Gave the welder a spin. I won’t be quitting my day job anytime soon. I tried some thin bandsaw material first, but it was a complete failure. then I got some 1/8″ mild stock and cleaned it up and tried that. I did one side and it was terrible. I changed my tack on the back side and it came out a little better, excet the weld didn’t go all the way through (form improper preperation). I bought some sheet metal to practice butt-welds on.
First side - really bad.
Second side - not as bad.
I finally got some tools that I’ve been putting off getting for too long. All of these are things I can both use on the truck, and on knifemaking. Amanda says I’m dual-speccing.
First and foremost is the MIG welder. Got it dirt cheap – $109 instead of $149. Is it top of the line? No. But it will do. Got a auto darkening helmet to go with it. I also got a 6″ buffer with a stand – needed that for a long time. Got an angle grinder and tons of consumables to go with it (that’ll be very necessary for welding stuff). Got a new 1/2″ ratchet as mine bit the farm this morning. Also got lots of sandpaper, some welding gloves, and various and sundry other stuff.
You know, harbor freight has some good deals. The tools are not great – but if you aren’t using them really really heavily, they hold up.
Well it was a moderate success. Plus it was really a cool trip – very interesting! That place is HUGE. They won’t let you take any tools that have batteries or cutting torches, so I was lugging around a huge tool box filled with all my sockets and whatnot. Fortunately, they give you free use of wheelbarrows. Our wheelbarrow was crap and squeaked a lot. I should have taken the camera to get pictures – I will next time. It would certainly make for some interesting shots.
There were maybe ten or fifteen trucks that were of the correct year range (James has a ’77 and I have a ’78). Most of those had been there a while and were picked clean. Anything that looked like it might have had a decent door was doorless. So I gave it over. I think I will repair the ones I have if nothing better comes along. But I did snag quite a few other bits and bobs that will make the truck a bit more livable.
- New driverside vent window (current one is broken on the bottom and does not open)
- AC vent for dash bezel (my bezel has no vent – just a hole)
- New shift indicator assembly (currently, I have no way of knowing which gear I’m in so often I end up in low by accident)
- New cab trim! (really excited about that – it would have been a bitch to clean up what is on there now. And what I found is in fantastic shape.)
- One right hand headlight bezel – the real kind. Steel, not plastic. Still need to find the left hand side.
Things I wish I had found:
- Stock grille. I swear every grille there was broken.
- The other headlight bezel.
- The center grille trim.
- Some frikken doors.
- A new hood for James – his is bent really badly.
- A stock steering wheel that wasn’t covered in moss.
- A tailgate in perfect shape. (yeah, right)
- A cargo light lens.
- Tail light lenses.
But hey. I got a bunch of stuff. And it was only about $40 for the whole lot. The needle alone will be worth that! I am going to do some restoration on the vent window before I install it, and I’ll take pictures.
Here are some pictures of some of the finds from today:
Needle, Trim, Air vent.
Vent Window
Talked to the guy at Pull-A-Part. James and I are going to go out there tomorrow bright and early to see if we can scare up some door. I might snag a door gate too if it isn’t too much trouble. Shop books are on their way, so I guess I’ll Google it.
EDIT 2014 Update:
In case you’re wondering, your chances of finding a usable door or tailgate in anywhere nearing presentable condition at Pull-A-Part are pretty much nill. Learn sheet metal repair or order new ones. Trust me on this.
While I’m waiting on the truck to get done at the shop, I’ve been digging around for new old stock on the interwebs. Specifically, I’m hunting down some tail lights lenses and the cargo light lens. Been tough so far. I’ve found some singles, but no pairs. I supposed I could get some after market ones – but those can be really hit or miss. At any rate, it is something to do while I wait around…..
EDIT 2014 Update: The aftermarket ones are actually pretty good these days. I ended up going that route.
After much discussion with the wife, we’ve nailed down the final decision on the body work. I am going to take it into the recommended shops for an estimate. I’m going to ask that the following be done:
- The interior of the cab and the engine compartment need not be touched.
- I want the bed stripped properly.
- I want the rust stopped in it’s tracks.
- I want the body fixed where need be.
- I want it painted.
If all that is less than around the 3k mark, I’ll have them do it. But not if it is going to take more than a couple of months. And not if they won’t guarantee the estimate in writing.
If I can’t get it done for that, I will invest in the equipment to do it myself.
Full marks for bravery go to my wife – who is awesome. She is like me in that the important thing is that it be done correctly. As soon as the truck comes back from the front end work, I’ll start making my calls.
EDIT 2014 Update:
Ok, if you’re at this point in your project let me save you a lot of time and money: do it yourself. You will never ever ever ever find someone who will do paint and body up to your level of expectation without spending an absolute fortune (and spending that fortune doesn’t guarantee you anything anyway). There is no such thing as a “daily driver” paint job that you will be satisfied with. You are far better off spending the money on the proper tools to do your own paint and body. Is it a huge amount of work? Absolutely. Does it take for frikken ever? Oh yeah. And even factoring in that, it is still your best option.
I looked all over for someone to replace the windshield. Finally found a place in Seymour (no one else would do it on it because of age). Should be under $250! Jerry’s Autoglass – and from talking with them, they know what they’re doing and can handle it no problem.
EDIT 2014 Update:
I ended up taking it to 3T Glass in Maryville, TN. I highly recommend them. Fantastic work.
Took the truck into SHA this morning to do the frontend work. Parts were only $160. Way better than the $400 I was quoted at Firestone. I’m guessing the labor will be a lot cheaper too. I asked the guy about other people who might do body work, and he gave me the same sad story that a lot of the other people have. “No one that they know of”. Hopefully, the other leads will pay off.
I think I am going to attempt to strip it myself. At least some of it. My bud Royce and I are going to tackle the welding (Yea!) and I might get help from Dan on the paint, if I decide to go that route (Woot! PA trip!).
Whatever happens, it’ll be an adventure. I can’t wait till it gets out of the shop!
EDIT 2014 Update:
I ended up also having all of the bushings in the front end replaced with poly bushings as well. If you have a sloppy front end, you really have to do EVERYthing up there. Poly bushings make a huge difference.
I may possibly have found a lead on some shops! A friend of the family has some antique cars, and is into the whole scene. My mom suggested I give him a call, and sure enough he gave me two contacts that he says would be able and more than qualified to do the work. It sounds like they are just the kind of shop I’m looking for too.
I probably won’t get a chance tomorrow to give them a call, so maybe later in the week.
EDIT 2014 Update:
I ended up not going this route. I did end up trying to have the work done by someone, but in retrospect I should have tackled it myself.
Anytime anyone asks me “I have a project vehicle. Do you know of a place I could take it to for paint and body? Somewhere that will do a great job and not cost an arm and a leg?” I say “That is like me asking you where I can get a good deal on a unicorn that pukes dollar bills and shoots lasers out its eyes. Such a place does not exist. Give up.” Seriously, invest those resources in doing the work yourself. I promise it will be less painful.
Tags and insurance obtained! Tags set me back $84.00 (that included tax from the purchase). Insurance was super cheap: $135 for 6 months! Woot.
Truck is now legal. Tomorrow morning – going to see about that front end work. Only snag so far: the mechanic my family uses mainly works on Hondas and Acuras.