Project "Lucky 13"

[JWSmith]

Cab supports ordered. Body mounts and radiator mounts arrived yesterday.
Frame is about ready to paint. Another 3-4 hours of wire brushing and power washing and it will be done. It is all broke down in my backyard now. Just the front crossmember and control arms are still attached.

Finally broke the front end down...discovered the bottom of the radiator core support and the front parts of the inner fenders are rusted pieces of crap, so I'm going to need new ones. Ever time I think I have all the sheet metal ready, another piece pops up to piss me off. No turning back now though with every thing apart.
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[JWSmith]

I know it isn't perfect, but 8-10 hours over the course of a week and 2 wire wheels later, and it's pretty much ready for paint.

[Xeen]

Yeah this is the dirty hard work part and the uphill battle with rust is just starting but just tune out everything and drone through it and it will be over before you know it.
Then the fun starts when everything is painted and assembly is a pleasure because she stops fighting you every step of the way and everything goes back together so easy it's like a dream.

[JWSmith]

c-notch in, frame cleaned, primed, painted, and cleared...

[JWSmith]

In case anyone is following....update teaser pic

[dunyet]

Nice! Like the color

[JWSmith]

Some new updates....rear end 100% in and 5 lug conversion complete all around. I picked the color now so we sprayed the firewall just to get an idea of what it will look like. We scrapped the color, re-primed, and re-sprayed the engine and valve covers...then dropped it in. Threw on some front end sheet metal and the bed (not bolted in, just mocked up to see how it is coming together.
Pics in no particular order...

[JWSmith]

I learned some welding. Welded up stake pocket holes and ground them down.


Cheap sandblasting of hood hinges before


After


And primed then painted.



I think they look good considering I'm an amateur.

[JWSmith]

Also sanded, primed and painted the visor rods and hood latch, and got the inner fenders sand blasted and primed.

[Xeen]

It looks like you are making some good progress, the engine looks nice.

[JWSmith]

There is a lot of other stuff I just didn't document. Interior is all out and the seats, visors, and headliner are at the upholstery shop. Inside of cab is like 95% ready for paint. I bought an RCI gas tank and it will go into a tool box I'm building in the bed. Rear bed light has been removed and tacked in to smooth it out. Core support is almost ready for primer.

There is some other stuff I'm forgetting, but it's moving along. A little slower than I want, but still moving.

[JWSmith]

Some updates

Seats - cut down and recovered 2001 Grand Prix seats

[JWSmith]

1 inner fender


tailgate


fender


inner door panel


wiper cowl


they aren't done - still need wet sanded. But progress is being made.
Visors have also been recovered and a new headliner has been made.

[JWSmith]

A little update....as she sits right now

[JWSmith]

update - passenger bed rail was wavy and funky, so we sanded it all back down, along with the rest of the bed and the cab, doors, and all the inner cab. we are a little body work and some sanding away from painting the whole thing

[JWSmith]

so - some updates.
cab is painted. I am floored by how good this came out.







and the console I picked up at a boneyard for $20. It was red originally, but I dyed it.

[JWSmith]

front end back on - hanging with my buddies camaro

[JWSmith]

[swamp rat]

The truck is looking nice!

[JWSmith]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

The truck is looking nice!

Thanks!!!!

[JWSmith]

Bed is painted

[JWSmith]

there are a few issues with bed, but I'm satisfied - this is not a trailer queen, it's a driver. The bed rails were wavy as hell, but I worked them really good - not bad for a guy with almost no body work experience.
still needs wet sanded, but I'm very pleased overall

[JWSmith]

[JWSmith]

gas tank mocked up

[JWSmith]

Bed on - I gotta do some cutting on bed cross-member so the damn tank will fit though
Not to bad for doing everything in a driveway and 1 car garage (as we also work on a 69 Camaro).