One Piece at a Time: My 1985 Diesel Suburban

[AgDieseler]

are you able to spray the hood so it's close enough to the rest of the truck?

Looks very cool btw

Thanks!

Generally, the taped off area will stay "patina indigo" while the new louvered area will be a glare-resistant satin black. No way I could blend new paint to match the nearly 20 year old base and clear coat, so strategic contrast is the plan. Also, I'm working out as many hail dents as I have access to, but can't get to all of them.

David

 

[AgDieseler]

Hidden dimples done, and the panel is tacked in...mostly.

Like any piece of punched sheet, these panels are mostly flat. Our hoods' compound curves are (fortunately) pretty mild, and so with a slight tweak of the rear outer quadrant and the right tack weld order, a mostly flat panel quickly conforms to the factory hood profile. I got the order wrong on the rear edge, and rather than let my frustration rule, I'll hit it again early tomorrow.



David

 

[AgDieseler]

...tack, tack, tack.

David

 

[4door99]

...tack, tack, tack.

David

Low humidity in east Texas tonight! Means fewer "drip" between the "tack".

 

[AgDieseler]

Low humidity in east Texas tonight! Means fewer "drip" between the "tack".

Same here. And I'm spent for the day, so it's time for a sip.

David

 

[muddysub]

Hidden dimples done, and the panel is tacked in...mostly.

Like any piece of punched sheet, these panels are mostly flat. Our hoods' compound curves are (fortunately) pretty mild, and so with a slight tweak of the rear outer quadrant and the right tack weld order, a mostly flat panel quickly conforms to the factory hood profile. I got the order wrong on the rear edge, and rather than let my frustration rule, I'll hit it again early tomorrow.

View attachment 240420

David

My hood is riding home from Moab with you. Ship it out when you're done. Haha!

Seriously though, that looks awesome man. Good job!

 

[Tweekls1]

Liking the louvers alot, I had considered doing a set of the rivet on ones like the heep guys use. Didnt want everyone making fun of me though.

 

[muddysub]

Liking the louvers alot, I had considered doing a set of the rivet on ones like the heep guys use. Didnt want everyone making fun of me though.

Nobody will make fun, I want to as well. But now that David has set the bar this high, I probably never will. Haha!

 

[AgDieseler]

My hood is riding home from Moab with you. Ship it out when you're done. Haha!

Seriously though, that looks awesome man. Good job!

Much appreciated. Hopefully it's worth the 2,387.6 tack welds.

I had considered doing a set of the rivet on ones like the heep guys use.

Unless you're super comfortable welding and finishing sheet, rivets are the way to go. These would adapt very easily, and could even take a raised flange.

Candidly, if I were restarting this, I'd flange the louvered panel, mount from the bottom and between the reinforcement (tight fit for sure), and cleco and tack. That keeps a lot of structure in place during assembly.

...or just rivet it together. That'll get it done, too.

David

 

[campfire]

Rivets have a neat look as long as they don't look jeepish.

 

[mrk5]

I'll be curious if you see any changes. After the recent radiator swap I was standing by the truck with my hands kind of draped over the side of the front fender while it was warming up to operating temperature and I was surprised at the heat I could feel radiating out of the engine compartment on my hands. Made me think there may be some benefit to a cowl hood or louvers.

 

[AgDieseler]

Rivets have a neat look as long as they don't look jeepish.

I totally see where rivets can make it look like the bro-jk. I would also feel very comfortable relying on a 30' paint job, leaf springs, and 6.2 clatter to disamuse anyone of that notion.

I'll be curious if you see any changes. After the recent radiator swap I was standing by the truck with my hands kind of draped over the side of the front fender while it was warming up to operating temperature and I was surprised at the heat I could feel radiating out of the engine compartment on my hands. Made me think there may be some benefit to a cowl hood or louvers.

I'm eager as well. I reason that my lifted truck pushes a ton of air below the truck going down the highway, and creates a high pressure area under the hood, making it difficult for the hot radiator air to escape down the trans tunnel and beyond. While the louvers may not flow a ton on their own, they should definitely rebalance the pressures and allow for the original flow path to be as effective as it was when stock.

I also reserve the right to be wrong.

Meanwhile, one side welded and blended and ready for a skim of filler.


David

 

[AgDieseler]

It's going to be a hammer and dolly happy hour tomorrow.


Everything is welded and blended. This is 20ga, so there's always a bit of distortion to work out...makes me want a TIG machine.

David

 

[muddysub]

You're my hero.

 

[AgDieseler]

You're my hero.

Your factory hood will accept these panels far better than my chi-comm one. MIG on!

David

 

[AgDieseler]

Morning, gents. Started early, and I'm taking a half-day. There's only one way to beat a panel into shape - lots of time and patience.


David

 

[mrk5]

Whew, I don't think I could do it myself. LOL

 

[noJeepshere]

One thing I learned about good paint work, is that 90% of a good paint job is metal work and prep work.

 

[beags86]

A tig isn't an end all when it come to distortion. I took Gene Winfield's class and he proved it. If your hammer and dolling a oxy fuel weld is actually the way to go. But your doing fine.

You are on to something though about high pressure. I don't know the exact science behind it. But it will help.

My cowl induction hood lowered the 454 temps 20 degrees.

 

[AgDieseler]

Full day with the hammer and dolly, and I'm decently satisfied. I can think of 10 ways I'll do this differently next time.


Shiner time.

David