but you'll have to muster up the courage to read through the thread if you dare. lol
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=532910&page=3

I also check out MP&C
On this page he's putting in a patch in a roof of a '55 wagon.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=564201&page=6

Vic1947
He just got done shortening a bed.
Great work.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...563833&page=28

Paint and Body
theastronaut
Here is a link to his thread page.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...archid=4249455
'55 International Pickup Metal/Body/Paint Work
Great source of technique.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=509519

Well, this ought ta git ya started.
Sub'd so I'll check back to see the progress.
Remember, Tons of pics.

[flashed]

Im in for your build ,nice looking truck.

[msg]

Thanks guys, spent most of today shopping for more tools. One thing I was looking for was a 6 inch DA interface pad that would work with my adhesive pad and discs. I was watching a clip on youtube of a guy who was sanding down a car and said that adding that interface pad could help from stripping too much metal off on the curves and non flat parts of the panel.

Seemed like a good idea but most products were for hook and loop. I ended up finding an interface pad that has the fuzzy velcro loop on one side and vinyl on the other. Then I found a 6 inch velcro backing pad to switch out on the DA.
Hope it will make a difference when Im sanding the hood and around corners.

I'll try to get the repairs made on that fender and post pics back soon, thanks for the interest and support as always!

[flashed]

Where are you in Ga ,I have a good fender .

[msg]

Originally Posted by flashed

Where are you in Ga ,I have a good fender .

Im in Newnan where nothing got done today like I planned. Thanks for the offer, if things dont go so hot I may take you up on that fender. I have both fender patch panels and brackets in the box ready to go as soon as I am. Nice 72 you got there!

[pdxhall]

Good luck on your patching. I had never welded before my project and I decided to buy a welder and give it a try. I swear I looked at my first area to cut out for about a week before I got up the courage to start. Now I'm having a blast with it but I'm still learning from all the pros on this site. My advice would be to take your time and go slow. And most important, Have fun.

[msg]

Originally Posted by pdxhall

I swear I looked at my first area to cut out for about a week before I got up the courage to start.

Well after staring at it for a while I finally made a cut

Made my template for alignment afterwards



Then made the cut



Scribed out the patch panel cut line. Which I wanted to ask, how far outside the scribe line should you cut at first, .25 inch? Thats about where I have the tapeline set.



Then I had to stop after seeing all the rust in there. I dont have a blasting cabinet but I do have one of those HF guns and figure once it stops raining Ill bead blast it in the yard as best I can and paint some SPI epoxy primer that I ordered in there and move on to welding.



After looking at how the brace clogged up I am going to cut out a bigger spot at the base for the road grime to escape and not cause this again in the future.




As I go along I am putting together the list of parts I will need to replace and ran across this part that I can not find a replacement for. Is there someone who has reproduced these? Its the seal bracket at the top of the fender.



I did find the clips with the help of pimpston65 at Classic Parts

http://www.classicparts.com/1960-66-.../#.U00-yuZdVt8

[1963c-10]

Looking good...

[McMurphy]

Hello and to the board!!

Not sure if you are up for it, but some of us went so far as to plug the tops of our fenders to keep gunk from getting in there.
Here is a link to my build where I did it, and there is a photo of Markb's and how he did it too on there.

For those hard to find, discontinued parts, there are some online junk yards you may want to consider. Some of us have had some luck with this place:

Aspenautoaz.com

Good Luck and have fun with this, I hope you keep us in photos and updates a percentage of the satisfaction is found in seeing others complete their projects IMO

[msg]

Thanks McMurphy, I'll definitely look into that plug at the top. Hopefully I can make it happen with the limited fabrication skills I have to date. This site and its members have been so nice and helpful, I greatly appreciate the help and info!

I take lots of pics along the way mainly to help me remember how to put it back together Aiming for this weekend to get back to it.

[msg]

Originally Posted by McMurphy

Hello and to the board!!
Here is a link to my build where I did it, and there is a photo of Markb's and how he did it too on there.

I took a look before asking this but can you point me to the page in your build where you did the fender clogger patch?

I perused the contents and skipped around alot but didnt find that exactly. What I did find is that you have done many other fantastic mods super cool! My fave so far that I saw was the light up grill letters.

[msg]

Worked on the fender panel patch and bracket today, got most of it done still need to finish welding it up and bending the edge of the patch panel.

