Finally got my crewcab!!

[Ranger429]

It was pretty beat up but I got her straight today. Here are the tools of choice, a longboard, a straight edge and a hand pad. If your thinking about using a DA to do this don't waste your time. If you want it straight it is going to require doing it by hand.

After sanding the top of the bed I sprayed some black lacquer paint on and then hit it with 320 on the long board. If you see black still on after sanding that means you have a low spot.

Just a little bit of black left, so minor that once it is primed and block sanded it will go away.

So with the topside done I started on the lower side. I'm hoping that this is the final coat of bondo. I have used about 2 quarts of bondo on this side of the bed and probably have a quart of sanding dust on the ground. It is a lot thinner than what the previous guy had done to it.

 

[1985 Ford F-150]

Comin along good job.

 

[LEB Ben]

Good work Scott...and to think, I thought the bed looked decent to begin with. Just outta curiousity, what exactly are you covering up with all that bondo? Was it just that unlevel? How thick you figure that is right now?

 

[Ranger429]

Thanks guys.

Ben at one time it was in an acident, see post 99. The rear quarter was pushed in and restraightened at a body shop I presume. The top of the bedside had a bunch of hammer marks in it. Not really sure what the PO used the truck for or how it got them in the panel. Thickness, if I was to guess probably no more than 3/16" thick on the rear quarter. Upper bedside, probably 1/8" or less. Imagine taking a hammer and hitting a piece of steel lightly. Thats exactly what the upper panel looked like. It didn't require much at all to straighten. Whoever did the prior work put it on thick, you can see in this picture that they used a lot of bondo. I didn't go up over the top of the bed rail like they did. There are a couple of small dents up there but the inside of the bed will get Line-X'd so it will cover all that up. Hopefully when I strip the passenger bedside it does not have any hidden dents in it. Also that lower rear quarter still has to get final sanded. When I left it today I wanted to at least get the last coat on so more will come off.

 

[Ranger429]

More progress within the last week.

I found out that formica countertop is going to make a great base for my new headliner. I can get it in one piece so I won't use the center trim piece. Here is a test piece that I cut.

Finished one side of the bed, hung the door back on to remove a small dent and align.

I also talked to my neighbor, Advanced auto body and he said I could use his spray booth to paint!! That made my day.


Next on the list was to get rid of the $2.00 Taiwan cab lights. There were also 2 holes for some antennas that are now gone. Welded up all of the holes and then covered them up with more bondo. Plenty more hand sanding here. I am going to find a set of stock Ford cab lights to put back up on the roof.

Passenger side of the bed is 95% done. I have a small spot on the lower rear that needs to be finished. It had a couple of small dents but not as bad as the driver side was. Best part about it is both of the wheel wells are solid with no rust.

With any luck if progress keeps going as it is I should be able to get it painted in another month or so.

 

[LEB Ben]

Lookin good Scott, seems like you got some good work into it over the recent weeks. Glad to hear paint is projected so soon. Can't wait to see that.

 

[1985 Ford F-150]

I cant wait to see the end result. Good job.

 

[Lost]

Coming along nice ... That was one solid truck heck here those doors would be considered rust free. My dad had crews all way till 80 . He always got em Dec 20th we'd take them to sit on santies lap on way home . The memories.

I got a long bed 4x2 crew in local yard get u some pics. IF had garge room I'd haul it home just because

 

[Ranger429]

Thanks guys. 85 F-150, I can't wait to see the finished product either.

Coming along nice ... That was one solid truck heck here those doors would be considered rust free. My dad had crews all way till 80 . He always got em Dec 20th we'd take them to sit on santies lap on way home . The memories.

I got a long bed 4x2 crew in local yard get u some pics. IF had garge room I'd haul it home just because

Thanks Lost. If you happen to get to the yard and check that crew out if it has the exterior tu-tone trim I would be interested in the lower 4 pieces for the cab and the 2 pieces for the rear door. I'm also looking for the 2 short sections of the dentside trim that goes between the front and rear doors and a set of rear door panels. Let me know if you see anything out that way. Thanks

 

[Ranger429]

More progress. I finished up the roof, what a major pain that was. It is pretty flimsy and made it very hard to sand.

several coats of filler all hand sanded with the longboard.

Final coat of filler, waiting to be sanded.

Then finish it off with a coat of spot putty. This needs to be sanded as well.

Finished and ready for primer.

Looks 100% better without those cheap cab lights. I am going to try and find a set of LED cab lights that will look nice to put on it.

And last but not least the driver side door, it has a final coat of spot putty that needs to sanded yet also.

On both sides of the upper bed rail I had to redo 3 of the 4 stake pockets. They were pretty busted up so I reshaped the holes. Both sides of the bed rails had a bunch of dents in them as well so those needed some straightening.

So as it is right now I have one spot left on the lower passenger bedside that needs to be done, the back of the cab needs to be sanded, the passenger rear door needs to be hung and checked, hood needs to be finished and I need to finish up the cowl. Once those are done I ready to spray some primer.

 

[Skandocious]

Holy crap you're coming along quick. I love your motivation to get these projects done!

 

[Ranger429]

Thanks Chris.

 

[m78]

Lookin good scott !
I was reading something over in your sight and saw your top or shell lift. I made one almost identical but used an electric winch.

 

[Ranger429]

Thanks Mark.

You know you can register over there, we don't bite.

I had planned on changing mine over to an electric or hand winch but with the soft top now the hard top never gets used anymore.

 

[m78]

I know what you mean,I winched my shell up there two years ago and it hasn't moved since. Thanks for the invite

 

[1985 Ford F-150]

Looks good Scott.

 

[Ranger429]

Thank you Dan.

I had a couple hours to burn today so I took the NOS doors and fenders down and fit the driver side. I also have to prealign the side molding and drill the mounting holes for the mirror blind nuts. Once they are set in there final place I'll drill a pilot hole thru the hinges to the cab so when it comes time to remount the doors it will be a little easier.

 

[Lost]

Thanks guys. 85 F-150, I can't wait to see the finished product either.



Thanks Lost. If you happen to get to the yard and check that crew out if it has the exterior tu-tone trim I would be interested in the lower 4 pieces for the cab and the 2 pieces for the rear door. I'm also looking for the 2 short sections of the dentside trim that goes between the front and rear doors and a set of rear door panels. Let me know if you see anything out that way. Thanks

No side moldings on the truck But I do know of asitting in the weeds I'll look if get down that way . About 2 hours away.

 

[bucks77ford]

I had a couple hours to burn today so I took the NOS doors and fenders down and fit the driver side. I also have to prealign the side molding and drill the mounting holes for the mirror blind nuts. Once they are set in there final place I'll drill a pilot hole thru the hinges to the cab so when it comes time to remount the doors it will be a little easier.

I hated drilling the holes for molding. Of course it wouldn't have been so bad if everything wasn't painted first. I was sweating pretty bad. One thing that made the drilling easier was using a step bit. That way the bit gradually went through to where I wanted it rather than trying to hold the drill back when it punched through so I wouldn't scratch or dent.

 

[Fordzilla80]

I hated drilling the holes for molding. Of course it wouldn't have been so bad if everything wasn't painted first. I was sweating pretty bad. One thing that made the drilling easier was using a step bit. That way the bit gradually went through to where I wanted it rather than trying to hold the drill back when it punched through so I wouldn't scratch or dent.

If you don't mind me asking,how come you didn't drill the holes first,then paint?