1955 Chevy Truck

'68 Coronet R/T

'68 Coronet R/T

Oldtimer
I started on this a while back and it has been sitting. Someone else had painted the truck in pieces a number of years ago and it never got reassembled. Of course the first thing I needed to do was put it together to see if everything was there and fit properly. No in both cases.
Getting back to this project I ran into something and have a question for those who have more experience with these older trucks.

I have been fighting with getting the alignment of the driver's door correct.
The gap at the rear of the door looks pretty consistent but the center portion of the door doesn't flush up with the cab.
In this picture you can see the gap:
Door%20Gap%20Rear%20Drivers.jpg


I have magnets holding the door flush at two points:
Door%20Alignment%20Upper%20Drivers.jpg


The door sits flush at the top and about center:
Door%20Alignment%20Middle%20Drivers.jpg


The major problem area is from the curve just below the door handle to about 1/2 up the window channel:
Door%20Alignment%20Problem%20Area%201.jpg


The second problem is the lower section. You can see it is flush at the top and not at the bottom:
Door%20Alignment%20Problem%20Lower%20Rear.jpg


Any suggestions on how to deal with this? Should I try to "tweak" the door? Modify the cab? Combination of both?
 
Another question I have is about the paint. I have had two different local jobbers try to match this paint and in both cases the color looks close in natural light but not under camera flash.
Notice the majority of the truck reflects blue when using the camera flash but the color match on the step does not. Did they shoot a blue pearl mid coat over the green?
StepInstalledDS1.jpg


Here's a picture of the most recent attempt at a match and no blue is evident in either the original piece or the cowl grill. The blue only appears at certain angles which is baffling me.
Cowl%20Vent%20Paint%20Match_1.jpg
 
Couple years ago I painted a front fender for a 2000 dodge ram that had a grey color that shifted like this. One angle normal, different angle pearl look. It was factory color too.
 
It looks like the back of the door could go up some, and that would help everything, how are the gaps at the rocker and the top?
 
chevman;n79702 said:
It looks like the back of the door could go up some, and that would help everything, how are the gaps at the rocker and the top?
Click to expand...

I went back and played with the hinges a little more and it did help some. Made a few "adjustments" with a soft dead blow hammer and it looks much better.
The paint color shift is a big issue for me right now. The owner loves the original color but cannot remember what brand/code/kind or make. The guy who painted it for him 6 years ago left the area and from what I understand many former customers have been looking for him. LOL
 
On that door can you move the top hinge out? This would help tuck the bottom of the door in and help with the upper door line. Possibly maintaning the flush center line you have.

Trucks can be pretty crude. My 59' shop truck isn't great. One repaint original so the lines haven't been messed with.

Can't help with the color. That won't be fun.
 
Finally figured out the color on this thing. It is a Subaru Spruce Pearl tri-stage.
Many thanks to Chad for getting me lined out on this paint.
Here's the console:
Console%20Assembled%202.jpg


You can see in the next two pictures how the paint shows blue under flash but is actually a dark green.
Steering%20Column%20Paint.jpg

Steering%20Column%20Parts%20Flash.jpg


Base on hood:
Hood%20Base%20Coat.jpg


Two pictures taken in sunlight right after clear coat applied:
Hood%20Clear%20as%20Sprayed%201.jpg

Hood%20Clear%20as%20Sprayed.jpg


The color really shifts depending on the angle and lighting.
 
Thanks. I am so ready for this truck to be done.
I have to find some motivation to knock it out. So many set backs and direction changes over the last couple of years.
 
Thought I would post a couple of updates on this.

Got the truck painted, except for the doors, and started the cut and buff.
Hood Buffed.JPG

Hood Buffed 2.JPG


Tailgate Buffed
Tailgate Buffed 7.JPG


Tailgate color shot:
Tailgate Color Shot.JPG


Built some 6x9 speaker boxes.
Carpet Driver Side Rear.JPG


Test fitting the headliner:
Headliner Test Fit.JPG


Fabricating the kick panels:
Kick Panel.JPG


From what I have been reading and watching, installing the rubber headliner seal/trim is no picnic. Looking at it makes one think there's no way that's going in there. Any tips?
 
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