Fender Trimming and Bondo 4/18/09

[Brody]

Didn't know where else to post this, but since almost all of this falls into building, here it is.

Successful day with Andy, Danny, Stephanie and Fred showing up for car work and Sean showing up for body work (his own body in this case). Sean also brought his nephew Jeremiah along to see what was going on.

Here is what we did:
Andy's:
Trimmed 1" off the back wheel wells of Andy's rig, bumped out some dents, filled some holes in the body work, tack welded the inner and outer fenders together and bondo'd the bumps and craters with a first coat of Bondo. Managed to get a coat of primer on, then Andy was off to a wedding.
Danny's:
Trimmed about 3 1/2"f fender well off the back fenders of Danny's rig, getting rid of 90% of the rust there. We then had to clip the inner fenders so that we could bend them back up to the outer panels and welded them in place. Didn't have time for Bondo, but got them mostly ground down and primed. Somewhere in here Danny managed to cut down two doors tht he brought along into half doors.
Stephanie:
Got a quick and dirty CB install and now has the CB that I got from Tye in her rig. She also brought along a gallon(!!!!!!!!) of Starbucks, which was absolutely great as the weather sucked! Thanks Pathrat from all of us!
Fred:
The shock bolt that Fred posted pictures of was in really horrible location. I tried to drill it out like he had and fried my bit on the grade 8 stud. He tried again with the air chisel with no luck. I finally grabbed the sazall and was able to cut a wedge of steel out with the problem nut and broken bolt in it. I then matched the hole, matched the piece of steel with some 1/4", welded the nu to the backside and welded the piece back in place. After all this, Fred was able to finish mounting his shock. Like I mentioned with Chris' shackles, it's the little stuff that gets you..this little POS broken bolt had been driving Fred nuts, he had tried just about everything, and it turned a simple 'replace the shocks' into an ordeal..

Here are some shots, first of Andy's rig, then Danny's. No pics of the CB install or the bolt fix. I was soaking wet and getting cold..and just be to be done at this point. Glad that I was able to help everyone out! It was a fun day..even with the weather!

[Brody]

More:

[Brody]

More yet:

[Brody]

And the final two: And thanks to everyone for pitching in on everybody else's rig stuff and with the clean up!!

[scout man]

wish I could have made it! Ended up not making it back since my friday drive to copper mountain took me 20 hours... literally. Ended up in Idaho Spings sleeping in my truck behind a carwash in 3 feet of snow. Good times! would much rather have been getting my fenders cut with you all.

[Funrover]

Ah..cutting and filling good times. I wanna see the finished product when yawl get there

[Patrolman]

Is that 1/2 door the one that I "donated"? Looking good!

[1freaky1]

Looks like some great improvements and you guys did a pretty good job on the feneder wells, that shock was in a BAD spot too!!! A super big THANK YOU to LaDawn for helping me get some relief in my neck and back!!! I will upload the pics I took later this evening. Pete as for the laptop no big hurry just when ever you got time and are bored ok, Thanks. And it was good to meet 2 of you guys, hopefully next time I will be in better shape to actually lend a hand.

[4Runninfun]

this is something i'd really like to learn. i'm always very hesitant to mess with the body. looks like you guys know what you're doing. like funrover said can't wait to see the finished product.

[1freaky1]

Here is a few pics I got today;
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/scwinddancers/P1060592.jpg
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/scwinddancers/P1060590.jpg
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j70/scwinddancers/P1060593.jpg

[Chris]

Nice stuff guys, glad you all made the progress that you did. :thunb:

[Funrover]

What size tires you gonna run on the runner now?

[DETN8R]

It was fun day Pete. Thanks for all the help. I'll try to be there for the next wrenching party.

[Pathrat]

Thanks for doing the install Brody and I am pleased you stopped bleeding. Yes, it was cold and too wet! I ripped off the ziptie on the antenna pulling into my garage. I canted the thing a little towards center. It still hits, but it holds now.

Danny- those fenders look a lot better after you 'buffed that out'. Really, looks great. Andy- sorry I didn't get to see how Bondo is sanded but IIRC, Brody said coarse then about a 60 grit, right?

Thanks for letting me stand around. Each time I see how something is done, especially the simple stuff, I have a better chance of doing it right myself the next time I encounter a rig task. Next time I want to cut something up, when my hands are not blue at the ends.

[Chris]

Wish I could have made it but did run across some pics on Mud that showed an interesting approach that seems relevant to this.

[Pathrat]

Oh, and too bad you got rid of the welding flames, I liked the look of those! :)

[Brody]

Thanks for doing the install Brody and I am pleased you stopped bleeding. Yes, it was cold and too wet! I ripped off the ziptie on the antenna pulling into my garage. I canted the thing a little towards center. It still hits, but it holds now.

Danny- those fenders look a lot better after you 'buffed that out'. Really, looks great. Andy- sorry I didn't get to see how Bondo is sanded but IIRC, Brody said coarse then about a 60 grit, right?

Thanks for letting me stand around. Each time I see how something is done, especially the simple stuff, I have a better chance of doing it right myself the next time I encounter a rig task. Next time I want to cut something up, when my hands are not blue at the ends.

