1968
 

I live on the west coast of Florida. I am building a 1968 chev swb steepside. I call her patches. I have already rebuilt the 350 4 bolt. I replaced a old tired in-line 6 banger. I had to go with over size pistons and bored .030 over. I will be using my stock th400 transmission 3 speed. with stock iron heads and a 4 barrel intake. Rear end will also be stock. The frame I will be using a 1967 frame without the helpers springs. I thought they looked out of place. My 68 frame was shot and I bought this 67 for $50.00 what a deal. The cab is a 1969 my 68 had too much cancer around the winshield. So I used all the parts I could and parted in good terms with the 68 cab. By now it being used to make new ones. I replaced the front sup. with sup from a 1972 with 5 lugs and a disk brake system. Also replaced the rear end with the 1972 rear end with a 5 lug system. replaced the last cross member for the brake line in front of the gas tank and behind the gas tank.

Re: 1968
 

Here are more pictures of damage and painted items:waah:

Re: 1968
 

Here are more pictures of my build and damages that I have to fix. also the picture of the six cly. I pulled out of the truck.

Re: 1968
 

Here is some pictures I took of the full seat I am using. I still have to sand blast the frame still to come

Re: 1968
 

Here is a picture of the rear end.

Re: 1968
 

Also here is the dash I am pulling out. My donor cab had a good one. So Now I wll be cutting out the foot well or kick panel out mine is all rusty and will not hold the vent doors.

Re: 1968
 

some more pictures of the dash and other damage. also here is the frame i got it up to where I can work on it. It was built out of 6x6x10 pt and 2x4x4 mounted to frame and two long bolts 5/8x12 in long and it really works. The only thing is that it is in my way to finished my wood project. So I guess I will blast as soon as we get some good weather raining here in Florida

Re: 1968
 

I am thinking about replacing my door windows with a one piece glass, has anyone done this. just thinking

Re: 1968
 

It looks like a good start, I too have a 1968 Stepside, My frame was also junk but I decided to go ahead and fix it.
Oh man those bright Orange parts are going to pop if someone gets under the truck to look.
I take it you are going to paint the body Hugger Orange? great choice!
I will be watching this one.

Re: 1968
 

Hey guy u were almost right Burnt orange metlic and black metlic on bottom
changed my mind it will be kubota orange. Like the farm equipment orange. I really like the color. Solid orange. Wheels and frame on vent windows and grill are going to be orange The inter fenders are black now but they will also be orange. Going to have a crowl induction hood.
Front and rear bumpers are going to be painted orange. No chrome no where.
Even the rear view mirrows are going to be painted orange.

1968 swb steep
 

Well today I sand blasted the cross member and primed and painted it gloss black. I tried to lift the cross member by myself and hurt my back. I can't get it in my head that I am not as young as I used to be. (62) :waah: anyway I hope to sand blast the frame this next week.

Re: 1968
 

Im only 39 myself but I have had my share of Injuries and no matter what age you are it isnt fun.
The crossmember looks good, whats your estimated time to completion on the truck?

Re: 1968
 

Today, I did nothing. I rursed a bad back today.

Re: 1968
 

well, Today I sand blasted some more spare parts. Glove box, pitman arm and backing plates for rear brakes. My parts came in for my rear end and I will be putting it together tomorrow.

1968 swb steep side
 

here are a few parts I cleaned up today. I still have to sand blast them. They were coated with grease and asfault about 1 inch of asfault. It took all day to clean them just so I could get them ready for the sand blaster. The grill is a basket case. It will go to the salvage to make new fords.

Re: 1968 swb steep
 

and still more pictures of parts I cleaned. the same day

Re: 1968
 

Pls post pics of welding in your dash! I am about to do the same thing and would like to see it done before I attack it!!! Thanks and great progress!
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Re: 1968
 

Looks like a good start! Whats your final plans for the truck?

