Project Big Red

jhenegh

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If you can get some good pics and words in about your cab corner repairs. Mine are very similar and are on my list for this summer!

Thanks
 

laserjock

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I started tacking the cab corner and I'm not happy at all with the fit. I think I'm going to have to set the bed back on make sure it's as straight as I can. Not happy at all. A combination of my inexperience and a crappy patch panel are making this way harder than it needs to be.

In other news I picked up an exhaust brake and the parts to do the fuel filler mod like Russ did. Just have to get the fittings in to finish.
 

IDIoit

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want me to cut a piece out of my new cab?
gonna be scrapping it neways.
 

IDIoit

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no, its a RC, but cab corners should be close???
i cant remember the patch youre trying to do.
 

laserjock

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I appreciate it but I don't think that would help much. You are correct in that the shape is the same but the SC panel is just stretched about 16 or so inches longer. My fall back plan is piece it in ugly, fill it and sand a fender out of it. I am steadily heading down that road. It wouldn't have been a problem if I hadn't had to cut so much out. Lesson learned for the other side. Try to save as much as possible even if it seems slightly sketchy. Cutting the entire corner out is screwing me.

ANYBODY READING THIS... DON'T DO THIS PART THE WAY I HAVE SO FAR!!!!
 

opusd2

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Hey, I'm learning by watching you do it. I've never really done "pretty" bodywork. Welding in and replacing whole parts, yes. But I've never gotten my work to look at all as clean as you are getting.
 

IDIoit

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remember, after metal work, the next thing you want to do is duraglass it!
duraglass is like bondo, but with fiberglass in it.
bondo does not seal your metal work.
duraglass does.
if you use straight bondo moisture will get behind it and eventually rust out again.

ive dome some ugly ugly body work in my day.
the only thing that makes you better is experience...

a phrase i learned along time ago when i started out...
BEAT IT TO FIT, PAINT IT TO HIDE. YOU CANT SEE IT WHEN YOU DRIVE!
 

TahoeTom

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Since you cut above the body line you don't have a reference point. Are your doors on? You could line up to the body line on the door with a straight edge. I don't remember if you have an extra bed, but the factory body line is on the bedside. You could cut a section out of a bed at a junkyard and graft it to the replacement panel at the corner.
The discussion of lathering on the bondo reminds me of Kevin Tetz: "Cave it and Pave it"
 

laserjock

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I have the bed sitting in the yard on wheels. I just have to pump up the tires and roll it over to the garage to get it under the crane. It's a PIA but doable. I lined the door up as best I could to the body lines but the panel is so out of whack I don't think I can trust it. I think the bed is really the only solution to this problem. :frustrate :frustrate :frustrate :frustrate :frustrate

To your point IDIoit, all the reading I have done says weld it grind it down and then epoxy it for that very reason you mention. The filler won't seal out the moisture. So I'll get the metal back in close and epoxy it all and then I'll sand the damn body lines into shape if I have to I guess... or throw my hands up and say screw it because as you put it, I can't see it while I'm driving. That means that just the hood has to be straight right? ;Sweet
 

IDIoit

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To your point IDIoit, all the reading I have done says weld it grind it down and then epoxy it for that very reason you mention. The filler won't seal out the moisture. So I'll get the metal back in close and epoxy it all and then I'll sand the damn body lines into shape if I have to I guess... or throw my hands up and say screw it because as you put it, I can't see it while I'm driving. That means that just the hood has to be straight right? ;Sweet

theres 10 million ways to skin a cat.
if you read about bondo, its supposed to be placed on steel.
if you place it over a primer, either epoxy or poly, you have a barrier there which will sometimes pull away from eachother, depending on the grade of the filler and the grade of the primer.
you cannot simply call filler, filler.
there are 3 types of filler i use on body work.
a fiberbond type of filler, which does not let moisture in.
a normal type of bondo, which will absorb moisture
and a glaze. ( to fine tune your prep work)

i was taught by a top notch painter that all of your major filler work should be done before any type of primer.

this method just stuck with me.

again, the only way to learn is to do it and fail.
we make our best decisions of the failures we have committed and seen.

no way is a wrong way, until you hit a bump and a chunk of bondo falls out LOL
 

junk

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Exactly. 10 million ways.

I myself normally do filler on bare metal then primer over the works. Depends on what the products are rated for. My filler is rated for bare metal. My primers are rated to go over filler.

I definitely agree though do a fiberglass based filler for the first coat over weld seams then switch to your traditional fillers. I've been using a 3m short strand fiberglass filler that I really like for my coat over weld seams. I used to use a product called All-Metal, but it sanded really hard. For fillers I've been using the U-pol filler and then the U-pol dolphin glaze for the final coat. I agree though Primer is for fixing minor flaws. Any actual filling should be done during filler work. And the final glaze should cover the whole filled area almost being used like a primer coat.

- Jeremy
 

laserjock

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I'll have to go read up on my stuff. I think the spi epoxy says to not put it over filler. Guess that means I need to read up on the filler. I hadn't bought any fiber glass filler so I guess that needs to go on my list. As always the education is appreciated guys.
 

IDIoit

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i just want people to do it correct.
so many hack jobs out there,
if you learn from a hack, all youll ever do is hack work.

as seen in this thread, i hold your work in 80% high reguards.
there are some items i dont like, and some that i absolutely love and will retain.
we are all individuals, and we all have our own way of doing things.

i could get on a pedestal, but that means that i would have to move the automatic belt fed machine gun.
id rather keep my feet planted in the dirt and leave the pedestal for protection for all out sakes.

crazy analogy, i know but ive consumed enough for the evening.:D

do it right. do it once. and ....
live long and prosper????
 
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