Went like this

Slowly cut a little at a time to get the fit right



Then started tacking



Kept having some burn through in some of the more gapped spaces





Planished down the welds at the top so I could then work on the bracket behind it next



Then I measured and marked 3 locations from the existing bracket bolt mount at the base before cutting, picked this up from Boat in his fender patch video
along with the putty knife as a backer to keep me from cutting through the panel. Thanks a heap Boat for these tips and taking the time to make your videos.
Here is a link to his videos for those who havent seen them.
https://www.youtube.com/user/1gibson...view=0&sort=da



I had to break out the dremel tool to cut the that last bit if the old bracket, didnt think I could manage that area with the angle grinder with the cut off wheel.

Then I placed the completed bracket onto the fender and matched the 3 previous measured and marked spots to that bolt mount hole and scribed the location.



Then started tacking and double checking





Then kept at the tacking and planishing, still have more to do.



Hoping to finish it up soon and get some epoxy primer on it and move onto the next fender.

Happy Easter fellas!

[flashed]

That looks great ,good job.

[McMurphy]

Originally Posted by msg

I took a look before asking this but can you point me to the page in your build where you did the fender clogger patch?

I perused the contents and skipped around alot but didnt find that exactly. What I did find is that you have done many other fantastic mods super cool! My fave so far that I saw was the light up grill letters.

sorry I meant to add it.
Here you are:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...487100&page=61

Sorry I get old some times and forget stuff !!

[msg]

Worked last night getting more tacking and planishing as well as hanging the panel. First was a check for alignment so far so I tried hanging it and found that the fender was about a 1/4 inch too long.



I also took a closer look at the panel gaps that exist now and took a bunch of reference shots for the future. The rocker panel on the passenger side seemed to be high at the front part where the lower door corner meets..



Compared to the driver side



Since I had already welded in the majority of the patch I decided to cut out a 1/4 inch pie wedge and bring up the edge side without messing with the rounded contour that curves over the wheel.



I removed more off the front edge than seen in this pic to close the gap, just didnt take a pic of it more flush



Then I bent the panel over to form the contour




Then I realized the wrap over effect and the gap it leaves if you dont account for it in the original cut..so I took the snips and gave it a wedgie









Then I drilled out a hole through the base of the patch panel and base of the bracket to get a spot weld in then clamped up a copper plate








Went and hung it up this morning and much better





Now back to it. Maybe that fender clogger mod?

[bj383ss]

Looks good man. I like your fix for the fender being to long will steal that idea if I need it when time comes for me to fix both my fenders.

Bret

[msg]

Thanks Bret, my hope is that I fix it right the first time but I wont be surprised when the next fix doesnt quite line up.

Most of yesterday I spent working on barricading the road grime entry points on the fender based on McMurphy and Markb's blazed trail.

I'll grind down some welds and hit the rest with a seam sealer.





Also, as I have been taking the fenders apart I have been taking the parts that they dont make repros for (along with the bolts and spacers) and dropping them into vinegar for a while to remove the rust. Wished I could drop the cab into a pool of it.






Then I spent the last part of the day getting the driver side fender off. Forgot just how much fun that bolt at the very front was to get at

[McMurphy]

Awesome progress !!

[bj383ss]

Vinegar is amazing isn't it. Great job on the filler panels. Filed that away for when I need it. I got some pretty cool formations from the front springs.



Bret

[msg]

Originally Posted by McMurphy

Awesome progress !!

Thanks McMurphy! Chugging along.

Originally Posted by bj383ss

Vinegar is amazing isn't it. Great job on the filler panels. Filed that away for when I need it. I got some pretty cool formations from the front springs.



Bret

Man that is a wicked looking brew, so glad I ate already
It is amazing stuff, really helps out those of us without the blasting cabinets.

I didnt get as far as I thought I would today, took off the trim and brackets attached to the fender and looks like both brackets are in decent shape. Dropped them in the vinegar tray and they should clean up fine.





Then started sanding things off



Somebody did a sh*t job on the last go round



Just threw in body filler on rust and plugged it all up



Gooped it all in the brace



What shut me down tonight was my new compressor started trying to get above 75 psi and couldnt get further. Heavy use on the DA and Grinder seemed too much.




and it kept tripping the circuit breaker



Gotta call out the electrician who wired it all up for me and see what the issue is.