Melrose 4runner 1986 restomod summer beach truck
#261
#263
I always enjoy seeing one getting body work done to it. It is a rewarding experience when done. Looking great. I read you were letting the floor dry. On primer that is ok to do since you will be sanding it. When it comes to painting, I would suggest having the floor wet. When you paint you will get a fog in the shop. That is paint that basically dries and turns into dust. Wet floors help trap the dust. I prefer to have a slight draft going thru the shop to help pull the dust to one end myself. Just offering a few suggestions.
Sounds like this is a first attempt at painting. Later when you get to paint, it can be a little nerve wracking. I have painted several cars and trucks. Paint is nothing to fear once you learn how to spray it. To me the most difficult part is getting the clear coat to lay down smooth and not getting any runs in the clear coat. Dont worry if you do get some runs in your clear coat as you can wet sand the runs out.
Sounds like this is a first attempt at painting. Later when you get to paint, it can be a little nerve wracking. I have painted several cars and trucks. Paint is nothing to fear once you learn how to spray it. To me the most difficult part is getting the clear coat to lay down smooth and not getting any runs in the clear coat. Dont worry if you do get some runs in your clear coat as you can wet sand the runs out.
#264
I always enjoy seeing one getting body work done to it. It is a rewarding experience when done. Looking great. I read you were letting the floor dry. On primer that is ok to do since you will be sanding it. When it comes to painting, I would suggest having the floor wet. When you paint you will get a fog in the shop. That is paint that basically dries and turns into dust. Wet floors help trap the dust. I prefer to have a slight draft going thru the shop to help pull the dust to one end myself. Just offering a few suggestions.
Sounds like this is a first attempt at painting. Later when you get to paint, it can be a little nerve wracking. I have painted several cars and trucks. Paint is nothing to fear once you learn how to spray it. To me the most difficult part is getting the clear coat to lay down smooth and not getting any runs in the clear coat. Dont worry if you do get some runs in your clear coat as you can wet sand the runs out.
Sounds like this is a first attempt at painting. Later when you get to paint, it can be a little nerve wracking. I have painted several cars and trucks. Paint is nothing to fear once you learn how to spray it. To me the most difficult part is getting the clear coat to lay down smooth and not getting any runs in the clear coat. Dont worry if you do get some runs in your clear coat as you can wet sand the runs out.
I have been running a window fan trying to draw air in a window and push it out the garage door. I am not sure how effective it is. The prevailing wind in my neighborhood is usually against me.
So far, I have decided anyone can spray primer with a cheap gun and very little overspray. Color is a little more nerve-wracking and clear overspray is a cloud and carries halfway across my yard.
Another thing I have discovered is that if you are using a plastic drop cloth, It's easy to cover things with but when dry the paint flakes off and can get airborne and will of course, wind up on your panels. So today I'll pick up some actual masking paper from the autobody supply store(a magical place).
#265
Here's what I got done over the weekend.
Rear gate, bodywork done, primered and blocked. I needed a way to mark all the imperfections ahead of throwing the body filler so I grabbed these magnetic kid letters off the fridge.
The P and F show where the panel was dented, pulled, and some hard, gray filler was applied. The filler cracked and water got behind it leading to a rusty panel.
The rest are minor dents that I could not get to from behind without dismantling the entire door and its guts.
Rear gate, bodywork done, primered and blocked. I needed a way to mark all the imperfections ahead of throwing the body filler so I grabbed these magnetic kid letters off the fridge.
The P and F show where the panel was dented, pulled, and some hard, gray filler was applied. The filler cracked and water got behind it leading to a rusty panel.
The rest are minor dents that I could not get to from behind without dismantling the entire door and its guts.
Last edited by Melrose 4r; 06-26-2018 at 07:08 PM.
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SomedayJ (04-02-2023)
#267
Here's the driver's door. I sanded it with 220 to remove the ridges on the painted stripes and remove much of the stripes themselves. Then 120 where there were a few door dings and used glaze putty on those.
The whole door is sanded to 220 now awaiting primer(tonight!). Then it will be blocked to 320 before color.
Also spent some time with the hammer and dollys on the passenger quarter near the gas filler door. i was dreading repairing this panel since the first photo I saw of the truck. But now it turns out to be do able and we've improved it quite a bit already. I won't cut out the panel like I had thought earlier.
The whole door is sanded to 220 now awaiting primer(tonight!). Then it will be blocked to 320 before color.
Also spent some time with the hammer and dollys on the passenger quarter near the gas filler door. i was dreading repairing this panel since the first photo I saw of the truck. But now it turns out to be do able and we've improved it quite a bit already. I won't cut out the panel like I had thought earlier.
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SomedayJ (04-02-2023)
#268
Last night I got the driver's door in primer. Tonight I'll block sand it then both doors and the tailgate will be ready for color/clear.
