Paint it black

Spent about 4.5 hours in the garage today. Got the sill plate patch welding in and then cut out another hunk of the bed floor. The middle floor brace was more solid than I expected. I cut out the outer six inches or so and fitted a patch for it. 

Then I covered it all in POR15. I'll let it dry over night and weld it in tomorrow. 

I then turned my attention to the end cap, cutting two pathed for it and getting one of them welded in place. 

Up to ~82 hours. 

What, more rust?

Since I don't have welding gas, I figured I'd cut out more metal. Why not? The bottom of the wheel well hump looked pretty rotten I was going to save that until later, but why wait? I have a cutting wheel ready and waiting. So I spent about an hour cutting out more questionable metal. 

I'm debating whether or not to use the wheel we patch I cut out of 22 gauge (I think). I have 16, but that's going to be murder to shape. I figure I can reinforce the 22 if need be. Assuming I don't burn through it when I weld it in. 

I hate meeses to pieces.

Catching up from the weekend. On Sunday I decided that I needed to focus on the rear corner a bit son that I can tie in the inner quarter at both ends. 

First thing I needed to do was finish cutting out the rotten rear sill. And what did I find? A mouse best of course. 

The good news is that I was able to cut out the rusty rear sill plate in the bed of the truck. 

The bad news is that my cut off wheel disintegrated and shot a piece straight up and it shattered the glass in the rear hatch of the truck's top. 

The good news is that I have a replacement piece of glass at Mom's.

The good news is that I have some pieces of scrap metal that will be perfect to rebuild the sill plate. 

The bad news is that I left the valve open on my bottle of welding gas last time I welded and it all leaked out. So no welding for me today. 

Good news is that I can go get a new bottle tomorrow. Okay. Maybe not but I'll go this week. 

I should have plenty to keep me busy in the mean time. 

It's just a little hole

I guess I needed a reminder why I need to wear my leather bud when welding. Especially when under the truck. Burned a hole right through my carharts, the t-shirt underneath and just singed the under shirt I had under that. Glad I wore two shirts. 

Running time 80 hrs. 

Pop pop

Yeah. I still have lots to learn when it comes to welding. Good thing I have a grinder. 

78 hrs.