51 Chevy 1/2 ton, My S10 swap

[Atommik]

Sand, sand, sand, Block,block,block!!! Just about finished final sanding the cab, doors, hood and front fenders...I am hoping to paint the front half of the truck this weekend.

[99 to Life]

not looking forward to all of that, in a way. So is that just your epoxy your preppin for filler/high build?

[Atommik]

Here's the process I used. Epoxy primer, High solids primer, blocked out with 180 then 240. Reprime with high solids primer, block with 320, then DA sanded with 400. This is where I am at now.

On Saturday I will take the inner and outer fenders off, then finish sanding around the edges, then set up in the paint booth.
After masking, everything gets a gray catalized sealer, Then baked in the booth at 160 degrees.
Then 3-4 coats of base coat color to cover the sealer, then 2-3 coats of clear. Then another bake cycle.

Then in a couple more weeks when I have a free saturday, I'll do the same on the box.(It's pretty much at the same stage as far as sanding goes...)

[Daze57]

you have done a great job all the way thru. kudos to you sir and thank you for the picts .i am sure you will have one beautiful classic !

just my 02cents worth

[torchlight]

Wow, you're making great progress! Think you'll be driving it come springtime?

[focusedontheprize]

Truck is looking spot on, looking forward to the next round of pictures.

Ah baking...such a beautiful thing.

[oldman3]

Looking forward to seeing color....Jim

[Atommik]

Daze, torchlight, focused, and jim...
Thanks for all the nice comments!!

Torchlight, I am hoping to have it driveable sometime this summer. Not finished, but legally driveable. I still have a fair amount of mechancial stuff to finish up. Shorten drive shaft, buy and install radiator, install wiring harness, lowering blocks in rear, rebuild carb, buy and install heaeders, buy or build exhaust,get a seat...Unfortunately most of those items are things I need to buy and, as it is for most of us, money is tight!! Since I do body work for my real job, it's much easier and cheaper for me to do all that first.

Focused, yeah having baking capability in our paint booths at work is awesome. I am very lucky they are letting me keep my project there and work on it. But I'm afraid someday soon they will say I need to get it out of the shop, so I am trying to get it painted so if I need to bring it home at least that will be finished. Most of the mechanical stuff I could do at home, and soon, hopefully in March or April, it will start to warm up!!!

As far as progress goes, I hung the doors today for hopefully the last time. I decided to paint them on the truck to avoid any damage to the paint if I put them on after I paint them. It will be a little harder to mask everything off for paint, but overall I think it will be better.

[99 to Life]

I bet just seeing that oldie in the mix of all these new cars would really brighten peoples day up though. Hopefully it can stay and you can finish it there. Be so nice to have a heated area and all that. Money being tight, tuuuuuhhh your not the only one. People just don't understand the time and money that goes into these. You'll get there.

[N.T.Q]

just read the whole build great job, seen you were thinking about drop spindles? if you did not find any yet check out s10forum.com in the for sale pages, there is a lot of bell tech 2 inch drops for sale most are brand new as people bought them and then junked or air bagged there ride, I got a set brand new with 3 inch rear blocks shipped for $185.

[Atommik]

Thanks NTQ, I'll remember that when the time comes.(and thanks for the kind words!)

99, we do a few restorations in our shop once and a while. Our painter just painted a 68 galaxie 500 for a customer. It turned out great. We've also got and old BMW Isetta (3 wheeled mini car) we're just starting on, a 67 cadilliac coupe deville almost ready for paint and I'm doing some metal work on a 74 BMW cs coupe, when I'm not busy with collision work. It's nice to have some variety at work!!

I'll post a few non chevy truck photos in the next few days to show everyone what we're up to.

[focusedontheprize]

CS Coupe - you have any more shots of that? Love those from BMW.

[Atommik]

focused, I've got a couple more pics of the CS coupe on this build thread. Entry #334.

[Atommik]

A long day in the paint booth, but I am very happy with the results!!

Can't wait to get the rest painted!!

[Atommik]

a few more pics...

[99 to Life]

heeeeelll yah, congrats man. Can't wait to the day I get my 52' painted. Will be my first paint job. Lotta prep work so I can only imagine what your feeling now. Oh so close to being on the road, such a good feeling taking it out for the first time.

[skymangs]

WOW! That really looks great Atommik! I'm jealous

[oldman3]

Way to go buddy, looks super...Jim

[flatbed51]

Paintjob looks awesome !!!!

[_Ogre]

paint day is a good day. looks awesome!

[xpickup]

Atommik, looks great. It is alway good when paint is being slung! I love the color.

Shannon

[Atommik]

Thanks for all the comments guys!! It feels great to get this far. Still a ways to go, but I can see the light!!

Stopped by the shop today to finish cleaning up my painting mess and to hang the fenders and grille...

[skymangs]

Damn, that looks great! Won't have any trouble finding it in the parking lot for sure! he, he, he....

[Atommik]

Yeah right now it's parked in the storage side of our shop between a black model a and a dark blue BMW. It kinda stands out a little!!

[oldman3]

Looks super...Jim