Frame restoration/painting

[GP3624]

I am currently in the slow process of stripping my 86 K10 down to the frame for a ground up rebuild. I am considering having the frame powder-coated. My question is should all the brackets and riveted  hangers and such be removed and plated separately or should I just leave them in place. I already plan to powder-coat the core support, inner fenders, and battery tray due to them being rust prone. I have already converted the whole wiring harness and fuel system to 87 TBI and added a correct 350 in place of the 305. As soon as funding allows I plan on Dana 60's front and rear. Thanks for providing a great site and tons of great advice and information..Gerald

[Jesse Walter]

Unless you are building a show truck I think there are some less expensive options for your frame than power coating.  There are many threads here on using POR-15 and Chasissaver products.  Just do a search and there is tons of info.

[VileZambonie]

Talk to your powder coater. If they are set up right they should be able to burn it and blast it for you. Powder coating the frame looks way better than POR15.

[GP3624]

My biggest concern is areas of the frame under the brackets, hangers, and other riveted together parts. I don't intend on this being a show truck but do want a very long lasting finish. I have had this truck since December 97 and so far have replaced the suspension with Tiff country springs in front and bds springs in the rear. I also have velvet ride shackles in the rear and Edelbrock AIS shocks on all corners. I steer with a Bergson u joint steering shaft and have all new air conditioning components. Another issue I am battling with is the rebuild of the vent windows. I think powdercoating the vent window frame and surrounding exposed parts before rebuild will give a longer lasting finish than just blasting and repainting, knowing that the fresh look will fade quickly. My issue is not knowing if all the parts will go back together and work properly once they are powdercoated. Yes I am a perfectionist trapped in a moderately skilled persons body.

[VileZambonie]

The vent windows take patience but are easily rebuildable. You could always eliminate the vent windows and go with the one piece windows.
http://store.73-87chevytrucks.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=7&Product_Code=OPP7387&Category_Code=7T
But I generally just repaint the window frames and they come out good. If you remove the rivets you can take them off but if the frame isn't that bad I would leave it alone.

[GP3624]

The thing that scares me about the one piece windows beside the price is in the event of a busted window, aka "smash and grab", regular windows are a salvage yard away. One piece windows are several days waiting and God knows how much to replace.

[Captkaos]

The replacement glass is about $200 per side.