Body work on my '86

[JoeR Jr]

A buddy of mine that is a body guy offered to help me fix my truck up enough to repaint it. At first I didn't think I'd ever take him up on it, but then this Coronavirus hit and I was left with a bunch of spare time on my hands.
I'd stop over to his shop with the truck during the day. He'd show me how to start pulling dents, and then I'd go home and pull them all. We had a few warped panels that needed shrinking, so that was next. Then came welding in replacement panels.....and so on.

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[JoeR Jr]

I was pretty crummy at it at first, and it took me a long time to accomplish anything. I got faster as I did more of it though. I ended up welding in 2 cab corners, one piece behind the RR wheel, and lots of holes that were in the door. Apparently it had had plenty of different mirrors on it over the years.

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[JoeR Jr]

Then came the body filler and sanding. I can't believe how many hours I sanded, filled, sanded again, filled again....I now know why body work is as expensive as it is. By the time I finished working my way around the truck I was way better at it. that made me unsatisfied with my previous work, so I started around the truck a second time.

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[WebMonkey]

sweet!

i'll bring my brown truck over in just a minute for you to practice on.

 

[idahovette]

Yeah, Chris, looking at the logistics, you'll beat me there!!!

sweet!

i'll bring my brown truck over in just a minute for you to practice on.

 

[JoeR Jr]

Not knowing what I was doing I headed back to my buddies place thinking I was done sanding. He said we were priming, it, which to me meant we were about to paint it. No so. It only meant we were going to be block sanding looking for more high and low spots. I gotta admit that I was feeling really deflated. They all got a kick out of it, and I was back to doing more sanding.

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[JoeR Jr]

After final priming, I took the doors and box off. You know that when you are changing colors you have lots of extra painting to do. So this allowed me to paint the areas that the painter didn't want to do. Carquest was able to make me up some rattle cans using the paint code I was going with. After a bunch more sanding and priming of those areas, I slabbed on some paint on it so the guy painting it only had to spay the outside.

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[idahovette]

My son does body work, I have NO patience for it!!!!! Drives me absolutely nuts to go over and over, so he tells me to stay AWAY!!!....... glad to!!

 

[Vbb199]

I don't mind building stuff, or fab work, but body work I have no patience for lol

Looking good

 

[HotRodPC]

F Body Work !!! To much nope for me. Same, don't have the patience for it. Looks like you're doing a good job with it Joe.

I sorta wish you have better pics of that cab corner cut open though instead of the piece in the way. I'd like to see what's back there. I have to do that on mine.

 

[Itali83]

I think that’s awesome that you have a friend that’s willing to show you a trade and that you’re willing do take the time to learn. This is a skill you’ll always have and no one can take from you. This is how the masters of a trade learn. I’m not knocking books or classroom learning, but this is old school and the only way to really learn a trade. Good for you and stick with it. Your truck is 100 times better than it was and you can say you did it!

I’m a mechanic and have no patience for body work. I do all the rebuilding of my square bodies but if they need paint, that’s someone else’s job lol
Ben

 

[Paint guy]

Good for you for taking on the project. Its not rocket science, but it does take skill and patience to do it right. I am a career body man/painter and have done many many restoration projects. Which makes me laugh when people bitch at the costs.
I like that you now understand!

 

[FireTruck1984]

Great project! I love seeing another one saved and given a new life

 

[JoeR Jr]

Good for you for taking on the project. Its not rocket science, but it does take skill and patience to do it right. I am a career body man/painter and have done many many restoration projects. Which makes me laugh when people bitch at the costs.
I like that you now understand!

It definitely takes skill and patience! After doing every panel on the truck I can say I'm a lot better now than when I started. however, I'm no expert, and probably never will be.
I'm not going to spray it. There's a guy up the road from me that does mostly classic cars. He has a show-winning GTO Judge and an 87 big block square body that he did. If my truck comes out half as good as his did then I'll be happy.
Joe

 

[RoryH19]

Then came the body filler and sanding. I can't believe how many hours I sanded, filled, sanded again, filled again....I now know why body work is as expensive as it is. By the time I finished working my way around the truck I was way better at it. that made me unsatisfied with my previous work, so I started around the truck a second time.

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Nice job, I put rear quarters on my 83 K5 the other weekend. Had some free time myself.