Model A Roadster Pickup - Classic Bedtime Stories

No exotic tools were used in the restoration of this bed. A couple of basic body hammers, assorted dollies, and an inexpensive stud gun were all that was required.

Although our bed had very little in the way of rust through, there are places that have minor pitting, which are easily sealed and later filled. The black marks are visual marks that are placed on the metal where high spots are located. These high spots are very difficult to see on the sandblasted surface but can be felt with ease. Marking them ensures that they are not missed.

Luckily, most of the dents were located in single wall areas of the bed where a hammer and dolly could remove them. On the edge of the bedside this was simply not possible. We utilized a stud gun to pull these dents.

The lower bed flange had seen many years of abuse. Although the metal is distorted, the panel is very solid and rust free.

After about 20 minutes with a hammer, dolly, and straight edge the lower flange is straight. This is important as this flange will be in direct contact with our new wood floor.

After some hammer and dolly work, the dents are removed from the bedsides and the panel is now smooth enough for sealer and final bodywork.

Here we are removing dents from the upper bedside surface. Dents are first lifted from the lower side with the pick side of the hammer and then leveled with the flat side against the dolly. Extra time spent here will pay big dividends when you get to the body filler stage of your restoration.

It is very important that any remaining abrasive be removed with high-pressure air. Prior to application of the sealer, the entire surface is prepped with a wax and grease remover, such as PPG DX330.

A two-component, direct-to-metal (DTM) primer surfacer is applied to seal the surface and provide a solid foundation for future work. It is very important to ensure your product is designed for DTM application. Also, many epoxy products have a limited open time before they must be top-coated or re-sanded, so keep this in mind if your project may sit idle for a period of time. When in doubt, consult your paint supplier.