VX1032
04-18-2010, 06:40 PM
Copied from another Forum:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/SpqILwXNXkI/AAAAAAAABC4/Q6j1myXz1XQ/s640/292019491_o.jpg
So here she is as she sits now, except for the broken tranny pan bolts, and the piece of exhaust missing, she is ready to start the body work, or finish, since the top has already been chopped. I will keep everything in this thread so you can all stare in wonder at my trials of learning to weld.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/SwnXrAzdmHI/AAAAAAAACNM/6Oq66I8ONdU/s640/_B140006.jpg
Have to lose about two inches in the rear window area for my tastes, but that's my baby!
Been spending a little time working on the truck. I needed to buy a welder and all the other toys since I have never welded anything prior to this project. Yeah, I picked sheetmetal to learn to weld on. I like living on the edge.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/Sz-yZbKmvdI/AAAAAAAACRM/70Dptt4ZUqI/s800/_1020005.jpg
Here is the roof welded together, lapped with the rear going under the front. Gonna need some bondo to level the gaps and make the transition smoother, but overall, it is serviceable I think.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/Sz-ybN3SacI/AAAAAAAACRU/6wKwMPNP0ac/s800/_1020007.jpg
Here is the drip rail, lined up, needs a little push up at the joint, but not too bad. Nice how the body barely changes from the front to the back on the early troopers.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/Sz-yVoycjGI/AAAAAAAACQ8/ySfLwBRnSAI/s800/_1020001.jpg
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/Sz-yYlwrEZI/AAAAAAAACRE/peY1syE5m1k/s720/_1020003.jpg
Drivers side is all I have worked on so far, tying the rails together with a piece of 1/8" steel and then the door to the rear tub. Tomorrow I tie more of the 'C' pillar to the rail.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/Sz-yY9Nb64I/AAAAAAAACRI/6pJxsFV-E1E/s720/_1020004.jpg
The door is mostly welded shut now. I took a small piece of steel stock into the gap and welded it over. Bondo should take care of the dimples as the door was not flush with the rear quarter anyways.
I need to tidy up the drivers side then move to the passengers side. I also need to make a rail for the entire tub area to cap the bedrails and pinch weld, that way the 1/8" steel will never be seen.
A friend suggested I leave it open, Bronco style, but I an still going to put the wall up and make a true pickup.
Pictures below of the progress this weekend (today). Seems like I am out of town every weekend, so thank god for days off. I think I got a little high from the fumes from the work this morning.
Don't pay attention to the dates on the pictures.
Left Side C pillar, old D pillar, welded in.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/S1S9Ey5ZR7I/AAAAAAAACWc/ekWAyEBstoY/s800/000_0737%5B1%5D.jpg
The next two pics are the sheetmetal piece I had to cut out and weld in to seal off the rear door. Now there is no access to the rear door hinges and it will be a cleaner door jam for the driver's door. The pictures don't give the lack of room to the rear weld justice. It is tough getting the MIG torch back there. Welds on the front seam are looking better.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/S1S9FN4iBzI/AAAAAAAACWg/_ya08RgNz0w/s800/000_0738%5B1%5D.jpg
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/S1S9FdkSeoI/AAAAAAAACWk/A5mxFWqrBtA/s800/000_0739%5B1%5D.jpg
There rear portion of this rocker had a piece of silver tape, bondo, and blue spray paint that hid the hole in the rocker. I knew about it so I knew this patch was coming.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/S1S9FXZ2soI/AAAAAAAACWo/3kB1_4ae-Nc/s800/000_0740%5B1%5D.jpg
What I didn't know, was that there was a hole here. While welding the bondo just kinda krinkled up and the wire brush exposed this. That will be next week. But on a nicer note, that line of spot welds is looking much better.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/S1S9Fh_KWzI/AAAAAAAACWs/WpVrZA9yyK0/s800/000_0741%5B1%5D.jpg
Now I just have that hole on the rocker to fix, fill the door handle in, and then grind grind grind. Once that is done, I can flip the truck around and start work on the passengers side.
I remember some one saying use an 86 2dr to start because it would be a lot easier. I wanted the AT tranny, and axles from an 88 instead. I am beginning to think it might have been easier swapping the axles and tranny. Oh well. My first roll of welding wire is just about up, second bottle is 2/3s gone as well.
Two more weekends, and a good deal of progress.
Drivers side has been completely welded and ground down.
