Wow! is that what you guys were working on! Very nice, and very clean. That color is really gonna pop when you start adding the trip pieces, badges bumpers, grill, mirrors, etc.....The contrasting makes it really stand out, and that's a paint job you want to stand out. Congrats!

 

I hear ya.... One of the best ways to remedy that is to take some pics at night, flash on, from 6' away or so. Also, ...it's the sun, brudda... If you put it in the shade, NO high glare going on... it'll come out more clearly. Much like Terry's did when he took those pics under the tree, remember? So......... once again, SICK! Just VERY impressed, Jason.

 

Jason that looks great! Can't wait to see it back together!

 

I just got a moment to do some catching up. After seeing Jasons runner in person, You could tell what he has actually accomplished that cant be seen in the pics. He has done some great work in removing all traces of rust and even when it was bare on the outside you could not tell where the repairs were done. I am a little envious of that ability to do that kind of repairs. Was quite impressed.

The color of his runner just isnt coming up on the thread as it really is. The color that is showing is closer to what it looked like without the clear coat on it. It is a brighter color and when you do a base coat/clear coat, the clear coat has some major changes to the color when applied.

He had the interior and top on it when I got there and on the 1st day we stripped it down to everything but the dash. The idea was to get rid of any chance that you could ever tell that it was a red runner at one time. There is very little evidence that it was ever red and when he gets it all back together, it will be practically impossible to find any red anywhere. We were going for a runner that you could buy in 1986 and in yellow and when we were finished, I could actually feel like what it would of looked like if that was an option back then at a dealership, which it wasnt. Really liked the results we got.

Here it is stripped down and in primer,


We were test fitting the pieces and noticed that it had a repair job from the past that just wasnt right from somewhere other then Jason. Most probably would never even noticed, but it did have the gap at the bottom of the tail light off and the whole area had been shifted to the right. Jason said he could fix it but would have to cut it down the center and do some metal work. This would of scared the he** of me, but seeing what had done in the past, and wanting this done to the best of our ability, the cutoff saw got put to work.


We didnt have a stud gun, but he was able to weld nails to the panel and pull it to where it should be. Was quite interesting and by doing this on other repairs like the tailgate that had some damage on it and welding up the rocker panel trim holes and some other things that I cant recall right off, this runner has very little body filler in it at all. The rocker panel trim would of been a rust magnet and we both agreed that any metal trim will cause rust again later on and is a reason I remove any metal trim when I can on my projects.

Here it is all stitched up. There is a 45 degree angle that had to be built back into with fiberglass to get it looking like the passenger side. I have only worked with fiberglass one other time and he was able to get the angle right and at the correct distance that it should be. Another learning experince I enjoyed and was probably the most filler that we used anywhere and is actually very little in this area as well.


Here is Jason painting the top. When clear is added on top of base paint it brightens alot. We did get 2 coats of clear on the top and Jason will need to add to more coats to the top of the cap as we were starting to deal with humidity and water dropping off of the ceiling just above the cap. Everything else got painted and cleared as it should.


I did get a run on the passenger door window frame and on the cowl when doing the clear coat, Other then that I didnt see any other paint flaws. Did have a few small filler flaws and those are hard to find and would be missed by most. Jason mentioned that he bumped the door with his shirt and I bumped the hood at somepoint during the clear coat. Guess we just arent allowed to have a 100% perfect the first time. Once he goes over it with some wet 2000 grit sandpaper and polish, all of that will disappear.

This truck is in my top two best finishes and when we held the trim pieces up against it, it really POPPED. Wish I would of had time to helped get it put back together and am anxiously awaiting to see it as well when he gets it done. It is going to be sharp.

Here it completed and drying. When we opened the doors inbetween stages, the fumes made it looked like the shop was on fire when escaping the shop. To bad the pics didnt turn out.


Jason, it was great working with you and knowing we didnt take any short cuts and did it right was really rewarding. Also knowing that this truck will be on the road for along time and that the work put into it will not be wasted and that since it has been in the family for a very long time and has alot of meaning to your family makes it that much greater.

I know you got 6 years into it and probably wondered if it would ever get across the finish line, its THERE!!! New motor/drivetrain,interior,exterior. It is just the details that are left and what you add to the list that just keeps growing. Dont let the grass grow under it and dont do the front row parking

 

awesome work both of ya im envious i think the picture of jason painting the top is some awesome yellow

 

HEY, JASON, ..... WATCH OUT..... THE "UNIBOMBER ESCAPED AND IS PAINTING YOUR TOPPER WHILE YOU'RE AWAY! " hahahaha. JK.... GREAT WORK, man!

Thanks for the explanation, Terry... Looks a LIL different with the 'painting the shell pic'... and I'm sure once he gets a bunch of finished pics from different angles and lighting.... It'll be easier to tell EXACTLY what color it is. Must be the cameras.

 

thanks it has been a long term project a lot longer than I had planed.

thanks cyber, yours is gonna look sharp when you get it done to.

thank you, Im really trying not to get in a hurry putting the trim etc back on for as excited as I am to see it I really want to freshen that stuff up so it looks like a complete package when its done.

christopher got some really good pics with his phone, I will try and get a few before I head back to work.

thanks nervo, Im hoping to get a good start on it the next time Im home.

