66 E-VUCK project-2014

I'm moving to the members showcase, this seems like the place this should be.



I got my headliner and firewall insulation panels from Quiet Ride Solutions today. I don't know if they fit well but the quality is great and they seemed to have paid attention to detail. This would have been a bitch even if I had a template. Good purchase.

Today I'm going to cover the headliner with this bitchin' grey(go away), period correct fabric I found (Mac).

We are warming up and this crap is starting to melt. My poor Vuck from Lodi CA is going to shit it's pants when it see's this.

Scratch that, I need to dry fit this thing first and pre drill my holes...anything but work on that frickin' bathroom.

My vuck was a no show today...maybe monday. I'm old enough not to get TOO worked up but I was really looking forward to it. Probably best, there is a lot going on.

Tapping years of crap trying to get out of the back of the truck, back into the truck. It may require a beer or two eventually.

The Vuck is stuck in Chicago...

This metal is pretty streached out. Any body guys out there? What's the trick? Will this heavy crap shrink?

Didn't mean crap, this stuff is like working on a tank.








I was working on my tailgate and noticed some numbers under the paint. Looked a little closer and it's a Navy tailgate. I was stationed in San Diego in 82. Makes me wonder if this thing was tooling around the base in 1966, carrying god only knows what. I should probably do a geiger counter reading:)

The Navy had a bunch of them. Every US Navy flight line in world had two. The were used to transport crew to the planes. Fred Carello has one that was assigned to a carrier group. It just sat on a base in Florida and has super low millage. It was even painted to squadron colors. Pretty cool. Air Force and Army had them as well. I've not seen any Marine trucks but I would think they would have them too. 1963 was a big order for the military.

Duane In Tennessee

66mnecotruck wrote:

Tapping years of crap trying to get out of the back of the truck, back into the truck. It may require a beer or two eventually.

That's some thick metal. Probably have to put some heat on those bullseyes to knock them back down. Be careful you don't wear your hammer out.

Duane in Tennessee

Just be happy you have one, most econo pickups are missing them

My was missing also, I had to hunt this one down. It's a good challenge, there is no back side. Thanks for the info Duane. I'm going to see if I can research the number and find out where this was.

http://vintagetruckmagazine.com/pdfs/VT13-5.pdf

I love the hand painted lettering on the side of this econoline.

You can order these prints but they are not cheap. It is a pretty neat archive, may be common knowledge.

Love this -metal working!! Had a( wet back) (2) that was a body man in a chev dealership near mexico city - best metal man i ever had - worked  metal with a torch & water bucket & hammers!!!!!!!!!!! when he was done  - didnt need much filler at all- heres what u do for shrinking metal- heat the area with torch - NOT a silly Propane - use a oxy setup!! get HOT!! then use rags in cold water -it will shrink =big time!! use ur head & watch it closely- removing the rags- back to cold water & back again till u get desired results!!!!!!!!!!!! Heres another trick- when u think u have that body work / primared areas ready 4 paint??????? hehe = get a small shop towel / wash rag- put flat on area to check & put ur hand flat on it & go across the areas to check!! be ready to find more  waves than the eye can see!!!  


OLD School stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Twinpilot001 wrote:Love this -metal working!! Had a( wet back) (2) that was a body man in a chev dealership near mexico city - best metal man i ever had - worked  metal with a torch & water bucket & hammers!!!!!!!!!!! when he was done  - didnt need much filler at all- heres what u do for shrinking metal- heat the area with torch - NOT a silly Propane - use a oxy setup!! get HOT!! then use rags in cold water -it will shrink =big time!! use ur head & watch it closely- removing the rags- back to cold water & back again till u get desired results!!!!!!!!!!!! Heres another trick- when u think u have that body work / primared areas ready 4 paint??????? hehe = get a small shop towel / wash rag- put flat on area to check & put ur hand flat on it & go across the areas to check!! be ready to find more  waves than the eye can see!!!    


OLD School stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Thanks Twinpilot! We call them Hispanic Americans now:)!!! They hold Minneapolis together:) None of these kids want to work.

That's the info I needed, I was looking at this and thinking, man, it is a lot to shrink down. I have map gas, no oxy set up. Always wanted one...This is 16 gauge steel? Never worked with this heavy of stuff. It is like really hard clay:)

I really find myself torn between ace'n this tailgate out and feeling like I'm killing some history.

Investing in a stud welder will save lots of filling and grinding later. They are amazing for removing dents when ya can't get to the back side IMO. Just my two cents, looking good so far!


Tom

I have to go old school right now, I would love to have one. Will they stick and hold to a 16g corner?

Im not sure what got leaned up against this truck everyday but it was substantial.

millwright71 wrote:Investing in a stud welder will save lots of filling and grinding later. They are amazing for removing dents when ya can't get to the back side IMO. Just my two cents, looking good so far!


                                                                                                       Tom

Tom do you know of any American Made stud welders? I don't want to buy Chinese made garbage.

I am sorry to say, I did not look for that specifically. I wasn't going to use mine in a production type environment, so I shopped for lowest price. I bought a "starter" kit, and have gotten good service out of it so far.

millwright71 wrote:Investing in a stud welder will save lots of filling and grinding later. They are amazing for removing dents when ya can't get to the back side IMO. Just my two cents, looking good so far!


                                                                                                       Tom

Next thing your going to tell me is a nice car lift would make my life a lot easier.

2-car lifts!! mig & tig welder, and a professional body man that works for cheap just 4 u!!  remember -if ur going to wish?? do a BIGGIE!! 


66 econotruck!!!!!!!!!!!!! HaHa-u dont want to know what i call them!!    

Ha!!! I was thinking the same thing. I could sure use a good body guy right about now!! And a 3 stall garage