1980 F150 4x4 Flareside Project

[ArdWrknTrk]

Well it's far easier to get a plateau with a platen than with a 4 1/2" disc, I can assure you of that.

I usually only make suggestions based on what I have to work with.
It's not always the best technique.

Just be cautious that you don't heat distort the sheet metal.
Because if you grind it flat when hot, it's going to cool and create divots.

[FuzzFace2]

A belt sander would help get it flat as that is what I used to make the mounting flange thinner on my EFI manifolds.

Now the flap disc may get it closer to flat also.
I think you are not working a large enough area. If you been working say a 1 foot area move it out to 2 to 3 feet moving a foot down the side every few min, to get the whole lip and then work back to the other end.
Think of it as trying to turn that flap disc into a board / belt sander by moving it.
Oh you will need to do the same with the belt sander too.

It is looking good
Dave ----

[Rembrant]

Finally got my bed sides finished today and I have to say I’m pretty sick of working on them LOL. Anyway, next up is paint.

[grumpin]

Those look nice! Great job!

[ArdWrknTrk]

Those look great Cory!

I see the forklift, so you must still have some access to the warehouse

[Gary Lewis]

ArdWrknTrk wrote

Those look great Cory!

That's exactly what I was going to say!

Well done, Cory.  Those look factory.  

[Rembrant]

ArdWrknTrk wrote

I see the forklift, so you must still have some access to the warehouse

Gary Lewis wrote

That's exactly what I was going to say!

In this particular case, I have been saved by Covid...lol. The new owners of the company are in neighboring NB, and they have not been able to visit our location yet...so the truck is still in the shop. The building is now for sale however...so I'm moving out very soon. I'll be dragging the old truck home in another week or two I expect.

Hoping to use the shop to install new fuel tank and lines, and brakes and lines, next weekend. After that, I'll likely trailer it home. The weather is clearing up nicely now anyway.

I'm going to miss the use of that workshop, and all the space. The fork truck...hydraulic presses, sand blasting, heavy tools (3/4" and 1" impacts and sockets, etc)...and most of all, the storage space. There's lots of pallet racking where a guy can keep winter tires (in the summer) and summer tires (in the winter...lol).

I have avoided building a detached garage at home because I never really needed it, but now I need space. I suppose I could sell one of these stupid trucks...lol.

Anyway, my next project will have to be somewhat lighter fare...I won't have the equipment or space for doing frame swaps and cab swaps, etc. Life goes on.

[Rembrant]

Last night was fuel filler neck rehab. I sand blasted this one and found it had a bunch of pinholes in the section between the hose and the back of the filler box. I slathered on a nice layer of JB Weld and today it’s as hard as a rock. Should be good for another 41 years!

[Gary Lewis]

I hope so, but in direct contact with gas JB Weld softens.  So maybe just vapors it'll be fine?

[Rembrant]

Gary it should be fine. It will only be vapours that high up and there’s very little epoxy to contact...just a few pinholes. I’ve welded patches on these before but wanted a quicker easier fix for this one.

[Rembrant]

Last night I was rebuilding my left hand step bracket. The bottom of it was rotted away so I grafted in some new steel. Will finish welding it all up tonight.

[1986F150Six]

Good morning, Cory! You accomplish much and maintain moving forward!

[Rembrant]

1986F150Six wrote

Good morning, Cory! You accomplish much and maintain moving forward!

Ha! David I always have a list of tasks so every evening I try to knock one thing off the list! Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t, but you’ll never hear me complain about being bored!

We always need something to keep the hands and the mind busy!

TGIF (or in Gary’s case, TGITFS...thank god it’s the fifth Saturday!)

[ArdWrknTrk]

Is it just that filler necks for Flaresides aren't available?

[Rembrant]

ArdWrknTrk wrote

Is it just that filler necks for Flaresides aren't available?

Yes, correct, and they’re always rusted out.

[Gary Lewis]

Yes, it IS the fifth Saturday!  And much to do today.  Like you, I really like to knock at least one thing off the list, even if I have to divide the things on the list into really small steps.  

Glad the JB Weld will work there.  That's a fairly easy fix then.  And it won't rust.  

[Rembrant]

Had another busy weekend working on the crusty old "Lincoln Flareside". I took the four bed panels to a body shop around the corner, and I'm hoping to have them back at the end of the week (ya...right...lol).

Anyway, in the meantime, my office had a pile of RockAuto boxes waiting to be installed, so I tore into them this weekend.

All new rear brakes, with the exception of one drum which looked to be fairly new by comparison. The driver's side rear brake shoes actually had no brake material on them at all...and judging by the condition of the wheel cylinders, I'm guessing that it didn't matter...lol.




Good news was that the rear brake backing plates were oddly in really good condition. So all new steel lines from the master cylinder back to the rear brakes, wheel cylinders, shoes, spring kits, and one drum...lol.

Also installed the new fuel tank and sender as well as a new fuel line from the pump.
Also new rear shocks, and I replaced the driver's door latch post with a spare I had...the plastic bushing was gone and the door was loose and rattling badly. Closes tight now, and doesn't rattle.

The truck is still an awful mess...but it has it's own fuel tank along with a full braking system!
I drove it around the neighborhood a little bit...Sunday in an industrial park is plenty quiet. Holy smokes does this thing ride ROUGH!!...I hope it settles down a little bit with the weight of the bed on there.

Oh...and I tested the 4x4 and climbed some snow banks...but no pics of that!






Anyway, that's it...once I get the bed panels back and the bed assembled and installed, this thing with almost be ready for the road. I have a couple brake line fitting leaks to take care of, but otherwise I'm catching up!

[grumpin]

Awesome! You’re getting there... I think!

[Gary Lewis]

Good work, Cory!  That was a whole lot you got done.  A month's worth for me.  

But I think you are right, there was no need for friction material on that corner.  That system wasn't going to move.  

As for the ride, the bed doesn't weigh much, so.....

[ArdWrknTrk]

Even if the body shop isn't punctual, the bumper looks great!

Lots of progress this weekend.