94 Flat deck Build

[shepoutside]

Hello all. Newish here, and first build to share. I took a 94 Mazda truck for payment on a outstanding 200 buck bill. ran good, but the usual shackle was broke, and box wheel wells where rusted bad. Drove it home, parked it out back, and forgot about it for many months. Came across a flat deck on-line, and called, then went to take a look. Owner was moving from a rented place, and needed to sell fast, which means cheap . Did I mention I'm cheap..............er.............frugal Anyway, I decided to marry the two together, as I find free time. I'm a novice and am just doing this build for fun, and to have a spare truck for my biz.

So after a sandblast, I painted this green, as my landscape biz have white trucks with green decks

So painted, it was tossed outside, and then I changed my mind, and now decided to paint it black, to go on a black truck, the color of my other biz.

Time to fix the brackets on the truck, and sandblast the frame, and fix the few rust holes.

After replacing all rusted out brackets and shackels, it was then time to fix a couple rust holes, and sand down the truck for paint.

Ok, so time to paint. First, I've never painted a truck before, so everything I've done is basic, as this will be a spare work truck, not a show truck. So after taking a quick how to paint your car course, ( ok, I google how to ) it was off to paint my lil truck

Happy with my first spray, I now get ready to mount the deck

Placed deck on truck to see how it will fit. The deck was off a Nissan truck, but fit well.

SO that's it so far, now thinking of how best to mount the deck, and need to weld the stake pockets on the sides, as I now want wood rails on this deck. More to follow......................

 

[shepoutside]

A free night last week let me re-paint the deck black, then spent Sunday morning playing in the shop. Last back-ordered shackle/bushing came in so finished the rear suspension.

Then set off to mount the deck, and weld everything in place, then bolt it to the frame.

Took a break, and placed my LED lights in, ( red = stop/tail, amber is signal ) to see how it will look, and was happy

Then Fab'd a rear bumper with tubing I had laying around, and welded it to the deck frame. Ends will host the back-up lights. Tire carrier is still able to work, I hope, as well as I hope I left enough room for the hitch
THen bolted all the pocket brackets in, for the wood stake sides, and had some flat steel so welded it over top, and to the sides. Lots of places to tie down loads now.

Wife called, so time to head in the house and put up the christmas tree..............wish me luck.............more soon

 

[TheTopher]

Coming along nice, man. Welcome to TRS.

 

[MountainMike]

Looking good shep, why'd you paint the deck black?

 

[shepoutside]

Coming along nice, man. Welcome to TRS.

Thanks man !

 

[shepoutside]

Looking good shep, why'd you paint the deck black?

White Trucks, green decks is for my landscaping biz. I Also do Parking Lot Striping, which are black trucks/trailers, and decided this would make a good quoting truck, and could tow my small trailer with striping stuff. Below is what it will tow, when needed.

I also plan to try my hand at airbrushing/pin-striping, and black would be more fun to work on.

 

[shepoutside]

Well, no camera, but just wired the lights all up, Mounted the spare, found out the wiper motor isn't working, need to replace that. Mounted mud flaps, and the reverse lights. TIme short this week, as I should soon start my Ho Ho shopping.

 

[garyl]

Looks good