Heirlooms '68 F250 - 2500 miles later.....

[Heirloom]

That is turning out SWEET! Cant wait to see the final product!

Thank you Lance65. Prayers for your Son and Family

[Heirloom]

Playing around in SketchUp......

[sargentrs]

Really cool colors!

[Mama Bear]

Console is looking great, and I'm seriously loving that color scheme!

[Cipher43]

Playing around in SketchUp......

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Dang where did ya get the google sketch up file for that? Did you make it yourself?

[Heirloom]

Thanks Randy and MamaBear!

Dang where did ya get the google sketch up file for that? Did you make it yourself?

It's downloadable in the SketchUp Communtity. Here's the file name:

1971_ford_F100_[Trigger].skp

I had to draw the lines for the color separation between blue/white, as well as the chevrons on the red stripe. I imported interior I had already drawn up and scaled it to size then positioned it. The original truck file had a cab high camper and a bench seat, but no dash. I figured no point in modeling the whole truck since there were about a dozen to work off of already available. The interior is partially modeled by me and partially downloaded. I downloaded the steering wheel (then modified it), shifter and the seats.

[Heirloom]

I’ve been working on rot patching here and there. I’m still, slowly, getting the roof done. The driver side is patched and filled. I probably have one more skim coat of Bondo then it should block out nice. I’m about 2/3 done with replacing metal on the passenger side.

My method went something like this. After cutting out a section to patch I vacuumed out all of the loose rust flake and scale I could get to. Then I wire wheeled and wire brushed everything and vacuumed more followed by more wire brushing WHILE vacuuming. Satisfied I got all the scale, flake and dust out I sprayed the entire area with brake cleaner. I then sprayed Eastwood rust encapsulator into the roof through the cut out. I sprayed from the inside towards the outside, coating the back sides of what I sprayed from the outside. I prep’d the metal edges for welding and welded the patch in. After grinding the welds smooth I sprayed the Eastwood over the entire patched area, inside and out. From there I started filling with Bondo. Here are some pics of the carnage. I’m doing my work in two passes. First cut, patch, and fill until its ‘close’. Then second I am going to go back over the whole body and finish up with skimming and blocking.

























That last patch is partially welded in now. Let me tell you....jumping into doing what I’m doing with out much body work experience AT ALL will make you sink or swim. I think I’m treading water.

Once all of the patching is done I will tape up the gap between the roof skin and the headliner mount all the way around. With a couple small holes in the tape in the right areas I should be able to stick the 360 degree spray whip in and coat everything thoroughly. I can’t wait to try it out!

[sargentrs]

That's a job I wouldn't want to tackle. Looks you're doing all the right things. Good work! I like how you're using the tape to make the template for cutting the patches. Great idea! I never would have thought of that.

[Heirloom]

Thanks Randy. Yeah the tape idea occurred to me a long time ago, then I forgot it...then just re-discovered it. LOL.

The metal patching is not coming out as nice as I had hoped. But in my defense the issues I'm having are due to thin spots in the original metal. I cant, well, don't want to cut the seams apart and replace everything which would mean patching in pre-flanged pieces for the roof skin, drip rails and cab structure. So unfortunately the bottom edges of the patches are welded and filler rod filled as best I could get it them, then any holes left over I made sure to seal with the Eastwood spray inside and out....then body filler. The top edges and sides are welding into nice solid material, so I have been able to get a good fusion there. Mostly it leaves a slight depression that only requires a light fill. If you look at the pictures where the tape template is being peeled off, you can see just to the right of it the upper corner patch welded in. Not tooo bad for an amateur. I'm using an older Miller Syncrowave 180, no pulse (well, pulse by pedal) and no post weld gas flow control on this unit. The torch is an air cooled i-torch, short/stubby with flexible head. 3/32 red tungsten ground to a fine point and a #7 lens. If I ever sell the truck I will surely disclose this work as I would want to know about it. None the less, It will come out looking really good....I hope.

Anybody buy Argon lately???? Eeesh....I need to make some money with this bottle. It was 3x what I thought it would cost......$113 (plus tax)for a 200 bottle exchanged.

[sargentrs]

Sounds like you know your welding. I'm an amateur mig tacker at best. However, my step son is a top notch tig/mid welder so I "volunteer" him when I need welding. I'll be looking to buy a decent mig welder before I start on my bed. You're doing some great work! Keep us updated.

[Heirloom]

I do a lot of reading. My TIG skills are minimal, but getting better! Thanks!

[mcheath]

Wow, you are doing fabulous work here. Way way out of my league, you fabricating guys are impressive.

Those seats look really good in the cab.

[pincheweddo]

Looking good! Nice talent on the center console. Looks like you have done that once or twice.

[Heirloom]

Thanks guys! It's actually the first one I've ever attempted. I thought about it for a long while and watched YouTube video's and even episodes of West Coast Customs and OverHaulin' to glean as much as I could before diving in.

I drove it down to my Parents house yesterday, it's first real drive since putting the seats in. Very comfortable. I had the console in and bolted together but not bolted down. No front top panel though as I have the 4 speed stick in the way. It feels great, looks great and once everything is all finished it will be awesome. My Son was with me and on the way home we did a quick little off road blast near my house. The truck performed flawlessly, I felt secure in the seat, the console never moved and my Son was blown away that we could haul butt over choppy fields, slide around corners....and.....survive. He's 12. "That was AWESOME!"...."I think this truck would do good in a race!". LOL.

That's the magic of the twin I front.

[Craigerf100]

man heirloom i would just save up for different cab. but then it wouldnt be original keep up the good work.