My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

My dad heard thru word-of mouth amongst his street-rodder buddies of a Chevy pick-up for sale. He called me to ask if I was interested. I wasn't really looking for a truck, but said that I would look at it...He was told that it was a '67 (which I have very little interest in)
I called the person to set-up a time to see it, and was very pleased when I entered the garage where it resided to find that is was a '66, and not a '67.
I tried to act cool when I first saw it, but knew that I had to have this one!
The rest is pretty-much history!!
Keep in mind that I have NO place to build this thing, but my father does, and since he was the person instigating this entire transaction, this meant that I could have free-reign of his workshop!
I just wish he lived closer!
As you will see, the project was well underway, but I still have a bunch of work ahead, and will add many touches of my own during completion.

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

The Frame is 90% complete, except for modification that I will be submitting it to. I plan on bagging it! I want it to sit low but not necessarily lay frame.
The engine & trans are completely fresh with ZERO time on them, and it appears as though everything on the frame is new, except for the frame rails themselves.
The body is as much like-new as things can get. Most everything has been soda-blasted...And items that aren't like new, have new replacements!
I have boxes of parts that I haven't even looked in yet!...I'm kind-of overwelmed!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Well ..... :welcoem: to the board, and Good Luck !!!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

:welcoem: It looks like a solid start.

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Looks like a really nice truck. I would have got that one too....

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Thanks guys!
The bodywork is progressing at a pretty good rate... When I get to work on it!
I'll post some more pics tonight if I get a minute.

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

I've acquired a few unfinished projects in my time. They are almost always a great deal. Somebody orders / buys all the parts, plans the build, then underestimates the time/money it takes to finish, or life gets in the way, and it sits there.

Friend of mine scored a Chevelle project that way a while back. The guy bought the car (decent driver) and wasn’t much of a car guy. Turns out the thing had some major filler and rust issues. He ended up buying all new panels, interior, engine, transmission etc etc. He basically said he wanted EVERY part on hand before he started the actual resto. (Must be nice to have that kind of money to play with). So he did that. The week he started tearing the car apart his wife got pregnant. Twins.

Car sat for a year or so. My buddy scored it for about the price the guy paid originally for the car without the parts.

Good luck!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Hey ctandc,
This was a similar deal...
This guy's life got in the way...Or lack of it.
A sad story, but he was diagnosed with & died of cancer very quickly.
He owned his own automotive repair shop, and the mechanical work that he did seems to be 1st class!..He was no bodyman though.

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Once that I had stored everything away that wasn't immediately needed, my first plan of action was to work on the cab & doors first.
Upon some closer inspection, I discovered that even though everything had been soda-blasted, nothing had been etched or sanded prior to priming.
You could literally take an air hose & blow the primer off! So now everything is getting sanded to bare metal, dings & dents fixed, then primed with Dupont Corlar epoxy primer.
The roof of the cab must have taken a good hit from what could have been a ladder...Two sets of marks running through the roof on an angle.
The ridge across the top got hit pretty good, and has consumed a great deal of my attention. What a PITA to fix, but I think I got it!
I pulled as much of the dents out with my buddy's Nail-Gun (thats what I call it) What a great tool!
Got a pic while pulling dents!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

This is the extent of rust work so far. The front lower corner of my passenger inner door had some holes in it. So I fabbed up a repair patch, peeled open the hemmed area of the door skin, cut out the rusted portion, blasted & etch primed the inside, welded the patch in place, & hemmed the skin back into position....Hardly noticeable!
Have you ever tried to bend sheet metal around a radius?
Took longer to make the patch than repair the door!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Other than that one spot, the doors are really pretty nice!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

I have decided to replace my windshield drip-rails. it seems as though they have seen better days....Didn't they know what seam-sealer was back then?

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

I drilled out the spot-welds & removed the old ones, Plasma cut some new strips of sheet metal, bent them up in the metal-break, drilled some holes in them to weld thru. Meanwhile I metal finished the mating areas on the cab & shot them with some weld-thru primer for prep.
I then welded the new ones into place & metal finished the welds.
These will get sealed with a good epoxy seam-sealer as will all of the door-jamb & roof gutters.

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

More drip-rail pics!....Can't really tell from the pics, but they are as nice, or nicer than the originals!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Very nice work on your fabrication skills!
Some of us just take the drip rails off for a cleaner look to the cab.

I removed mine, and shaved the leading edge of the rain gutter above the windshield. Made a nice look.

Love the pics, keep them coming!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

My first thought was just to remove them, but then my dad said "what happens when you get caught in the rain? Does the water just come off from the windshield & into the cab?"

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Dad, cars dont have drip rails....

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

I walked into the barn a few weeks ago & my dad had built a carriage to support the cab while sitting nose-down. (Being retired, he has a lot of time to goof-around with these kinds of things) This allowed me to address the roof better & also prep the bottom side more easily....What a great Idea!
I had my son buzz down the bottom while I continued to work on my roof project. I'm beginning to wonder if I will ever get the roof straight!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

nice score! bryan herter at pcmforless does great work. he did the tune on my wagon and i'm very happy

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

I got the bottom primed! Wow, It looks awesome!
I used some really nasty epoxy primer that my buddy (he's a body-shop manager) gave me to try. It is made by Sikkens, supposed to be real durable, but not very sand-able. Great for the underside!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Hey, Thanks for the info!
It will be a bit before I get it fired up!
Not sure how much tuning he has done to it, but will probably be contacting him to find out...A nitrous system was included in the many boxes of parts!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

nice! been spraying my LT1 for over 5yrs

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...110718_677.jpg

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Super-Cool!
The LT-1 in my truck has a boatload of trick things done to it, but not sure it compares with your wagon!!
Your pics are awesome!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

stock 166K mile ironheaded with 1.6RR's, beehive srings, 52mm TB. then a ton of quality bolt-ons, 2800 edge stall, 3.73's. when you get ready to spray it. hit me up and i'll give ya any help i can.

