So after a lot of masking to keep the primer out of the heat affected zone, I got the primer laid down inside the frame rails. Immediately left the shop with the heater running to maintain the temperature. Ah, can't come in the house - the wife is mopping all the floors. So off to kill a couple hours to let the primer dry enough to vent the shop.



A couple hours later, all the masking came off, and the panels got tacked in place. Back and forth, small tacks to keep the heat down.

 

Who are you willing this truck too?

 

Hahaha! Probably my kids. Or my wife, if she outlives me. I am getting fired up to make this a painted, rolling chassis. My mind wants to put in more hours than my body can, unfortunately. Getting the diff rebuilt and the and the rear suspension done will be huge.

 

There is a funky spot along the frame rails where the rail changes shape. There are two vertical flanges, one on the top edge and one on the lower. Those flanges end, and it creates a challenge to box the frame in. Once they end, the horizontal flanges are no longer parallel. To keep the plates touching the top and bottom flanges, the front edge of the rear plate needs to be inserted into the frame behind those flanges that the front plates get welded to. Also, at the top of the axle curve, the bottom flange gets wider than the top flange. The only way to get a 12 ga. plate to touch all along these edges that change shape and length is a bit funky, but it will work out for welding. The bottom edge of the plate sits on top of the bottom flange at the back, and the front edge is inserted inside the frame rail at the front. This transition will need another smaller plate welded to join the front and rear plate.

 

I might drill through the middle of the plate and see if I could get a screw to pull the inside plate out to touch or close enough to weld.

 

The inside plate is up against the inside radius of the flanges. Might be able to get the center of the plate to touch, but not the edges. A rectangular filler plate, at an angle, joining both plates would be stronger imho.

 

That works too.

 

I rolled around on my back today tacking up the bottom edge of the plates. I also cut out the filler plates for that weird transition from vertical flanges to just the C channel frame rail. Finally welding will start another day.

 

Roasted Sneeze flesh - right through the leather welding glove. Ouch!

 

Erm, you aren't supposed to be welding your fingers.......