Swapped the VX and Trooper in the garage for better light and started on the passagers side.
Passangers side as it is now, just needing some grinding, all welded up.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/S2YGw5EKVVI/AAAAAAAACYg/2404dMBrKcQ/s640/000_0747%5B1%5D.jpg
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/S2YGxiiaBMI/AAAAAAAACYk/9xrpUszNZ-Y/s640/000_0748%5B1%5D.jpg
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/S2YGyqy2zkI/AAAAAAAACYo/b8CRJ4yUNuA/s640/000_0749%5B1%5D.jpg
The passangers side has the wires to the brake lights running down it. Normally this runs along the roof to the c pillar and then drops down on one side for the RR door adjar switch and then to the rear for the license plate light and brake lights, while also branching across above the c pillar to the drivers side for the LR door adjar switch.
I drilled holes in the door jam prior to welding and had to line with hose to prevent chafing. Also had to drill a hole in the 1/8 plate that goes across the top of the door prior to welding.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/S2YGuI68k-I/AAAAAAAACYU/w_-bdcaWxfs/s640/000_0743%5B1%5D.jpg
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/S2YGu0hVfvI/AAAAAAAACYY/dn8ZzG2zobk/s640/000_0744%5B1%5D.jpg
After it was al welded up I rant the harness back through, starting with a hole I had to drill in the new C pillar.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/S2YGznbOjLI/AAAAAAAACYs/zF-xbkVH2zg/s640/000_0750%5B1%5D.jpg
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/S2YG1WUzhFI/AAAAAAAACY0/4fJiv63E1mo/s640/000_0752%5B1%5D.jpg
All to get to this little connector.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/S2YG0RpIZNI/AAAAAAAACYw/l9pw0QG8RpY/s640/000_0751%5B1%5D.jpg
As she sits now. Path the hole I took the photo of the wires in C pillar and a rust hole in the bed and then grind it all down and the passangers side is done. Another 2-3 hours.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/S2YGv2yVp5I/AAAAAAAACYc/nZZHAk5u-HU/s640/000_0746%5B1%5D.jpg
Need to learn how to make C channel out of sheet metal without a brake soon for the structure of the rear wall. I will hopefully be doing that next weekend.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/SpqILwXNXkI/AAAAAAAABC4/Q6j1myXz1XQ/s640/292019491_o.jpg
So here she is as she sits now, except for the broken tranny pan bolts, and the piece of exhaust missing, she is ready to start the body work, or finish, since the top has already been chopped. I will keep everything in this thread so you can all stare in wonder at my trials of learning to weld.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/SwnXrAzdmHI/AAAAAAAACNM/6Oq66I8ONdU/s640/_B140006.jpg
Have to lose about two inches in the rear window area for my tastes, but that's my baby!
Been spending a little time working on the truck. I needed to buy a welder and all the other toys since I have never welded anything prior to this project. Yeah, I picked sheetmetal to learn to weld on. I like living on the edge.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/Sz-yZbKmvdI/AAAAAAAACRM/70Dptt4ZUqI/s800/_1020005.jpg
Here is the roof welded together, lapped with the rear going under the front. Gonna need some bondo to level the gaps and make the transition smoother, but overall, it is serviceable I think.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/Sz-ybN3SacI/AAAAAAAACRU/6wKwMPNP0ac/s800/_1020007.jpg
Here is the drip rail, lined up, needs a little push up at the joint, but not too bad. Nice how the body barely changes from the front to the back on the early troopers.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/Sz-yVoycjGI/AAAAAAAACQ8/ySfLwBRnSAI/s800/_1020001.jpg
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/Sz-yYlwrEZI/AAAAAAAACRE/peY1syE5m1k/s720/_1020003.jpg
Drivers side is all I have worked on so far, tying the rails together with a piece of 1/8" steel and then the door to the rear tub. Tomorrow I tie more of the 'C' pillar to the rail.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/Sz-yY9Nb64I/AAAAAAAACRI/6pJxsFV-E1E/s720/_1020004.jpg
The door is mostly welded shut now. I took a small piece of steel stock into the gap and welded it over. Bondo should take care of the dimples as the door was not flush with the rear quarter anyways.
I need to tidy up the drivers side then move to the passengers side. I also need to make a rail for the entire tub area to cap the bedrails and pinch weld, that way the 1/8" steel will never be seen.
