Sitec's Truck......

With the body off I could drive the truck out, blitz the workshop and start the job of cleaning and preparing the chassis for a service and paint. I've found a few things that will need repairing (leak off lines, steering ball joint rubbers, 1 uni joint, wiring to tidy etc)...

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With a lot of crud removed and the shed clear I shifted the truck back in, removed the wheels and continued with the clean. The chassis will sit for a while now as I fix a few probs. I plan to get the body floor in and insulated.

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You are now all up to date with progress, as this is how I left the chassis this evening.

So, I'd like to say I've had an exciting weekend working on the truck, but I have to say I'd be lying! I've had the most boring soul destroying two days cleaning and sanding the chassis ready for some paint. Before I parked the truck in the workshop, I steam cleaned it at work, and thought I had it pretty clean... I was wrong! I enlisted the help of a workmate, as it all seems to happen quicker when there's two of you bouncing off each other. Saturday was the most productive, and by Sunday lunch we'd managed to get a full bucket of crud of the chassis, axles and trans. I also managed to undertake a slight suspension lift at the front by means of a 40mm spacer between the springs and the axle. The rear axle already had a 40mm spacer, and just before I started the strip down I measured the difference between the front and rear and 40mm was the difference. With the truck on stands, I lifted the spring off its position and slotted the spacer in (one side at a time!). With both sides in and tightened I could look to the clean up...

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Saturday afternoon and Sunday was spent scraping and sanding everything. The large swivel joints now look a lot better, as does the chassis. Once I have fitted a few parts that are required, I think another weekend of cleaning should have it ready for paint! Tom (GG), I could do with your patience when it comes to cleaning stuff with this job!

Mate if I was allowed out of the village of the damned, I would be there in a jiffy to help out!

Great work on the truck so far.

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Originally Posted by grey_ghost

Mate if I was allowed out of the village of the damned, I would be there in a jiffy to help out!

Great work on the truck so far.

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Yep, it looks like a bought one. Better you than me Gunga Din.

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Originally Posted by grey_ghost

Mate if I was allowed out of the village of the damned, I would be there in a jiffy to help out!

Great work on the truck so far.

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We need a new sign on all the freeways as you come into Melbourne “Welcome to the City of the Damned - you can checkout any time you like, but you can never leave”

Hi all!

Hope you all had a good Xmas (well as good as could be had if in lockdown)... Since we last spoke I had another few weeks looking at the truck and seeing little change each time I closed the workshop door. After a few evenings where I cleaned, sanded and scraped and nothing fell off, I decided it had to be clean!! Another few nights spent wiping everything down with Thinners had a chassis ready for paint.

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With the chassis painted I felt a corner had been turned. Suddenly I was dealing with a clean platform! Another few early mornings at work had the wheels steam cleaned. With a light sand and wipe down these were painted in a silver to match the front wheel trim rings. Once dry the wheels were refitted.

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With a clean rolling chassis, I needed some clean painted side skirts to bolt on! After sanding, de burring and finish welding etc I etch primed and then top coated the first half of the side skirts in Satin Black.

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While painting, the muffler face also got painted. Another evening was spent polishing the cover, and then it was refitted.

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Just a little tidier than it was!

With the side panels painted and dry, it was time to start fitting them for the final time. I am using M8 bolts and panel washers to secure the side skirts to each other. To allow everything to move (if required) I wanted to also add some thick rubber washers to each fixing point. These needed to me stamped out of the 6mm rubber sheet I'm using on and around the truck. Time to make use of some offcuts!

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Next up was to bolt some panels in place!

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Using the freshly stamped washers!

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Last heavy piece to go back on was the muffler!

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This week is more sanding, finishing and painting... With a bit of luck I can have all the side skirts, lockers, rear and front bumpers and cab arches painted and back on over the next month. I can then fit and wire all the running lights to the chassis, and send it to have the cab painted! Progress!!

easy hint mate ,

next time you want to cut rubber washers , cut them into end grain timber , half the effort , better cut

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Originally Posted by ramblingboy42

easy hint mate ,

next time you want to cut rubber washers , cut them into end grain timber , half the effort , better cut

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Such a small thing, but a good one! I made more of the rubber washers today, and punching them out required half the effort! Cheers!



More progress... I have now painted the rear bumper and water tank saddle/support frame, after a day of cleaning and prep.

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With these parts fitted, it now just leaves the front bumper, cab arches and lower rear lockers. This weeks job is to fabricate a way of securing 3 Jerry Cans in each locker. Once this is done, they'll be primed, painted and fitted.

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With all the Satin Black done, I can fit and wire all the tail lights and side marker lights, and the truck can go and have the cab painted.