starting on my '78... few ??'s

[menace1978]

hey guys, i am starting a frame off on my '78 silverado. this is my 1st project like this and i'm a little nervous!LOL i am going to remove the bed 1st and go from there.

my question is how are you guys preping the frame and rear end? i have been looking at sandblasters. is this the right way to go? and what type of paint are you using?

i'm doing this in my 2 car garage and mostly by myself. this truck means A LOT to me and i wanna do it right. any help or insight is greatly appreciated. thanks, Dennis

[1983stepside]

hey guys, i am starting a frame off on my '78 silverado. this is my 1st project like this and i'm a little nervous!LOL i am going to remove the bed 1st and go from there.

my question is how are you guys preping the frame and rear end? i have been looking at sandblasters. is this the right way to go? and what type of paint are you using?

i'm doing this in my 2 car garage and mostly by myself. this truck means A LOT to me and i wanna do it right. any help or insight is greatly appreciated. thanks, Dennis

 well im building my 1983 chevy c10 stepside and i took it down to the frame as well i didnt have the money to sandblast the frame or rearend so what i did was wire wheeled the frame and rear end and got the por 15 3 step kit, that has a cleaner, after the scaley rust is gone, then you put a self etching formula on thats in the kit, when that dries it leaves a zinc coating behind for the por15 to adheire better, then you use the por 15, now you can brush it on, or spray it on with a paint gun, if you spray it on all you do is open the can, stir it up, and pour it in the gun, no need to reduce it, i brushed it on my frame, i used a qurt can and that did my entire frame and rear end the only thing i didnt coat was the a arms and leaf spring, because i have to replace them, so to do all of the frame and suspension and rear end id say youll need a qurt and a half, give or take a little and after it dries in a day or so, you can wet sand it with 400 grit and then paint it what ever color you want with any brand of paint hope this helps you and this is just one way you can paint your frame theres others, this is just what i did and it turned out real nice post some pics during the project

[84chevysilverado]

I was lucky enough that one of my dads buddies has an industrial sandblaster so thats what I used. I also just sandblasted from the cab back to get all of that rust off. then coated it with that spray on bedlinear. Then I built my own little sandblaster out of an old propane tank lol. for little stuff, works pretty slick if ya ask me

[cracker0169]

You could always get one of these from Summit. I have got one (just gotta get some media) and plan on doing my 83 2wd with it using either crushed walnut hulls or baking soda (both are eco-friendly since Im going to do it in the yard).


http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=CLK%2DSB9003&N=700+4294925139+4294923770+4294795390+4294758913+115&autoview=sku

[menace1978]

thanks for the input guys! i started on her today... got the bed off, rear bumper, hitch, seat, and carpet out. the frame is really clean. my neighbor helped me lift the bed off and he couldnt believe how clean it was under there and wondered why i'm even doing this. i have been questioning that myself. lol! next to come off is the hood, front clip, and cab. then it's almost blasting time!

[menace1978]

[hotrod24]

what size tires and wheels you have?

[80stepsideguy]

Looks real clean man,Welcome from florida.

thanks
pat

[menace1978]

thank you pat. hotrod the tires are 295/50/15 on a 15x8 wheel.

[lowbucktruck]

thanks for the input guys! i started on her today... got the bed off, rear bumper, hitch, seat, and carpet out. the frame is really clean. my neighbor helped me lift the bed off and he couldnt believe how clean it was under there and wondered why i'm even doing this. i have been questioning that myself. lol! next to come off is the hood, front clip, and cab. then it's almost blasting time!

Wow, that is really clean under the bed!  Especially for that old a truck.  Might be an easy job.

[menace1978]

hey neighbor! my biggest prob. is going to be replacing the passenger side floor where the rust is. its only rusted through in 2 spots w/ pin sized holes. i'm no body man (yet) but i registered at ARC for body classes that start in march at mather air force base. body work is just about the only thing i'm not comfortable doing. hopefully the night classes will give me some confidence or at least piece of mind.

[80stepsideguy]

If there just 2 sized pin holes you can use brass on the holes, a small torch and a brass wire and it`ll  fill in the holes w/o having to replace the entire floorpan.Or you can make a small patch and butt weld it, that way you dont got the overlapping piece of metal on the floor.Just some ideas to make your job a bit easier..

thanks
pat

[menace1978]

thats great to know! i thought i'd have to replace the whole panel so the rust doesnt spread...

[hotrod24]

thanks i have a 4x4 but i will get me a 2wd some day and i want them tires and wheels on it

thanks

[84chevysilverado]

wish mine looked that clean under the bed. whats with the fire extinguisher? was this truck ever raced?