I have only been on the stovebolt for a month or two but I have already learned tons from the site and the other stovebolters. I have just finished searching the archives and I still have some questions that I hope someone can answer. I'll put a picture if I can after the questions to let you see what I am talking about.
First of all, I have asked about frame cleaning before and I have recently cleaned part of the frame with a wire wheel attachment on an angle grinder. It took hours just to get this far and I think I will take it to be sandblasted because I don't think I can reach all the crevices and I don't really have the time to clean it all up meticulously. Would it be stupid to take all the rivets out and disassemble the frame, clean it, then later reassemble it with gr. 8 hardware?
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I think I will also have the cab sandblasted too and then have a body shop install the new patch panels (floor pan, inner to outer cowl panel, inner and outer rear cab corners). By the way does anybody know if these panels are the correct gauge as the original, or are they thin and cheap?
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I also asked about the bed panels and here is a picture of the only rusted area of the bed. Does it look like it could be fixed by a body shop pretty easily with a new stake pocket. It is about the same on the other side.
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Also, I am going to the 3.55 gears and I need to know what parts I have to save from the old pinion. I just took it off the driveshaft today.
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Does anybody know how much wear is allowed on the brake drums and what is the measurement? If it is still within tolerances, can I wirebrush the drum and reuse it or does it take more than that to recondition them?
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What is typically done to the transmission in a restoration. I don't want to take it all apart because I would probably get in over my head and I don't have all the special tools. Is it necessary to replace the bearings or could I probably get by with a gasket and seal change, which I could probably do myself?
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