Just so new to spray painting and it shows

 I've sprayed a couple of guards and things with 2k primer with good results. However, when I hit the cabin, the results were disappointing to say the least. I don't know whether it was because it was a 34c day or whether I didn't mix the paint properly or whether the regulator was not functioning properly or even whether I should have added reducer or maybe there was leftover primer in the gun from the last time. 

Bottom line is the paint went on poorly. I was getting a very small spraying jet and the compressor kept whistling at me, which I took for it being over pressurised. 

I am certain I had it set at 40 psi the last time, but reading a few online notes, discovered 40 is probably way too high. I actually dropped the pressure to 30 and the whislting warning thing almost subsided, but it didnt't stop the shoddy job. Add to the misery, the gun started leaking about half way through the job, and I was getting really frustrated by the whole experience by then. I pulled the needle out and retightened it and that seemed to take care of the leaking, but I had basically finished the first coat and it had taken me a solid couple of hours to get that far, when really it should have taken me a quarter of that time. 

I guess it's not such a huge deal as it's only the first coat of primer, and at least it covers the bare metal, saving it from rusting away. Gotta say, that right had dash is looking not too shabby from this angle. 

Jamberoo Valley Car Show 2023 some pictures for you

 Take a beautiful day, beautiful place and fill it full of beautiful vehicles and what kind of a recipe do you have? About as good as apple pie and ice cream.  Here are some picks for you.

RHD dash conversion taking shape

 Ok, so I might have gone barking mad. But, hopefully, some of that insanity is converting to pure genius. I say with tongue in cheek.

So far have been tackling the dash conversion ultra slowly. I could have farmed it off and had it done in a day. Instead, I'm taking my time and savouring the experience. At least I haven't destroyed it yet, which is the thing I most dreaded. But then, I haven't started welding it in yet. 

Managed to cut out a neat piece of plate for the corner where it had rusted. Mind you, this was my third attempt at getting it right as I kept cutting it too short and thus making a meal of it. At least I had some spare steel to work with. Haven't tacked it in yet as I ran out of time. Some magnets holding it in place. But looks good. Plan to get the whole thing welded up on the weekend and then cleaned up and primed. 

Seemed like a fairly radical decision, but the section I cut out was rusted almost right through the metal. No point leaving it like that. I guess I could have just bogged it over, but that's kinda cheating.

Doesn't look like a great fit here, but once I clamp it in place it should be good. Notice also, how well those side pieces are gonna line up!  

Gotta say, this is not looking too shabby! 

Pretty excited with the results so far, guys. RHD dash looking like a reality now. It has had an interesting life. Full of rust, whole lower section cut out. Whole back section cut out. Replaced glovebox frame. Piece of cake!  Notice, also the pillar cab corner replacement piece we made up. 

Finally this old basket case truck is beginning to take shape! 

Couple of days later...

Starting to fit together. Lightly tacking in place.

Pretty rough as guts but it's welded in there, and at least I KNOW it will fit. Trick is now I have to tidy up the welds probably with an 80 grit sander after angle grinding the tops of the weld off.  Then probably fix up a few of the gaps with more weld and go from there. 

Cab floor gets a lick of KBS Rust Seal and work continues on the RHD dash conversion

 Spent a fair bit of time yesterday on welding up the inner cab corner on the old girl, and it came up okay, despite my crappy welding skills. Amazing what evils a lick of paint can cover. Despite that, it seems pretty solid and looks not too bad. A hell of a lot better than the mess it was in, 

Here's the cab floor. Hit it pretty hard with the wire wheel until I got sick of it. I was never gonna get every scrap of rusty metal off the floor, but I gave it a good going over. Here is the floor with a couple of KBS Rust Seal coats. Should be sweet now for many years. 

Work is progressing on the dash conversion slow and steadily. Was planning on farming it out to a shop, but was quoted $800 to do the job. Guess what I did? Decided to do it myself and pocket the cash to be spent on more interesting things...

Gradually working the LHS glovebox into place. Already it's a huge improvement over the old one. For more coverage on this conversion checkout my video's here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smSV_Bw_DFY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX-YQA0S2zU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_E0jdcUWTk