LOL, I would have loved to have done more of the actual painting but it just seem to go faster with terry doing it and at 2 a.m. I just wanted it done lol.

 

I want to give a big thanks to everybody that helped me get to this point, my son christopher has been there every step of the way, chef mark you have contributed parts advice and more importantly insperation thank you for not letting me give up on it a long time ago and terry, what do I say man you gave up 5 days drove almost 1200 miles round trip just to help get this thing done my freind that is awsome. I would like to think I would have got it done some day but I know with out your help there is know way I would have got it done this soon, all the parts you have donated, advce you have given. I cant thank you enough, I hope some day to repay you in some way. and a big big thank to those that follow my thread and give positive and constructive coments it meens a lot when you have looked at the sanme project in the same condition as long as I have this one.

I will be looking for a lot of advice from all you guys as this thing comes together but I have to say it will be nice to work on some simpler and some what smaller projects.

 

Spent some time yesterday and today going back thru your thread. Nearly 3 years ago by Missouri math,hehe, that you started your thread and to see the changes that gradually took place until now, it just doesnt seem like it is the same truck. You brought it along ways. Great job!!!

 

Brings back memories of when my grey 87 runner became the Blue Bomber! Lots of hard work put in with me and my dad!

The yellow paint looks great! Nice work man!

 

[QUOTE=Terrys87;51990262]Spent some time yesterday and today going back thru your thread. Nearly 3 years ago by Missouri math,hehe, that you started your thread and to see the changes that gradually took place until now, it just doesnt seem like it is the same truck. You brought it along ways. Great job!!![/QUOTE

Hey terry, I worked on this for a long time before I found yotatech but as you have pointed out many times this thread is a great way to look back and remember. It still hasn't sunk in that when I get home that I don't have to do any body work, no more welding on body panels, no more nose fulls of bondo dust, or hunting fenders. This thing has came a long long way most people would have parted it or just plain junked it but I'm really glad I stuck with it. Looking forward to the fun stuff that will bring. It to a close.

 

Hey moze glad I could bring back some memory's for ya lol, l was beginning to wonder if it would ever get this far but alas here it is. I'm really happy with the yellow, I will try and get some better pics that show more the true color soon.

 

Simply put? >>> MY HONOR, Jason! ..... REALLY, you're an honorable guy and a GREAT friend... I would and will do anything I can. INSPIRATION IS THE LEAST I can give to the world, Right? Wish I could hands on help ya... BUT, the Big Man has a way of sliding people our way when we REALLY need it but really least expect it, at times, right?

 

So true man I wish I could give a lot of of you guys hands on help, maybe someday.

 

Well I got home yesterday but did have time to get out and do anything with the top and today was to cold to paint so I will have to wait for warmer weather. I did get out today and started cleaning painting and installing a lot of the trim, I really happy with how its coming together. Ok on to the pics.




The

lights


little darker than I had planed but you can still see the really well, I still need to get the side molding for the front fenders but I think whats on so far looks good. I need a driver side mirror the one I have will work untill I can find a better one. Im still trying to figure out what I want to do for bumpers not sure if I want to just build somthing or hunt up some factory ones I will get that sorted out soon. Its getting closer. Im trying to load pics from my tablet and photobucket is not cooperating sorry for just getting links up I will fix asap.

 

Just got a big smile on my face seeing some trim on it. I just remember where we were on it this time last week and what a difference between then and now. That black is really looking good on it.

Looks like you got the shop straightened back up after getting it painted. Some how when I paint, I have my shop clean but it is always a disaster when I get done painting. Just dont understand that.

Getting all of the pieces detailed and put back on takes time, but it all makes a big difference. You will get there, it keeps looking better. Great job.

 

LOOKING SICK, MAN!

HEYYYY, that's so cool to see that Rocker Panel on there, man! Are those the ones I sent? BTW... I see you have Badges on the side there... are those the ones I sent too? or did you find the others?

Wow, man, I'm SO EXCITED FOR YA!!! You guys did a FANTASTIC job!

 

PS> I can tell this yellow changes colors in your camera under ANY glaring sunlight. (cloudy/bright) Am I right? Because in that first pic, I look at the core support under the grill ... it looks like a brighter yellow(a yellow with more RED, right? Is that how it works?)... Anyway, ... even the driver side in that pic seems a different shade... and yet in the other pics, I when soaking in glare, I can see it's all the same. What a trip that a camera plays, eh? lol. Ok, look, ..if you leave for here, now, ... shouldn't be but 3 days, right? COOL, see ya then hahahaha

 

I was thinking about that myself yesterday, Im really happy with how its looking. My shop is still a mess but every part I put back on the runner is one less I have laying around the shop. Maybe both will be finished up soon lol.

 

Yes sir the rock gaurds and badges are the ones that came from you, I got our $$$ for those by the way I will get that drop in the mail today.


Well the color does change alot in different light, however the paint on the core support is different paint and its not clear coated, I painted that a long time ago nd for some reason we didnt repaint it but it does blend with the rest. The paint under the hood is not a spot on match either but its dang close. You have an amazing eye for that stuff.