TheSamba.com :: View topic - 60 Single Cab Build-Pics

Wed Aug 03, 2011 3:20 pm

I'm not sure if the primer must come off, I just noticed that they are getting pretty scratched up just from shipping and moving them all around. I'd just prefer to spray a fresh coat of etch then go straight to a high build primer. There's lots of imperfections from making the panels. I just didn't want to sand out the scratches down to bare metal, seems easier just to start from scratch when it's ready to prime. Plus, I'll only have to scuff the panels, clean and shoot. I'm more concerned about adhesion than paint perfection. The panels don't look like they get scuffed very well before the funky green gets sprayed on. I know that if I do it, it will be prepped well for sure.

Fri Aug 12, 2011 12:12 pm

I can't button up the bed skins until I finish everything in the treasure chest. So, for now I'm switching gears to work on the gates for a bit. Here's a better tailgate I got from Campingbox.

I just got in some more Rust Bullet. After that's brushed on, I'll finish this channel.

Wed Aug 17, 2011 10:26 am

Plug welded from the back...

Wed Aug 17, 2011 10:27 am

Did a little test fit to make sure the gate is going to bolt up correctly.

Cleaned and painted hinge reinforcement after welding..

Wed Aug 17, 2011 10:30 am

I wasn't able to weld these pieces together the same way they were originally. The outer skin was coated with Rust Bullet and the metal was so pitted, welds would have just burned through.

These side pieces were really hard to weld-thin from rust

Wed Aug 17, 2011 10:31 am

Almost done getting the many layers of old paint off. It's nice getting the rust and center bowing out of the gate in one shot.

Wed Oct 19, 2011 11:24 am

10/17/11

I finally got started on the side gates. I was kind of dreading them..

These weren't as rusty as the tailgate, so I got to do some spot welding. The inside of the skin was still crusty, so I had to weld them after folding this lip instead of before. There wasn't any penetration with the crusty inner surfaces.

The mounting nuts for this latch were ruined, this was my only chance to fix them right.

Wed Oct 19, 2011 11:25 am

Here's some test fitting of everything before I finished the upper channel.

Wed Oct 19, 2011 11:30 am

Finished cleaning up these welds, and the ones on the panel under the back window.

Got busy with the DA sander and spot welder.

Wed Oct 19, 2011 11:31 am

Just have to beat on these for a while with hammer and dolly now.

2 out of three done.... :)

Wed Oct 19, 2011 5:31 pm

Nice work! I've got a similar situation that I'll have to tackle one day...

Nice to see it's do-able.

Wed Nov 16, 2011 4:16 pm

I finally decided to finish the decklid and treasure chest doors and take a break on the side gates. Both had creases from accidents. The treasure chest door had been lightly side-swiped and totally twisted. The decklid looked like it had been backed into something.

The extra license plate holes got filled..

What a horrible fit on the body lines. Both upper corners were bent in and a huge gap at the top of the lid.

After fixing the sheet metal that holds the threaded hinge holes, it was necessary to have some adjustment in the hinges. I had a machine shop slot the holes and I grinded some clearance on the back to have room to slid them back and forth.

Wed Nov 16, 2011 4:25 pm

The bare metal spot next to the latch was bent in as well. I had to stand on it and wedge it against a phone pole to straighten it.

Wed Nov 16, 2011 4:43 pm

Got them in poly primer- after block sanding, they'll be ready for paint.

Wed Nov 16, 2011 6:39 pm

:shock: Great job

Sun Nov 27, 2011 10:16 am

Sun Nov 27, 2011 10:17 am

It's finally starting to look right :D

Sun Nov 27, 2011 10:19 am

Once I'm finished in the treasure chest, the bed skins will go on. I've got some dent pulling to do and maybe replacement of some of the crossmembers.

Tue Nov 29, 2011 7:33 pm

Nice work on the SC and great job on the thread with lots of pics, keep them coming.

Tue Nov 29, 2011 7:45 pm

Looks awesome!