Tim's Project G518

[timsresort]

Tim, nice work with the welding. I am wondering, what do you use to grind your welds down with. I am always a little concerned with using a hard grinding wheel. A little too much pressure outside the work and we wind up with a gouge ground into a place we don't want. Some times flapper wheels aren't aggressive enough. Ya know?

Good eye. You can see that's a little aggressive, and could leave grooves. I usually use a 60 grit flap wheel, and will clean that up with one. For whatever reason I was out of them and didn't feel like going into town, and really should get them at Harbor Freight where they're much cheaper.

[timsresort]

Nice work Tim...following your progress.

-Tom

Thanks for following Tom

[D.R.H.]

Tim, I am very happy that you are providing pictures in your thread, AND that I saw these pics. They reminded me of when I was restoring the Jimmy for Ft. Mac. Museum in So. California. I had to do some rust removal, much like what you're doing, and the project was moved closer to where I lived at the time. The owner of this other museum had many many tools for performing correct body work. He gave me a Vixen File to use on spots welds just like what you have made.
I was really surprised at how easy it was to FILE AWAY the little raised bumps of welded metal and it didn't scuff the surrounding steel up. I think I am gonna get me one. Here's what the holder looks like; http://www.tinmantech.com/pinnacle/hand ... le-holder/. And now the flexible file; https://www.gordonelectricsupply.com/in ... rt~5640485. The file IS expensive but they don't wear quickly. The one I used was from the early 70's and it cut the welds like a hot knife through warm butter.

[timsresort]

I'm glad you're is enjoying the thread, and once I got used to posting photos, it's not bad. I try to get enough, but not too much detail, and sometimes I'm working and just miss the photo. Hell, sometimes I'm working and realize it's dinner time. I looked at that file, and am very interested. Here's the thing, I'm an electrician by trade, been around MV's, jeeps, all my life, but never trained for some things like bodywork. So I am still learning. That Jimmy you worked on, a CCKW?

[timsresort]

Cut a piece of 14 gauge for the front, did layout on where the spot welds were, drilled the sheet metal for plug welds. I thought about spot welding, as the original was, but frankly, it was quicker to plug weld. One less tool I had to get out, dial in. practice, FUBAR the whole thing, etc.

Got some tacks in, and plug welded the old spot welds.

Started the clean up, looking better.

Moved the whole mess outside, and enlisted some help from my son to move the Mother Of All Sheet Metal into position. I will have to do some trimming.

[timsresort]

Measured 3 times, cut about 3 inches off the right side. And it's in the hole!

I want to weld the middle first so as to not end up with a bubble in the middle, but that is underneath, and I don't want to weld upside down. So I'm using self tapping screws to temporarily secure the sheet while I flip it over.

I am really happy with the fit, I think I can actually weld this. The gold color is the weld through primer.

Flipped it on its side and welded all the 1 inch welds along the crossmembers and frame.
Now I'm thinking this is the last time it will be on its side, so time for a quick coat of primer.

And then 33070.

Now on to the inside.

[D.R.H.]

I am a Blue Collar Tradesman too, Commercial Glass and Architectural Aluminum installation. We tradesmen have the ability to cross over from trade to wrench quite easily, I believe. I am learning all the time with these old trucks and things. As for the truck yes, it was a S.W.B. C.C.K.W. Here is the link to the page where I did the spot welding like you, it is about mid-way down. I don't wish to hijack your thread with this, but the guy who loaned the vixen file to me just told me what to do and I did it. After all how much more can I mess it up? The area was toast to begin with. viewtopic.php?f=26&t=240708&start=120
Anyway, your trailer is going to turn out really well!! I am really diggin' the work that you're doing!!

[1943Willysgpw]

Great job. Please keep the pictures coming.

[timsresort]

I am a Blue Collar Tradesman too, Commercial Glass and Architectural Aluminum installation. We tradesmen have the ability to cross over from trade to wrench quite easily, I believe. I am learning all the time with these old trucks and things. As for the truck yes, it was a S.W.B. C.C.K.W. Here is the link to the page where I did the spot welding like you, it is about mid-way down. I don't wish to hijack your thread with this, but the guy who loaned the vixen file to me just told me what to do and I did it. After all how much more can I mess it up? The area was toast to begin with. viewtopic.php?f=26&t=240708&start=120
Anyway, your trailer is going to turn out really well!! I am really diggin' the work that you're doing!!

Nice work on the CCKW. Every time I do body work I learn something. I wish I wasn't always so rushed. We need to slow down and smell the, canvas, gear oil, paint, weld, whatever it is, or all of it. And once in a while, I also think to myself, how bad can I mess this up?

[timsresort]

Well, the good news is the welding went really well. I practiced on some scrap to get the heat dialed in, then did about 4 inch beads, moving around the bed, alternating side to side to keep the heat down. At the end I pulled the screws out and filled the holes. The bad news is I didn't think of photos until it was primed. It was a lot of work, like 25 feet of weld, but was an awesome afternoon, to see this thing come together.

I am happy with the quality, and it will be a long time before this has to be done again.

Before I welded the outer corners, I dummied on the tailgate to get the sides plumb, and the correct spread on the sides.

Now looking down the sides, it's pretty darn straight.

Then the last weld was across the tailgate opening on the upper edge. I left the original piece that wraps around the crossmember.

[timsresort]

While I had the paint out, I shot the tailgate with epoxy primer.

The front panel has been bugging my eye. Worked on it briefly again, found that a piece of 2x2 box tubing squeezes into the return on the top. Was able to pound here, tap there, to get it straighter, but not good enough.

I couldn't resist hanging the tailgate on there to see everything in one color.

That led to finding the hardware to get it installed. Had to fabricate the 5/8" rod that goes through the eye bolts.

Sat down with a beer to admire my work and this guy walks up. I raised my phone and luckily he did a 180. Darn day bears!

Does this M37 make my butt look big?

[Rustman]

Tim,

I wanted to express my thanks for sharing all of this with us. I have a wooden Ben Hur languishing in my driveway while either I'm working out of town or it's raining. I really hope to restore it in 2019. Your thread is a great inspiration.

Matt

[timsresort]

Tim,

I wanted to express my thanks for sharing all of this with us. I have a wooden Ben Hur languishing in my driveway while either I'm working out of town or it's raining. I really hope to restore it in 2019. Your thread is a great inspiration.

Matt

No problem, Matt. Glad you are enjoying it. I've never done a thread before, just kind of winging it. I hope you can get to your Ben Hur soon, I find them fairly easy to work on and rewarding. A wood trailer would be interesting. I am about to embark on the side rack phase of this project, probably swapping from a welder to a tablesaw.

[timsresort]

One more round of body work, went around the whole thing, straightening various dents and dings. The front panel got better, still far from perfect, but I'm running out of painting weather.

Finally time for some serious paint.

Shot the trailer in some really nice 33070.

The OD really makes a lot of sins disappear.

[zepher11]

Looks really good. Will be great to see it in person completed at Plymouth.