Michael
Why don't you send a picture to Wayne so we can all see it? It is always
good to see a product of someones efforts, as most of us know the work
involved whether you do it all your self or not.
Lee
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael E. Mendonga" <mm@service-quality.com>
To: "Alain Leclerc" <al69leclerc@hotmail.com>; "Oletrucks"
<oletrucks@autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, October 03, 2003 8:26 AM
Subject: RE: [oletrucks] First time body work
> Alain,
>
> Well, since my wife and I just completed a 400 kilometer bike ride from
> Banff to Jasper and experienced nothing but phenomenal service and
politeness
> from virtually everyone we encountered. So, I feel a little obligated
(just
> kidding) to give you some advice.
>
> I started my '54 9 years ago with virtually the same perspective and
intent
> that you have - take one piece off at a time, work on it and then someday
> I'll have it all put back together. As I started taking off that "one"
> piece, it was real easy to take off the next one and so on down the line.
> Eventually, I ended up doing a complete frame off replace every nut,
bolt,
> wire, hose, on the entire truck. Mind you, I'm not complaining nor do I
> have any regrets about it, but it did end up being a much more signficant
> process that originally planned.
>
> I stripped each part - some I did myself with a chemical stripper, and
some
> I had professionally done with what is called "mineral blasting." Then I
> had them put a primer on it (or in some cases I primed the part), and then
> eventually ended up sending the pieces to a body and paint shop who did
> the rest of the work including putting most of the truck back together.
> I did the chassis and that engine, electrical and put on all the
accessories
> - gauges, pedals, bumpers, bed wood, lights, etc., but they put the main
> body parts on so as not to scratch and to have properly fitted, etc. I
> towed the chassis and engine (installed) up to them once the body was
done.
>
> Probably the only mistake I made was by not having the same shop do the
> stripping and priming and at the same time that I had the body work done.
> It caused some duplicate efforts to occur which of course costs money.
> At the time when i sent the body parts out for stripping and priming, I
> was planning on doing all the body work myself. My money situation
changed
> a little and my time became more and more limited so sending it out was
> a pretty manageable step for me.
>
> Now that all is said and done, I ended up with pretty much of a show
truck,
> but one that I feel I did a lot of work on (tho not all of it) and can be
> proud of. The truck if far nicer than I ever planned but I am comfortable
> driving it around.
>
> There are a lot of books around, but the first one I recommend you read
> is called, "How to Restore Your Chevrolet Truck," by Tom Brownell. He
goes
> through a lot of good stuff.
>
> Hope this has been helpful. Let me know if you'd like me to send a
picture
> of my truck, I'd be happy to.
>
> Michael
> '54 Chevy 3100
> >-- Original Message --
> >From: "Alain Leclerc" <al69leclerc@hotmail.com>
> >To: old-chevy-truck@yahoogroups.com, oletrucks@autox.team.net
> >Subject: [oletrucks] First time body work
> >Date: Fri, 03 Oct 2003 08:11:43 -0500
> >Reply-To: "Alain Leclerc" <al69leclerc@hotmail.com>
> >
> >
> >So this weekend I'm gonna start to take the body apart one piece at a
time
> >
> >to begin the body-work. I have no idea what i am doing. What will i
need
> >
> >to do this? Which tools? Grits? I intend to start sanding the rear
> >fenders first, kinda using them as my practice pieces. Any tips are
greatly
> >
> >appreciated. I've heard I am to put the piece in primer as soon as it
> is
> >
> >sanded... is this correct? Am I out of my league here? Professional
work
> >
> >only? This will not be a show-truck. I have access to a small shop with
> >
> >most every tools. No sandblaster. ANY help apprecated.
> >
> >Thanx,
> >Alain Leclerc
> >'56 Chevy 1300
> >Canada
> >
> >_________________________________________________________________
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> oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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