Spring projects...

[Okiespaniels]

I'm trying to get my truck ready for April 8th...and I'm stressin'!
I'm taking my stress out on these projects I've been wanting to do.

First is this cover.
http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=3&pictureid=340

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=3&pictureid=339

It needs a bit of polishing.

[Okiespaniels]

Also started my bed mounted spare holddown...its about half done.

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=3&pictureid=341

[ramthis9501]

That cover is cool, where do you get one?

[Okiespaniels]

That cover is cool, where do you get one?

Get one? I made it. The mounts were carved (literally) from bar stock and the top is cut from 3 inch wide sheet.

Wait'l ya see what the 'ol dog's gonna cut up next...:birgits_tiredcoffee

[BMRbrnSNRbrd]

Very nice! All of my spring projects have been house projects and they are so expensive I have no money for truck projects.

[Okiespaniels]

Very nice! All of my spring projects have been house projects and they are so expensive I have no money for truck projects.

I understand...If I had money I would not be cutting up scrap to build truck parts...I have too much to do in the house but we are making progress...and I bought a new bed, which ate up most of my refund, and everything else.
For instance, the spare holder started out as a 5.00 garage sale bicycle bought and scrapped last fall...

[ramthis9501]

Man thats awesome! Very nice work

[Okiespaniels]

Built a "hub adapter" for my spare holddown so I can mount my factory chromies in the bed. Yes...the round part is from an old hub bearing.

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=3&pictureid=342

[OklaHemi]

Very nice Al, the finished product will be tits






Very nice! All of my spring projects have been house projects and they are so expensive I have no money for truck projects.

Story of my life. I knew I should have either bought a much smaller house or rented until I was happy with my cars

[Okiespaniels]

After fixing the toilet and and rebuilding a shepherds hook for my tomatoes this is what I got done so far.

Welded the ears on my mounting bolt and holesawed the bed and crossmember. Of course the all thread must mean...I've got things fitted!

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=3&pictureid=343

Needs the tips brazed on and some work before BA powder coating gets it, but heres the mockup.

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=3&pictureid=344

GF suggested some cool details which I'll add later.

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=3&pictureid=345

[BMRbrnSNRbrd]

Very nice!

[Okiespaniels]

Here's my last little project... I'm attaching this to the top of my fuse box.
Needs a bit more polish but I like the look.

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=3&pictureid=346

[OklaHemi]

That's pretty damn slick Al, are you trying to polish it into a mirror?

[okcoalroler99]

looks good and gives me an idea

[Okiespaniels]

That's pretty damn slick Al, are you trying to polish it into a mirror?

Just trying to get all the tooling marks and that out of it. Thanks for the compliments.

[Okiespaniels]

Here's a bit of what the plate will look like installed..yes, I still need to use a bit of jewelers rouge on it.

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=3&pictureid=347

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=3&pictureid=348

And here's the *&^%$^*#*@^!@@)*( mess that started it all...paint peeling off tailight. Took it off and wet sanded it...got water in the lens *&^^^%%$#&@&%&@&!!!!!!
I hope it dries spot free, but my luck isn't holdiing well!

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=3&pictureid=349

[okcoalroler99]

I can smoke tail lites like no other i did the ones on my wifes car and everyone ask me where i baught them
http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m504/okcoalroler99/IMAG0304.jpg
Pic kinda sucks but they look good

[Matt]

That's night shades isn't it?

[Okiespaniels]

I can smoke tail lites like no other i did the ones on my wifes car and everyone ask me where i baught them
http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m504/okcoalroler99/IMAG0304.jpg
Pic kinda sucks but they look good

That's night shades isn't it?

Probably night shades....but whatever it is I'll pass on the offer. Thanks.

However I now realized how horrid my stock battery connectons look. Time for another project!

[okcoalroler99]

That is a can of stuff i baught at orallys for $12 caint remember what its calld

[LowRam]

if it was from o riellys its night shades, but im feeling a project coming on myself... want to do a step side bed on my ram!

[Matt]

ya i hate how the nightshades looks it's flat and not solid black imo

[ramthis9501]

I used niteshades on mine like a year and a half ago, and they still look pretty good I think

[Okiespaniels]

Well, I missed the Kicker show...but my stress level has dropped after today.

