The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Reference for body work

I'm getting close to having the '50 all apart. I want to do all the body work myself including blasting, bondo, prep, and paint. Question is: Is there a good book out there that can guide me through the process?

Thanks,
Brian

I got a lot out of reading and re-reading Modern Techniques for Auto Restoration by Ken Wickham. You get so much conflicting and even bogus advice from bb's and from body shop supply places that it's hard to sort it all out and come up with a solid plan. This book provides one system that you can follow from beginning to end and a reference you can go back to when you forget something.

One more thing: I'm doing the same thing you are, also on a '50 half-ton. Go here for photos. . .
http://photos.yahoo.com/pknauth

Viewer Discretion Advised. URL links to graphic photos of a F**D product. Look if you dare.

any one no of the same info online?

PK . . . very nice truck and very nice work! Looks like you had a pretty rust free cab to start with. I haven't seen one that nice in a long time. Great job!

Nice pics PK. I may just reference those too. I'll be ordering that book tonight. Thanks for the tip!
-Brian

Thanks. Hope you weren't too put off by the L*****n pics.
It was a fairly rust-free and dent-free cab from Sydney, Nebraska. Only had to weld in new lower cowl panels ahead of the doors. Cab corners were good.
The color on the pickup is Cape Maroon, but I think it looks a bit cherry red in some of the photos. It really isn't. Those body-color striped wheels were not an option for a 3-window, but I'm doin' it anyway! From what I can tell, the chrome grille was an option even if you didn't get the deluxe cab. Anyone hear differently?

[ 12-12-2001: Message edited by: pknauth ]

according to my 1948 chevy truck restoration packet, chrome grille and 5-window cab were separate options from the deluxe cab option. It does however state that the body colored wheels were part of the "RPO 390 deluxe equipment". The packet didn't come with the RPO options, so I don't have a breakdown of the options or what RPO 390 came with. Everyone else has body colored rims so how will know. Since the color is Cape Maroon, the pin stripe color should be Gold. One stripe on the beltline and 3 on the rims, if using 16 inch, none for 15 inch and 2 for 17 inch. I'm sure this info would be the same for 1950 also. Call 1-800-222-1020 and order a free packet. Just give the year and vin.

I have the packet. My interpretation after reading the 1950 version is that the 5-window is part of RPO 390, along with the body color striped wheels, chrome grille and the stainless window trim. Like you say, the chrome grille could also be ordered on a 3-window as RPO 386. I did stripe the wheels gold. See photos referenced in previous post.

PK
Where did you order the book from and how much??
That is going to be a VERY PURTY truck.
Brad

Got it from Barnes and Noble. Price about $18.

Barnes and Noble

[ 12-21-2001: Message edited by: pknauth ]

Haynes has a bodywork manual out (You know those manuals in autozone? Those people make it). It doesn't assume you have a high level knowledge base in bodywork. It tends to be a lot more thorough than some I've seen. It should be available through Barnes and Noble too.

PK, why is the firewall of your cab painted, while the outer skin appears to still be in primer (referring to shots 8 & 9)?

Another good book that was recommended in (How to restore your Chevrolet pickup is
Automobile Sheet Metal Repair by Robert L.
Sargent.
Mike