Rear reflector holes plated over, filled and sanded. Note the seam between the rear valence and side is deleted for a smoother look:







Smoothed rear, showing the 3 key areas:

 

Doors in primer:





Rear fender flares:

 

Update!

The shop was open over the vacation period, though I didn't pay a visit. I did drop in after work today, and a bit more has been done. The holes in the bed rail, legacy of the screws and rivets that held the ply board in place have all been welded up, ground down, and filled.

The bed floor has been zinc primed, while the walls and the outside have had 2 coats of regular primer. The fuel filler flap which I had rolled has been fitted, and the steel welded to the bed side has been ground down, and shaped to match the new filler flap profile.

I can see the end in sight now - last Saturday made 9 weeks since the truck has been in the shop. No pictures today, as unfortunately I realised I'd left the memory card at home, when I attempted to snap some shots. Garrrnnnh!!

Tomorrow is another day.

 

I got a call this arvo whilst still at work, from the shop.

Just letting me know my truck is ready to go into the paint booth, but my presence is needed to make sure I'm happy with the finish. So I'll be there after work, to cast my ever critical, BEADY eye over the finish.

Looks like we're getting there.

 

So...she's pretty much ready for paint. There are a few areas I have pointed out that need more smoothing. The fuel filler flap is still to be flatted, as do the bonnet, fender flares and one of the doors, I can't remember which side.

The 3 trims at the front - 2 below the headlamps, and the single one below the grille need sanding, priming and then flatting. The plastic valence below the bumper, which is usually grey is going to be body coloured, so that needs preparation too.

Otherwise, we're good to go.

I was able to get some pictures. Not flattering, but you get the idea.

 

Bonnet. The finish is great, particularly the redundant screen wash jet areas:

 

Bed:





Bed interior:

 

Prepared door:



Prepared cabin:

 

The bed lid is being picked up from my place tomorrow, the van the shop is using has racking down one side, and the rear door is deadlocked, and can't be opened. Hopefully we'll be able to manoeuvre the lid in.

I guess now will be the right time to lift the cabin, and run the rear harness back along the frame - it was rolled back under the cabin when the frame was being undersealed. I'll also be fitting the new rear differential e-locker harness, and breather valve.

It's going to be a busy weekend.

 

I haven't updated recently, as I've been pretty busy with yet another Hybrid course.

I have been visiting the shop almost daily, since my truck went in on the 28th June (has it really been that long?)

I was there last on Saturday, to take a few bits from the engine bay - VIN tag, and other items from the rear upper firewall, (from the seam upwards) radiator and lock carrier, as well as both sides. This is to allow these areas to be prepared for painting.

The bed sides, I was not happy with, so they are being worked on, to get a smoother, straighter finish. It's been 10 weeks, I can afford to wait longer if it means an excellent result.

I have also transported the bed lid from my home to the shop, so they have enough to keep them busy - filling, and finishing it ready for paint.

The end is near though, at least as far as the bodywork is concerned. It'll be time to tax her, and sell my 2005 Audi A8 Quattro 4.2 V8. The Hilux is going to be a fun truck, with a 2009 Dodge Ram 2500 5.7 V8 HEMI Quad Cab, in King Ranch trim filling the gap as the family cruiser.

Trucks are where it's at.

 

Well, the main body went into paint this afternoon.

I have not seen it yet, though the bodyshop will send me some pictures later on this evening. The passenger's side fender has a couple of tiny dents on it, so that will need addressing.

The bed and lid will be painted last. I can't wait to get her back, I'll send a couple of teaser shots. They won't be high resolution though, as I would imagine the shop will be using a phone camera, or at best, a pretty basic digital camera.

 

A teaser shot. Note, this is not high resolution:

 

Another teaser's just come through...

 

 

Is that water born paint or the older solvent? Looks nice. Keep the updates coming.

 

Thanks bruh. It's solvent-based paint.

 

Just about everything over here is water born now. Solvent lays so much nicer.

 

Non-pictorial update!

I dropped into the shop this arvo, to see where we're at.

The cabin is looking great. I planned to fit the doors and hood, unfortunately the bolts are not green. I left the bolts for the passenger door hinges in the door itself, so they would be painted. But...I forgot to leave the driver's door hinge bolts in the driver's door, the same with the hood.

So the bolts are still white. Damn! They need to be painted off the door and hood, before I can fit them. Another delay there then.

On a more positive note though, the bed lid is being prep'd. The 3mm gap between the 2 steel sheets has been filled, and was being sanded down before I left. This is not your regular Bondo, or fibre glass. The filler used is a very flexible compound, so it can flex with the lid. It will be primed on both sides, with the inside receiving 2 coats of gloss black.

The bed, tailgate, fuel filler flap, fender flares and the 3 little trims under the headlamps and grille should be done hopefully, by Saturday.

Today the 20th September made it 13 weeks since my truck went into the shop. I dropped her off on the 28th June. Thank The Lord she wasn't taxed, that would have been a waste.

Roll on completion, I can't wait to smoke her round for a while, until Stage 2 commences.

 

Non-pictorial update!

On Saturday, I paid the shop a visit. All the bits and pieces were in primer, and flatted down. Unfortunately they managed to lose the body-colored metal trim under the nearside headlamp, I was pretty pi*sed off, especially when one of the guys said it would be found "if it was in the shop to begin with".

You wouldn't think such a small item would be difficult to find used, but it was - none of the eBay breakers had one. I ended up ordering a new one through work, which should be with me tomorrow.

On a more positive note, (fast forward to Monday the 29th) the fender flares have all been painted, so has the front plastic valence, and the finish is glass-like. The bed was in the paint booth, and had had its first coat of green laquer. It's all looking good, the lid and fuel filler flaps are all that remain, all things being equal, the truck will be ready for assembly by next Saturday.

What a long 14 weeks it's been so far.

 

Pictorial update!

At last, I can see light at the end of a very long, and dark tunnel.

I paid the shop a visit after work. My nearside headlamp trim was not VOR'd, so it will be in tomorrow. The largest single part, the bed, has been painted, leaving just the bonnet, headlamp and grille trims, fuel filler flap and bed lid to be done.

Tomorrow after work, I will begin re-assembly.

Pictures are being uploaded to Photobucket album.