Thread: 55/58 Chevy truck build

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Some other things I've done to the truck lately.

Raptor liner tinted with body color and clear.


Raptor liner tinted with body no clear.



Well once again I could not leave well enough alone. If you guys remember I never liked how the column stuck out of the firewall when I installed the 55 dash. The aftermarket mount just looked to busy and I wanted something smooth looking. So I decided to do this.

I made this piece out of sheetmetal and exhaust pipe I had laying around.

Mocked up to see if I liked it better before I commented to it.

Welded in and mocked up and yes I like it much better.

Grinded all the welds, filler, primer and almost done blocking. I will blend the paint in that area and you will never notice the difference.


I did not want the filler in the bed so this is what I came up with. Its a pop up motorcycle filler that I located in the fleetside stake pocket, the one the tailgate is attachked to. I had to figure out the plumbing it was some work but I like it.

Heres the second tune of the cam, its getting better. This is a cold start.

http://youtu.be/ExUHyDs9qSs

Oh yeah! It's sounding better and better. Very nice work on the raptor liner. I've used it a few times with good luck. I plan to do the entire bottom of my 40 with it.

I just picked up a 1956 3800 that I plan to take the body and put it on a newer frame of some sort for my wife. I'll have to do some research what frames work good under these.

Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

Oh yeah! It's sounding better and better. Very nice work on the raptor liner. I've used it a few times with good luck. I plan to do the entire bottom of my 40 with it.

I just picked up a 1956 3800 that I plan to take the body and put it on a newer frame of some sort for my wife. I'll have to do some research what frames work good under these.

Yeah I done the bottom of the cab and interior floors with the raptor liner, so easy to use you can't go wrong.

I don't know anything about complete frame swaps, I install clips or aftermarket IFS.

I forgot to post a pic of the Dakota Digital gauges installed.

Making a lot of progress. Those gauges are just beautiful.

Originally Posted by v8nutz

Making a lot of progress. Those gauges are just beautiful.

Yeah I really like them alot. I learned something from buying those gauges. I was trying to avoid paying that much for gauges so I started looking into buy the bezel, and gauge set of a decent quality. Man I was only going to save about 100 bucks, so I might as well bit the bullet and get what I really want. All decent quality gauges are expensive.

Originally Posted by BAM55

Yeah I done the bottom of the cab and interior floors with the raptor liner, so easy to use you can't go wrong.

I don't know anything about complete frame swaps, I install clips or aftermarket IFS.

I need to look at how large the frame is on this truck. But it is a 3800 and has at least a 10' bed. I'm guessing finding a 1/2 or 3/4 ton frame won't be easy that's why I guessed a frame swap may be easier. Once I get it home and out of the weeds I can get a better idea about it.

That DD cluster looks great!

Well I finished blending the paint on the firewall after the steering column mount fab work. It came out nice, you can't tell that I cut into that paint.

That sure looks great! Did you re clear the entire firewall or just blend it in and then cut and buff it too?

.

Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

That sure looks great! Did you re clear the entire firewall or just blend it in and then cut and buff it too?

.

Thats not cut and buffed yet, that pic is right after I shot the clear. What I did was wet sanded that side of the firewall to about the center of the truck. I then backed taped at the edge of the top of the firewall and blended the clear. I hope that makes sense.

Yes it does. Again, nice work.

Good job, I've never had much luck with blending. I always get a line in the clear.

Originally Posted by v8nutz

Good job, I've never had much luck with blending. I always get a line in the clear.

Well that can be fixed with wet sanding the line out. One trick is to use body filler over the line and start wet sanding once the body filler is gone so is your clear line. What that allows you to do is not sand too much clear away, you stop sanding when all the body filler is gone. I also do at least three coats of clear because I know I will be wet sanding.

Best way imo is to when you scuff (I use 800 or 1000 grit wet to scuff) the panel don't spray the clear the whole scuffed off area you only are trying to protect the basecoat that you blended, you can always take the scuffs out once you cut and buff the panel. Back taping helps also it gives you a softer edge that just taping off a area.

I hope that makes sense

I think I had trouble because the clear didn't burn in so it left a line. And then there's the issue of color match, it's an art to get the color to blend and disappear. Do you do this kind of stuff for a living?