The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Frame and Body Cleaning

Getting ready to tear down the 54 GMC Truck. Tried to do a search about this, search engine is no help.
Looking for ideas or suggestions in cleaning the frame to brush POR15 on it. Wire wheel seems to take a lot of time, thought about sandblasting the frame. Wanted input first before I screw something up, want to do it right the first time for first project. Going to take everything off the frame and redo parts as well. And will be in the shop at around 55 degrees unless I turn heat up to do the work. I'm in North Dakota and the winters can get brutal.

Anyone make a rotisserie for frame and body? Figured easier to work with? I have access to forklift in shop as needed.

Also on the body, just few dings and dents, floor seems to be in good shape other than surface rust. I do see light on the floor corners just above where the feet go on both sides, behind fenders. What do you guys/gals think once I clean the cab up of rust, would it be smart to brush POR15 on the floor all the way up under dash? Was told that stuff is great and figured it'll be covered by carpeting. Will paint it under the cab and firewall. Wouldn't hurt? Or waste of time and money?

Have not pulled anything yet till I hear otherwise to the best approach to do this. Wife has honey do list that comes first at home, bedroom and master bath remodel... FUN, FUN, FUN...
[img]https://flic.kr/p/2mdygZc[/img]

I had both my frame and cab sandblasted. But it looks like I had way more rust than you do. Even sandblasting doesn't reach all the nooks and crannies, but it's better than manual methods. It's also WAY easier. The only effort is opening your wallet.

I built a rotisserie from two engine stands for working on my cab, and then adapted it for doing the painting on the frame. See the pics attached.

I have no opinion on POR15, never having used it.

My vote is to send the frame to a powder coater. They will blast and coat, all you'll need to do after that is start building. I had that done on my '51 Suburban and it is still holding up great! http://www.bunchobikes.com/1952suburban3.htm

I am a fan of the POR15. Use it quite often and most paint stores/hot rod shops carry it now vs a few years ago.

I blast my chassis and then brush it on with "throw away brushes". Its some mean stuff but tough as all get out. I've had to grind some places off on frames and it is one tough cookie. After many years the frames still look great and nothing sticks to it and if it does its easy to clean and wipe off......NOTE: it is not UV resistance so anything you paint that will be in the sun you better spray some paint over it or it will fade....but still be tough as nails.

.....and I put a coat on the floor pans as well.
I love the stuff but follow directions about wearing old no good clothes and don't breathe the fumes....and if you get it on your hands it'll stay there for a few weeks. Just read the instructions.

Finally, after blasting the chassis on my panel one hot August day I sold my pressure pot/blaster and vowed to never do it again. Find someone who does the blasting and your ahead of the game. (I've never had one powder coated)

That rotisserie is awesome! I have seen engine stands at garage sales for very little money so that is really doable!

Thanks. I spent $100 total on two new identical ones with free shipping (which is a steal), and then got some steel to modify them so they were taller and I could spin the cab over completely.
I sold the cab brackets to another stovebolter after I was done with the cab. It's now an engine stand again with my 216 on it (made it lower again).

Tons of GREAT ideas. I'll be on the lookout to get stuff together for a rotisserie. I am building a sandpot sandblaster out of a SS filter housing, just need a hose. Have the compressors. I like the idea of using POR15 on the frame as there is no powder coaters nearby, and if there was, they probably charge oilfield prices. Trying to save money here to use towards parts.
Curious, is there any pros/cons to boxing in the frame if staying original, or worse case putting in a stock V8?
Need to find someone to check the original GMC 248 engine block to see if buildable, otherwise I'll use the Chevy 235 engine that's in it. Hopefully I can do some work on it thru the winter and get it ready by spring to put back together. Build a flat bed frame or just stay all wood. Old bed was all wood including the supports. Guessing farm truck. Will worry about it last.
Making a plan of tearing everything down, take the wiring harness out and make a new one, unsure if I am staying 6v or 12v and seeing what surprises hidden behind any metal.
All a learning experience for me.

Have a 39 Mercury Sedan with the back end chopped to a truck, probably was never completed. Need to look for ideas to built it. Not sure if classified as a Stovebolt car?
Original plan for that car was to chop the front end off to hang on shop wall. More I look at it, more I want to restore it to something. Rat Rod, Custom Truck, who knows, ideas are accepted...

Photo of car:
[img]https://flic.kr/p/2mkK2Ax[/img]
[img]https://flic.kr/p/2mkQ58W[/img]

While your ‘39 Merc is cool Stovebolt.com is a TRUCK site. We would be happy to discuss your car in the Greasy Spoon Forum.

Thank you, will check it out. It's a future project. Rather stay with my GMC Truck and maybe pick up a 49 Dodge 1 ton truck. Might be getting way over my head with projects, at least I'll have them for the future or grandkids projects...