1972 F100 rust pile

[kb426]

End of the day at O&S. I flipped the bed over this morning. There were dents in the floor of the bed. I put a length of square tubing underneath the floor supported by a floor jack and took a large hammer and a large blunt nose chisel and slowly went to work.  3 of the quarter panel braces had rusted out on the floor. It was going to be difficult for a blind guy to weld them from the top. It was easier from the bottom. I made 4 new braces out of 1/8" strap. I worked on the dent in the side some more. Being able to see where I was beating was helpful. It's not good everywhere but it's close in a few spots. It won't take much bondo to make it reasonable. I sprayed as much as I could with chassis black. I wouldn't say this was good but it has to be better than nothing. The silver fuel tank got addressed at the same time.

[kb426]

I flipped the bed back over and cleaned up some. This is the last scheduled rust repair. As soon as it quits raining every day, I'll blast and get on with the body work. There may be some surprises hiding under the paint.

[idrivejunk]

I had to straighten bed floor on a 72 Chevy once, just yeah general overall dents and a couple patches like yours. Stood the bed up on it's front, had assistant hold a board behind it. Also replaced floor in a 67 Ford short bed with it stood on front. They stand up pretty sturdily. Just FYI in case you hadn't tried that. Or just IF you would ever need to. I didn't think they would stand up on end but they do, nice. On second thought, yours is a longbed so thats probably out, as far as shop space. Never mind.

[kb426]

Matt, you are correct. It would take about 9.5' to stand up. 8' ceiling.
I spent most of the day doing everyday tasks. Sometime after 3 I got started blasting. 3/4's of the tailgate is completed. There were only a few pinholes that showed up on the inside at the bottom. I'm very pleased at that. I recycle the coal slag until it has lost it's edge. After I used all the old, I opened a new bag that was purchased last fall. It has some moisture in the material. That causes it to not feed properly in the blaster. I think tomorrow I'm going to lay a tarp on the shop floor and open a few bags and spread them out. Maybe I can dry the stuff out some. This is a pain when it doesn't work properly.

[kb426]

Today has been a good day. The bed is blasted without issue. I didn't blast all the inside. I have the Raptor liner kit that I believe will be used on it. It was after 9am before the dew was gone so I could start. I know this wasn't fast but it's better than many of my blasting escapades. Cleaning up the mess is next.

[WZ JUNK]

Today has been a good day. The bed is blasted without issue. I didn't blast all the inside. I have the Raptor liner kit that I believe will be used on it. It was after 9am before the dew was gone so I could start. I know this wasn't fast but it's better than many of my blasting escapades. Cleaning up the mess is next.

It still feels good to do a days work doesn't it.  Good job.  Take a break, sleep in until 5:30 tomorrow.

[kb426]

^^^^^
You got it, my friend. (maybe I can make 5:30)

[kb426]

Midday at O&S. The bed has been sanded with 80 grit. It's about time for Mr. Bondo.

[kb426]

Light afternoon at O&S. There were 2 dents in the bump on the left side of the bed. I drilled and pulled them the old way. Then I welded up the holes. There was no way to get into the back side of them. The right side had a large dent in the middle above the wheel lip that I had worked on. There was an area that the spot welds were pulled apart. I bolted 2 stiffeners to that area to hold it in place. I didn't think I could weld anything in that area that would be a good repair. I caulked both seams where the upper and lower quarter panels meet. The front panel had some small dents that were hammer and dollied.

[kb426]

Bondo, not my favorite food group. No more updates until this is a different color.

[kb426]

FINALLY! Epoxy sealer sprayed. It's too late for primer so that should be tomorrows task. Now I can see how much work I have left.

[kb426]

Here we are in threes. 3 times as long as it should of to get to this point. 3 coats of high build primer. 3 fatalities. 3 nats committed suicide by landing on the tailgate at a poor time.

[WZ JUNK]

You are making more progress than me and your work looks a lot better.

[idrivejunk]

Aw, that was just an extra nice bed.




It does look good!

[kb426]

At O&S we have modern equipment. The bed has set in the solar oven since it was primed. This afternoon, I blocksanded. If I was better at metal work, this wouldn't take as long. This is the 2nd application of primer. Back out in the solar oven. One more time will get it, I believe.