51 Ford

[idrivejunk]

Verbal state of affairs: Entire cab and doors, running boards primed in polyester high build. Looks fine. Guy priming it thanked me for being thorough. One door didn't get the shell mudded and re-primed, (the jamb side of the door) but one did. Time. Later on that. Firewall had a big pond in it up high which I filled due to risks of knocking on it. Toe board was quick mudded, mostly buzzed but also blocked some. It all has a sporting chance of being sanded out with a result worthy of final urethane primer. I think.

Since no inner fender input was recieved and cab is off, zero activity on that. Started blocking a front fender. New physical issues are presenting left and right and I suspect that sloshing my innards around full time standing sanding is to blame for a more worrying one.

That light at the end of the tunnel is just a cruel joke but... its my ongoing destination. Onward, ho.

[kb426]

When I started as a teenager, hand sanding was all I did. When I worked after school in the paint shop, all I remember was wet sanding, a lot. In 1972 I was introduced to the da and air file. I find it ironic that after all these years, we still sand by hand to get it right. Pain makes for long days.

[idrivejunk]

When I started as a teenager, hand sanding was all I did. When I worked after school in the paint shop, all I remember was wet sanding, a lot. In 1972 I was introduced to the da and air file. I find it ironic that after all these years, we still sand by hand to get it right. Pain makes for long days.

Man you got that right. And nothing in the universe matches the acceleration of perception of time when one hits the clock after a Friday. But as a teenager, sanding wasn't all my hands did.   

Ahead is all clouds. Of future sanding fatigue. Inner fenders are the only chance for sunlight in the extended forecast. Because now guess what? The cab is ready to be sanded. Oooooh deeear. Said in my best Eeyore. 

[idrivejunk]

Wow I spent the whole morning blocking parts of the right front fender and you can't even tell I been there. At least I am seated while doing so. Went in the booth to look over the cab and counted only 7 pinholes.

[idrivejunk]

I'll finish blocking the other fender today hopefully. Been at least two weeks since I heard anything except heres your check. Boss is off next week though, so he touched base with me. Customer is discouraged and will finish the build himself once its mostly together. Plans to bolt stock tail lights to the stake pockets. I don't know how, now. Holes are gone. Asking if any of it is my fault would only have stoked the coals. Wondering if I am responsible is un-nerving because I have trouble turning off care. But thats what I've done. I am assured that inner fender sketches were in vain, I am to build, not ask.

If theres an upbeat tidbit, I sensed that perhaps I will not be the one doing the next primer blocking.

[kb426]

Interesting development. The no more sanding part sounds great.

[idrivejunk]

Oh, I'm still sanding first-round poly primer. On the hood. Got a couple days in on one half and that half is almost done.

[idrivejunk]

Was able to finish that half plus the other. Of the hood. Yesterday. Second side was less bad. Under the heading of who knows, who cares, why bother.

I was trying to think of a build thread I have done that hasn't been ruined but they all have. One way or another. Throw this one on the burn pile. Its no use.

[idrivejunk]

I finally made a loose cardboard mockup inner fender today. Just to check angles. Turns out that the fender bolt row's angle pretty much matches the angle on top of the bedsides. So it can be flat, then drop straight down over the rail basically.

[jaybee]

I finally made a loose cardboard mockup inner fender today. Just to check angles. Turns out that the fender bolt row's angle pretty much matches the angle on top of the bedsides. So it can be flat, then drop straight down over the rail basically.

That worked out then. It's nice when simple is good.

[idrivejunk]

Well... if it looks simple from the top, that will be a win. I'm afraid the bottom and back are less so. Its an incomplete mental picture but these may attach to both cab, solid, and frame but bushed. Current front cab mounts are at back of toe board but stock it had another pair out at the firewall. So altered support for the front clip is needed, IMO. Don't really want any front clip weight on the firewall or running board brackets. Likely I will sketch what I make, to show at least.

I about wrapped up sanding of first prime (+fill) on the running boards today and skimmed mud on stake pocket / rail cap areas. DA-carved one front corner, those look pretty cool from the top now. Awful dusty but I did the boards sitting down and they were simple which brings this reply to a full circle and was some relief. Down to mudding the modded bed rearend now and knowing that is some also.

[idrivejunk]

Was almost able to finish (all mud on this job) but had to find and set up tasks for the primer guy to do, so fell short by about the time that took. And nothing ended up being primed Friday anyway. Since the boss went to 4 day weeks, Fridays gave turned into... well I might as well wake up, shoot hole in foot, go back to bed.  The stick holding the carrot just gets longer.

Not looking forward to a Japanese wreck rebuild but its a living. Yay.

[idrivejunk]

Mud all done and poly primed. Made cardboard inner fender, main section. Ready to flatten and transfer to steel and looks like same pattern works for both sides. Story now is that stock radiator baffle in hood is to be used. Thought we'd want to modify it. Nope.

Dry camp at the shop this week. Does that westerns thing about washing dishes with sand work for hands? How about as TP?

[idrivejunk]

I got the inner fender worked out in cardboard. Quite plain. Extends under the toe board, obscuring the cab mount but letting the frame rail show. Bracket at firewall to be revised. Existing top edge stays, as a doubler. Soon as they are built I am to re-hang and re-fit hood and doors, then it will "sit for awhile".

Bumpers all look OK in primer.

[jaybee]

Sounds like you've got it well in hand.