'70 Sport Custom Rebuild- She's been adopted!

[sargentrs]

Thanks! Bits and pieces, pieces and bits. She's never far from my thoughts. Looking forward to seeing your new shop!

[sargentrs]

So my ’64 Fairlane daily driver has pretty consumed my time and resources over the past year, leaving little of either to devote to my beloved truck. Now that I have the F’lane running and rolling reliably I can spend a little quality time with the bump, to our mutual enjoyment. As posted back on the last page, I’ve got my panel cut out and was struggling with the diameters I was presented with to accommodate the 3-3/8” gauges I intend to use in the large holes. Working in a fab shop for the past 19 years gives a few perks and priveleges that allow me to engineer creative solutions. We have 2 lasers at the plant and some cooperative individuals more than happy to assist me with my needs because they think the bump is cool I measured the diameter of the openings in the panel and had some washers cut from .047 cold rolled steel that would fit the ID of the panel and the OD of the 3-3/8” gauges. Then I had them cut some more washers with the same ID and an OD that covers the holes in the panel, overlapping by about 1/32” all the way around. The center one, I chose to leave alone and the washers ride on the inside slope and the peak of the emboss. This will let the gauge face be raised above the rest for contrast.

[sargentrs]

My friend who’s the welding supervisor Tig welded the washers together in a few spots around the perimeter and now I have inserts for my gauges. I'll need to dress up the ID but otherwise they came out pretty good. Next to clean and paint.

[flyboy2610]

I like that!

[sargentrs]

Thanks flyboy! I'm going to try to rattle can chrome paint it. If that doesn't turn out nicely, I'll probably go with a glossy black. My interior scheme is going to be black and red. Thought the chrome with the black gauges would look good but can't see spending that much money. Besides, there are some blemishes in the panel that would really scream at you in chrome. By painting it, I can smooth them over with Lab Metal or filler.

[calipilot227]

Rattle can chrome doesn't usually look very good. See if a bumper shop near you will dip it. I can't imagine it'd cost too much for a relatively small piece.

[sargentrs]

I may just go with the black then. The chroming places I've talked to in my area have anywhere between $100-$150 minimum charge. That's a lot to pay for a "maybe". I can get it chrome powder coated for $75, I've seen the results on a friend's bumper and they're not bad. But you can see the defects in the metal extremely well and I'm sure actual chrome will. I've got time to play around with various scenarios before dumping $$ into it. I'm not after show quality but still want it to look pretty good.

[48prerunner]

Any imperfection will show in powder coat just like in paint. The chrome shop should fill and sand any imperfections first and then the results would be perfect part of why its so much. You could always hydrodip also called water transfer it at home.
https://youtu.be/V8wHglTJl6A

We do it with the students at school, I'm sure you would find other uses on your truck. We order all our film and supplies from dip wizzard. I was going to do my f-600 insert with brushed aluminum and carbon fiber but then Id have to redo al the trim on the dash and i want to drive it this summer.

[sargentrs]

Sprayed the chrome. Yeah, it sux. That hydro dipping looks cool! I'm going to spray it gloss black and reevaluate.

[zmonster72]

subscribed! great build, look forward to seeing it completed!

[sargentrs]

Thanks! So am I. LOL

[zmonster72]

You've inspired me to start my own '70!

[sargentrs]

Congratulations! It'll be expensive, exhausting, boring, frustrating, and you'll love every minute of it!

[flyboy2610]

You could always hydrodip also called water transfer it at home.
https://youtu.be/V8wHglTJl6A

We do it with the students at school,

You hydrodip your students?
What do their parents have to say about that?

[hot-rod]

You hydrodip your students?
What do their parents have to say about that?