Thread: Shop Truck (True Spirit) Project

Tweet

Well the 3 day weekend gave me a bit more time to work on the truck. I got the floor pulled out of the bed. It had the original wood floor and a ton of carriage bolts holding it together. The nuts on the bottom sit in channel iron braces so I couldn't get a socket up there (which meant no impact or air ratchet, just a combination wrench. I was working alone, which meant that I had to hold each bolt down from the top with a weight. So every bolt it was climb out from under the bed and move the weight to the next bolt. Lot of fun

After the bed was off, I pulled the cab. I figured while I was at this point I could go ahead and set the cab down on it's back and get a good look at the bottom side of the welds and fill any gaps I might have missed. Of course being as how I was there, I figured I might as well go ahead and grind the bottom of the welds too.

So the frame is now outside where I can pull the suspension apart and sandblast it.

I enjoy the disassembly and the welding and metal work. I really enjoy putting them back together and painting them. Unfortunately right now I'm at the part that I don't like.......the grunge work, cleaning, sandblasting, wire brushing and generally getting everything ready to go back together.

At least the sheetmetal is being sent out for media blasting (the cab and bed will be dropped off Friday) and body work. It is SUPPOSED to come back primed and blocked and ready for paint. I'm not in a huge hurry to get the stuff back, I want to get the frame, suspension and drive train ready prior to starting on the paint.

I'm kind of hoping that things will slow down at the body shop that is doing the work over the holidays and they will be able to get the stuff in and started on. We'll see.