Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

I also ordered my clear coat and base. It took me forever to decide what SPI clear coat to go with but I finally settled on the Euro over the universal. This is what $1,200 looks like and I’m not sure if it will be enough for the whole truck!

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Nice work! Yep, looks like a butt size dent. :lol:

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Awesome work, just joining the build!

This K20 is going to be too nice to drive when you're done!

I'm a big fan of Raptor Liner, I've been using it for about 10 years.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Thanks!

Thank you! I hope it not to nice to drive but it’s heading in that direction.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

I tested out the base and clear on the glove box door, ash tray, lower column cover, door have hinges, tailgate hardware and bolts. Everything turned out great. Now it’s time for some bigger pieces.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Looks great!

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Nice work!

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Fenders, cowl and bumper filler block to 400, washed masked then sealer.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

3 coats of 029 midnight blue base and 4 coats of euro clear. Turned out really nice. A little bit of dust nibs in the clear that I will need to sand out and just a touch of orange peel. I think a quick buff and onto the doors!

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Looks good!

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Love the midnight blue, glad you went that route!

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Great color!!

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Thanks! I really like the color too. And it saved me about $500 a gallon going midnight blue over apple red.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Didn’t get as much done as I wanted this weekend but me and my shop buddy did get the the fenders sanded and buffed. I just hit the trash with 1000 grit then the whole fender with 1500 then 2000. I then buffed them with a wool pad with cutting compound then hit them with a foam finishing pad and polishing compound they turned out better than I expected. I hope the rest of the rig turns out as good as the fenders did.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Great job on the finish work, nice crisp reflections!

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Finally got the doors and the hood sanded and painted. After the buffer got away from me on the edge of the hood I ended up having to sand them spot in some base and re clear. Ugh! Lesson learned - tape the edges!

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

I also got a new daily!

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

It has been a while since i last updated and i wish i could say that i have made a ton of progress but life gets in the way. I did get the inside of the cab painted, floor pans raptor lined and all finish sanding completed on the exterior of the cab and then i partially tore my achilles tendon. So this is how she sits now.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

I have started to feel better lately and can kind of get around with out the use of crutches so i have been trying to tackle some smaller projects that i can work on sitting down.

I rebuilt the hyrdobooster i got from a local pick and pull and fixed a EGT probe hole in the headers i plan on using.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

I also started rebuilding my vent windows. The first task was to weld the pivot stud back on.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

I just found this thread, great work! I hope your achilles tendon heals fast. subscribed .

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Thanks! I have been watching your build and that is impressive!

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Well to keep the theme of doing stuff I can sit a a bench and do...... I built the X Pipe for my exhaust. I plan on running 2 1/2" stainless steel exhaust like on my Jimmy but on the Jimmy there was not room for an X pipe so it got a H pipe. Actually working the foot pedal of my welding machine is good PT for my ankle.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Nice work man, I wish I'd made my own x-pipe, I already had the one I used just to save a dime. but now it kinda looks out of place next to the mandrel 3" tubing. Did you use a bandsaw to get your cuts or free hand ?

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Thanks, I appreciate it. I feel like I have writers block right now, But I'm still at it, ha

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

No bandsaw. I just measured some points out on the heel of both elbows and connected the dots and went to town with a cutoff wheel on my grinder. I then just cleaned the cuts up with a sanding disk and made sure it sit flat on my bench. They actually fit together really well and I purge welded them so they didn’t sugar the inside.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Clean work on the x-pipe and the header. All progress is progress. Good luck with your achilles. I recently saw a tire name to achilles I thought that was about the worst name there is for a tire, haha.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Got the cab and tailgate painted this weekend. The weather was perfect mid 70’s and low humidity so I decided to get it done. I had to stand on a ladder to get the roof painted and my ankle hurt like hell but it is done and looks great. I found the key to getting SPI euro clear to lay out like glass……..35 psi at the gun. I only have the bed left to get color on.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Looking good!

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Your paint looks great!!

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Thanks guys!

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

ditto!! I may have missed it but what color is it? :metal:

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

It is a factory color 029 Midnight Blue.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

You need an address to send that cab to ?

Looks good !!

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

The square body looks great. I like the color. I need to drive the Suburban over and check out that AD truck you have sitting outside in one of your earlier pics.

Marc

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

The cab is in the mail! ;) Thank you!

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Thank you! Stop by anytime! I would love to see that bad ass suburban, but i may put you to work though.

I think the 51 will be my next project. I bought it from my brother in law when i was fifteen with hopes of driving it in high school. It has a later model 235 in it and it runs pretty good. When we moved to Schoolcraft from Kalamazoo i drove it to our new house with a load of stuff from my barn and it was scary ass hell getting it to stop at stop signs with it weighted down. Haha.

The plan is to keep the patina and build a tube chassis for it with a IFS kit on bags, LS engine, 4l80e tranny, 18" front wheels and 20's in the back laying the floorboards on the ground.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Sounds good Josh. I will give you a call and drive out some upcoming weekend..

Marc

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Finally able to get something done on this thing. This has been one crappy summer. I ended up needing surgery on my ankle and am fresh out of the walking boot and it is sore as hell but the weather is changing fast hear so I had to get the bed painted before it gets too cold.

The clear did not lay on as nice as it did on the cab and I got a few runs on my 4th coat so I added a 5th to make sure I had enough on for sanding. Not sure what happened but I think it was a combination of hobbling around and temps in the mid 60’s. It will be alright it is just going to take a little more work than I wanted. But that’s the case with this whole project.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

That nice painted body gets to go on this! Time to work on the chassis!