53 back from media blasting/no rust

[53lochevy]

Now that christmas is over and the new year is upon us we can get back to tinkering in the garage abit more. Got the parts back from media basting and everything looks great no rust outs anywere throughout the truck and the panels are coming out really sweet that I have gotten into epoxy primer so far. Been working on getting the frame ready for boxing plates and the new crossmember should be here by friday from progressive. All the rivets have been removed from the underside, along with grinding the top rivets to remove the crossmembers remaining in the frame. Got the fenders, inner fenders, supports and different parts along with the doors in epoxy. Assembled the frontend together last night with a buddy and hung it on the frame just to see it start to breath a little life back in it. I can tell after reading and looking at the projects in here and seeing mine come to life is great after seeing it apart for 2 1/2 years. Its still along way away from turning the key in her but its a great start so far. Here are some pics of the progress so far will post more after the frame is boxed and the crossmember is put into place.

[53lochevy]

more pics

[53lochevy]

here's a couple of pics of my scooter in the corner with the cover on it. The 53 will have the same as far as the flames coming across the fenders and hood but the colors will be there. Let me know whatca yall think.

[Daniel U]

Always nice to see progress pics. Clean Fat Boy too!

[53lochevy]

Assembled the front clip and got the cab in epoxy and mounted onto the frame and started lining the body up. Wanted to assemble the truck to see if I still had all the parts after 2 1/2 years have all the body parts that were tucked away up in the attic fender support rods, hood latch the small stuff. So far the body is really straight gaps came out real nice just a couple of places I'll have to add alittle to the edge around the doors really minor. Going to start on the body work this week as Im still waiting on the crossmember and boxing plates, once here will go ahead and get the cab and front clip off and jump on the frame work, wont be able to get the mustang II frontend til march but everything should be ready for it by then. Goal for this year is to have a rolling chasis with the trucks body work done and in primer that should just about do it for my budget for it this year. Here are some pics of the lastest progress. As you can see this truck had no rust outs anywhere and is a really straight truck as far as the body goes just a couple of whiskey dents about 8 I think and acouple of low spots here and there. Its great just seeing it getting started love the ride height. Let me know what yall think.

[53lochevy]

more pics as I know how much everyone likes pics

[Daniel U]

I admire that you know when to stopyour build when your budget runs out. Clean looking 1st assembly. keep the pics coming with the progress!

[53lochevy]

Thanks Daniel its been going great so far got a couple of buddies and my 14 yr old son when hes out there long enough to learn something instead of video games and rocking my house with his guitar but thats his nic I guess a rock star in the family wouldnt be to bad but I told him he has to earn the right to the keys heheehe and that means doing the grunt work and just hanging out with me in the garage I always have things he can handle.

[Bishops Trucks]

Looking great so far. Like the bike also.

[Daniel U]

Yeah, I try to do small projects with my 3 year old. My dad didn't always have patience with me and my brother at these younger ages. I think if I start now, he can learn the small stuff and gradually he can learn more. The nieghbors freak out when they see him with my tools. They say stuff like,"Are you sure he won't get hurt?" The other day he asked to hammer with my big framing hammer. While I was watching him, he smashed his finger. He eventually lost his finger nail, but you'd be surprised at what a trooper he was about it. I want him to learn a respect for tools now, so that when he's older, power tools won't scare him. Kudos for involving the kiddo!

[53lochevy]

Its kinda sad u cant look down any street and see kids playing football or just all the neighbor hood kid group together like we did in the day I'm 47 and grew up putting together models and playing football in the front yard with all the neighborhood kids, lawnmower minibikes, go carts, fixing my own bike, etc kids today most of them dont even ride there bike let alone know how to fix a flat hehe. They have too much inside crab to keep them indoors and they have very little interest outside unless its deer hunting or going to the lake house and playing on the toys out there, they are just to spoiled. I have one chore i give my son everyday so when he sticks his hand out and wants something he now has to get it with his allowance u dont have enough save alittle longer, video games 60 bucks and so on it goes well in my house it stopped and he earns it now. But he is lazy as most kids his generation are and none of them have common sense at all go figure.