LaDawn was a little disgusted at me for not following your advice and getting a couple of band aids...the Bondo dust worked pretty well as a coagulant, though...

60 grit is coarse. We went back over the Bondo with 80 and then primed it. What happens next is that you sand it again using a long block sander (I am talking body shop stuff here, not what we have on hand). Dips will still have primer in them. You fill these again with bondo and repeat as necessary until smooth. Final sand before painting is 220, 320 or so and between coats 400-600... This is a rough version of how it's done. I can put a 10' paint job on something, but not much better...FYI..looks good from beyond 10'..

I can rivet a small catch for the antenna really quickly sometime soon (warm)..no problem...

[4runner freak]

What size tires you gonna run on the runner now?

I assume you were talking to me, since Andy is already running 35"s.

I will be putting on some 42"s and swapping in a Geo Metro 3 cyl motor.
Naw, J/K. I'm going to go to some 35"s when I get my dual trannys in.

[Funrover]

Sweet! I am really looking into the dual trans idea...

[4Runner3Wheeler]

I plan to work with Scotty to install dual t-cases on my rig after this wheeling season. I honestly feel that is a smarter mod for me than lockers at this point. It's all about control.

Yeah Danny, your fenders look much nicers than all that bubbled rust keeping you from any thing larger than a 32. Let's get dialed for the 4Runner run :cool:


I assume you were talking to me, since Andy is already running 35"s.

I will be putting on some 42"s and swapping in a Geo Metro 3 cyl motor.
Naw, J/K. I'm going to go to some 35"s when I get my dual trannys in.

[4Runner3Wheeler]

Pete, thanks for answering Stephanie. I'm hoping Saturday will be halfway nice so I can finish up the body work at my house. I'm expecting my Durabak any day now. :D It's gonna look sweet. I'm only going to do the bottom 2/3rds of the vehicle in dark gray textured UV, but do plan to finish the top portion in white Durabak eventually. Baby steps, but having the rear and fenders done will allow me to install a new steel bumper, which will soon be on order. :thunb:

Thanks again for every thing Pete!


LaDawn was a little disgusted at me for not following your advice and getting a couple of band aids...the Bondo dust worked pretty well as a coagulant, though...

60 grit is coarse. We went back over the Bondo with 80 and then primed it. What happens next is that you sand it again using a long block sander (I am talking body shop stuff here, not what we have on hand). Dips will still have primer in them. You fill these again with bondo and repeat as necessary until smooth. Final sand before painting is 220, 320 or so and between coats 400-600... This is a rough version of how it's done. I can put a 10' paint job on something, but not much better...FYI..looks good from beyond 10'..

I can rivet a small catch for the antenna really quickly sometime soon (warm)..no problem...

[Chris]

Any of these newly trimmed trucks going to do Slaughterhouse on Saturday?

[4runner freak]

Any of these newly trimmed trucks going to do Slaughterhouse on Saturday?

Not me. I'm gaining 6 small bodies at my house this weekend(Starting tomorrow)

[Chris]

Not me. I'm gaining 6 small bodies at my house this weekend(Starting tomorrow)

A new Octomom!

Oops, that'd be 8 :o

[Pathrat]

Not me. I'm gaining 6 small bodies at my house this weekend(Starting tomorrow)

??? This I am interested in, if you want to share.

[4runner freak]

??? This I am interested in, if you want to share.

We are watching my brother's kids for the weekend.
The bodies range in size from 5-15 year old sizes.
And by bodies, I mean really cute food absorbing creatures. :D

[billsbar]

I was once known as the King of bondo and I don't think I've lost my touch lol

[Pathrat]

We are watching my brother's kids for the weekend.
The bodies range in size from 5-15 year old sizes.
And by bodies, I mean really cute food absorbing creatures. :D

That leave trails. :D Have fun with the kids! :)

[irprnces]

I was once known as the King of bondo and I don't think I've lost my touch lol

I remember a Bondo incident with my dad and my little brother (he is 5 years younger than I am roughly)... They took some trim panels off my brothers older 2 door Accord, then set to downin' a few brews... and by the time all was said and done, the gas tank door didn't open and the driver's side door was firmly planted in place as well... Oh good times... :lol:

[WINKY]

trying to make it into the next general lee...?

[Pathrat]

trying to make it into the next general lee...?

a stationary one

[4Runner3Wheeler]

Any of these newly trimmed trucks going to do Slaughterhouse on Saturday?

I would love to hit S. Gulch, but I'm off the trails until my rear is armored. Soon my friend.

[Chris]

Look forward to seeing your truck soon. I need some armor but not on Slaughterhouse, it's just a bit tippy here and there. I just need free time!

[1freaky1]

I remember a Bondo incident with my dad and my little brother (he is 5 years younger than I am roughly)... They took some trim panels off my brothers older 2 door Accord, then set to downin' a few brews... and by the time all was said and done, the gas tank door didn't open and the driver's side door was firmly planted in place as well... Oh good times... :lol:

That is customization by intoxication!