The Wife's 88 CrewCab Makeover

[rhino]

Glad to have you here rhino. I came across your Silver Dollar build thread while doing some searching for paint colors. I kept going back to check your progress. You did a great job on that one and I'm sure this one will be no different.

Best part is the involvement of the whole family.

Thanks,  Its good to be here.  Its nice having the whole family join in.(most of the time) Deb's getting more involved in this one. Since its her truck she better. I told her, she is putting the engine together.     That should be interesting, considering she got mad at me just yesterday. I saw her trying to start a crooked bolt with the ratchet.  Apparently, I stopped her in a harsh and condescending way.  (My bad)

[rhino]

Well, you've done everything else to it, might as well throw a Dana60 front end under it.

Lets go, chop, chop, whatta ya waiting for?



hum.. I dont know about that one.

[thirsty]

Apparently, I stopped her in a harsh and condescending way.  (My bad)

So you took her out to dinner and everything is alright now? 
Been there having the wife help me out on a job site a few times...I talked to her like she was an employee. (My bad too)

[rhino]

  I just apologized for being a jerk and were ok now.

[bake74]

Apparently, I stopped her in a harsh and condescending way.  (My bad)

So you took her out to dinner and everything is alright now? 
Been there having the wife help me out on a job site a few times...I talked to her like she was an employee. (My bad too)

    UH,  better count me as 3, and let me tell you my wife can snap back when I forget she is not one of my employee's.   

[rhino]

5 long months of body work, in a few short days

We started by prepping the body. Sanded and checking for any imperfection, then a good cleaning cleaning to remove any containment's.

I replaced the driver door. It was full of filler from a large dent. and I replaced the right front fender, it had some damage as well.





Then I shot it with 2 coats SPI black epoxy primer. No need for guide coat with this epoxy. The primer dries to a nice semi-gloss black. and you can perfectly see any imperfections when sanded.







once it was sanded and all low and high spots were revealed. I started in with the filler. Rage Extream was my choice. very little shrinkage and sands easy.

[frotosride]

This has got to be the best pic yet. After blocking out old blue I knew I wasn't a paint and body guy. There's not better way to appreciate something than to be involved in building it. I had to get a new military id shortly after blocking the truck but the scanner couldn't find my finger prints so I looked at my fingers and realized it was because I had none...

I sure hope at least one of my four will enjoy hitting the wrenches with old dad.

Oh, Waiting for more pic's....and the Dana 60..

[rhino]

This has got to be the best pic yet. After blocking out old blue I knew I wasn't a paint and body guy. There's not better way to appreciate something than to be involved in building it. I had to get a new military id shortly after blocking the truck but the scanner couldn't find my finger prints so I looked at my fingers and realized it was because I had none...

I sure hope at least one of my four will enjoy hitting the wrenches with old dad.

Oh, Waiting for more pic's....and the Dana 60..

The wife helped me sand a few days. I left the tailgate and the hood to her. so if there not straight.  She did it.

after sanding the filler, I shot some more epoxy primer on the truck. You can still see where all the filler work was done.  The filler soaked up the epoxy like a sponge. but thats ok.


















Then I laid down two coats of Feather fill. (Gray polyester primer) The feather fill is thick and helps fill in the small imperfections kinda like a skim coat of body filler.









Then some sanding and more sanding. I sprayed on some guide coat. then did some more sanding.  I used dura-blocks 16" 11" and a tear drop block for the curves.







As I was sanding I would put little pieces of tape on spots that I found that need just a little more filler.

[zieg85]

You're inbox is full

[rhino]

only had 5 messages.  i have a little room now

[rhino]

After all the Feather fill was sanded and all the little things fixed, I sprayed on another round of epoxy. At this point The truck should be nice a straight. But Its time again for some more sanding. this time with 400.  Even suckered my dad into helping.



















 I mixed up some epoxy with reducer.  Let it induce overnight so I can use it as sealer.

[bake74]

     Truck is coming along great.  I always thought it would be great to make one of these into a short bed 4x4 and raise it up a bit.

[rhino]

The sealer & base coat all kinda look the same in these shots, but you defiantly can tell when the clear is put on.























the next day out side

[pholliday1]

Looks great! Are you using an hvlp gun?

[Captkaos]

Nice progress!  I am jealous...