My 7 is undergoing surgery….

[LBZ]

22 years young and it’s time for some body work. It’s in pretty good shape considering the winters it’s lived through.

Patch panels on the box around the wheels, new outer rockers, new cab corners, new front fenders, replacing hood and tailgate with good used.

It’s gonna be like new when it’s done!!

Attached some pics of what it looked like when I bought it and before it went in the body shop.

 

[malibu795]

Nice

 

[1FastBrick]

So when It's all done, does the Body shop do internal rust protection or will you have to take it somewhere?

 

[LBZ]

Box is off for sandblasting and spray in box liner. Patch panels are done. The guy that’s doing it just did my buddies and a 73 Camaro. He does good work.

 

[LBZ]

So when It's all done, does the Body shop do internal rust protection or will you have to take it somewhere?

He will do all rust coating inside all the panels, fenders, rockers. Frame is going to get co2 blasted to remove scale and then will also be coated.

 

[1FastBrick]

He will do all rust coating inside all the panels, fenders, rockers. Frame is going to get co2 blasted to remove scale and then will also be coated.

Nice!!! Just wanted to make sure that investment was getting protected.

 

[LBZ]

It’s a buddy of mine doing the paint and bodywork who just went out on his own after 10 years working through a large busy local autobody shop. He’s very particular and doesn’t cut corners.

So while he was out dropping my box off for sandblasting and box liner, I blew the fenders and hood off and washed the frame.

 

[LBZ]

I am struggling to find an emblem for the grill that isn’t $175 bucks shipped to me. Trying to avoid buying another gold plastic one from the dealer. Which also is 120 bucks.

 

[SoCalMike]

I am struggling to find an emblem for the grill that isn’t $175 bucks shipped to me. Trying to avoid buying another gold plastic one from the dealer. Which also is 120 bucks.

Good luck. I bought a couple billet ones years ago. The OEM ones were too expensive at the time. Now they are outrageous.

Sent from my SM-S928U using Tapatalk

 

[LBZ]

Corksoaker.

When they put the nerf steps on long before I bought the truck, they used stainless bolts for the cab mounts with no antiseize. Broke the front left bolt.

We will cut a square out of the inner rocker after we get the outer cut out to get access into end of the cab mount and then I gotta figure out how to break the welds off that nut so I can weld in a new nut.

 

[1FastBrick]

Ah, that sucks...

 

[SoCalMike]

Stainless gulls so easy. I always use some sort of anti seize when using stainless or try to avoid using it if I can.

 

[TheBac]

Welcome to Michigan truck bodies. Rust/corrosion sucks.

 

[badmatt]

Try and find if there are any products that leave a zinc phosphate behind on your weld areas as those will be the first to rust, weld through primer only goes so far. How are the outer wheel tubs looking? Get 3m's cavity wax and their wand kit and flood the rockers until they're dripping

Cant wait to see the progress and outcome!

 

[Dozerboy]

Stainless gulls so easy. I always use some sort of anti seize when using stainless or try to avoid using it if I can.

You know I never knew that or thought about it until you said that. My issues with small stainless fasteners makes so much sense now....

 

[LBZ]

Stainless gulls so easy. I always use some sort of anti seize when using stainless or try to avoid using it if I can.

I’ve worked a lot with stainless. Nickel coat on it and almost never have issues. Whoever put these in used nothing.



I got the sumbitch out and welded in a new nut. Took some heat and some percussive persuasion but I got it. He will weld a patch in over the he greasy hole we put in the body mount once he’s done the passenger rockers.

Changed out the driver side body mount rubbers with new S&B ones as the bodywork is done on that side. I’ll get the passenger done after he’s done that side.

 

[LBZ]

Body is in primer now. Has some gravel guard similar in appearance to the stuff the factory puts on the newer models added to all the leading edges on the windows and he’s doing the rockers and door sills Monday.

I replaced the brake lines from the abs controller to the wheels today. The Dorman all in one kit is really good!! Fits great.

Tossed a little rustoleum at the rear frame today before the box goes back on.

 

[TheBac]

Looks like he does excellent work. Happy for you that you were able to repair it.

 

[gmc502]

trucks coming out great,,what did you paint the frame with?

 

[LBZ]

trucks coming out great,,what did you paint the frame with?

A paint brush and gloss black rust o leum lol.

Couldn’t get the frame blasted like I wanted and didn’t want to leave it straight rust so went this route. Heavy pressure wash and wire wheel what I could. It’s a 20 footer now!