The LT... Thomas' Luxury Tent

[2bits]

Thanks! Wow I like being an insiration. I think I've walked the line between vision, quality, and hiding mistakes. (Is that a line? Well lets not get into quantum physics and say it is : ) ..... Tom I think attaching to the wall will be just fine with yours but I feel your apprehension. I am olanning on using the pl premium black sealant that I've used for everything else. For this part that will see alot of vibration, I like that it stays pliable and doesnt harden like the construction glue. I was also going to slop it all over the backplate to hold it close since so far my only mounting area is at the bottom, Still contemplating that tho, I might end up with one screw at the top center just to help hold it snug, we'll see.

[Mike_La]

Thomas, below is a link on installing the fender welting.

http://www.classictruckshop.com/welting_page2.php

Not sure if you've seen this before. It illustrates how to cut the welting to make a good fit.

[2bits]

Just read the little tutorial they had there, thanks Mike! That finished product looks great! I can't wait!!!

Tom, check out the link that Mike posted it answers the question of how to keep it in place, it is very similar to what you said.

[2bits]

Hey Mike, I got the welting the other day! Thank you VERY much man! That is gonna look great!

This morning I got the angle welded to the bottom edges of the fenders. I guess I won't be doing clearcoat now unless I add a piece of trim to the bottom because of the welding bleedthrough. Maybe a wood accent, I dunno yet. It's funny, I had him put the welds aesthetically spaced just in case.

As per usual he flat refused to let me pay, that is cool. I realized that after the rods were on, they prevented me from putting the fenders on! When I am getting them installed, I am going to have to take the wheels off to slide them into position, although I haven't measured the length to see how much I can snip off, I know they are both just a bit too long so I might get lucky, but either way they'll go on.

Next is to coat the underside in roofing cement, then get them finished in "something", then time to install! ! !

[Mike_La]

Update?? Thomas.

[2bits]

Well, not much done this week, but I am dropping the fenders off to the powder coater tomorrow morning! I am thinking Gloss Black but he says he has a shiny silver I would like to see also. One company said $100 ea, one said $100 for the pair and one said $40 for the pair but they sounded too unprofessional, and the guy I settled on said $25ea and probably less once he sees them, and he sounded very knowledgeable and professional. I am HOPING the turn time on these is pretty quick and I can pick them up Sat morning and have them welded on Sat afternoon! We'll see how it goes! I would love to have them installed for Beavers bend!

I'm also going to pick up some more of that wood patterned shelf liner and put on my accent "racing stripes" on the side. Why not, I'm tired of it not looking done.

So hopefully by the end of this weekend the teardrop will look alot more finished, and cooler.

[2bits]

Picked up the fenders from the power coater this morning. When I got home, I measured the rods that stick out and trimmed them to where they needed to be, and then I was able to slip them on and I snapped some pics!

I am heading to the store to get some adhesive to attach the welting tonight so tomorrow I can get them welded on!

[GreatPumpkin]

Picked up the fenders from the power coater this morning.

WOW! Looks really good. Did you end up with the $25/each powdercoat?

Those turned out very nice. I was thinking about spraying mine, but may have to check into getting mine powder coated if I can find that good of a price.

[2bits]

Well yes and no. Because it was such a smooth surface he recommended doing a light sandblasting on them for better adhesion. I agreed that is always better so it was $25ea to powder coat and $15 ea to sandblast. It wasn't that much more so instead of $50 it was $80 total. Still a good deal in my opinion, and they look fabulous. Maaco wanted a hundred and this is a much better finish and much better quality. I did a google search for Powder coating and my city and state. I didn't decide whether to go with black or a silver, but I couldn't settle on a silver that I thought that would match enough so I opted for the black.

I need to build a bracket to extend the frame down about an inch on the back end and then grind off the tips so there is something to weld to, measure where the mounts will go on the frame and install the welting tonight. So many steps!

I'll decide once they're on if I need to sink a screw in the middle of the top or not, I have a feeling I will so it will be snug against the body.

[pete42]

They look great black looks more expensive I think even if they will need cleaning more often good job.

[DMcCam]

I really like the way they compliment your design Thomas!!! They're the icing on the cake so to speak; a very effective finish for the wheels.

Dave

[Juneaudave]

Looks great Thomas!!! I'll be interested hearing your experience with the powder coating...My painted fenders got tortured last summer.

[Ageless]

Righteous!!

[teardrop_focus]

pete42

They look great black looks more expensive I think...

DMcCam

I really like the way they compliment your design Thomas!!! They're the icing on the cake so to speak...

Juneaudave

Looks great Thomas!!!

Ageless

Righteous!!

^ What they said!

[2bits]

OK I got everything done I wanted to tonight.

Trimmed the fender welting, Thanks again Mike! ! !



Then I mounted and measured and got all the frame stuff I needed done to get them welded tomorrow, and I started spraying the 3M adhesive and I quickly found out I messed up... When I flipped it over I found all the over spray there was alot harder to get off than I expected. I didn't want to use too much of the thinner on the fenders because well it's thinner! So I finally pulled it off the fender and reminded myself that the adhesive is just there to hold it in place while it is mounted, and it doesn't need "Man Glue". I stripped it all off of the exposed part and it was still sticky enough on the "tabs" to hold it in place just fine.





This is one important thing I learned in this build when doing something new with multiple parts... Do it one at a time, don't automate it until you know what works, otherwise you'll be fixing two mistakes instead of one. So the next fender I sprayed the welt very carefully avoiding the exposed end. The nozzle on the spray was a big help, but you have to spin it to get the tighter pattern. Then I sprayed the fender and wiped off along the edge before I put them together. This one went one perfect and I had zero touchup to do! !