Dads ol dodge

[LocuMob]

As always, a thoroughly detailed update with the most possible information! Thanks again. If I have to go down this road ever, I know where to go to get my info. Your dad will have a new truck by the time you're done with it!

 

[747mopar]

I took a few pics of the rocker before installing this time so you can see them. As you can see minimal lips for welding.

Another one down!!!!

This is all that stands between this cab being rust free or at least to my knowledge.

 

[747mopar]

Next on the list is to pick up lower door skins and fix the doors, after that is the dreaded bed repairs which I've already got the driver side panel for, hoping the passenger side is fine?

 

[747mopar]

This truck has me wanting to build my dream truck so I may start looking for the next project soon. I'll be looking for a 1969ish maybe even early 70's Ford short bed, not concerned about 2 wheel or 4 wheel drive nor whether or not it's a F100, F150 or F250 because I'll be building my own frame with double a arms coil over front suspension and a 4 link rear. The plan is to tub it, drop it, put a big 460 in it and haul a lot of ass!

 

[bear]

This is the only bad spot on the roof.

View attachment 6231

After removing the rotted metal, blasting it and priming it in weld threw primer.

View attachment 6232

New lip built and welded in. Forgot to get a pic of the finished patch

View attachment 6233

Then it goes south haha, I decided to go for a clean look and removed all of the gutters and weld them solid.

View attachment 6234

Nice job on the drip edge ! I like the nice clean look it has now . Believe it or not , I've seen them rotted worse then that before . I've seen them with pretty much the whole edge gone and rotted a few inch's up into the roof and the edge it's self falling off . Again , "great" job !

 

[747mopar]

Floors done.

The roof on this thing was solid rust, not one piece of paint
left at all. Here's a picture after a lot of time with the scotch bright wheel and chemically treating it to convert any rust left in the pits.

Since I'll be using PPG products throughout I went with their treatment and top coated it in their Epoxy.

Here's what I've taken a liking to for stripping just about everything, works really well.

Once I start the bodywork I'll borrow my buddy's stud gun and pull those nasty dents out but I'm done with the rust repairs.

 

[747mopar]

Finally........... all stripped, repaired, primed and sitting back at home. The only thing I didn't strip was some of the interior that was in good shape, I'll scuff, prime and paint it.

And the bed is already loaded into the mess room haha...... WOW, talk about some serious rust.

 

[bear]

Wow , It's starting to look like a truck again ! lol Is that your home shop or is it were you work ?

 

[747mopar]

Yeap, it's 32X60 with a separate room for the messy work that's all !00% washable, thin walls, weatherproof outlets and floor drains. It is motivating to see the cab on the frame again but looking at the repairs needed on the bed is a bit overwhelming. Focus on fixing one thing at a time.......

 

[bear]

Man ! A shop that size is a gearheads dream . I could do some serious damage in there ! lol But I'm grateful for the lil two car I have now . I've had to work with a whole lot less in the past . As far as the bed go's . Your right , just go at it one piece at a time and you'll get there .

 

[747mopar]

Man ! A shop that size is a gearheads dream . I could do some serious damage in there ! lol But I'm grateful for the lil two car I have now . I've had to work with a whole lot less in the past . As far as the bed go's . Your right , just go at it one piece at a time and you'll get there .

I've worked outside in the dirt, in the gravel and in small garages barely big enough to open the doors far enough to get out so when the opportunity arose to build a big garage I wasted no time. Don't regret building it for a second but will start on another garage this Spring, the one I'm in now my dad, brother and I built years ago and always has something going on in it so I need a storage place for the Charger to free this one up. The garage is actually 32'X100' but 40' of it is a machine shop that's packed to the point it's almost unusable which I'll tackle before long. One thing at a time.

 

[747mopar]

Here's a preview of the work I have ahead of me on this bed, it's solid but needs a lot of work. The previous owner hauled a lot of heavy machinery using binders so all 4 corners have massive stress cracks some going well down the seams. Then there's the massive amount of rust behind the fender wells destroying the rear most cross member and the corners leaving the tailgate fit sloppy.

 

[747mopar]

Here's what the rotten and cracked cross member with it's rotted corner supports looks like removed.

Here's the new cross member only this bad boy is 1/8" thick, my dad bent it up since I don't have the means to bend 1/8" thick metal that long and as usual he did a masterful job on it.

 

[747mopar]

New cross member installed and the rot all removed. In the 1st pics you'll notice the big hole behind the wheel well which was the hump used if it had 2 fuel tanks, It was rotted badly and will be patched deleting the hump.

All the patches will be but welded leaving them flush both inside and out for a smooth repair. I like to leave a small 1/16" gap to be filled with welds so it can be ground smooth while still leaving it fully welded. I did all 3 patched at once so I could jump around between the 3 with my spot welds keeping the metal cool so it doesn't warp. Once I get the spot welds down to a 1/4" spacing by jumping around I fill the gaps also jumping around to keep the heat down and finish it off.

I was concerned about all the rust repairs needed on this bed but once you just cut it all out it actually gets a lot easier. I couldn't believe how quickly the whole rear ofthis bed went from crap to rock solid........ 2 late nights is all it took!!!!

 

[747mopar]

Took advantage of the rear being all cut out to tighten the tailgate fitment up a bit, I'll now be able grind the gap even now. Got the stress cracks fixed as well.

The ratchet strap is only there to keep the tailgate shut since the latches have been removed for sandblasting.

 

[bear]

I've worked outside in the dirt, in the gravel and in small garages barely big enough to open the doors far enough to get out so when the opportunity arose to build a big garage I wasted no time. Don't regret building it for a second but will start on another garage this Spring, the one I'm in now my dad, brother and I built years ago and always has something going on in it so I need a storage place for the Charger to free this one up. The garage is actually 32'X100' but 40' of it is a machine shop that's packed to the point it's almost unusable which I'll tackle before long. One thing at a time.

Yeah , I can understand even with a shop your size you still need an area for dead storage separate from your work area . Whether it be for parts or a whole car or two . Or if your like me ( and it sounds like you are. lol ) , "both" .

 

[bear]

Here's what the rotten and cracked cross member with it's rotted corner supports looks like removed.

View attachment 6319

View attachment 6320

View attachment 6321

View attachment 6322

View attachment 6323

View attachment 6324

Here's the new cross member only this bad boy is 1/8" thick, my dad bent it up since I don't have the means to bend 1/8" thick metal that long and as usual he did a masterful job on it.

View attachment 6325

View attachment 6326

Tell your Dad , he did a hellava job there ! You can tell he knows what he's doing with a metal brake .

 

[bear]

I noticed in one of those pictures that you use those little panel separator's to keep the gap between the panels that your welding . I've been thinking of getting a set of those myself to try out . How do you like working with them ?

 

[747mopar]

I noticed in one of those pictures that you use those little panel separator's to keep the gap between the panels that your welding . I've been thinking of getting a set of those myself to try out . How do you like working with them ?

I never used them until now but they are handy, not so much for holding the gap but holding the panels level with each other. I'll be using them from now on.

 

[bear]

I never used them until now but they are handy, not so much for holding the gap but holding the panels level with each other. I'll be using them from now on.

Cool ! I might pick up a set now and give them a ride . Thanks !