The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Sometimes things almost even out

Some may recall my misadventure of expensive 41-46 rear fenders that were shipped in weak cardboard boxes and promptly flattened by Greyhound, and in the end I lost out on long time saved money and gained some fenders that I can't use. The effort and cost to patch, straighten, weld, fill and repair is overwhelming and not cost effective. I walk by those fenders laying in the corner and feel a sting every time I see them not knowing what to do ...other than to hide and forget about them. I learned some lessons - and accepted that it really came down to me - I made a poor and hasty decision. Maybe I will hang one on the proverbial wall of shame as a reminder to temper my enthusiasm and be more careful.

Fast forward to October - and luck would have it that I stumbled on a nice set of 46 steel rear fenders a couple hours south of me stuffed in a barn loft with a complete but dissembled bed, including the running boards in straight and excellent shape, running board filler panels, front bed panel and tailgate, and crossmembers; all for less than what I paid for the other fenders. Everything is straight with slight surface rust and original paint. The rear crossmember is the only piece that requires work. He took the fenders to a shop and they restored them, smoothed out the metal, and sprayed with epoxy primer. They are perfectly smooth with no rust at all. The fella removed the bed to turn his truck into a flatbed years ago - and finally after all of these years decided to part with these pieces after-all.

Perhaps, things do balance out - well, almost. I can now move forward with the bed portion of the 46 truck and feel like I am making progress rather than taking a step back. Perhaps some of the sting from my earlier adventure will now go away. Typical of most things in life and how this restoration hobby goes; when you least expect something - it shows it's face. When you look hard and want or need something - it's never there. And sometimes, when its least expected a better door may open and a step back may, in the end, be short lived after-all. I'll never figure it out.

Tom

Some progress is better than no progress.

Its hard to believe that I started this project over 9 years ago by slowly acquiring the parts and pieces to hang on a frame and bare cab. - that is what I started with. My Toyota truck loaded with the front fenders and a hood, an empty and bare cab and frame, and an over tired 228. I am doing this one piece at a time - with perhaps several parts acquisitions a year if that...and acquiring the tools to restore and build, and with a lot of questions, and answers from this site by studying everything I can find.

You wrote...…….

"Perhaps, things do balance out - well, almost. I can now move forward with the bed portion of the 46 truck and feel like I am making progress rather than taking a step back. Perhaps some of the sting from my earlier adventure will now go away. Typical of most things in life and how this restoration hobby goes; when you least expect something - it shows it's face. When you look hard and want or need something - it's never there. And sometimes, when its least expected a better door may open and a step back may in the end be short lived after-all. I'll never figure it out."

Good philosophy about finding a mate. You can look hard all you want but will probably never find the right one. Stop looking and when you least expect it she walks right in front of you. Funny how that works.

Very much true.

Tom, glad you found the bed pieces you needed.

Thank you. The seller and I had a lot in common. I told him he could get much more for the fenders alone and his answer was perfect..”.I would rather see someone put these to good use than make money off of you...”. “I know how much it costs to work on these...”. He then took me to his barn and showed me a 1945 Chevy truck that he restored...and it was beautifully done. Retired for 15 years and did everything himself.

This is a great series of experiences, and good life philosophy's. You all are right! And the part about a mate is very correct. Only problem there is my Kathryn is not a gear head but then again I don't like spinning and weaving. When my head is looking down in and engine bay I'm happy. Doc.

....my daddy use to say "what you lose in cotton, you make up in corn".

Good story. Thanks for sharing.