MDPotter
Promoted Users
Hello everybody, I'm a new member here and am starting to use SPI products - I've been buying from my local jobber but am a little disappointed in their tech support, pricing, products, etc. so I'm switching over to SPI. I've got 2 gallons of UV clear to spray on this truck in the next few months and plan to buy epoxy and 2K from SPI for future projects.
I've got a full time job that keeps me busy M-F, but body work has been a hobby of mine for the past few years. I'm not good enough at it nor do I have the patience to make a living out of it, but I enjoy the hands-on gratification. I'm a commercial construction estimator which means all of my time at work is spent on the computer so I get a good sense of accomplishment on the weekends working on projects.
I've been exploring the forum and have found a lot of helpful advice and thought I'd share my experience with this restoration just in case anyone else out there is working on a similar project.
Dad and I are restoring the 64 C10 he drove in high school which belonged to his grandfather previously. It sat in the weeds for 20+ years before we pulled it into the shop in 2006 and took it apart. Life happened, the economy tanked, but we resumed the project with moderate effort in 2016 and really got after it this past year. I don't have pictures readily available for all the work done up to July 2018, but they are in the archives.
Here it is the day we brought it out of the weeds and pressure washed it. From here, we took it apart completely, even the chassis. We had everything but the fenders and bed sandblasted, then epoxy primed. As with all of these trucks, the lower 6" of all body panels were rusted out. We bought a whole new bed, new fenders, and new outer door skins. The inner/outer rockers and cab corners were replaced. The truck had a 283 which we pulled out and we dropped in a 5.3 LC9 with a 6-speed out of a wrecked 2012 Silverado, installed a stainless tank between the frame rails, added sway bars, did a 1/3 drop, and a disc brake conversion in the front.
Here is the project in its current state. All the rust repair and bondo work is done, now working through 2k primer and paint prep.
Sprayed Chassis Saver satin black on the underside of the hood
Sprayed the same Chassis Saver on the firewall
The bed is in its final coat of 2K, ready for wet sanding followed by base/clear. We also got rid of the tailgate chains and installed hidden latches and links from Mar-K and welded up the stake pockets.
This is the collection of color samples - three different shades of blue on the old parts (hence the scratches, dents, etc.). Left half on the bedside is a Subaru blue, the fender is a lighter shade of GM Stone Blue Metallic, and the right half of the bedside is the darker shade of the GM Stone Blue Metallic and we are going with the darker shade.
I will try to post more often as the project moves forward. If all goes well this weekend, I will have the bed painted.
I've got a full time job that keeps me busy M-F, but body work has been a hobby of mine for the past few years. I'm not good enough at it nor do I have the patience to make a living out of it, but I enjoy the hands-on gratification. I'm a commercial construction estimator which means all of my time at work is spent on the computer so I get a good sense of accomplishment on the weekends working on projects.
I've been exploring the forum and have found a lot of helpful advice and thought I'd share my experience with this restoration just in case anyone else out there is working on a similar project.
Dad and I are restoring the 64 C10 he drove in high school which belonged to his grandfather previously. It sat in the weeds for 20+ years before we pulled it into the shop in 2006 and took it apart. Life happened, the economy tanked, but we resumed the project with moderate effort in 2016 and really got after it this past year. I don't have pictures readily available for all the work done up to July 2018, but they are in the archives.
Here it is the day we brought it out of the weeds and pressure washed it. From here, we took it apart completely, even the chassis. We had everything but the fenders and bed sandblasted, then epoxy primed. As with all of these trucks, the lower 6" of all body panels were rusted out. We bought a whole new bed, new fenders, and new outer door skins. The inner/outer rockers and cab corners were replaced. The truck had a 283 which we pulled out and we dropped in a 5.3 LC9 with a 6-speed out of a wrecked 2012 Silverado, installed a stainless tank between the frame rails, added sway bars, did a 1/3 drop, and a disc brake conversion in the front.
Here is the project in its current state. All the rust repair and bondo work is done, now working through 2k primer and paint prep.
Sprayed Chassis Saver satin black on the underside of the hood
Sprayed the same Chassis Saver on the firewall
The bed is in its final coat of 2K, ready for wet sanding followed by base/clear. We also got rid of the tailgate chains and installed hidden latches and links from Mar-K and welded up the stake pockets.
This is the collection of color samples - three different shades of blue on the old parts (hence the scratches, dents, etc.). Left half on the bedside is a Subaru blue, the fender is a lighter shade of GM Stone Blue Metallic, and the right half of the bedside is the darker shade of the GM Stone Blue Metallic and we are going with the darker shade.
I will try to post more often as the project moves forward. If all goes well this weekend, I will have the bed painted.