Project "Rocker Repair" is under way.
#171
Senior Member
That is for the inner ones. I need to do the outter ones too. I believe that price includes all of that.
#172
More work!
Today I finished grinding the welds and added the chopped/strand body filler for the small holes.
Kudos for the new Kobalt air compressor BTW. It isn't a 60-70 gallon tank with a 5 HP motor, but it seems to be doing OK for me. Especially the grinding and sanding parts.
I also sanded/feathered the body filler, and will take some more pictures before I paint. I think I am going to go with the spray-able primer, then the one stage Oxford white. (Ford code YZ) This means the base coat and the clear coat are in the same paint.
I am currently fabricating a patch for the nasty hole in the drivers side corner of the pickup bed. Again, I think this is a fairly standard place for the earlier 2000's F150's to rust through. This should be interesting.....
Kudos for the new Kobalt air compressor BTW. It isn't a 60-70 gallon tank with a 5 HP motor, but it seems to be doing OK for me. Especially the grinding and sanding parts.
I also sanded/feathered the body filler, and will take some more pictures before I paint. I think I am going to go with the spray-able primer, then the one stage Oxford white. (Ford code YZ) This means the base coat and the clear coat are in the same paint.
I am currently fabricating a patch for the nasty hole in the drivers side corner of the pickup bed. Again, I think this is a fairly standard place for the earlier 2000's F150's to rust through. This should be interesting.....
#173
I'm really wanting to do this probably next summer but I have never touched a welder. Are you guys experienced welders or is this pretty simple stuff?
I want to practice of course before attempting to weld on my truck but i think it would be a great learning experience. I know how to use a grinder/sander so that's not an issue.
I want to practice of course before attempting to weld on my truck but i think it would be a great learning experience. I know how to use a grinder/sander so that's not an issue.
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MyFX4Project (07-13-2013)
#175
IMHO, welding is NOT easy to learn, but it IS do-able!
I'm really wanting to do this probably next summer but I have never touched a welder. Are you guys experienced welders or is this pretty simple stuff?
I want to practice of course before attempting to weld on my truck but i think it would be a great learning experience. I know how to use a grinder/sander so that's not an issue.
I want to practice of course before attempting to weld on my truck but i think it would be a great learning experience. I know how to use a grinder/sander so that's not an issue.
One thing I will suggest;read ALL the stuff on the 'net, watch the youtube videos, and most importantly, be confident that you CAN do it. Not like a pro, not like a veteran, but you CAN make it work. Welding is a skill like anything else. it takes lots of practice, and it is something that doesn't happen the first time you do it.
A good, experienced welder can take that $200 HF 100 A welder and make it work. Someone like me needs a little more help. I started with the HF and I was absolutely terrible. I got the Hobart Handler and was immediately rewarded. It DOES make a difference.
Now I know I'm NEVER gonna be a great welder. But, in most instances, I can live with that. I can live with being a novice welder. But I know as I get more experience it will only pay off.
I think the one of the biggest lessons I have learned from this whole rocker panel repair thing is the right tool and good tools really do MAKE A DIFFERENCE. A good tool fits in your hand, it feels good when you use it. You know you will keep it for a long time. Take it from me: Buy, use and take care of your good tools.
#176
Junior Member
I'm glad I found this thread today, I will be starting the rockers and cab corner on my father's GMC (go figure, he should just cut the truck loose). My skills and tools probably match those of the original poster skizriz, so I've been a little worried about getting it to look good, but from what I'm seeing, I shouldn't have any problems (or less than originally thought).
#177
More body work.
I decided today that instead of replacing the whole drivers side front bed panel, I would just make a patch.
I cut the area clean, and then made backers for both sides. This gave me a nice edge so if I was bit off in the patch, I wouldn't have any gaps to try and fill.
I did buy the panel awhile ago;and I MAY replace it someday, but I needed the experience in the patching department. I used 16 gauge steel, which is probably overkill, but I wanted a bit more strength-since I did NOT have the complete reinforcement behind the rotten out part.
I think it came out OK-I ground down the welds, got it to match pretty good, just a little Fiberglas strand filler for some little imperfections. I will sand and smooth it tomorrow, and maybe even see about getting the primer coats on the rockers and all the other areas...
