How To: C15a Wire-3 restoration

[Bob Carriere]

With a coat of POR and the sandable Tie Coat ++++ the OD green no one will be able to tell..............

Good Job.

[Jordan Baker]

Today the other side was finished including the three inserts. These ones turned out nicer looking then my first three. I found after I had bent the partially cut piece, I was left with a large gap to try and weld. Today I scrounged up some thin metal rod and used it as a gap filler. It worked really well. It meant less welding and less grinding. I used the original top bow brackets too. Once sandblasted and painted they will look new.

I also washed out the insides of the channels with the usual POR steps and tomorrow I plan to flow in some POR to seal up the insides. Since Im done the majority of welding burn off wont be an issue.

I also went at removing the original side and front panels on the box. Using a combination of a both angle grinder and air hammer chisel I was able to get the majority off. Swarms of mosquitos convinced me to finish it off tomorrow.

Just for fun before putting everything away I also tried out one of my new panels on the box. I can't wait until I've got it all back together.

[Jordan Baker]

Spent the day getting the frame all prepped for sandblasting. I have to say, those war time welders sure did a fantastic job of welding these boxes. I've never gone through so many Zip disks and flap disks. I also put my air chisel to good use. Loaded it by hand onto my trailer and it's off to the blasters in the morning.

I also painted the inside of the side panel channels. They should be good and sealed for many many years to come.

[Jordan Baker]

Last Friday morning I dropped off the wire-3 box floor/frame and my three new sides at the sandblasters. This was at 0900. At 1230 he called to say everything was done and ready for pickup. As usual, he does a fantastic job.

So most of Saturday from 1000 to 1630hrs was spent doing the POR pre paint steps and then painting. Today I also finished POR'ing the topside of the box floor/frame.

Tomorrow I will start welding in the various bits I had to cut out with the new parts I had made.

[Jordan Baker]

Does anyone have any recommendations for helping to smooth out some of the top side floor pitting?

[Peter Duggan]

Jordan,

That's not pitting, it's patina. Great job on rebuilding the body.

Peter

[Bob Carriere]

Hi Jordan

Following your progress with much interest.

Have you tried using the POR Blue Tie Coat..... it is thick, sandable and self leveling. On a flat surface like your floor you should be able to recover a lot of the pits..... may need some light block sanding between two coats just to remove the high spots.

Remember that the worst color for showing uneven surface is "GLOSSY BLACK" paint and the best paint to hide blemishes is flat OD green.

Good luck.