A friend suggested I leave it open, Bronco style, but I an still going to put the wall up and make a true pickup.
Pictures below of the progress this weekend (today). Seems like I am out of town every weekend, so thank god for days off. I think I got a little high from the fumes from the work this morning.
Don't pay attention to the dates on the pictures.
Left Side C pillar, old D pillar, welded in.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/S1S9Ey5ZR7I/AAAAAAAACWc/ekWAyEBstoY/s800/000_0737%5B1%5D.jpg
The next two pics are the sheetmetal piece I had to cut out and weld in to seal off the rear door. Now there is no access to the rear door hinges and it will be a cleaner door jam for the driver's door. The pictures don't give the lack of room to the rear weld justice. It is tough getting the MIG torch back there. Welds on the front seam are looking better.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/S1S9FN4iBzI/AAAAAAAACWg/_ya08RgNz0w/s800/000_0738%5B1%5D.jpg
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/S1S9FdkSeoI/AAAAAAAACWk/A5mxFWqrBtA/s800/000_0739%5B1%5D.jpg
There rear portion of this rocker had a piece of silver tape, bondo, and blue spray paint that hid the hole in the rocker. I knew about it so I knew this patch was coming.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/S1S9FXZ2soI/AAAAAAAACWo/3kB1_4ae-Nc/s800/000_0740%5B1%5D.jpg
What I didn't know, was that there was a hole here. While welding the bondo just kinda krinkled up and the wire brush exposed this. That will be next week. But on a nicer note, that line of spot welds is looking much better.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/S1S9Fh_KWzI/AAAAAAAACWs/WpVrZA9yyK0/s800/000_0741%5B1%5D.jpg
Now I just have that hole on the rocker to fix, fill the door handle in, and then grind grind grind. Once that is done, I can flip the truck around and start work on the passengers side.
I remember some one saying use an 86 2dr to start because it would be a lot easier. I wanted the AT tranny, and axles from an 88 instead. I am beginning to think it might have been easier swapping the axles and tranny. Oh well. My first roll of welding wire is just about up, second bottle is 2/3s gone as well.
Two more weekends, and a good deal of progress.
Drivers side has been completely welded and ground down.
Swapped the VX and Trooper in the garage for better light and started on the passagers side.
Passangers side as it is now, just needing some grinding, all welded up.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/S2YGw5EKVVI/AAAAAAAACYg/2404dMBrKcQ/s640/000_0747%5B1%5D.jpg
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/S2YGxiiaBMI/AAAAAAAACYk/9xrpUszNZ-Y/s640/000_0748%5B1%5D.jpg
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/S2YGyqy2zkI/AAAAAAAACYo/b8CRJ4yUNuA/s640/000_0749%5B1%5D.jpg
The passangers side has the wires to the brake lights running down it. Normally this runs along the roof to the c pillar and then drops down on one side for the RR door adjar switch and then to the rear for the license plate light and brake lights, while also branching across above the c pillar to the drivers side for the LR door adjar switch.
I drilled holes in the door jam prior to welding and had to line with hose to prevent chafing. Also had to drill a hole in the 1/8 plate that goes across the top of the door prior to welding.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/S2YGuI68k-I/AAAAAAAACYU/w_-bdcaWxfs/s640/000_0743%5B1%5D.jpg
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/S2YGu0hVfvI/AAAAAAAACYY/dn8ZzG2zobk/s640/000_0744%5B1%5D.jpg
After it was al welded up I rant the harness back through, starting with a hole I had to drill in the new C pillar.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/S2YGznbOjLI/AAAAAAAACYs/zF-xbkVH2zg/s640/000_0750%5B1%5D.jpg
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/S2YG1WUzhFI/AAAAAAAACY0/4fJiv63E1mo/s640/000_0752%5B1%5D.jpg
All to get to this little connector.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/S2YG0RpIZNI/AAAAAAAACYw/l9pw0QG8RpY/s640/000_0751%5B1%5D.jpg
As she sits now. Path the hole I took the photo of the wires in C pillar and a rust hole in the bed and then grind it all down and the passangers side is done. Another 2-3 hours.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_lcfzO13Rxt4/S2YGv2yVp5I/AAAAAAAACYc/nZZHAk5u-HU/s640/000_0746%5B1%5D.jpg
Need to learn how to make C channel out of sheet metal without a brake soon for the structure of the rear wall. I will hopefully be doing that next weekend.