Wow, Ryan-
I'm both impressed and inspired...like the flames too.
Chris Dillon
51 Chevy 3100 ROD (soon to be flame throwing)
Ryan Border wrote:
> I thought some of you might enjoy some pictures of my recent dash repair
> work. I know many others are facing similar kinds of repairs and maybe
> seeing an amateur fumble through it will help give you some confidence :-).
>
> First, is a picture of what I had to start with. The truck came with a
> cover "plate" over the radio area. When I removed the plate, the butcher
> job exposed was rather disheartening. I mentioned in a previous message
> that it looks like the bodywork here was done with a hatchet. The red lines
> in this picture are cut lines I've drawn on to mark where I'm going to cut
> an even bigger hole to get clean, straight metal edges to work with. You
> can also see the 8 small holes drilled where the cover plate was fastened
> (sheet metal screws) to the dash. This pic was taken shortly after I
> finished sandblasting the entire dash.
> Pic 1: http://home.earthlink.net/~rborder/truck/DASH1.JPG
> <http://home.earthlink.net/~rborder/truck/DASH1.JPG>
>
> Next, I've cut out my new hole, and fabricated a scratch panel to fit into
> it. It's a good enough fit that it would stay in there by itself- long
> enough to snap a photo at least.
> Pic2: http://home.earthlink.net/~rborder/truck/DASH2.JPG
> <http://home.earthlink.net/~rborder/truck/DASH2.JPG>
>
> Panel welded in. You can tell by the mess that I've only got a flux-core
> buzz-box at my disposal. I've also welded up the 8 holes at this point.
> Pic3: http://home.earthlink.net/~rborder/truck/DASH3.JPG
> <http://home.earthlink.net/~rborder/truck/DASH3.JPG>
>
> After grinding:
> Pic4: http://home.earthlink.net/~rborder/truck/DASH4.JPG
> <http://home.earthlink.net/~rborder/truck/DASH4.JPG>
>
> Just a little finish work to go.
> Cut hole for my new CD player.
> Fiberglass re-enfoced filler over seams / sand
> Couple of thin coats of regular filler / sand
> Glazing putty for final touch ups / sand
> 2-part self etch primer
> Couple of coats of primer-surfacer / sand
> Coat of sealer
> Couple coats of yellow base coat
> Mask
> Coat of purple base coat / unmask
> Pin striping
> Couple coats of clear
> And we have (drum roll)
> Pic5: http://home.earthlink.net/~rborder/truck/DASH5.JPG
> <http://home.earthlink.net/~rborder/truck/DASH5.JPG>
>
> Now you're asking yourself: "what the hell was he thinking- painting it like
> that?". Not to worry, it's all part of a larger master plan...
> Pic6: http://home.earthlink.net/~rborder/truck/HOOD.JPG
> <http://home.earthlink.net/~rborder/truck/HOOD.JPG>
>
> It wasn't worth loading all the different paints just to do the dash (waste
> more paint than I'd use, just cleaning the guns), so I finished out the hood
> while I was at it. The fenders are still just in their initial yellow
> base-coat, though the temptation is getting pretty strong to pull the front
> sheetmetal off again and just finish it.
>
> This project is my first ever attempt at bodywork. So for all you guys
> considering it- I say go for it. It's not that hard, just takes an
> incredible amount of time. I don't see how anybody could actually make a
> living doing it. Unlike some other tasks, if you screw up bodywork/paint,
> you can usually just re-do it until you get it right (or close enough).
>
> Cheers-
> Ryan.
>
> PS: I'm still trying to figure out how to hook up my fuel gauge.
>
> oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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