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Mine has aluminum heads (ported & polished), 52mm TB, 30gph injectors, accel dist, MSD coil, underdrive pully system, & healthy cam (.525 lift), & not sure on converter...Was built with the full intension on sprayin it.

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

depending on how much portwork. it sounds like a legit 375rwhp ;)

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

I appreciate the offer! I know very little about spraying it ...need lots of advise.
A buddy of mine is really into Mega-Squirt engine management ( He is a Mich-Tech computer-nerd grad who has gearhead tendencies) and he tells me that I can run two separate programs with the flick of a switch. Change the ignition advance, timing curves, & fuel settings, and introduce nitrous all at the same time.
He has some expertice on this system, as I have heli-arc welded injector bungs on intake manifold for his '69 Super-Bee, along with his buddies '70 426 Charger R/T. Both which seem to run flawlessly, & he is also working currently on adding FI to an older Honda CB-600...He has a vast CNC background, so he machines a crankwheel & runs a crank-sensor. lets the computer control everything...They even make a plug-n-play harness to replace your ECM, as the key developers of this set-up are huge into Corvettes...Maybe I should try to introduce Bryan to my buddy Frank!...Don't get me wrong, I just don't know what to do at this point!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

The items that I have been posting have not been as current as I would like for them to be. Seems like I am always trying to get caught-up on something other than my project truck. It seems like my job & other responsibilities keep cutting into my fun-time, and I may need to give them up!
With that being said, This is how I spent my Christmas day. Our family celebrated x-mas on Christmas-eve, because of everyones busy schedule, therefore I had it open for ME-time!

Christmas present to self: shaving exterior door handles!!!!

I started by taking a section from an existing door, so that it would have the correct contour and plasma-cut a a filler piece using a paper template that I had traced from my door. Then I proceeded to tack-weld it in while alternating locations & letting them cool to avoid warping...tack, wait, tack, wait.
When it was finally welded around the periphery, the welds were ground down, and a thin coat of filler was applied & block-sanded.
I also took this opportunity to fill my mirror holes in the driver's door by screwing-in some threaded rod & welding it in.
The results were incredible!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

More Pics!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Block sand, prime, block sand, prime. The flatter it gets, the more imperfections I find.
I just guide coated & blocked it out for a second time & I'm convinced that the cab & doors are 10 times as straight as when new. I'm about to graduate from cab & door detail & move-on to other body panels.
I still have no idea on a color choice yet.
2 colors in mind, pearl orange/pearl white 2 tone, or simply pearl white.

I spent some time over the weekend retrofitting the door latches with solenoids, since I have now received the shaved door-opener kit that I ordered.
I totally forgot to take any photos, but many soon to come!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Nice score on the truck, and very nice body work :thumbs:

You've obviously done body work a time or two.

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Thanks!
Yeah, unfortunately I worked in a bodyshop for a few years after high-school, and I have had a fair share of project cars. Haven't done any body work in over 10 years...But you never seem to forget how to do it (bummer).

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Great looking truck to build and it looks like you are doing a killer job on all of the body work for it. Keep the updates and pictures coming, we love to see progress being made on a truck build! It is always nice to know how to do your own work on these old trucks (or cars) as it saves a ton of money.

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Looks like your door handle shaves came out very smooth!
Looking good from here :metal:

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Yup, smooth like a babies behind!
I cheat a little by keeping a spray bottle filled with wax & grease remover nearby.
After I think the panel is flat from blocking it out, I wipe it down, then fog it with the solvent to look down the reflection that it produces...as if it were painted.
It allows you to see almost all imperfections! then simply wipe it off, and prime & block again if necessary.

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

So just that I am sure I am keeping up with you...
You grind down your welds, probably some sanding, then fill with either bondo or self leveling primer (like slicksand?) and then you do your blocking.... then the steps you just listed?

Thanks .... sometimes I feel like the kindergarten kid in a college physics class. :lol:

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

Yes, grind down the welds to make sure that they are not high, sand for good adhesion of your filler, spread a coat of filler, knock down the high areas with power tools, then I block the filler by hand to the assumed finish level to assure flatness, then prime with a high-build primer, then block by hand to maintain flatness. A D-A sander can make it seem flat but still have slight waves, but a block is the only way to assure flatness.
Most areas on my cab & doors have been blocked (in primer) 3-4 times, then guide-coated & blocked.
In my opinion, 90% of the paint job is preparation. if the prep is good, you can just about color-sand & rub anything to make it look spectacular!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

I retrofitted my door latches with solenoids to accommodate for my shaved door handles. They turned out great! They may look a bit weird, but remember that the opener solenoid has to be positioned not to interfere with the path of the window glass.
I started by making a profile template of the door latch surface from cardboard that included the latch, & window track mounting holes, I mapped out where the widow traveled, and worked around the space that was available in the door to situate the solenoid & required linkage.
I did the fab work a buddies shop, then went & installed them into the doors for tryout, and everything works perfectly (for once).
At first I had the linkages adjusted with zero-lash, & the solenoids didn't always want to un-latch the door. It seems that at the FULLY extended position, the solenoids only produce a fraction of their maximum pulling-force, but if they are slightly retracted in their travel, they have a considerable greater pulling potential. So by adjusting a little slack into the linkage they worked flawlessly, every-time!
This made my day!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

A few more pics!

Re: My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!
 

I was just reading through your thread and noticed you're a fellow Michigander! You don't see too many of us on here for some reason...probably because all of the trucks we usually see are rotted beyond repair....lol. Nice work so far, and what a great find on your truck!