[1-ton of fun]

Originally Posted by 53lochevy

Its kinda sad u cant look down any street and see kids playing football or just all the neighbor hood kid group together like we did in the day I'm 47 and grew up putting together models and playing football in the front yard with all the neighborhood kids, lawnmower minibikes, go carts, fixing my own bike, etc kids today most of them dont even ride there bike let alone know how to fix a flat hehe. They have too much inside crab to keep them indoors and they have very little interest outside unless its deer hunting or going to the lake house and playing on the toys out there, they are just to spoiled. I have one chore i give my son everyday so when he sticks his hand out and wants something he now has to get it with his allowance u dont have enough save alittle longer, video games 60 bucks and so on it goes well in my house it stopped and he earns it now. But he is lazy as most kids his generation are and none of them have common sense at all go figure.

i hear that, but now my son (8) has made friends with a boy and his siblings two doors down from us. he is out he door in 10 seconds flat after his homework is done. he puts his helmet on (i never did) and hops on his bike and he's gone. they ride up and down the street for hours. i was afraid for a while that he would never go outside, but he has found it on his own. i am the neighborhood bike repair guy. all his friends just show up with something they need fixed. i guess because i have all the tools, and haven't let them down yet...

As for allowance, he gets $10 a week if he does all of his chores everyday. he didn't get paid last week (he missed some) he buys his own games, toys, etc. i am trying to teach him you have to do the whole job, whether you want to or not, because in the real world, you will lose your job if you don't do it....

oh yeah, his favorite tool is the torch, he respects it too much to even want to use it yet.

[53lochevy]

It also helps having all the cool stuff out in the garage to use or work on. Probably in the next couple of weeks I'll go and get his mini gmc sonoma Im getting from a close friend its a 1999 4 cycle extened cab mini 5-speed no damage to the body but has a blown head gasket in it with only 40k. My buddie has had it for about 4yrs or so he had somebody come by and wanted him to fix it and just left it there on his property with the title in it, hes called them several time over the years and this last time about a 1 1/2 ago they said they didnt want it. 400 dollars is the price what a deal and will be a great little truck for him during high school and keep him out of mine hehehe except on friday and sat nights he might earn the right to the keys heheeh. I told him about it and when I get it, it's an early 16th birthday present. I will get it because you have to reward kids these days it seems for them walking your line so as long as he takes care of his business school work, guitar lessons, chores, etc i will just about give the kid anything.

[solidaxel]

So how many hours do you think it took you to put all of the sheetmetal back is the condition yo have it now?
I have asked this question and have not had one reply, I guess no one out of 74 views has any estimate idea of what I was asking!!
Thanks, I need your sheetmetal for my completed chassis and running gear!!!!

[53lochevy]

Here's the break down on time so far once back from the media blaster

doors 1 hr in prep time wire brush entire surface
1 hr in paint epoxy applied PER DOOR
1 1/2 hrs in aligning door and body along with lock/stricker

fenders inner/outer
1 hr prep time wire brush
1 hr paint PER fender
1 1/2 hr assemblyto inner fender/radiator support along with cab attachment

Misc parts radiator support, fender supports
1 hr prep time wire brush
1 hr paint

cab
8 hrs prep time wire brush entire surface
3 hrs paint
1/2 mounting cab to frame

Hope that helps you out on an estimate on time

[solidaxel]

Thanks, Do you want a job!!!

[53lochevy]

I do only cheap labor on my stuff free so anybody else as Jesse James would say "PAY UP SUCKER" HEHEHEEH it aint gonna be cheap.

[72BlckButy]

That thing is going to be sweet! Love the bike, and I can't wait to see the end result of the truck. Keep us posted.

[53lochevy]

I really couldn't see buy a x-crossmember from progressive so I went out and bought a 60 dollar pipe bender and 60 dollars worth of pipe and made it myself. I basically copied the progressive design, still waiting on my full length boxing plates from progressive should have them by this weekend. So the next couple of nights will get the cab and front clip off and grind the last couple of rivets holding the two stock crossmembers in and will knock them out. Ordered an air tank from airride so I will have it when I install the x-crossmember it will be going against the frame inside the side of the crossmember. Here are some pic's of the pieces I bend over the weekend

[jkaylor68gmc]

Wow that is nice, I cannot wait to get a coat of black primer on the entire '52 either. They just look so good that way. So what front and rear are you gonna use?If you need measurements I can take them for you, I just got my chassis back with the truck.