Project truck dream 65"
 

Been on this site for a while now,figured its time to show my build.Ill start with the pics or when I got her home.It came from Scottsdale,but grew up in the salty area of Utah..so there was some sheet metal issues !

Most think Im crazy and should have started with a better truck,you should all know that after hearing this from friends....I now had something to prove and was determined even more to do it !:ito:

Re: Project truck dream 65"
 

Kinda like Evil Knievel,there wasn't a bone or panel on this rig that hadn't been broken !:dohh:

Re: Project truck dream 65"
 

Time to get the truck under way !Its been - to - years that it sat in the back forty.
So I decided to remove fenders and engine and what's left of the box wood for a start !(SOUNDS EASY...RIGHT ?)I have done this before,I think I was in my mid 20"s then,now finding I squeak and creak a bit when I started undoing (breaking) bolts.:waah:

Re: Project truck dream 65"
 

Engine coming out...engine out ! It was alot easier in this life with inner outer fenders off !
I think I'm now commited or maybe I should be.:dohh:

Re: Project truck dream 65"
 

Stay tuned,Ill update when I have time folks !:fb:

Re: Project truck dream 65"
 

Glad to see you're gonna bring it back to life and not trash it like most people would.

Re: Project truck dream 65"
 

Looks like you're making good progress. If you consider the truck rebuild therapy, it doesn't really matter what you start with as long as you enjoy the process and think it's worth the effort.

Re: Project truck dream 65"
 

what are your overall plans? Looks like you're on your way. And I couldn't agree more with Markeb01 - although sometimes it's harder to enjoy the 'here and now' on a project, if you're able to, that makes it much more fun. And I tend to screw up less things when I am enjoying it. (or is it that i enjoy it less when I screw up! :lol:)

Re: Project truck dream 65"
 

Greetings Jocko,overall plans are a total restoration plus all of the changes would do to make it comfortable to drive.Being 6'5",there are some challenges as these and most cabs were built with out alot of room for the driver.
My main fault is Im a perfectionist,so Im not sure this is going to be completed in a normal time frame...,whatever that might be ?:ito:

Re: Project truck dream 65"
 

the First step is always the hardest.

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Changing out the front end to a later Chevy heavy rotar disc brake and 283 small block ....bolt everything in place to check for fitment and then take it all apart !

Thumbs up looks like everything fits !:ito:

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Box off,evaluation time !Rusty floor,rusty rockers,rusty cab mounts,rusty........,hey frame and box are solid !:ito:

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Soon to the blaster,find out whats left after that !

Re: Project truck dream 65"
 

Yes,I agree !Along with fine tuning my patience,thats the toughest game in this project.

Re: Project truck dream 65"
 

Cool man, I dig the colour. I love Kelowna too, I have some good friends out there.

Re: Project truck dream 65"
 

Hello Delmo,small world ! Id rather be In Burbank right now myself...cold and raining here,hopefully get some spring soon.Mabey we might know some of the same people,keep in touch,Ill be updating on the project soon:ito:

Re: Project truck dream 65"
 

Restoring a Shortbed is always worth it.
Just out of curiosity, check to see if the VIN on the cab matches the VIN on the frame.

Re: Project truck dream 65"
 

Very cool to see your project. Keep up the hard work. I'm subscribed.
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Re: Project truck dream 65"
 

Maybe you could steer me in the right direction...,not sure where to look on the frame for numbers,now curious myself.:ito:

Re: Project truck dream 65"
 

Thanks Allan,I glad your on board !:ito:

Re: Project truck dream 65"
 

The VIN will be on the top of the front driver's frame rail. Real close to the steering box.
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Re: Project truck dream 65"
 

Thanks to my Buddy Doug,we moved the tank to the rear,used Tank inc. 48-52 Chev sedan replica,fits like a dream !
Some pics of the frame work,rearend which took a year to find.I was lucky,I removed the dif. cover virtually no wear ! Someone kept on top of the maintanance,Id never seen one this old that clean.
Wanted to go to 5 bolt and there was wear at the seal surface so replaced with Moser performance axels !:ito:

Re: Project truck dream 65"
 

Thanks,I just checked and they do match !

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Frame,frontend,rearend all back from the paint shop.Coated in Hempel epoxy,cant get a more durable finish.Nice looking product,figured I take er for a test drive...runs well ! :haha:

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Chassis assembly underway,never done this before....it was a good learning experience ! I opted for the 3" drop spindles and 3" drop springs from Lowriders inc.good way to go,didn't want to compromise handling.
Glad Doug is helping,he's done this a few times ! He focused on the brakes while I put by brain in overdrive...wrenches were turnin:ito:

Re: Project truck dream 65"
 

Looking good!!

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Thanks Steve,appreciate it !:ito:

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Rear suspension is bolted on,rear wheels on now lowering to the floor..lower.lower...its there,this is cool ! Its been a long stretch to this point and feels good to see it touching the concrete ! :ito:

Guess its time to get the front end together,this is the part I know nothing about,glad for all the help Im getting on this site to finish this !Thank you everyone !!!!!!
Doug and I had to come up with a plan to compress the front coils,the spring compressor tool I borrowed does not work *@#!
Once again buddy Doug came up with an genius plan !A couple of 2x4s on end and one between the rafters,jack up the frame with the floor jack...man this worked great and didn't even crack the ceiling !!!:metal:
Front end complete,Doug with jack in hand gets the honor's this time around ! :ennyd:

Re: Project truck dream 65"
 

On the ground front and rear ! Dougs turn to take er around the block !(would you believe there was a completed truck sitting there?We just erased all but whats left !:lol:

Re: Project truck dream 65"
 

Looks great Ed....very nice work.

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awesome photoshop! lol :lol:

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Thanks suzq ,I cant stop laughing when I look at that pic !

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Thanks John,its finally looking like a truck again !:ito:

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My cab back from the blaster,actually looks better than I thought it would.When they come back you never know !

I originally had a second cab that was from a city truck out of somewhere Arizona...,thought I had found gold.

Bought this cab site unseen,(that's always a good idea)when it arrived up here,I opened the drivers door....and there it was ! 1 1/2 shag carpet,covered the floor and firewall.
It had sat in the desert for who knows how long with this giant sponge inside ,it wasnt pretty when I got it back from blasting,it kinda looked like an star filled Arizona night sky when you put a light underneath it:cool:
I decided to stay with the original cab,it was going to be less work to repair !:waah:

Re: Project truck dream 65"
 

NICE WORK!!! Big projects like that scare the bajebbers out of me!

Re: Project truck dream 65"
 

Starting repairs on the passenger side sheet metal.Inner outer rockers,front and rear hinge pillars,cab mounts,cab corner,and floor.
A fully blasted cab makes it real easy to see what your working with.There is
a local business here that specializes in auto blasting..., which is critical ! You don't want just any blasting shop without the experience,its pretty easy to warp the panels.
I'm glad I dent rush this project,I came up with alot of great ideas and was able to use them,does this mean I'm learning patience ? I'v been told it comes with age !:bsf:

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That is so true! I am lucky in that I have a friend that does blasting for a living, and about 70% of his business is for other businesses, and individuals that are restoring or rebuilding vehicles. He has been doing it for 10-12 years and is the local 'go to guy' for auto body sheetmetal. IMO blasting is the only way to go. Needless to say, I have all sorts of things blasted.

Re: Project truck dream 65"
 

Greetings Cap,I'm 100 percent with you on that.:ito:

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Progress on the passenger cab corner,no more varmit's coming in through that rust hole any more !:chop:

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Good man - another one saved :clap:

Watching with interest - keep the updates coming..