Projects 1949 Shoebox Ranchero Build

I have few words to describe how Kool that ranchy is...

 

The dirty work has begun...

 

Dust Everywhere

 

How do you deal with all that dust when not in a separated room? I'd love to do some bodywork but my shop is just one 30x60 room. Everything is in there, including cars and parts, motorcycles and parts, mechanics tools, woodworking materials/tools, general storage (think Christmas decorations, furniture, etc.). It won't be practical to drop plastic walls around what I'd be working on as you can just barley squeeze past it now.

Enquiring minds want to know.

 

It’s definitely a challenge. My shop is a 24x34 garage separate from any other building. It’s sole use is my enjoyment in building cars and various other projects. I usually try to get my bodywork done in the summer when I can do my mud work outside, but it didn’t work out this time. So I’m doing it inside my shop. (as I have before at times.) I have just planned on this next 2-3 weeks as body work and mud time. So that is all I’ll do. I wear good rubber gloves and a good pink filtered 3M dust mask. I warm my shop up right away in the morning to 65ish and then turn the furnace down while I’m sanding. I use a good shop vacuum constantly to pick up as much as I can. When I’m using an air sander I have added a good magnet to a wide vacuum attachment and place it by my working area and turn on the vacuum (use the yellow bags). Helps a lot. After each sanding segment I vacuum up the dust as much as possible and move to the next. Is there dust everywhere? Yup. Not going to get around it. So I’ll spend the time, get it done and then have a big cleanup day. Roll the car outside, warm up the garage and get out the leaf blower! Works great. Put on my mask and blow all the remaining dust out the open overhead door.
Is it a pain in the ass. Yup, but hey, I’m retired, I take a lot of breaks, and I’m having fun. It’s all in the outlook.

 

A vacuum system works good. Their are attachments for most tools used doing body work to catch most all the dust. Even for Manuel long board sanding, it really helps when doing large flat panels. The sandpaper doesn’t load up and seems to stay sharp longer. Yes it’s a nuisance with the hose attached but it helps a lot with the dust. Check the photo out

 

Hi Jim !
Your project is looking great ! I hope to see it this coming
summer.

Dave V.


Sent from my iPad using H.A.M.B.

 

We had vac systems at the college for years before I retired so I’m very familiar with them, but not in my budget for one project every five years or so. I’ll live through it. I know it’s “famous last words”, but I think this will be my last big project. Lol

 

Left door, quarter, and rocker done. Looks like a lot of filler, but real thin. Checked with my magnet and sticks over every square inch.

 

Years ago you could buy R&M green stuff in gallon cans [spot Putty] thin it and put it in a spray gun with a screw in the vent hole and put over finger over the tip and pressurize the cup then spray it on and let it sit over night and then block it out. It would fill a world of sins.Now we have high build primer.

 

Really like the way your build is going. Frank

 

I really like what you've done so far! Gonna be a cool ride.

 

RM green stuff was quite the stuff. Used it a lot in the 60s. It was like sanding concrete if it sat too long before you sanded it. Ahhhh the good old days. Haha. The premium fillers today are really nice to work with. I use Everglass to cover welds and any deep area. Then Rage Gold for my filler. Really sands nice. Times have changed for the better. At 70+ I need easier sanding.

 

Before I went into the service we were running lead, when I got out they had BONDO that stuff was like concrete you had to surface it with a 36 grit grinder. As years progressed the fillers became a lot easier to work with. I like the Rage Gold and that’s what i presently use. The new primers don’t shrink back like the old lacquer primers, the only primer that really filled was a enamel primer called preparacote. We used 100C to block out the Green Stuff and then reprised it. Lots of labor.

 

The "Jake exercise program" is in motion. Beats doing nothing on a cold day. I hope you have good music to help.

 

This to me is the pain in the ass but fun part as your starting to turn the corner on your project. Paint is not far off! Nice job!

 

Here is his exerciser stick all 36 inches of it.It’s kind of like making love to a fat lady in a phone booth

 

Looking good! I just saw another attempt at this on my local Craigslist last night and yours is SO much better!

 

The way you did the rear window looks so much better than this one. Chopping the top and using the back of the truck cab makes all the difference in the world. Although, this one is for sale for only $1500 if someone wanted to tackle it...

 

I agree the truck back window looks best. The rounded looks like something out of a Nash Rambler. The bubble window looks totally out of place with the other flat glass.

 

I think that back glass is the original from the Tudor they started with. They actually did some pretty good work on the top to back panel, but from there it gets pretty muddy. Looks like they worked with what they had.

 

Right quarter, door and rocker done. My back and chest muscles are getting a work out. Lol

 

Ya got more energy than me Jake.

 

I see you got a air file to help.

 

Yup. Air file to get it close and finesse it by hand with long board.

 

I have a long board with a vacuum assist that I hook up to my shop vac. It really helps blocking. Frank

 

To block by hand with a long board will produce the very best surface to make shiny. You Sir are doing very methodical and meticulous work that with all of your effort will show in the finish.

 

Hmmmmmmmmmmm.. I tink Jake has done this a couple times?!!!
Nice work.....
6sally6

 

Car,is looking SWEET!!... I too adhere to the leaf blower shop cleaning system...or I did until the fire...BUT I will use the system again...I have an exhaust fan in the corner under the workbench and what doesn't blow out the door the fan gets....

 

Done with the bodywork and mudding. Time to clean the place up and prep it for primer...