Sorry, forgot to take a photo last night.
Sorry, forgot to take a photo last night.
#269
Here's a checklist of things to do before you pull the trigger on the paint gun. I need to post this on the wall and run down each time.
1) Put on nitrile gloves
2) take off your good glasses and put on your old glasses
3) wipe panel with wax and grease remover
4) pour paint
5) mix/add hardner/reducer to the proper proportions
6) Let the compressor get up to full pressure
7) assemble your spray gun
8) filter your paint into the gun
9) tack rag the panel
10) adjust your regulator at the gun
11) spray a test pattern on cardboard
Now you are ready to paint!
1) Put on nitrile gloves
2) take off your good glasses and put on your old glasses
3) wipe panel with wax and grease remover
4) pour paint
5) mix/add hardner/reducer to the proper proportions
6) Let the compressor get up to full pressure
7) assemble your spray gun
8) filter your paint into the gun
9) tack rag the panel
10) adjust your regulator at the gun
11) spray a test pattern on cardboard
Now you are ready to paint!
Last edited by Melrose 4r; 06-26-2018 at 08:29 AM.
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SomedayJ (05-29-2020)
#270
Forgot to add, “put on your respirator!” above.
Block sanded the driver’s door tonight. Two hours. Listened to Dave Ramsey on the radio.
what’s left?
* fit and weld in patch panel on the right quarter panel. Straighten the body line below the gas door. Filler, sanding, primer, sanding, paint, clear.
* sand driver’s quarter with 220 on DA, primer, block sand 320 by hand, then paint color/clear.
* sand A-pillars and roof. Fill minor roof dent. Spot prime, Paint color/clear.
* sand door jams and jams around tailgate and paint color/clear.
* reassemble everything.
yikes that looks like a lot of work but writing it down like this helps. The color and clear shooting probably will have to wait till the weekend when I have large enough periods of time. I’ll probably put in 2 hours each weeknight.
Block sanded the driver’s door tonight. Two hours. Listened to Dave Ramsey on the radio.
what’s left?
* fit and weld in patch panel on the right quarter panel. Straighten the body line below the gas door. Filler, sanding, primer, sanding, paint, clear.
* sand driver’s quarter with 220 on DA, primer, block sand 320 by hand, then paint color/clear.
* sand A-pillars and roof. Fill minor roof dent. Spot prime, Paint color/clear.
* sand door jams and jams around tailgate and paint color/clear.
* reassemble everything.
yikes that looks like a lot of work but writing it down like this helps. The color and clear shooting probably will have to wait till the weekend when I have large enough periods of time. I’ll probably put in 2 hours each weeknight.
#273
yeah, I think that is the lighting. The worst dent was on the opposite side, where the red “G” magnet is in post #265.
Last edited by Melrose 4r; 06-30-2018 at 06:55 PM.
#274
The last two evenings I have been working on the quarter panel near the gas door.
The iphone cord in the photo represents where there was a crease in the panel that I am trying to flatten.
The black coating is guide coat which helps reveal the contour after you sand it.
The iphone cord in the photo represents where there was a crease in the panel that I am trying to flatten.
The black coating is guide coat which helps reveal the contour after you sand it.
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SomedayJ (05-29-2020)
#276
This thin cardboard from a frozen pizza box is covering the hole I cut in the fender. I rubbed the edge with a crayon to get the shape and plan to transfer that onto the patch panel I have.
I plan to pick up a flanging tool at Harbor Freight on my way home from work. That will be used to flange the existing fender edge so the patch can be welded on top instead of butt-welded.
I plan to pick up a flanging tool at Harbor Freight on my way home from work. That will be used to flange the existing fender edge so the patch can be welded on top instead of butt-welded.
Last edited by Melrose 4r; 06-05-2020 at 07:11 PM.
#277
Awesome work!
Dave Ramsey is ok, but he misses the fundamental point that buying stuff does not make you happy, it just wastes money to provide short term novelty for a couple weeks. Once you figure that out, budgets become irrelevant.
Dave Ramsey is ok, but he misses the fundamental point that buying stuff does not make you happy, it just wastes money to provide short term novelty for a couple weeks. Once you figure that out, budgets become irrelevant.
#279
My mig welder is a lincoln with gas but I don't remember a model number. Will post a photo later.
#280
Major progress today. It was hot as blazes and it took me most of the day but I got my patch panel fitted and tacked in on the passenger quarter panel.
I decided I needed the flange tool from Harbor Freight so I wouldn't have to butt weld. This thing is awesome!
This is what it can do... make flanges or punch holes for plug welding.
I decided I needed the flange tool from Harbor Freight so I wouldn't have to butt weld. This thing is awesome!
This is what it can do... make flanges or punch holes for plug welding.