I ended up buying 3M's Panel Bonding epoxy part # 08116
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I ended up buying 3M's Panel Bonding epoxy part # 08116
Have you thought about filling the small square opening at each end of the bed sides? I have seen several people do it. I decided not to, but that's just me. LOL
Yes, I'm filling the bed ends.
Mark
I still had loose gaps between the bed rails' SS cladding and the fiberglass... So I added five 10-32 SS button head screws to each side. I first drilled a #21 drill bit size and tapped with a 10-32 tap. I laid out the 5 screws at 1" from each end, then at 15", 30" and 45" from each end. This really held the SS cladding securely to the fiberglass rail. I'll remove the screws for painting and then reinstall during final assembly. Prior to drilling, I c-clamped first.
Pic below
Mark
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/atta...0&d=1755433371
I've spent the last couple weeks sanding the fiberglass and SS with 80 grit sandpaper. I used a orbital sander where I could and hand sanded the rest. Knowing I'd skim coat body filler on all the panels, I wasn't worried about laser level yet, i.e., I'll do all that after the epoxy dries for a week or two. My plan is to use the epoxy as my base sealer, then body filler, followed by high build 2k primer, then sealer, base color and clear.
For the Epoxy, I simply sprayed all outside. Wasn't worried about bugs, dust or runs as that will all be fixed during body work. As you can see in the pics below, I have a cloudy day and temps in the low 80s with low humidity. I do have a small blowup paint booth I'll use for all the remaining paint. It has 3 electric fans, 1 to blow it up and hold it's shape, 2 to blow in fresh filtered air and 3 to exhaust fumes from the booth.
This is the first time I've done both body and paint, but based on the epoxy spray, I think I'll do just fine. My goal is to finish this fall before we get too cold of weather. I can do all the wet sanding and polish buffing in the garage post the clear.
Stay tuned,
Mark
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/atta...7&d=1756035637
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/atta...8&d=1756035684
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/atta...9&d=1756035727
I'm still working all the panels for final paint..... but I had to see and practice on something as I'm never done body and paint before. We're leaving on a 2 week vacation Friday, but I wanted to get something completed. So, I focused on something small.... i.e., the dash.
The first pic below shows body work finished and wet sanded in 600 grit the white sealer.
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/atta...6&d=1757620648
The next pic shows two coats of the mint green base... No runs I might add. That's a big deal for me as I had many runs in the epoxy and 2k urethane primer.
This pic outside in the shade. I'll add this pic was taken immediately after base, but flowed out some before I sprayed the clear.
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/atta...7&d=1757620731
The last three pics are after 3 heavy wet coats of clear. The first outside in the shade and the last two inside the garage under bright LED 6000k (daylight) strip lights.
Outside:
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/atta...8&d=1757620785
Inside:
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/atta...9&d=1757620826
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/atta...0&d=1757620854
Again, no runs and minor orange peel. Also a few dust specks. After drying 2 weeks while on vacation, I'll wet sand and buff/polish. I'll show the results in a few weeks.
I'm very happy with the results and I now have more confidence to the major painting to come later this fall.
The color match is perfect from my sample pics I had.... if interested, go back to page one, post #6 of this build thread... here's a quick link: https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/show...l=1#post504314
Stay tuned,
Mark
With the weather getting cold and preventing me to complete body and paint (I'll finish that in the spring), I went ahead and wet sanded and polished the dash. As you'll see below, I also built as much as I could.
Final polish:
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/atta...6&d=1763039139
The next two pics show the back of the dash with the wiring and AC / Defrost hoses connected. You might recall I upgraded my HVAC and therefore I have two Defrost hosed and 3 front facing AC vents. Tip: I precut and fitted my hoses when I had the cab on and dash in place. I also zipped tied each hose to the vent housing.
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/atta...7&d=1763039178
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/atta...8&d=1763039200
The next pic of the dash top shows the auto headlight sensor, security flashing LED and the defrost vent trim.
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/atta...9&d=1763039231
And finally the front of the dash. The 5 LED lights are the left/right turn signal indicators, High Beam, Check Engine and EBrake/park brake. The center instrument cluster also has all these indicators. Lastly, on the lower left of the dash, I added a toggle switch for the headlights high/low beam.
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/atta...0&d=1763039263
In addition to the USB port on the drivers side, I also added one for the passengers side
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/atta...3&d=1763039339
Center cluster closeup:
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/atta...2&d=1763039309
Stay tune for the spring revel. I'll also continue to do bodywork during the winter when I can get outside to prevent dust in the shop.
Mark
Dash looks amazing. I love the color.
Blitz.... Thanks
Mark