'78 F350 Dually Project

[RivennHewn]

Continuing on in the land of make believe, I made some progress on the door again today.

I sprayed a thin coat of black sanding primer on the door, then wet sanded it.
This gave me a good look at the high and low spots. Those that needed more work.

Then was another coat of bondo, followed by a full cross hatched block sanding.

It's still ugly, but baby-**** smooth.

I'm happy with the results, especially re-establing the contour lines.
You can still see a few imperfections, but you can't feel them with your finger tip, or even a finger nail.

 

[HOTFR8]

If it was me I would be very happy with that door. Considering you showed us where you started and what you have done all I can add is well done sir. Well done.

 

[HOTFR8]

Oh, the Restorers motto - 'Paint it black and put it back' I am sure will not be a part of it here and we will see it neatly finished.

 

[Toolfool]

Nice work. Keep practicing, you can teach me when I start on my van.

 

[RivennHewn]

Thanks fr8,
The door had a serous case of the uglies, but it didn’t have any rust.
A good one to learn on.

I’ve relied on the “paint it black” thing too much myself.

Picking a color is the hard part, right?

Tool,

I’d be more than happy to help, but I’ll need to buy an airbrush for all the wizards, dragons, and scantily clad women that van needs!

 

[Rock knocker]

Having left the door outside for a few days, I have the same problem as every other car in Seattle - Pollen.

Thursday and Friday were murder. I looked at the pollen report in the Times, and it was pegged to eleven. Hopefully the rain this Saturday morning will knock things out of the air.

 

[Toolfool]

Tool,

I’d be more than happy to help, but I’ll need to buy an airbrush for all the wizards, dragons, and scantily clad women that van needs!

I think pinstripes and tasteful scrolling is my limit nowadays.


(OK, maybe one scantily clad woman)

 

[RivennHewn]

Am I the only one with an appreciation of 70’s van art?

 

[C_F]

Am I the only one with an appreciation of 70’s van art?

There's at least two of us, I appreciate the van art of the period.

 

[RivennHewn]

"… The morning sun when it's in your face really shows your age..."

So does late afternoon sun.

Like a brutally honest best friend, the afternoon sun shows all defects.

Another light coat of bondo, and some spot glazing putty.

Not quite ready for the airbrush dragons......

 

[Toolfool]

I appreciate the art of that period, just not willing to spend the coin on it now. Used to have buddies who did airbrushing for beer (and stuff).

 

[RivennHewn]

I appreciate the art of that period, just not willing to spend the coin on it now. Used to have buddies who did airbrushing for beer (and stuff).

Ya, I won’t be commissioning any artwork anytime soon.

At least, not until I get some bodywork done......

 

[RivennHewn]

Finally got a 1st coat of paint on the door.

It's been a long process.

The day I brought home my $10 door.

After the initial sanding with the RA sander.

and a little more sanding.

After the plug welds and some hammer and dolly work.

Then some bondo and primer.

Then some more primer.

A lot of wet sanding.

A lot of block sanding too.

Finally, the 1st coat of paint.

And I vow to never again complain about the cost of auto body repairs

This was my 1st attempt at doing body work. I'm sure I got a few things out of sequence, took too many attempts at what should have been one-and-done, and total laid waste to any budget (eh, who cares).

I learned a lot, and had a lot of fun too.

At least the driver's side door is in better condition

 

[drivesitfar]

Riv: nice work. WELL DONE!!

I hope it fits or did you try that out first before doing all your work? I love your cool looking firepit or whatever that is called that your door is leaning up against.

have a great weekend!!

 

[RivennHewn]

Thanks Drives,

The door should be a direct replacement. I said "should be".

I've heard there are some fitment problems with the offshore replacement doors that are available, and figured I'd have better luck with an original door.

The fire place was a fun build I did a few years back in The making of a table thread: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=228073

Which reminds me, I should get back to making stuff..............

Tomorrow is Cinco De Mayo, a good excuse to find a taco truck and drink a cerveza or two

 

[RivennHewn]

Even after a few Cervezas, I'm still to chicken to drill holes in my 'new' door.

Figured I'd mount my NOS West Coast mirrors to the old doors, and get everything laid out and adjusted. Then I can template before I drill the new door.

All the parts were wrapped in newspaper from the factory. Seems my mirrors were made in 1972.
Finally, a good use of the LA Times

I'll jump right on getting on a 'program' to keep my new mirrors waxed.

 

[Toolfool]

Don't forget to post up your 'waxing' video.

 

[RivennHewn]

Don't forget to post up your 'waxing' video.

Ya, about that...........

 

[nonhog]

Door looks really good!
Looking forward to more.

 

[RivennHewn]

Door looks really good!
Looking forward to more.

Thanks,

Still a work in progress, but getting there.

