Wagon Progress

MP&C · Dec 24, 2015

The frame had some slight pitting so the sides were hit with the DA to flatten things out a bit, and some Evercoat 416 used to address some of our plug weld grinding marks on the frame plates...

Here's the "winter" heating method for spraying in cold temps. 170,000 BTU aimed at the air return, and the air handler fan turned on constant to circulate the heat. Open window for air intake..

After three coats of primer, the sides of the frame are looking much better than before...

Also got some more primer on these parts as well, should be ready for blocking in a few days.

DATEC · Dec 24, 2015

Looking real good. Before you know it you'll be throwing paint.

MP&C · Dec 27, 2015

I'm hoping!

The other day when we primed the frame a second time we also did the front side of the trailer wheels..

and today I mixed up some Centari that has been sitting on the shelf a few years.. It sprayed pretty decent...

And more blocking.....

MP&C · Dec 29, 2015

Made another trip to the car wash tonight. Tire soak, high pressure soap, and a rinse...

While Kyle was media blasting, I used the 36" AFS to block the tail gate.

This had been blocked a couple times before and never seemed to come out right. Of course, I was using a shorter block as well. The 36 really did the trick in getting things nice and flat...

.....and getting things ready for another epoxy session...

Moved these out of the way, closer to the door so we can get tires on this weekend. Order trim rings today, now for some baby moons that fit... I swear they get brighter every time I look at them..

MP&C · Jan 1, 2016

Picked up some 400 grit PSA paper yesterday, used it this evening to get the tail gate finished to 400 grit, next week we'll wet sand to 600 grit.

Nephew Chris came over and helped Kyle and I get the frame off the rotisserie and back on the floor..

With the rotisserie freed up, we now have a new paint fixture...

Parts prepped for epoxy primer tomorrow...

While I was getting these parts taped off, Kyle started blowing apart the rear end for media blasting..

MP&C · Jan 2, 2016

Today Kyle worked on getting the axle pads welded on....

.....while I was spraying some SPI epoxy....

.....and while I had some epoxy mixed, we poured some inside the tailgate to seal the inner and outer skins ..

Axle pads done, then heated the opposite side to counter the weld shrinking...

It's real close, just a little more straightening to do...

other parts from the booth today....

....and then sprayed some silver metallic Imron on the A-arms..

MP&C · Jan 5, 2016

Well tonight we worked on getting the parts out of the booth so we can get the next load of parts ready for epoxy, and in between spent some more time on straightening the rear. In measuring at the bead of the 18" wheels, we had a +/- .020 on the passenger side and a +/- .035 on the drivers side.

....and more heat applied for some shrink..

We'll let that cool and get some of the front end parts bolted up..

northerndave · Jan 6, 2016

Simply fantastic, very inspiring stuff here.

MP&C · Jan 10, 2016

Thanks Dave!
Worked today in getting the front end put together...

....and more blocking and hanging parts in prep for the next round of epoxy...

The doors are getting real close to needing wet sanding..

MP&C · Jan 12, 2016

Well Kyle was mostly on his own tonight as I had some repairs to do on the wife's vehicle..

New U-bolts came in yesterday, they have a pretty good selection on their web site if anyone needs some....

Threads taped off and all the parts media blasted...

Then Kyle got the rear torn down for media blasting as well. Blast cabinet just the right size..

MP&C · Jan 16, 2016

Getting things ready for the next round of SPI epoxy, here hanging the 9" rear on the multi-purpose rotisserie a-frame..

We had this bare spot after the last time we blocked, and had bumped it a bit with the flat body hammer.

Doesn't look like it did much to rectify the issue, let's look further....

Looks like the rear end of the inside bracket is pushing a bit on the skin, no wonder the hammer didn't do much. Time to find the tool for the job, a pair of crimping pliers for stove pipe/ductwork.....

That should give us some breathing room, and bumped it again with the hammer.

Put the SPI in the paint shaker, should have tapped the lid a bit tighter..

More parts ready for spraying....

After 3 coats of epoxy....

Here's some of the "restraint" methods for painting the small parts....

Here clamps for the tie rod ends are held in a twisted loop..

I think the fenders should be good for wet sanding after this go round:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHrxzkEc618

.

MP&C · Jan 21, 2016

Well we didn't get many pictures tonight, but we've got the frame back on 4 wheels!

MP&C · Jan 28, 2016

I started some engine assembly this evening, getting the flex plate bolted on and torqued down, starter installed and checked for clearance, and checked clearances for the header..

Kyle blocked out the doors, it looks like our "adjustment" with the stovepipe crimper pliers did the trick to remove the high spot...

Bob Hollinshead · Jan 29, 2016

What are the engine specs? I see angle plug heads, single plane, and a truck block. 350?

MP&C · Jan 29, 2016

383 stroker

Outlaw · Feb 1, 2016

Thats a long ass sanding block. Lools like your blocking with the rods removed? I have a set of those blocks but the longest one is only about 20".

MP&C · Feb 2, 2016

I think that is the 36". Correct, we didn't have the rods in as the door does have a slight crown.
We worked Sunday this past weekend, Kyle got a few more pieces media blasted so we could get some epoxy sprayed.. Then, as I was spraying, Kyle gave the wagon a Scotchbrite scrub with some soapy water to neutralize the soda...