The kids '84 F150

Broncow
Posts: 66
Joined: Tue Jan 05, 2016 5:07 pm
Bronco Info: '86 XLT, 351W, C6, 9"

Re: The kids '84 F150

Post by Broncow »

We're having to paint piece by piece in a makeshift paint booth in our garage.
We really screwed ourselves by choosing metallic silver in single stage. so after painting the smaller items and front fenders, it became painfully obvious that I suck at painting.
So we're just gonna power through so we can get everything mounted and just see what we got.
This picture looks better than it does in person.
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Broncow
Posts: 66
Joined: Tue Jan 05, 2016 5:07 pm
Bronco Info: '86 XLT, 351W, C6, 9"

Re: The kids '84 F150

Post by Broncow »

Sprayed the cab this morning. Getting better but still a shit paint job.
We'll look into options after everything is together.
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Tchajagos
Posts: 2124
Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2011 11:07 am
Bronco Info: 1993 xlt stock on 33' BFGs
Location: Murrieta

The kids '84 F150

Post by Tchajagos »

Cool! Much farther than I am. I like how right behind the front leaf spring hanger looks like Swiss cheese. Mine does too and I've always wondered wtf haha. Any metallic color I would go with base coat clear coat. I guess I would go with base coat clear coat on any paint job haha. I never really liked single stage because you never get it as shiny and it always fades after a little while and you have to buff it again.
Broncow
Posts: 66
Joined: Tue Jan 05, 2016 5:07 pm
Bronco Info: '86 XLT, 351W, C6, 9"

Re: The kids '84 F150

Post by Broncow »

I agree, now. But we are too far along to change now. I'm still ok with the single stage as long as it's white. Tried to keep it simple by going single and purchased the paint before really researching. If I do decide to paint the bronco, I'll probably just hire it out. Live and learn.
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Tchajagos
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Bronco Info: 1993 xlt stock on 33' BFGs
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The kids '84 F150

Post by Tchajagos »

What was wrong with the way you painted the single stage?
Broncow
Posts: 66
Joined: Tue Jan 05, 2016 5:07 pm
Bronco Info: '86 XLT, 351W, C6, 9"

Re: The kids '84 F150

Post by Broncow »

Lack of knowledge/experience. Not sure if I had the reducer amount right. I couldn't find that sweet spot with my gun. I was either too wet and had ugly paint or I was too dry, which gave a more even color but, left a less than glass finish. I'd have been ecstatic with a shiny orange peal look. So I'm gonna move forward and see what wet sanding with 1500-2000 does (in an inconspicuous spot).
Broncow
Posts: 66
Joined: Tue Jan 05, 2016 5:07 pm
Bronco Info: '86 XLT, 351W, C6, 9"

Re: The kids '84 F150

Post by Broncow »

I gotta add, having never painted like this before, everything I watched and studied up on makes total sense now. The prep we did was pretty good but we went too light with the 2k primer and block sanding. Probably should have spent more time on that. But all-in-all, I'm glad it's all painted. Been waiting to get back to the wiring and console building. Got a good size order for LMC come Tuesday morning. Door, window seals and probably a handful of other goodies. Then the joy of hanging the doors and other panels.
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Tchajagos
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Bronco Info: 1993 xlt stock on 33' BFGs
Location: Murrieta

The kids '84 F150

Post by Tchajagos »

Gotta color sand it with a block and 1500 grit. After its smooth then you use the buffer and 2 step compound to shine it up. I bet it will come out fine :)
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ChaseTruck754
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Re: The kids '84 F150

Post by ChaseTruck754 »

May be too late on the LMC stuff, but just as a head's up - they are a middle man or re-seller only is what I have learned when dealing with them for parts for the 70's trucks. They buy parts (typically seconds or blems) from other manufacturers, mark them up & then sell. If LMC has it, it can be found elsewhere for cheaper. It's just whether or not you're up to looking. Dennis Carpenter and Blue Oval Parts are 2 spots to check before LMC for 70's parts. They may be for 80's stuff as well.