Got the tailight painted, and I haven't even buffed it yet!

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=3&pictureid=350

[0212353]

dude, that looks great

[ramthis9501]

Looks good!

[BMRbrnSNRbrd]

Too bad you missed it, but nice job on the light!

[okcoalroler99]

It is night shades....the secret is prep and do it in even layers till it looks how u want it i did mine 2 years ago and looks good and matches the paint if there wernt a gap u wouldnt even kno where they were

[Okiespaniels]

I am going to suggest... that your postings on tailight smoking belong as of now in a different thread where you can discuss pros, cons or techniques.
I am not now, nor will ever be interested in it, and if I were, I will do the project as I've already done...my way.

[Okiespaniels]

Big deal this week...I removed the bug deflector, fender guards and added KC stone guards to my off road lights.

I'm torn on the look...

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=3&pictureid=372

[BMRbrnSNRbrd]

I like the look!

[Okiespaniels]

Finished my 8' whip mount today

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=3&pictureid=408

[Okiespaniels]

Then painted my spare hold down and installed it. BTW, it's by no means finished, just "done for now" . Welds have to be ground and filled and I have something else to add :).

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=3&pictureid=409

[BMRbrnSNRbrd]

That tire hold down kicks ass.

[DoubleTakeDodge]

Looks great man. I like it!

[Okiespaniels]

Thanks guys!

[0212353]

yeah thats pretty spiffy right there.

[Okiespaniels]

I just realized...the Midwest meet is only about 30 days away.

Time to get it done!....thats kinda exagerating. I won't be able to do what I want, just a little of what I need.

EDIT: Yeah...this is kind of a lame post! But I have been working, no time for pics.

So I'll add what I did, pics later.

I pulled my side panels off my front seats, re attached the broken mount tunnels ( some of you guys know what I mean) with more JB weld. Then I fixed the strippped out mounting bracket holes with rivet nuts, and also rivet nutted the panel attaching points so I can try something that will stop or slow the breakage.
Then I wet sanded the panels so I can repaint them.

I removed my transfer case shifter handle and fixed it so it doesn't turn when I use it.

There's a ton of food crumbs and dog hair from this months vacation to be cleaned out of the truck this weeked and I'm going to shampoo the seats.

[Okiespaniels]

Well...I spent the day between errands shampooing both our trucks seats...
And took some pics.

Here's the sideplates with an extra glopping of JB Weld to try and keep things together.

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=51&pictureid=418

The brackets that those messed up lugs attach to, now with rivet nuts for machine screws...and somethig else.

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=51&pictureid=414

And now the brackets will be attached by machine screws intead of easily stripped self tappers.

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=51&pictureid=415

Lastly, clean seats and dirty water. I'm blamming the dogs, even though they can't help it.

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=51&pictureid=416

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=51&pictureid=417

[BMRbrnSNRbrd]

Wow bud, you're staying busy!

[Okiespaniels]

Removed the grille, sanded, primed, and now color coated. Overnight dry before color sanding and clearcoated.

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=51&pictureid=419

Sanded, primed and painted the grille mount.

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=51&pictureid=420

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=51&pictureid=421

Also installed rivet nuts in hood to mount the grille bracket...and some rivet nuts in the brakcet as well to hold the inserts tighter.

[ramthis9501]

Did you remove all that "chrome" off of it or did you just scuff it up and paint it?

[BMRbrnSNRbrd]

Got anything else planned before the MMM?

[Okiespaniels]

Did you remove all that "chrome" off of it or did you just scuff it up and paint it?

Oh no! I did not paint my new chrome grille. I'll buy a paintable one someday.

Dave...my finances do not not allow for much but a good cleaning and waxing before MMM. I hope to take the trans cooler brackets off next weekend and paint them.

[ramthis9501]

What did you do then?

[BMRbrnSNRbrd]

I hear ya on that buddy! I can't wait to check it out and see all the subtle touches you have done that make it stand out.

[Okiespaniels]

What did you do then?

I painted the gap between the chome grill and the hood. Years of desert dust, dirt, mud, rain and the like had been trapped there from the bug deflector and the gasketing...eroding and pitting the paint right down to the metal in a couple spots...which rusted.
I should've done a before picture. The damage was pretty obvious. But I was in a bit of a hurry because of rain threats.