Re: 1968
 

It is easy taking it out. I thought it would be hard. Drill the welds and weld the new one in the old welds and bolt the dash back in. I will post pictures as soon as I do it. I got to fix the kick panels first and the vent doors.

Re: 1968
 

Thanks brotha... I got my d-lux dash from someone who just cut it out... Not by the welds so I think mine is gonna be not so easy....
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Re: 1968
 

Glad I found this project before you got it done. Your really going to town on this. Looks Great!
Watching this one.

Re: 1968
 

Great start! what sand blaster are you using? looks like it does a good job. Trying to find a decent one myself.

Re: 1968
 

did they at least leave the welds for ou to see. If so drill out the welds and yopu will be back on tract.

Re: 1968
 

thanks

Re: 1968
 

the sand blaster is a 10 gallon and after I fixed it. When they built it one of the valve's were stopped up with a piece of metal. they did not finish drilling it all the way thru.sorry about the bright light shinning thru the door.My air compresser 11.50 CFM at 90. The hand held blaster did all the small parts.


Gdavis frm Florida

Re: 1968
 

Today was a good day. I primed and painted the rest of the parts to the front end. My shocks and springs are going to be gloss Sun yellow, the linkage will be Chevrolet Orange and the upper and lower arms will be gloss Black alone with the steering gear box and the frame. Starting Monday I will start with the frame. I have to scrape and wire wheel and presure wash so I can sand blast the frame. My sand blaster doesn't like built up grease and asfault from the last 40 something years. Also a picture of my boys and friend.

Re: 1968
 

more

Re: 1968
 

Nice job!!!!!!

Re: 1968
 

Going to paint it burnt orange metlic on top and black metlic on bottom. 350 4 bolt engine and stock transmission 2 speed for now. brakes are drum for now and disk later. I want to get the hard stuff done first. and drive it around and see what i need or want to do next.

Re: 1968
 

Thanks for the info, I had a larger pot blaster that my compressor could not keep up with and now just have a crappy siphon feed hand held that sucks. The speed blaster seems to have a lot of great reviews I may have to get one of those. I am running a 33 gallon craftsman compressor so I cant really expect to run a large pot blaster and I only need to blast small parts anyway. Your project is coming along very nice, keep up the great work!
:metal:

Re: 1968
 

Today, I just cleaned up the shop. Aranged some more parts. I will be cleaning them up tomorrow.


ash tray, bottom and top hinges,motor mount brackets, door latches,ETC.

hope to have them all sanded and primed tomorrow

als here are a few pic that I took yesterday and my helpers. I think they just want to do something.

Re: 1968
 

Today I wired whelied about half of my frame. My sand blaster would not cut thru the built up grease and road tar or asfault. Tomorrow I will do the inside of the frame. It takes a different wire wheel that the out side. Another trip to my hardware store called Home depot. Here is my Home made rotisserie I built for my truck frame.
First, I got 2 6x6x10' presure treated post. Drilled one 1 inch hole in each post. Mounted a 2x4x4' on each end of my frame. Drilled 1 inch holes to match the post and two pieces of 3/4 pvc 6' long that I drove into the post. Then I got two bolts 12" long by 5/8 and two nuts and the frame turns free. It can rotate 360 without any trouble. Now I can do all my work standing or sitting in a chair. No crawing under and over the frame. It took me abl out 2 hr and the rest is History.

Re: 1968
 

thanks for the support. I work hard on all the parts. nothing but time.

Re: 1968
 

thanks

Re: 1968
 

That right there is THINKING ahead!
I like it.

Re: 1968
 

How do you like that speed blaster? I am thinking about getting one for small jobs so I dont have to crack out the big dog!

Re: 1968
 

Today, I did a ton of work on my truck. I sand blasend primed the truck frame and trailoring arms. I see now why I put it off for so long. It was back breaking job. But someone had to do it.

Re: 1968
 

one m picture of the trailoring arms.

Re: 1968
 

It works great, But it will only blast fine sand. Medium sand clogs it up.