1st Time Body Work/ Painting

[78chevystepside]

I finally got around to doing some body work and painting the truck, as well as installing a new bed. I went cheap on the bed and just bought the wood, treated it myself and installed it. I don't think it all went too badly for my first time. Most importantly, I had a great time doing it.

The picture of it in white was how I got it. Feel free to to tell me all I did wrong for future projects I'm all about learning.

[bake74]

     It is not going to win any car shows.  But with that said, everyone has to start somewhere.  The real question to ask is did you learn anything ?  If the answer is yes, then it is perfect for you, the next one will be better, and so on and so on.
      I dont think you did that bad of a job for the first go around.  My only question is did you intentionally leave out the runners in the bed that goes between the planks of wood ? Is that what you meant by going cheap.

[78chevystepside]

Yeah, the old runners were rust damaged beyond salvage, so when I took the old bed out I had planned on getting new ones with a bed kit. Then... I decided to go cheap and skip the runners.

But to answer your other question, yes, I definately learned a bunch!

[bake74]

     I love to learn new things, so when I do something that maybe not as perfect as I would like it to be, I just remind myself that I learned and the next time it will be better.

[Jason S]

     I love to learn new things, so when I do something that maybe not as perfect as I would like it to be, I just remind myself that I learned and the next time it will be better.

Ditto on what Bake said.  If you learned something and identified how to do it better next time then you're money ahead. The same can be said for anything from building trucks to woodworking to baking cakes.

Overall, not bad for a first time. I think that if it is better than when you started and you know how and what you'll do to improve it next time, then you did a great job.

[78chevystepside]

Took some more pictures after I buffed it this morning. Thanks for all the comments!

[69byrd]

U can always put the runners in the bed at any time in the future. So thats not a big deal. Looks like you did a good job for your first time.

[bake74]

     After buffing it out, it looks really good.  I would be proud, of all the vehicles I have rebuilt, my 74 step side might be the first one I paint.
     Always in the past there has been 2 things I have not done.  1= rebuild engines. (which I am in process of doing right now) 2= paint. ( I have always let my friends shop paint them over the last 25 or so years ). 
     I am thinking I am going to tackle the paint this time, so I know it wont be perfect, but I have watched and asked a godzillion questions, so it  is time I do it I guess.

[thirsty]

Most importantly, I had a great time doing it.

^This^ is the best part about the work that you did.


Looks good for never doing any body work before.

[Blazin]

Looks way better than when you started. one thing I would suggest and you might have allready figured this out. on and over all paint job paper is better on the glass than plastic. problem is paint can flake off plastic before its dry on the sheet metal and stick. Also news paper is not good as paint will bleed through it. Painters paper is the best bet.