410Custom's builds a 2007 Ranger V8 - custom truck build - Project "Ranger Premier"

[dvdswan]

That is some AWESOME news! Congrats!

 

[DintDobbs]

@410Fortune Congratulations, in advance! Enjoy your retirement - even though we all know, "retirement" just means we get to move on to a different kind of work! At last, the work you chose, and not the work somebody else gave you.

 

[allmyEXes]

Congratulations on your retirement from that job that was a 28 plus year career in the same line of work. Also wishing you good luck with your next "full time" career.
When I Turn 67, I can start receiving Social Security however I have many more years to work after that.

 

[Josh P]

I have set March 01, 2024 as the target deadline to deliver the truck back to @EddieMoney

Blue ranger is down to the end, I have a checklist of things to complete.
Everything I have done in the last 10 years has been leading up to this moment

I didn't think you've been working on it that long.

 

[410Fortune]

No no the blue truck has been here over 4 years
What I am saying is for the last 10+ years I have had a goal. I love elevators, it is and was a great career… but it is not where my heart is. It was a means to an end. I used my elevator career to build all of this around us, this homestead and the shops, all the trucks I have built and crushed were all because eventually someday I wanted to retire from elevators and build customs… that day is here
It will not be easy to replace the paycheck and benefits but I’m gonna try!

 

[Josh P]

No no the blue truck has been here over 4 years
What I am saying is for the last 10+ years I have had a goal. I love elevators, it is and was a great career… but it is not where my heart is. It was a means to an end. I used my elevator career to build all of this around us, this homestead and the shops, all the trucks I have built and crushed were all because eventually someday I wanted to retire from elevators and build customs… that day is here
It will not be easy to replace the paycheck and benefits but I’m gonna try!

I realize the quote was slightly out of context. Congratulations on the career move.

 

[410Fortune]

Feb 01, it is 07 ranger month!

Small update here while I have a minute

The fiberglass bits have been fitted to the truck and to the new bed. The new bed has been chopped up to accept the bedsides.
The bedsides have those unsightly louvered sections. Much debate about how to handle them turned into just needing some good body work supplies and some know how. My buddy has been doing bodywork for 50
Years and my helpe/buddy ( neighbor from Colorado who also moved here) worked in body paint shop back on colorado for many years. These guys are good!

So the glass parts and bed have been shipped to our in town shop. The in town shop has been setup for this body and paint work. 1940 Quincy 120 gallon 5hp 220v compressor with plumbing, shop heater, exhaust fan and more all installed.

So let’s begin with the bedsides and the louvers

First up several trips to the Spokane area have been made getting setup with a good
Body and paint shop. We found the right guys, very knowledgeable, good products, good prices and good people.

We needed some Fiberglass resin for this and some Body filler. I have some in the shop of course… but it’s possibly 10-15 years old! So instead of trusting it I stopped and got some good stuff from the parts store. While it is good stuff, it is not good enough for these dudes. They have better stuff in mind! So I returned my goods…in favor of the high end stuff they bought. Live and learn lol

Apparently bondo gold professional is not as good as this stuff, turns out they were right! And don’t show up with resin jelly when they want resin lol. So the small cans back to the parts store

 

[410Fortune]

So anyways the louvered sections were
Cleaned and sanded around the area, then glass Matt and resin was applied and cured. Next some more Glass Matt (brown) was laid down, sanded flush, fiberglass filler (green) and then a skim coat of professional filler (gold)

Next is some spot filler and glazing putty followed by some super sick spray filler primer for any imperfections. The parts were then Prepped with bulky dog adhesion promontory put into primer and finally the blue!!

When I took delivery of the truck Eddiemoney left us with a half quart of leftover paint from his truck (the blue paint job is it very old) we used this paint to
Match up the new stuff. The paint he left me with is not only 4+ years old but it has been thinned already so we could not use it. However it was perfect to have for matching the new paint.

Next the front fenders and some of the metal parts of the new bed

While this is happening over at the in town shop the exhaust tail pipes are being fabricated and the alarm was being installed. The security system is quite complex on this truck, one of the trickiest parts of the build, details of this will not be shared. But I can tell you there is more wiring and modules in this alarm then the Apollo moon lander


Many updates coming as this truck has our full attention. For the next month until
It is done, tested and then finally delivered!!!

 

[dvdswan]

Nice work. I thought the louvres would be cool looking with some matching exhaust tips... if they were facing to the rear instead of scoops.

You know when I tried fiberglass, the one time, I go more stuff on everything else other than the piece I was working with...

