83 Longbed project for son's 16th birthday

[JohnnyPopper]

I've really enjoyed this build and your skill set with sheet metal!

But I just have to ask, why are you assembling before putting down any paint on your beautiful firewall?

Are you going for rat rod look?

[1981lt1]

No sir. I want to get everything mounted so I know where everything is gonna go. Once I finish the engine wiring I’ll integrate the AC harness so I can start filling in the firewall holes. Once all that is done I will finish the filler work on the firewall and it will be painted body color.  This is simply mocking everything up and I’ll blow it all apart once I have it all the way I want it.

[1981lt1]

It's been a while since I have worked on the truck.  I ended up taking last week off trying to get one of my cars sold to make some more  room and open up some funding for the truck.  Now that that is done, I have so much more room and a bit more determination to get this thing done.  I finished up the wiring and got the engine and front clip removed so i can start bodyworking the truck.  I also got the DBW accelerator pedal mounted so I can finalize that wiring once everything goes back in the car down the road.

Pics of the DBW pedal assembly:







I have marked all of the holes that need to be filled:



I decided to fill in the passenger fuel filler door.  I was being extremely careful to not warp the panel but it happened anyway:

[1981lt1]

Got the new body bushings installed and door gaps set...



This is what the core support bolts looked like...



Still needs a bit more tweaking but it's light years better than it was...

[1981lt1]

Got everything ready to prime and final blocking.

[Mike81K10]

Huge transformation, you save that truck's life.

[1981lt1]

2nd coat of primer laid down today.  This will be the final coat and will be wet sanded with 400 and then it's time to paint.

[JohnnyPopper]

Nice work man!!

You going to fill the divots on the back of the cab?

Can't believe they left the factory that way.

At least on the sides where you can see them...

[Mike81K10]

Looks good, you got a lot of work accomplished. Look forward to the final paint.

[Shifty]

Nice flippin' work! 

[1981lt1]

Nice work man!!

You going to fill the divots on the back of the cab?

Can't believe they left the factory that way.

At least on the sides where you can see them...

I'm not going to fill them in. I know it would look a bit better but I'm not going for show quality and the bed pretty much covers them anyway.

[1981lt1]

No turning back now.  I bought all the paint and clear yesterday.  Gonna go with GM Laguna Blue (C7 vette).  I had a 2016 Vette with this color so I know what it looks like in person and the test panel I sprayed looks good.  Since I smoothed all of the trim holes I'm not going to do the two-tone scheme the factory did back in the day.  It's going to one big blue truck!

[Shifty]

Waiting.....waiting.....waiting.....

[JohnnyPopper]

Nice work man!!

You going to fill the divots on the back of the cab?

Can't believe they left the factory that way.

At least on the sides where you can see them...

I'm not going to fill them in. I know it would look a bit better but I'm not going for show quality and the bed pretty much covers them anyway.

Ah yes, you have a fleetside, slipped by me. My stepside reveals the ugly divots...

[1981lt1]

I was hoping to have the cab and bed painted this weekend but I was only able to get the cab done.  I'll get the bed done tomorrow since it's a holiday.