Truck welding begins

Kinja'd!!! "Pixel" (Improbcat)
03/19/2014 at 19:04 • Filed to: 1964 pickup rust welding

Kinja'd!!!1 Kinja'd!!! 5

This year's project with the '64 pickup is to get the rust fixed so I can get some paint on it. To that end, the front end was stripped down so I can start start in on the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

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The first target is the inner fenders. The front edge has a bracket on the underside from the factory that traps muck thrown up by the tires and always rusts out. The ones on this truck were previously "fixed" with super thin sheet metal pop-riveted on and covered in roofing tar. This worked so well the patches had rusted through as well.

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I started in on the driver's side by cutting out the rot until I reached good metal. I'm doing this with the radiator support still in place so I can use it as a guideline to make sure everything lines up. Once I have both sides done the rad support will come out so I can finish the patches & so I can fix the massive rot on the support.

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Then it was just the tedious process of cutting, bending & fitting patches. I am using 18ga steel for strength, so my flanging tool doesn't make the flange deep enough to be flush. I'm not too worried as this area is not visible with the hood down.

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One patch in...

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Two patches in...

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And patches 3-6 in.

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It is far from perfect, and there is a lot of grinding still to do(as well as re-doing some of the uglier welds), but it seems solid. Once the radiator support is out I will need to add one more patch to the front edge of the raised portion, and drill out the various bolt holes.

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DISCUSSION (5)


Kinja'd!!! jkm7680 > Pixel
03/19/2014 at 19:07

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Nice thread. You are leaving the steelies on, right?


Kinja'd!!! Pixel > jkm7680
03/19/2014 at 19:12

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Yep. Plan is dark hunter green with cream on the wheels, bumpers, grille & roof, the copper scallops on that.


Kinja'd!!! Ramblin Rover - The Vivisector of Solihull > Pixel
03/19/2014 at 19:13

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I wish I could say I hadn't seen rivets + roofing tar before, but no: I definitely have.


Kinja'd!!! jkm7680 > Pixel
03/19/2014 at 19:15

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Nice, that's going to look great!


Kinja'd!!! Pixel > Ramblin Rover - The Vivisector of Solihull
03/19/2014 at 19:43

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Me too. At least it wasn't on something structural this time...