my shipwrecked '63

[shipwrecked]

Worked on these spot welded fender hardware removal.



Then spent my whole day working on rust repair and figment of this step



Wash up time and of course these go from coveralls to top of washing machine...

[Michelle]

Made in Taiwan, that's sinful.

[shipwrecked]

Craftsman aren't made in USA anymore either.

[SteveCanup]

I've almost killed our washer several times with nuts, bolts and washers....lol. That bed is looking fantastic.....watching......

[oldsmiley]

Loving the progress you've made. Can't wait to see you cruzin around in it....

[shipwrecked]

Today I worked on the side steps. Finished the rust repair, drilled holes, marked my place I'm going to undercoat. Spent too much money too.






Next I'm going to undercoat the inside of the fenders, the supports and anything that will be underneath. SO that's what I'm about to go do now. I want to get that bed turned right side up, but I need the underside finished so I won't ruin any other topside work.

[shipwrecked]

And undercoatied where the sun doesn't shine.






Under there is not perfect. I was learning to weld back when I did the metal work on these fenders. So the underside aren't perfect. But they are strong and no rust. I got one more coat to do on them then call it a night.

[shipwrecked]

This morning I welded up two holes where the screw go in the header panel. It's spot welded everywhere else but there they put screws.... dumb. So I welded them shut and sanded everything to roughen up. I put epoxy on all my bare metal and then started with the body filler spreading.



I spread a skim coat along the inside of the header panel. The front side where it goes between the cab and bed, I only filled the obvious issues. There is a bow in that piece that I can't get out. Just dealing with it.

Spread on the fenders a little and on the steps.

I'm about to go sand to 180 on everything. If I can finish in a reasonable time, I will spray some highbuild so it can dry over night.

Weather is crap today, rain a monsoon. Waiting for baseball game on the radio (become sort of a traditional thing while I'm working in garage) but it's pouring rain in Philly. So the game might not happen.

Oh and I had a good phone chat with Gary (truckrat) today too. I think we could have talked all day!

[shipwrecked]

The last few days have been slow going for me. A few spots of body filler that just wouldn't set up right. Work related stuff getting in the way, and having to take care of dental appointments.

What I have done is sand into pergatory. I am still sanding body filler on the side panels. These bed panels are wavy, I will never get them smooth/straight.just wave on wave.








Oh yeah, I dropped the transmission off at a transmission shop up in Egg Harbor that was recommended by a few people. He had that thing back together in a few hours after dropping it off. I will pick it up in the morning. Cost will be $50. He is even going to show me a couple things about it since I explained my truck project. He seemed impressed I can put on some coveralls and turn some wrenches.

Anyway. I am in sanding hell for a few more days. Then more sanding,


I found this big boy on the way to the brewery in Cape May.



No idea if it was for sale, or ran. Looks to have an inline 6 in the engine bay. I didn't dare open the door or look inside. Snakes are about lately.

[oldsmiley]

It would be a ton of work but that 66 dump would be Cool as all get out, to cruise in. I have a guy at my church who has a 1964 F-600 dump. He just had rotator cuff surgery and can't drive it now. I'm going to try and fins a P/S set up for him to make it easy on him.

[shipwrecked]

Got my transmission back this morning. Took him about an hour to put it back together, he said the Ford shop manual was shit and useless to him for this three speed. Charged me $100.00 but it's okay. I was frustrated I screwed it up to begin with.

Now I have to find the input shaft oil seal.


I spent the day drinking beer and eating Tacos with a coworker and some local cops who work out at our gym.. I came home and sanded some more body filler in these wavy bed panels. Screw it. It's not gonna be perfect.





And here is a sneak peak to my grill I had powder coated.



I had decided I don't want to be shining no britework.

[shipwrecked]

It's hot today, I think it's 80* in the shade today. Woke up at 0400 to a super close thunder storm and rain that sounded like a fire hose hitting the house.

I got moving a little late today... helped my elderly neighbor put her yard table together. I then started back on the bed. I sanded more body filler and have a lot of bare metal spots. Sprayed it all down with epoxy again and it is baking in the sun.



Almost time to hit it with high build.

[shipwrecked]

Two coats of high build


And here I wait.

[orangeRcode]

Is the black and white chap your supervisor?

[shipwrecked]

She's a bit bossy! My 9 yo boy diesel does run the house though.

[shipwrecked]

Knowing I'm going to scratch the shit out of the paint if I wait till later to do the bed wood, I got a piece of maple plywood today. I really want to use maple hardwood planks later on, but it's too privy for now.



Hours later, here we are.



Problem I have using the mustang gas tank and my original bed steel strips.....

The gas filler lands right below the strip




Off and on and off again...




I even installed the rear bumper. I had to in order to see where the brackets hit the rear crossmember





Is it me or is this thing shifted upward a little?



Another day I feel like not much accomplished. At least I wasn't sanding and it was a nice 60 degrees all day.

Back at it tomorrow. My last recruit company will be preparing for arrival.

[shipwrecked]

I'm sanding bed sides.....

120&180. It's slow going at these grits because it needs to be level and it's easy to cut thru with these.



Random lows I need to put glazing on.


I'm off Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon, time to get more work done!

[grump]

April. I checked the bumper bracket on my 66 flareside and the bracket where it is attached to the frame sits level. The front bolt would be correct and the rear bolt should be at that level also, at least that's the way mine is and I don't think it's ever been off.

[unibody madness]

I have the same brackets on my unibody and they sit level to the frame also

[shipwrecked]

Okay thanks! Will adjust mine. Swiss cheese back there!