Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

Thanks Joe! Yeah, it's too damn hot now to get much done. Last week I busted ass and it was like 95 degrees, cloudy and humid. Today was brutal- 108 and dry wind. I just walked around in a circle for a while sweating and then took my passenger side door of and stripped it. It was the last piece with paint on it. I took the passenger fender off and now I'm going to probably take the front end, bed and cab back off to paint the frame. I guess she's going to be back in pieces for a while. Hopefully I'll have the frame painted and the whole truck in primer before fall. I want to drive the damn thing! I'll start posting updates now that there's some progress going on.

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

Nice look, man.......:thumbs: It looks really tough....what size rubber did you cram on there?

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

Thanks PT. The rims are 17x8 in front and 17x9 in back. The rubber is 235 55 17 up front and 255 60 17 in back. The tire size gives it just the right amount of rake to make it look mean.. and I like it.

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

Here's a couple more angles.

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

Again, truck looks awesome. :thumbs:
Your house looks familiar, Do you live near Jones and Smoke Ranch?

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

That's my garage behind the house. You wouldn't have seen this building but it's the typical style of house around here. I bought this house from a guy that restored Shelby GT350s and Boss Mustangs. The workshop in the back yard is a 4 car garage and is outfitted with shelves, work bench, vice, cabinets and a compressor that's piped in with multiple outlets. It was pretty much the clincher when my wife and I looked at the house. I don't think we were even finished unpacking before I started tearing my truck down. If I didn't have to work I would probably be back there all day every day.

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

That's cool you found that house. I still have to work, but it's in my back yard. I'm lucky I can do that.

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

Dude thats an awesome garage... and your truck is nice too.... haha

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

Looks f'n awesome :metal: Love the wheels/tires and the long rear arches!

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

Very lucky!! A four car garage set up for wrenching! Sounds like heaven to me...

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

Has anyone asked you for the wheel specs? Type/Size/BS/etc? Didn't see it in your thread. What center caps do you have in mind?

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

Thanks guys. You know where to find me on the weekends. I forgot to mention there's a fridge and a swamp cooler in there too.

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

They're Cragar 397's 17x8 in the front with a 4.5" backspace. The 17x9 in the back with a 5.5" backspace. They fit perfectly. I used the old adage of measure twice and order rims once. I'm putting off ordering center caps for a while. I don't need shiny new caps when my truck is sitting in the garage. I'm just happy it's rolling again. I rolled it out a took a few more pics today before tearing off the passenger door and the entire front end.

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

:agree:

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

Are the arches longer because it was originally a long bed? I didn't realize there was a difference.

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

Yep. About 3" I think. Makes yours even more unique than an "ordinary" SWB. I'm doing the same with my 64.

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

You've got quite a few project Frizzle. Where does the truck fall into the work schedule?

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

I work a compressed week with 4x12 one week and 3x12 the next ;) :devil:

:but: I have my kids, GF, and a 1948 built house that demand most of my free time. Fortunately, I just finished my degree so I should have some extra shop time now :)

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

I lived in one of those houses not far from you a few years ago. I lived in Portland for 3 years on the SE side and Eugene for 4 years before moving back home to Vegas. I know what you mean about the house demanding your time. And yard and wife and kids and...... I've gotten to the point now where the only time I can work on my truck is when I wake up at 5am and head out before anyone is awake.

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

5am; when you are more than a 1/4 mile from the sun... :lol:

You are making steady progress and that's all that matters. That, and enjoying it for what it is; a hobby. Hobbies shouldn't have deadlines. That's why none of mine are done :lol:

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

Exactly. I lost 6lbs today while I was out working in the garage. It was only about 111.:devil:

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

very nice look!!

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

Shrunken66stroker,
I really like how you shortened your bed. I also shortened mine but I did it in the middle of the pannel and had a fare amount of warpage along the weld. How wide of a strip did you leave along the edge on the outside? On the insides of your bed how wide of a strip did you leave? What size wire are you using on your welder? Great work!
Rob

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

I cut about a quarter inch in from the edge in front and back and then staggered the cut around the stake pocket on the bed rail. On the inside panel I cut about an inch away from the edge to give myself room to weld it up and grind it flat. The wire was .025 with a bottle of mild steel mix- 75/25

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

Are you going to remove your middle stake pockets? I took mine off so no one could tell it was originally a long bed. I found only 4 spot welds on each one. I took an air chisel with a sharp edge and popped them off after I drilled them most of the way through. I then used a piece of top rail to make the filler piece. I believe you can buy the fillers pieces on eBay.
Rob

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

so cragar soft 8s

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

Yep, those are them.

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

I haven't done it yet but I'm thinking about it.

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

Truck coming along good.:metal: Better get some primer on that thing. Winters coming fast.:lol: How about some pics from your real job? The last ones were killer.;)

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

You can still tell by the longer wheel arches. But only the trained eye will catch it...

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

The truck has been in bare metal for over a year. One of the benefits of living in the desert is the lack of humidity. There's no flash rust anywhere.

I don't have any interesting pics to share but I do have another project going on in the other side of the garage. I'm restoring my Stepdad's 61 MGA. It gets most of my garage time these days because it's a paying job.

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

That's my excuse also. Need to make money first.

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

You get paid when you work for family?:lol:Looks like you've been doing your share of sanding. I need to get back on it. My arms are getting flabby.

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

He actually requested chemical stripper on this car so that's why I'm getting paid. Hazard pay! That stuff burns and I hate it. I'm stripping the whole car down to bare metal, doing the body work and painting. That's not a job I could see doing for free. It's probably going to take the better part of 4 months mixed in with my "real" work and sneaking over to the other garage to work on my truck occasionally. Plus it's damn hot here now. It takes a significant amount of motivation just to go outside these days.

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

I thought you said you had a swamp cooler. I have one and haven't had the time to install it. :waah:

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

I do but I'm scared to introduce humidity into the garage with the truck and MGA in bare metal. I've been told that I'm being too cautious but I'm not going to take any chances. If they both flash rusted I'd be screwed. I feel like I've tempted fate just having my truck in bare metal for over a year.

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

I tried airplane stripper I bought at Autozone it did'nt do anything. What kind do you use? Stripper and max heat. Thats got to feel good.:metal:

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

Yeah I know what you mean. I wouldn't chance it. But how come you don't shoot it with etching sealer primer. You can still do your body work, and it won't rust. Plus you can be a lot more comfortable, and be more motivated to work on it..

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

Just to be clear, you removed the standard 12" and 8" correct? I ask because the proportions look great.

Re: Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.
 

I don't use etching primer because I usually spray Slick Sand after epoxy primer. The Slick Sand is not supposed to be sprayed over etch because of the acid in the etch. I just get the filler close and then epoxy the whole thing before spraying slick sand and blocking it down for a final sealer if necessary. Everyone has their own methods and that's mine.

I can handle the heat for another month then hopefully they will both be primed. By then it will be cooler and perfect temperature to spray.