I cut the area clean, and then made backers for both sides. This gave me a nice edge so if I was bit off in the patch, I wouldn't have any gaps to try and fill.
I did buy the panel awhile ago;and I MAY replace it someday, but I needed the experience in the patching department. I used 16 gauge steel, which is probably overkill, but I wanted a bit more strength-since I did NOT have the complete reinforcement behind the rotten out part.
I think it came out OK-I ground down the welds, got it to match pretty good, just a little Fiberglas strand filler for some little imperfections. I will sand and smooth it tomorrow, and maybe even see about getting the primer coats on the rockers and all the other areas...
Last edited by chinaclipper; 07-14-2013 at 10:38 PM.
#178
Painting!
Finally got around to masking and painting today.
Big day..
The 20oz spray gun from HF operated GREAT. Cleaned it, scraped all the silicon gunk out, and ran about 15 oz of thinner through it to make sure she was neat and clean
.
I had it set up like this: sprayer==pressure regulator==desiccator==air fitting. Ran it at 35 psi. Tweaked a bit up against some scrap, and away she goes...
Today I painted it with 2K primer. I used like MAYBE 4 ounces TOTAL; and this was maybe 4 coats.. Wow.... It was all mixed with a 4:1:! ratio, paint, thinner, hardener.
I see where I MAY have to do a bit more body work (Everglas) to my rear drivers side bed patch;it's just not quite right.
Other than that, I was very pleased with the primer paint results. I can live with the weld lines, hehe they are preeettty much hidden anyway...
I hope the urethane topcoat goes on as easy...
I'll need to sand the primer with a 500 wet, then clean and re-mask.
Maybe Friday for the final coats?
Big day..
The 20oz spray gun from HF operated GREAT. Cleaned it, scraped all the silicon gunk out, and ran about 15 oz of thinner through it to make sure she was neat and clean
.
I had it set up like this: sprayer==pressure regulator==desiccator==air fitting. Ran it at 35 psi. Tweaked a bit up against some scrap, and away she goes...
Today I painted it with 2K primer. I used like MAYBE 4 ounces TOTAL; and this was maybe 4 coats.. Wow.... It was all mixed with a 4:1:! ratio, paint, thinner, hardener.
I see where I MAY have to do a bit more body work (Everglas) to my rear drivers side bed patch;it's just not quite right.
Other than that, I was very pleased with the primer paint results. I can live with the weld lines, hehe they are preeettty much hidden anyway...
I hope the urethane topcoat goes on as easy...
I'll need to sand the primer with a 500 wet, then clean and re-mask.
Maybe Friday for the final coats?
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2002FX4 (07-18-2013)
#179
Getting there!!!
Got a little better finish on the patch today-Tomorrow I will get some glaze putty (I like Evercoat} and see if I can get it a le-e-e-e-tle nicer...... A little 2K primer, a little sanding and then..
...then maybe topcoat?
Can it be almost all done? Oops, I forgot about THE OTHER SIDE...
Well, the boss (she who must be obeyed) said I MIGHT wanna thing about giving it a little rest before I tackle the next side....
Let's see, two weeks after 1 week in the hospital for pneumonia.....Yeah, I guess I can wait a bit before I tackle the next side.....
At least I will have a little more experience this time...
...then maybe topcoat?
Can it be almost all done? Oops, I forgot about THE OTHER SIDE...
Well, the boss (she who must be obeyed) said I MIGHT wanna thing about giving it a little rest before I tackle the next side....
Let's see, two weeks after 1 week in the hospital for pneumonia.....Yeah, I guess I can wait a bit before I tackle the next side.....
At least I will have a little more experience this time...
#180
Got the basecoat down!
I did the basecoat yesterday, and I was really happy with it. It turned out real nice, and the little repair work I did on the back panel turned out nice too.
I put the fender back on, next few days I will let the paint fully dry, then do whatever I have to do to get it ready to go.
I used a PPG 1 stage 2K Urethane. The color (White Oxford, Ford YZ) was a perfect match I thought.
I put the fender back on, next few days I will let the paint fully dry, then do whatever I have to do to get it ready to go.
I used a PPG 1 stage 2K Urethane. The color (White Oxford, Ford YZ) was a perfect match I thought.
The following users liked this post:
2002FX4 (07-21-2013)