[Okiespaniels]

Ok...so I put my grille back on...but I stll have to buff the paint on the hood.

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=51&pictureid=425

So I started on my inserts fist a bit of polish and sanding.

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=51&pictureid=422

Then I sliced up frog tape to mask the polished edges.

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=51&pictureid=423

Then I primed it...

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=51&pictureid=424

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=51&pictureid=426

Tomorrow I'll get started on the other side.

[BMRbrnSNRbrd]

Whats the plan?

[ramthis9501]

Oh ok got it, looks good so far

[Okiespaniels]

Whats the plan?

Oh ok got it, looks good so far

Well the original paint was buffed or worn off on the vertical bars and some of the horizontal ones, so I'm going to reshoot that part. I've repolished the fronts. I'm hoping they'll look like new when done.

Coltoin, thanks...hows your project going?

[Okiespaniels]

Fresh pics...

Hood is getting a buffed look...Not bad for Rattle can.

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=51&pictureid=427

Insert painted and tape removed.

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=51&pictureid=428

[BMRbrnSNRbrd]

Very nice outcome.

[Okiespaniels]

Thanks!...Not bad for stuplicolor :)

[Okiespaniels]

This weekends projects...

Transmission cooler brackets. Remove, round off, install rivet nuts to make installing easier, and repaint.

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=51&pictureid=430

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=51&pictureid=431

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=51&pictureid=432

[(S.M.R) 101]

All the little details ... wish I could have seen your truck at Kicker Bash.

[Okiespaniels]

Man I'm worn out...I don't know why I torture my worn old body this way.

OK so far I have...

Seat side panels painted and reinstalled

Cb antenna repainted..

Engine and engine compartment cleaned, except for air cleaner. On list for tomorrow.

Grille inserts installed and bumper gills polished.

I still have a short list of items for tomorrow. Maybe I'll shoot some pics.

[ramthis9501]

Pics are a must!

[BMRbrnSNRbrd]

Sounds great!

I was going to start cleaning mine up tonight but changed my mind since I'm driving out to Noble tomorrow night to meet up at Thunder Valley...guess I'll have a very busy Saturday morning.

[Okiespaniels]

Yeah all the heavy work is gonna be done tommorow since I took the day off. If it doesn't rain.
Mr Colton, I believe I should not post any more pics. You will have to come to MMM and see things yourself.
Actually, why are you even on here? Is your truck done? Don't disappoint me by not having it there!

[ramthis9501]

Haha I'll be there! And trust me, you all won't be disappointed ;)

[Okiespaniels]

It's been a while...

After the MMM, I decided I didn't like the look of my spare holddown. It looked crude and too simple, liked I'd welded bike handlebars to a piece of all thread. I know I did, but it needed to flow a bit more.

I had to pull it anyway to clean and work on the bed, so a couple hacksaw cuts and one with a tubing cutter later...

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=51&pictureid=441

This is the mockup...too bad I can't weld because of the burn ban!

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=51&pictureid=442

[precisioninstalls]

I love it when people take something not meant for what they need and use it. One mans trash is another treasure.

[Okiespaniels]

I love it when people take something not meant for what they need and use it. One mans trash is another treasure.

Thanks...Sadly its really more about economics though. I'd really like to have an ORU one...

[Okiespaniels]

Anyway...the Broken Arrow Elks show is this Saturday. So I'm preppin'!

Painted the the Subwoofer enclosure to match the seat side panels.

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=51&pictureid=445

Painted my driving light housings.

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=51&pictureid=444

And rewelded my spare hold down.

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=51&pictureid=443

[Okiespaniels]

Picked up a pair of NOS front mats online. Arrived in thier dusty display packaging and look awesome installed. These will be "display only!"
Will pickup the rears soon.

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=3&pictureid=454

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=3&pictureid=455

Next, new headlights!

[916Timmy]

Nice work Al!

[ramthis9501]

Very nice!

[Okiespaniels]

All I can say is...APPROVED!

http://www.oklarams.com/picture.php?albumid=3&pictureid=462

[thanhlam1793]

Looks good!

It looks good, but not really good. :welcome: