Day 40 - 28 Chev Ute Restoration (29th August 2015)

A couple of jobs on the go today, the ongoing preparation of the chassis prior to painting in the next few days, being the main task.

I pulled some wheels and rims out of the molasses bath after a month's soaking, pressure washed and gave a wipe over with rustbuster, followed with a couple of dash panels that I am restoring for Terry (Matilda the 28 Chev).

Another load of wheels and rims were put in the molasses bath for a month or so.

Kev's Chev - Another 1928 Aussie Chev being restored - Update 25th August 2015

Day 39 - 28 Chev Ute Restoration (25th August 2015)

A couple of hours work this afternoon sees the chassis structurally finished, dead square and ready to clean up, etch prime and paint over the next few days.

Both front spring hangers were removed, de-rusted, contact areas painted and re-fitted with hi tensile nuts and bolts

Chassis appears very square, first by sight, then checked with spirit levels front and rear

Day 38 - 28 Chev Ute Restoration (24th August 2015)

Follow my gut feel, do I or don't I.

Yesterday when my welding mate was repairing a wear spot on the front 6 inches of one of the chassis side rails, he nicked one of the spring hanger rivet heads with the angle grinder, removing a sufficient amount of material to make up my mind to remove both spring hangers to check for rust.

I had thought about doing this off and on for the last few weeks, so this gave me a reason to do so.

Was it overkill?  I don't think so.

There was enough rust ticking away underneath to justify the hour or so to remove and refit the hanger, with 24 hours of rust buster in action in-between. A coat of etch primer and top coat was applied to both surfaces prior to assembly using high tensile bolts and conical lock nuts.

Day 37 - 28 Chev Ute Restoration (23rd August 2015)

Good progress today with the chassis, and starting to see light at the end of the tunnel after all the preparation, grinding, wire brushing and rust conversion over the last month or so.

Getting so close to the end of the dirty work

First up this morning, Noel, from across the road, waved his magic, and his skill being a professional welder, and within a couple of hours we had chopped out a 450mm section of the chassis bottom rail that was a bit thin from rust and welded a new piece in....... Nice!!

Out comes the bad section

That's where it was

In goes the new section

Presto....... we have solid steel again

Top picture is the new piece, bottom is the thinned section

Next job was to refit the rear spring hangers

And the front spring hangers, complete with new bushes

Next week will be spent tidying up the appearance of the chassis prior to painting.

Day 36 - 28 Chev Ute Restoration (19th August 2015)

Three down, one to go.

Fitted the rear engine cross member today, one more crappy bit gone and replaced with good clean steel.

The inside chassis rail prepped, ready for etch primer and top coat under the contact areas

All lined up, starting to bolt up

We have a fitted cross member

Next I removed the cross member second from the rear, wire brushed the area and applied some rust buster to

These are some of the removed and discarded cross members, with rust in the contact areas that vindicates my decision to replace them all.