Randy Steel
Active Member
I ended up glassing in the new dash panel. I had to utilize screws to get it set in place. Once it set, I removed the screws and filled the holes.
Covid Project - 80's Project T-Rod
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Randy Steel
Active Member
For the bed, I ended up cutting out the tailgate out in order to get my fuel cell to fit correctly. The 10 gallon tank is very tight within the bed, and I wanted the ability to lower the tailgate for future trunk maintenance. I plan to glass over the faces of the mounting hinges to make it look better. For the bed cover, I'm weighing in on my options on how it will open/close and be secure. Do I do a simple velcro hold down on the lid flanges or a strong magnetic latch or a hinged lid? If I go with a hinged lid near the body, I'll have to cut across the lid and somehow permanently secure the cut to the body or bed. I guess you add some small piano hinges to allow it to raise and lower. I guess there's many directions that I could take it.
old round fart
Well-Known Member
Is the bed CCR? How long is it? Mine is a Spirit and i think it is only 14”. I will be putting the radiator in the bed so extra length might be a benefit. I like the windshield post install. I plan on a brace from the w/s post to the floor and forward to the firewall to support the w/s so I don’t need braces going forward. Liking your build.
Randy Steel
Active Member
Thanks. This is a 20" bed and cover....both are from Speedway.
Randy Steel
Active Member
Took the leap of faith and finally got around to cutting out the passenger door. I had to "slit" the wood to assist with contouring with the body. Even with the hardwood (poplar) framing installed, it's still a bit flimsical. Hopefully, things will stiffen up once I add additional wood on the body and get the floor, firewall, and seating frame installed.
fletcherson
Well-Known Member
It’s crazy how many chemicals are involved in painting a car. I remember only needing paint, reducer, and catalyst, but that was optional. It’s crazy how much material is required for anything from a simple spot or panel repair to a total refinish... same number of chemicals, different quantity. Don’t even get me started on the amount of stuff wasting away in my shop while my bucket project has been on the back burner... resins, putties, retardants, paints, primers, OMG, I’m becoming aggravated just thinking about it. Oh well, that’s the price paid for the things intended to put smiles on our faces.
fletcherson
Well-Known Member
I like your dash panel. I have a very similar design that I created because I couldn’t find a premolded one at the time that would fit without serious modification.
Randy Steel
Active Member
It's kind of humorous....I've been building old cars and military plastic models all my life...detailing all the little parts with various paints and aging techniques, and now I'm building a 27' T-bucket. I told my wife there's one difference between the two....this has become the model from Hell! 
Randy Steel
Active Member
Don't know if anyone has a attempted making their own windshield frame. I figured I would give it a try using electrical 3/4" EMT conduit and resin filler. 1) Bent and cut out my pipe, 2) Used fiberglass marine resin to fill both pipes, 3) Mark my lines, 4) Cut the channel using a cutoff tool.
Randy Steel
Active Member
Got the door handle and stop installed.
Randy Steel
Active Member
The time finally arrived to get the paint completed. I got started around 7:30am and did a 14 hour day for completing the paint job (finished around 9:30 pm at night). I've been working on the body/bed/dash/door/windshield posts since May, so I was excited to get this done before the fall weather sets in. Overall, the temperature outside was 95 deg and the humidity was pretty low. A good day to paint and I got lucky with not having any noticeable dust/dirt, or any bugs interfering with the paint work. 3 coats of epoxy primer, 3 coats of base yellow, 2 coats red paint, 3 coats of clear. Overall, the paint flowed well, and it came out with a nice gloss. Not bad for a backyard paint job!
old round fart
Well-Known Member
I like that a lot!
fletcherson
Well-Known Member
Awesome! It’s a distant, foggy memory for me, back to the days of back yard body and paint work. The essence of true hot rodding. I literally grew up in my dads body shop but as life progressed I was on my own, no shop, few tools, had to begin again. One of my early builds was a ‘76 Ventura, v6 auto grocery getter that I transformed into a 455 tri power, 4 speed sleeper monster. The engine was built in a shed, I off framed and built the car, body work, and paint in a car port... and I was working 60-65 hours a week at my bill pay job. It actually turned out very good, wish I still had it. No idea where the energy came from or went. I remember ordering parts from California Discount Warehouse via Car builder magazine ads at my desk and frequenting the local bone yards, Jegs, and Super Shops, my favorite. Keep up the good work!
Randy Steel
Active Member
I like that '76 Ventura! My wife had a two door '76 Nova when I first started dating her in high school that we labeled the "Nova-ghini". A good solid vehicle...had the 305 V8. We did some crazy stuff in that car and it took a fearsome beating, but no matter how bad we treated it, it kept on cruising. It never broke down and would always keep on ticking.
It never broke down and would always keep on ticking.
Randy Steel
Active Member
Here's a couple more pics of my paint job. Overall, not to bad. I noticed my tape job on the flames was rushed and I got some bleed through. Any ideas on how to try and correct this problem? In all honesty, I was in a rush to get all the paint completed and I should've taken more time on the taping. I'm thinking of using some 1/8" light orange pin-striping to outline and cover the red bleed-through on the flames. At this point, I just need to try and cover my mistakes. Any suggestions?
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