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Takin 84 chevy truck to body shop

3K views 7 replies 4 participants last post by  Lthompson 
#1 ·
I have an 84 chevy truck that im doin some work on.. Im not takin it off the frame completely, but i am gonna replace all the bushings and such. Ive already stripped the interior, down to just the metal dash and wiring inside, and the steering wheel and column are still in. Just lookin for some tips as to what to do before i take it to a body shop.. What i had planned on doing was strip all the molding, headlights, tail lights, weatherstripping, motor trans, radiator, all the stuff mounted on the firewall, other than the brake booster, and takin it to a shop like that.. I have some minor rust that needs repaired,, the floors are good,, just need some coating in a couple spots for prevention of rust, the rockers and cab corners are kinda rusted,, i think i can just weld up one side,, but the other side will need metal. i need a new door on one side, its a little wavy. Should i strip the doors completely? internals and all? I wanted to get the engine bay and fire wall all painted silver, but i want the fender wells and radiator area and everything behind the grill in black. The truck is currently black and silver, just needs redone, and some small door dings and such takin out. its got one dent right on the back of the cab, where the bed flexed up and hit the cab when i ran off in a ditch once. Just wantin some tips as to what i should do.. and possibly what kind of price am i lookin at.. thanks
 
#3 ·
Can you Post some pictures so that we can have an idea of what you are doing/need? It would be difficult at best to give you an idea of what it would cost-we need pictures!

You may want to strip off all of the Chrome/accessories and have it media blasted-this will remove the Paint and show how much Rust you have to deal with-do you have a budget in mind for your build? Can you do any of the Body work yourself and save money? Do you have access to a Welder?
 
#5 · (Edited)
Ive decided to go ahead and take it down to the frame. And get the frame coated and such. Im try and do some body work myself. One of the cab corners needs about a 5inx5in piece of metal replaced. The other cab corner i think i can just spot weld it. I have one spot on one of the rear quarters of the bed that needs a small piece of metal put in.. I have a welder,, i just dont have a cutoff wheel yet.. Im not really on a tight budget, of course i dont wanna spend more than what i have to,, but its gonna take what its gonna take.. Ive got a camaro that im workin on too, Ive got 10 grand just in the Motor, trans, and rearend... Since these pics,, ive got the whole front clip off. (Fenders, wheel wells, radiator support),, etc. Next weekend, out comes the motor and such. What i plan on doin is tearing it down to the frame, having the frame coated, Tryin to do the metal work myself, cuz theres not much that needs done. But i dont wanna do the sandin and such.. I wanted to have it all blasted to bare metal then painted and such.. Similar to what it is already,, Silver on top,, black on bottom, all the way down,, But i wanna have the interior all redone in silver, firewall silver, inner fenders silver, wheel wells black, radiator support black,, etc.. I honestly would like to take the bed and cab in and have them painted completely,, bottoms too.. Would it be better to take them in off the frame,, or leave them on the frame and have a shop take em off.. I planned on takin the frame in completely stripped.. Is it better to strip all the suspension off too, and then take it in.. Cuz i wanna get the leave springs all painted, and front end components painted too.. Or covered with some kind of undercoating or something.. Which would be best? How heavy is the fram with nothin on it? think two guys could lift it? thanks
 
#7 ·
Stepping up from "doing some body work and a paint job" to a frame off is a HUGE jump. I mean HUGE! Is it really needed? First set your expectations and then you will know what to do. Do you want a nice driver that will last years? Do you want a nice "Friday night at the drive in car show" kinda truck? Both of these can be done without the frame off. Is the frame really rough and rusted and it really needs to be done anyway?

Just look a little deaper into what your expectations are. Because doing a frame off can be pretty overwelming.

Brian
 
#8 · (Edited)
well heres the deal.. All the cab mount bushings are shot, half the cups are all gone. same with the radiator support bushings. The frame isnt rusted.. But i dont wanna look into the engine bay,, and have a painted firewalll and fenders, and radiator support and still have a bare frame.. I may just get a good undercoating put on it. All the suspension needs new bushings. The wiring needs redone. Im gonna be putting a whole new engine, tranny and rearend in it, needs one new gas tank. One new door, minor rust repair. All new weather stripping. So far ive worked on it two weekends.. And i have the interior stripped, The doors stripped of internals (except latches). One wing window assembley needs fixed. all exterior molding stripped, all lighting stripped, the whole front clip off. Next weekend,, out comes the motor and tranny. I Figured that with the work i was already doin.. it really wouldnt take that much to take it off the frame. and have the frame done.
 
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