Beautification Project

(05/18/04) I'd been drivin the Ugly Truck around this way for about 6 weeks. People are gettin to know it: "Here comes Ugly Truck!", they'd say. I guess it's time to put on all those parts I've been ordering for the last few months...just so shock people when it looks different.

First thing I did was to start tearin off those rusty fenders. They've been drivin me nuts for months. I got all but those pesky bolts in the very front out when I decided it would help if I rearranged things a little bit. Amazing how much easier it is to work with a little more room.

I repeated the process on the other side. It ain't too pretty under there.

Here's the new Goodmark fender in place for a test fit. Quite an improvement, huh?

Then I started with some serious cleaning and scuffing, followed by a coupla coats of Zero-Rust. Ain't quite as bad as before.

Here's the driver's side. If ya look closely, you can see where I had to grind the bumper bolt off. I haven't tackled the other ones yet. We're makin a little progress. This was just a day and a half, so stay tuned.

(05/19/04) I found that the best way to remove rusty bumper bolts was to tighten them down until they snapped off. I got it down to about 90 seconds per bolt. It was a heck of a lot faster than grinding them off.

Then I started on the grill. When you get a nice new chrome grill...well, that's what you get...the chrome grill. Nothing else.

The headlight buckets are riveted to the old grill, as is the center support. Note the broken bolt stub in the upper left of the picture. That would need some attention later.

I used that handy-dandy grinder to make short work of the rivets. I'm gettin my money's worth outta the grinder, that's for sure.

Then I hit 'em with Zero-Rust and gloss black Rustoleum.

Then I bolted the whole mess together using Nylock nuts to prevent things from vibrating loose. I also forgot about the broken bolt. So I had to take things apart again a week later and deal with that.

Next page: More beautification.

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