I noticed my bed wasn't going up all the way. Been leaking fluid out the plug on the ram. New plug and a top off :

 

[RivennHewn]

What? For me?

It ain't even my birthday!!!

 

[Toolfool]

Come'on open it already.

 

[RivennHewn]

Mostly door guts/ window seals.

Won’t be getting to them anytime soon. Need to get both doors ready for paint first.

 

[Toolfool]

I hear ya. I've had my door seals for the van since September.

 

[RivennHewn]

I hear ya. I've had my door seals for the van since September.

Some parts I buy because I need them that day, some I buy to help keep my motivation up.

Then there are parts I buy because I just know I need them and that I'll find the time to install them.

I've had a rear slider in all my trucks, and don't ever plan on having one without one.

Now, I just need to figure out how to install it...........never done that before.

 

[Toolfool]

I have. What type of window ? Clamp frame or gasket frame ? Clamp is easy, gasket requires a rope to install. Google it.

 

[C_F]

That reminds me, I need to see if I can find new seals for my rear slider window, it leaks in the rain.
Your door sure turned out nice!

 

[RivennHewn]

It's a rubber gasket type flange. I've seen it done on youtube. Nothing to it but to do it.

That reminds me, I need to see if I can find new seals for my rear slider window, it leaks in the rain.
Your door sure turned out nice!

$39 buck at LMC
http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/fc/full.aspx?Page=26

I need to order one too.

The door is good enough for now. Time to roll'r over and tackle the other side.

I started with a good cleaning and a lite wet sand.

Then hit it with some POR15

Not much rust, but want to kill it anyway.
I flooded it around the edge where the door skin folds around the inner door panel.

Then did the same thing on the inside of the door.

Hoping I added a few years to it's life.....

 

[Strouty]

If you are really worried about it, when you are done put the fluid film to it.

 

[WoodsTruck]

When installing the rear window, make sure you use some sort of lubricant. I have used Windex which works well and helps clean it when you wipe it down afterwards. If you do it dry you can tear the rubber. (Add your own comment here)

You will probably need an assistant to keep pressure in on the window while the other pulls the cords around. Not too much pressure to pinch the cord in the gasket though. I have always used a small braided cord like a window blind would use, but if I did it today, I think I might try a piece of weed eater string since it would be tough and smooth.

 

[RivennHewn]

Woods,
Funny you mention Windex. I was just watching my glazers installing rubber gasketed relites into aluminum frames at work. They use a lot of Windex.

It definitely looks like a two man job. Luckily, my son will be home from college next week.

The rubber seal has been ordered.

 

[RivennHewn]

Found another rabbit hole today.

Started looking into why I didn't have any dash lights. I just replaced the sockets and bulbs, but still no light.

Dis-assembled the gauge cluster, then placed yet another order to LMC for a new flexible circuit board, new back plastic housing, and a new clear plastic cover.

The old plastic has started to fail, and the sockets aren't pulling up tight, screws are loose, and it's starting to crack.

Just another episode of "I know what I'm doing", in the land of make believe.

 

[zkdiesel]

Found another rabbit hole today.

Started looking into why I didn't have any dash lights. I just replaced the sockets and bulbs, but still no light.

Dis-assembled the gauge cluster, then placed yet another order to LMC for a new flexible circuit board, new back plastic housing, and a new clear plastic cover.

The old plastic has started to fail, and the sockets aren't pulling up tight, screws are loose, and it's starting to crack.

Just another episode of "I know what I'm doing", in the land of make believe.

My cluster had same issues. Then to top it off all gauge studs spun trying to remove and each gauge had to be disassembled and resoldered

 

[RivennHewn]

ZK,
Thanks for the heads up. Something else to watch out for.
I’ll be extra careful with them.

That sounds like a PITA I don’t need!

 

[Toolfool]

So, has the plastic deformed with age ? My van is a '75 and I haven't gotten into the cluster yet. Makes me think about that digital cluster a little more.

 

[C_F]

$39 buck at LMC
http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/fc/full.aspx?Page=26

Great, thanks for the link!

 

[RivennHewn]

So, has the plastic deformed with age ? My van is a '75 and I haven't gotten into the cluster yet. Makes me think about that digital cluster a little more.

No deformation, but it feels like it’s turning into dust. Won’t hold fasteners anymore.

CF,
Got mine ordered

 

[Strouty]

The way I look at it is you are spending money on something useful and learning things as you go, could be worse, you could be buying meth.

 

[HOTFR8]

The way I look at it is you are spending money on something useful and learning things as you go, could be worse, you could be buying meth.

The drug is the project (dually) in this case.

 

[RivennHewn]

And buying parts is the “fix”

Thanks guys, as long as I’m not buying meth, I’m doing OK