I had a machine to repair Thursday night and then I went to the Park City Bluegrass Festival this weekend, so I had a few days off the project.
4 May 10 hours
I finished blasting the frame I still have to finish the Axel and steering control arm before I can do any painting.
7 May 6 hours
I painted primer on some of the smaller parts.
8 May 8 hours
I had problems with the compressor had to spend some hours working on it, I removed the head and had to make a head gasket by hand. Finished blasting the Axel and steering control arm.
9 May 8 hours
Finished sand blasting. I ground the circular opening in the bell housing (pictured above - right) it had some rough edges from the original casting. I painted primer on the Axel and steering control arm & bell housing.
10 May 8 hours
I opened the garage door for the first time in over a year. I went ahead and blasted the back side of this cross member so I could get over half of the chassis painted. The hole on the right (picture - cross member below) is for the power take off drive shaft driving the hydraulic pump for the bed dump. The hole had been cut with a torch, I ground the hole smooth. I also cut-off some extra metal off the frame with my torch and ground smooth. I goofed up this weekend and I didn't have enough primer to finish the chassis. I went ahead and finished as much as I could.
11 May 8 hours
Mothers day I had to make it short, my mother came over for diner. I worked on the compressor again for four hours today. This was a new compressor when I began this project. I believe it breathed too much sand dust. I cleaned the input filter every day I sand blasted and kept the oil changed. The sand blasting was done in an enclosed plastic room but the dust was still getting out in the garage. I am now putting a damp towel in front of the input filters on the compressor to further filter out the dust. I ended up just cleaning out the compressor and changing the oil. It is working great now. I painted the bell housing blue.
12 May 6 hours
I finished painting primer on the chassis. I had to get a swivel joint on my paint gun air hose and use a detail paint gun to get under the chassis. I picked up all the sand from the garage floor and put it in buckets. It will be a while before I do any sand blasting again.
The plan: I will sand for the next day or two then I will paint the chassis and other parts, weather willing. Then I will re-assemble the front end, axel, springs, steering, brakes, brake lines and wheels. Then I will begin engine final assembly, assembling the lower end first, install oil pan then I will drop the engine on the chassis to finish assembly. I was just thinking this morning how am I going to get the rear axel/rear end blasted & painted. I plan to drop the differential/axel off the springs with the wheels still attached then I will roll the axel out of the way, blast & paint the rest of the chassis, blast & paint the axel (with wheels attached), then re-attach the axel, remove the wheels and finish the blasting & painting on what ever is left.
13 May 6 hours
Sanded all of the smaller parts
14 May 8 hours
I picked up all the sand in the plastic room in the garage (where I was sand blasting). Then I sanded the chassis for a few hours and I cleaned nuts, bolts & screws for a while.
15 May 6 hours
I finished sanding the chassis and I cleaned nuts, bolts & screws and primed them.
The weekend...... bummer.... I didn't get any work done I had too many other chores to do it was rainy anyway. I have another problem...... the Cottonwood tree next door is blooming so I cant paint outside without getting fuzz in the paint. So I will be limited to painting in the garage.
20 May 8 hours
Oh Happy Day ...... its paint day..... again
Paint day is much better than sanding day (days) and even better than sand blasting days. The painting went flawless, I didn't drop anything on the ground and I didn't spill the whole can of paint. I was really worried that I wouldn't be able to paint outside for a while because the Cottonwood trees were blooming. I had some luck, the rain that we have had in the past week has grounded a lot of the fuzz and the wind was coming from the north (the tree was on the south of me). I didn't have any fuzz problems.
The front axle was strung up between two trees so that I could paint it all at once.
The primed version and the "Original" color # 50 International Red
21 May 8 hours
I began assembling the front chassis. I installed the springs. I had to grind a half round slot in the four of the shackle pins on one end to accept the shackle pin bolt. I couldn't find a source for the rubber Axel bumpers so I fabricated some. I found a big rubber cork at the Yard Surplus store, then I sanded the cork down (sanded on a bench disk sander, wow..... what a mess.... black rubber dust ) to the size & shape of the original axel bumpers. I removed the glass from the front window frame. I may have the front window frame chrome plated...... depending on cost. I also was evaluating what other metal parts need to be re-chromed. I polished some of the chrome parts.
The two on left are the old bumpers, big rubber cork - middle, Horn mount on right. Finished spring/axel bumpers.
22 May 6 hours
I want to the Yard & bought another big rubber cork and also found a rubber grommet that fits the horn bracket. I ground the other axel bumper while sanding down the bumper I had a little accident, I was so busy concentrating on the job at hand I didn't notice that a gallon of red paint was vibrating off the bench....... wow! big mess..... I ended up spilling @ half of the gallon of paint. I am not proud...... here is a picture of the mess.
I was checking out the front bumper on the chassis to get some ideas. I decided to chrome plate the front bumper, front window frame and the hood mascot. I ordered some chrome bolts to secure the bumper. The aprons shown above will be painted black...... with the chrome bolts & flat washers tying them to the bumper...... yeah chrome on black! I also have some big chrome pull/tow hooks that will mount on the apron. I thought that I needed to chrome plate the grill slats...... 22.50$ each at 36 pieces........... I buffed one of them out and they look great! I also dismantled the front grill/radiator assembly. I also drilled one the "clutch linkage yoke ends" to the next size bigger & installed a new clevis pin. The holes in the yoke were worn too much for the old pin.
Handles after polish and grill slats before on right and after on left. Grill/radiator assembly with aprons.
25 May Memorial Day weekend
I didn't get a thing done this weekend, I was recovering from a severe cold most of the weekend then I had to do some car maintenance on our other cars. I filled the AC system, replaced AC switch, Fixed AC leak, replaced rear rotor & brakes, fixed electrical problem, replaced back lighting bulbs in the radio and sewed in a patch in the seat Upholstery.
27 May 2 hour
I found some leather on sale at a local leather shop. I will use the leather for the seats it is green, very close in color to the original color..... though the original material wasn't leather. I may get a quote to see what an upholstery shop will charge to do the work. I think I could do the job except I am not sure how to do the bottom seat. The original seat has a foam bottom that is beyond use. I removed all the original material and dissected the different pieces & labeled them.
29 May 4 hours
Installed the steering control mechanicals. I have a problem with the pitman arm.... the ball joint ball has a severe flat spot on the ball. This will make a noticeable bump when the steering wheel is turned. It will need to be replaced. I am checking with Ken at OHIC and Steve Robinson (Quebec) on a replacement. I need to find some thick felt that covers the adjustable ball joints. Ken said that he has found the last part required for the steering control box rebuild kit. Still no word on the Hydrovac Brake rebuild parts.