Seriously, when are you and Chops going to quit playing around and actually get some work done...:rolleyes:

You have without a doubt learned more building this truck than anything you have ever done. Keep up the good work!

I know, SLACKERS! :lol: I can't disagree with that statement. It's been the most fun and frustrating all at the same time.

First Side Fender Repair
 

I finished the passenger side fender, well somewhat. The front points on the hood and fender need more work when the hood comes back off. The metal is puckered from the original stamping process and needs reworked. That's why the very front of the gap narrows up a bit. Now on to the driver's side.

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r...-36-21_464.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r...-34-05_324.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r...-34-38_694.jpg

Thanks for looking!

Looking good Chad! You and your dad are doing an awesome job!:thumbsup: hope all is well! Tell your dad I said hey.

Thanks Paul! Will do!

And the beat goes on!
 

I got the drivers side fender finished up last week.

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r...-11-16_896.jpg

After that, I decided to mount the new Ringbrothers billet hinges and see how she opens and closes.

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r...-35-37_754.jpg

Well guess what, yep it doesn't line up. Surprisingly, I am not shocked. The silver lines are where the hinges hit the hood. You can see the nutserts in the hood. Not even close!

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r...-11-06_892.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r...-11-20_327.jpg

After measuring a factory hood, and comparing the hinges to factory ones, it turns out that the fenders are to blame. The mounting pads for the hinges are not formed correctly. If you are using factory stamped hinges, you could probably make them work. But, when you are using a stiff precision piece like the Ringbrothers hinges it's got to be better. We spent 3 hours just bending and tweaking the mounting pads on the fenders so the hinges go up and down straight and on plane. Then after a lot of thought and staring we decided the fix was to move the nutserts in the hood. Right or wrong off we went! Out with the old.

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r...-14-05_199.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r...-13-45_100.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r...-13-56_715.jpg

I then made new plate that I welded nuts to the back side of in the new locations. Clecos hold everything in place while marking, drilling, and welding.

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r...-48-48_834.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r...-48-02_129.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r...2-08-09_80.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r...2-07-52_46.jpg

Done, hopefully this weekend we'll see if she bolts up. It was too late to continue last night. Hopefully the front clip saga is coming to an end!

Something new!
 

As a distraction from the hood saga, we got one of the new tires in for fit up. This the tire we are going to use on the rear and hopefully (fingers crossed) the front. Nitto NT05 315-35-20. I likey!

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r...-31-11_890.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r...-52-29_907.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r...-52-09_913.jpg

This is a big decision for my Dad. He really doesn't like the thin sidewall. We are going to leave it hang there for a bit and let him contemplate it. What does everyone think? There is nothing out there that will give him the sidewall and performance we want. This was a compromise. Thanks for any input you give!

Looks Awesome !!!

Looks good!

Sorry --- Gotta say it..... WAY TOO SMALL