Keep up the good work.
Owner of only dead and forgotten projects
Broncow
Posts: 66
Joined: Tue Jan 05, 2016 5:07 pm
Bronco Info: '86 XLT, 351W, C6, 9"

Re: The kids '84 F150

Post by Broncow »

Not too late. Thanks for the heads up.
Broncow
Posts: 66
Joined: Tue Jan 05, 2016 5:07 pm
Bronco Info: '86 XLT, 351W, C6, 9"

Re: The kids '84 F150

Post by Broncow »

Anyone know what the height measurement for the 4 body mounts under the cab are. Pretty noticeable misalignment issue between the bed and cab.
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Tchajagos
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The kids '84 F150

Post by Tchajagos »

You can buy shims to level out the difference. They look like this.

Image

The brand new energy suspension poly body bushing I bought measure 1-1/4" fronts and 2-1/2" rears. That's without hardware or load.
Broncow
Posts: 66
Joined: Tue Jan 05, 2016 5:07 pm
Bronco Info: '86 XLT, 351W, C6, 9"

Re: The kids '84 F150

Post by Broncow »

That's exactly what I got. Energy suspension kit with 2 1/2" rear mounts and the rear is about an inch too high. Plus I had to ad a huge stack of washers to the core support to bring the fenders in line with the cab. When we disassemble we noticed the gram was tweaked at the front cab mounts and the floor panels were sting on the frame. Straightened that out, leveled up the front cab mounts and expected to nee d shims there. But the rear mounts being too tall just seems weird.
Broncow
Posts: 66
Joined: Tue Jan 05, 2016 5:07 pm
Bronco Info: '86 XLT, 351W, C6, 9"

Re: The kids '84 F150

Post by Broncow »

Oops. Gram = frame, but you probably guessed that. Here's a shot of the base of the cab and bed, you can see the body lines ain't right. I have another body mount kit (drinking and online shopping don't mix) and think I'll start modifying it to make everything line up right.
Broncow
Posts: 66
Joined: Tue Jan 05, 2016 5:07 pm
Bronco Info: '86 XLT, 351W, C6, 9"

Re: The kids '84 F150

Post by Broncow »

Oh yeah...
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Tchajagos
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Bronco Info: 1993 xlt stock on 33' BFGs
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The kids '84 F150

Post by Tchajagos »

Is the cab straight aligned to the fenders/grill in this picture? I imagine the bushings will settle down after some off-roading. Or you can always run shims on the bed. That way you don't have to align the fenders all over again.
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Tchajagos
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Bronco Info: 1993 xlt stock on 33' BFGs
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The kids '84 F150

Post by Tchajagos »

The front core support had a thick washer maybe an inch thick originally. Did you put that back on with the stack of washers? I am also thinking of filling in that original bushing retainer on the front core support with silicon so it doesn't rust again. Super pain in the butt to get off after 34 years of exposure.
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Tchajagos
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Bronco Info: 1993 xlt stock on 33' BFGs
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The kids '84 F150

Post by Tchajagos »

Just had a thought. When you put on the bed spacers (replaced the original wood ones with metal) did you set it up to align with the old worn out rubber body mounts?
Broncow
Posts: 66
Joined: Tue Jan 05, 2016 5:07 pm
Bronco Info: '86 XLT, 351W, C6, 9"

Re: The kids '84 F150

Post by Broncow »

Hadn't noticed the core support spacers.
Pretty confident the bed is lined up right. I'll start looking at it a few steps further back and see how the cab and bed align with the frame and adjust from there.
Broncow
Posts: 66
Joined: Tue Jan 05, 2016 5:07 pm
Bronco Info: '86 XLT, 351W, C6, 9"

Re: The kids '84 F150

Post by Broncow »

Ran a string from front of the door to the back of the fender and you can see that the rear body mounts are an inch too tall.
Actually pretty impressed that the front of the doors aligned with the bed considering the frame tweeking that we had to do.
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