BlackBII's white ranger

[BlackBII]

I've been using sherwin williams fastline filler here and there on this truck, it's been working well. I have used 3M's glass reinforced filler in the past and had good results.

Do you typically use mar glass in place of regular poly resin fillers like Bondo? I haven't ever had issues with 3M's Bondo line.

 

[Shran]

I've always used Bondo, although under spray bomb paint jobs... But it has held up well.

I'm using 3M Platinum Plus on my current job. I got a gallon of it for free from my buddy and I love it so far - it is very similar to Bondo and even uses the same hardener but it's thinner overall and seems to sand easier without clogging the paper and I get less air pockets.

Are you fully welding the patch piece in? Or just spot welds?

 

[Shadowrider6661]

As I said earlier, its about your personal preference. The two fillers I told you about are worth trying, before I was disabled from a car accident, I was a heavy frame tech, my job was to cut cars in half and replace it with an undamaged clip. I don't think body shops still do what I used to do, but I always felt that Bondo, while it worked, always ended up popping up under the paint because of moisture. The stuff I used is actually a fiberglass material that is just as easy to use as Bondo, but waterproof and much stronger. Of course, everyone is partial to their own experience with their choice of filler. I just wanted to make you aware that there's a lot of different fillers available to choose from, mine just happens to be Glass fillers. Have a great day.

 

[BlackBII]

I fully welded in the patch. Took absolutely forever, having to wait so it doesn't warp. Easier than trying to pull a 12" wide dent out that smashed all three radiuses on that piece.

I don't have enough experience to be partial to any of them; I appreciate you coming in here and letting me know about those other options! I'll definitely use them on my Fiat. The body work on that car is much more crucial than on this Ranger, and with most of the body being fiberglass that stuff you mentioned will work great. Thanks!

 

[Shadowrider6661]

Yout welcome.

 

[BlackBII]

I looked everywhere and couldn't find a good bumper without the impact strip, so I ordered a new one from LMC truck and of course they only have chrome ones. I scuffed up the brand new chrome with 180 grit, shot some etch primer and then some of Eastwood's ceramic chassis black urethane. It might be a tad more semi-gloss than satin, but it should be close enough.

 

[Shadowrider6661]

I did the same thing to my bumper and impact strip and it changed the look of my truck. I think it made it look more aggressive. But then, I'm not a fan of chrome on my truck.

 

[BlackBII]

Yeah I'm not a fan of chrome either. Plus, the original STX's all had black bumpers so chrome wasn't even an option.

 

[BlackBII]

Tailgate in primer, needs to be blocked, primed, blocked again and then paint. Light covers done too

 

[Shadowrider6661]

D*mn nice job, an artist at work !

 

[BlackBII]

Don't do donuts in 4x4 if you have a locker in the front

 

[Shran]

Hey! That looks familiar! I just heard the popping sound hubs make when they explode, in my own head, when I saw that pic...

 

[Shadowrider6661]

It looks good.

 

[BlackBII]

Hey! That looks familiar! I just heard the popping sound hubs make when they explode, in my own head, when I saw that pic...

Interestingly it wasn't all that loud; I wasn't sure what the Pop! sound was at first, but then when my handling went all screwy from only one front wheel pulling I realized it was probably a hub

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Well that didn't take too long...

Did you make the covers or find lights that fit the factory ones?