It's almost April and I'm starting to think about this project again. Mother Nature did not get the memo that it is spring and I'm staring out my window at 8" of snow at the moment. Oh well, my truck improvement spirit cannot be crushed!
To bring this thread up to date, I bought an '88 D150 a few months ago and it donated it's bed and fenders to the cause. The DS fender is perfect and will not recieve a drop of filler. The PS fender is good, but it does have a golf ball sized dent by the antenna. The bed's straight with the exception of both rear corners where the bumper pushed into it at some point. The wheel wheels are rusted through, but that's easily fixable and to be expected with any truck that old within a 500 mile radius. I have a tail gate in great shape courtesy of one Mr. Andrew Hineman that just needs the guts installed and color. Overall the "new stuff" is
alot better than what I have now. Those that have met my truck can attest to the fact that it is farm fresh to the max.
I'm going to patch, sand, fill, prime, paint, and clear when work and weather cooperate. After my efforts last fall, I'm sure it's impossible to daily drive and do body work on a vehicle at the same time.
Now for some questions:
- Patch panels: I was advised to hold up the panel, trace around, measure 1/2" inside the line, mark, and cut on the inner line to make room for an overlap. Then drill a few holes, run some screws into it to keep it in place, and weld away. After that, fill the holes, grind the welds down, and feather it out with filler. Seems like a good idea, especially since I've seen this guy's work and he offered to help me do it. Second opinions?
- Sand blaster: Yes or no? If yes, what kind of sand? I have a good industrial compressor at my disposal and I'll rig up a water trap.
- Air block sander: I think a Northern Tool one should suffice for the duration of the project. Pointers?
- Primer: I was using a Rustoleum primer before. It is a zinc-chromate, which I was lead to think was the most important part. Should I pony up the big bucks for a fancy primer?
- Paint: As per 1STGENFARMBOY's suggestion, I'm going with a Nauson (spelling?) paint that O'Reilly's carries. I need a suggestion on when to paint. Could I get away with putting color on the fenders and hood one day, bed the next, and the cab a week later? I'd be most worried about temperature, humidity, and my marginal mixing skills resulting in different shades of blue. Any insight here?
Thanks in advance. There's more than a few good looking trucks on this site that motivate me to improve mine.