 

[410Fortune]

The louveres are in front of the tires (lame) if they were to the rear behind the tires we would have explored putting the exhaust through that area and making some nice metal flanges. McNeil did not update their website with current pics. All of their bedsides now have the louvered section… personally I think it should be an option, obviously not everyone likes them

 

[410Fortune]

So we are finally putting down he paint! We ran into a snag. First off it’s 100% humidity here for like weeks now.. huge snow then warm weather we have heavy fog every day (we live near a 45 mile long lake) and it’s been raining on and off for weeks. Very humid! The ol Quincy compressor was putting too much water in the lines and when spraying the first set of primer we got some fisheyes

So upgrades for the compressor
Came sooner rather than later. The paint must be perfect on this truck!

Added some galvanized metal air lines with water traps and a slope to trap the water. Added a second dryer to the line

Repairs to the McNeil glass are done (small imperfections typical with fiberglass) the louvered sections are now gone and we are ready to primer the fenders bedsides and the bed parts…. If we could get a few days without rain that would be *****in! Someday I would Love to have a real paint booth…

Bye bye cosmetic louvered sections

If you look closely you can see small fisheye in primer section

 

[410Fortune]

Better now! This high end harbor freight stuff gets great reviews. I’m ordering another type of dryer we can add to the line to make sure no water gets through. Will not sacrifice quality! Never!!

 

[410Fortune]

Blue paint is happening! I know I said this before but we had some delays
The fiberglass needed lots of prep some hairline cracks some imperfections and of course covering up the louver sections


Here are some pics from
Fitting the drivers fender

The shop was cleaned up after a short winter it was time to remove all the shop
“Fluff” this way the blue truck is front and centered and in focus

First up there is a little fiberglass
Bump that needs to be removed for the glass to fit

Multi tool makes short work of that

The first hole to drill behind the headlight has us lining up the header panel to fender body line

Had to find all the blue
Bolts lol

Any and all surface rust is treated

Fiberglass lined up perfectly, holes marked drilled and test fitted

Fender was removed and shipped via backseat of the v8 trac to the in town shop for paint prep this is where the magic happened

 

[dvdswan]

One step closer. Can't wait to see paint applied.

 

[JoshT]

While this is happening over at the in town shop the exhaust tail pipes are being fabricated and the alarm was being installed. The security system is quite complex on this truck, one of the trickiest parts of the build, details of this will not be shared. But I can tell you there is more wiring and modules in this alarm then the Apollo moon lander

I don't know about more wires and modules, but it wouldn't surprise me. It's almost guaranteed to have more processing power. Imagine what those engineers could have done with access to today's technology.

Better now! This high end harbor freight stuff gets great reviews. I’m ordering another type of dryer we can add to the line to make sure no water gets through. Will not sacrifice quality! Never!!

The Merlin product line seems to be good stuff. I just picked up a 60 gal compressor a few months ago. $150 for the tank and with a new compressor head. Needed a new 5hp motor, switch, and some odds and ends. The motor came off the shelf from an old Sears compressor with a rusted out tank, got a switch from Tractor Supply, and had to get a new tank check valve from Amazon. The regulator and rest of the fittings came from HF.

The Merlin pressure regulator is the same unit that is in the Porter Cable packaging for less money.

No hard plumbing like that for now, but someday I'll figure out where it's going to live for good. I also want to add an aftercooler and water trap between the pump and tank to help cut down on moisture that even makes it there.

View attachment 449827

Don't know why I've never thought of using those to locate blind hole like that. Great idea, hopefully I'll remember it next time I need it.

 

[410Fortune]

Almost in paint
These fiberglass bits need a lot of prep
For paint, the mold release and gel coat are really being a pita. Also Lots Of cracks and chipping. McNeil glass may fit good but these front fenders sure are thin!

We had to reinforce a few sections
Lots and lots of prep

Finally put them in full primer/sealer just to find More issues. My guys are on it! I am not worried. It will be as good as it can possibly get. Meanwhile I’m back at the river shop finishing the rest of the build
Stay tuned! 5 day weekend coming up for us I will Make huge progress over the next 5 days

 

[dvdswan]

Them's purdy. Nice work.

 

[410Fortune]

More progress this am about to shoot the primer

 

[dvdswan]

Don't forget the gas door and hinges when you paint. Unless they're the color already... then a little matching to do.

 

[410Fortune]

Fenders are primed successfully
We are building a small paint booth area for the color and clear, basically just a stick wall with some plastic and filters color this weekend