Hello - been while since I've been posting. Here's one of the project I've started for the truck for this winter. I'm making a custom grill. Started with a 53 f100 grill and cut the middle out and going to drop in a middle section from a 54 chevy grill. Going to use extra teeth too once I find some. This will be painted - not chromed. I'm getting to learn a lot as I go here. Only go to goto one of Pugsy's metal shaping days - could probably use a few more! lol I'm sure some a cringing at my work but I'm having fun - hopefully it turns out ok. The headlight buckets tunred out to be quite nasty once I cut the middle section out...
I worked on the other headlight this weekend. This time I cut out one big hole and made one panel. I gotta a better shape this time - actually I was surprised how close I got it to line up - prob couldn't do it again if I had to! Starting to get a sense of what the hammers do. Was able to prevent some things I saw on the other side I didn't like. Almost ready to start shaving the center section down until it drops in.. That's going to be quite tedious.
Well my custom grill has also turned into custom hood. I sliced across the front and pulled the leading edge out to make a peak to match the grill and then extended the peak down the middle of the hood into the new section. Really scary cutting my hood apart - but after I took the body fill off and saw what was there - I felt much better - figured I couldn't do much worse than what I had...
thanks everyone. I have such a bigger appreciation for when I see photos of metal work people have done. It's certainly not easy - trust me I'm trying to angle the photos to make it look better than it really is! lol
I'm pretty much all worked out now. I just have to finish each piece now. Currently working on making my bumper one piece and it has lots of rotten areas I have to fix.
Been a while since I posted so here's what I've been working on.
I've split bumperettes to make license plate holders. I think I'm going to section the large one on the back to look more like the one on the front. I've straightened out the rear bumper (actually it's a front plymouth bumper on the rear of the truck and the rear plymouth bumper is on the front). I made a splash pan for the front and the rear. The rear was more difficult. I made a wood buck to hammer the curved lip then had to stretch the edge to get it back down flat. It's made in three pieces - had some trouble with the welding on this part. Something I struggled with for a long time was what to do for turn signals. Finally came up with something after Chris Stapley whispered a suggestion into my ear and I was rolling from there. I'm really happy with the look of the turn signals!
Long story short - my custom grill has snowballed into a whole lotta work and it's taking longer than I had planned but I don't regret it one bit! Truck is really turning into something special I think and all the pieces look like they belong there.
I will echo Pugsy... great friggen work Nick.. Boy I was thinking back a couple years and where you started from and you have climbed a mountain and you are doing first class work.. That truck looks just super.. I can't say how impressed I am with how you have honed your skills.. Thats very impresive metal work .. I am wowed.. That looks just friggen great.. I am really proud of how you have learned and done so great.. I am thinking you might be the Next Foose builder and inovator..great job.. Big thanks to Pugsy for putting on those stump beating class's and sharing his skills and equipment.. Some pretty damn fine guys here that share their skills with others.. Makes me feel awful good to know you guys..
__________________
There is no elevator to success — you have to take the stairs.
Been a while since I posted an update. I've skipped a few steps here... but here's what it looks like right now!
It's been quite the project for me.. really tried my patience. I found body work quite difficult. I wasted more body fill and primer than I care to think about. But I did enjoy it and I'm pretty happy so far with the results! I love the colour.
