63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

hows it goin!...finally got to start tearin down my $750 craigslist barn find now that the weathers warm:metal:

gonna try to keep the jabber short and the pictures abundant so heres a quick overview

-solid frame
-cab with some rust but strong rockers, floor panels, and firewall
-292 with 62k original miles, runs smooth, small oil leak through the valve cover gasket...no exhaust...little smokie during startup
-body.....well, youll see in the pics...

this is the first time ive ever tried to do any type of resto work, so needless to say, im learning as i go, plus i have 1 small spot in a 2 car garage, that barely fits the truck... in the city, with limited tools, lol...but your only as good as your ability to figure s#!t out with what you got, right!...so, as you can probably guess, theres not gonna be a lot of awesome metal fabrication, or performance engine work (at least not right now)....but, if you want, im always lookin forward to hearin everyones advice and opinions, so feel free:)

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

when the truck was sittin in the garage (while the weather was bein an A-hole) i wanted to at least get something done...so i took out the heater box to clean out all the dried grass and hornets nests, and give it a little clean up:)

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

What would you like to see the truck as when your finished, though you never do. I see your baggin & taggin and taking alot of pictures, wise move.

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

.....

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

nice lookin truck.do you plan on driving at stock stance. that patina looks killer

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

whats up aerotruck....as far as the look (as of now), mostly a stock cruiser/ daily driver with flavor:) i eventually want to do a 1/3 lowered stance, with gunmetal exterior paint, all white interior with chrome/gunmetal trim....still kinda contemplating a powder blue secondary to the gunmetal too, we'll see)
-definitely keepin the 292...i love the way it looks, and im slowly learning that these engines are strong as hell, and still able to be beefed up (if eventually i wanna go that route)
-3" white wall tires, with smoothies

annnnnd....thats about all i got right now...:lol:

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

thanks man! ya know, the only reason i dont like the stock stance is cause of that stinkbug look it has when theres no payload in the bed...so eventually im gonna do a 1/3 to get that semi-lowered/muscle-ish look without droppin it...

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

nice. i really like the worn out paint.that was the look i was going for.

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

heres what ive done over the past few weeks...

picked up a cheap impact wrench from menards, grabbed my landlords sawsall(cuts like butter!!!! i love that thing:), some pb blast, and my socket wrench set and just dove in...haha

tons of dirt, metal, rust and my skin flyin everywhere....good times:metal:

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

Great rig to start with. It looks complete and in restorable condition. As with any new project, I suggest having a plan, no matter how big or small, before enbarking on a journey like this. Since time, money, space, tools and knowledge are often important elements of a project, it is rather important to have a plan based on the availability of all of these things. So often, in the haste of "making it happen", the running/driving truck is torn down to the frame, without a plan and when the overwhelming task of putting it back together is too much to comprehend, so the project goes to the wayside.

Keep up the good work and the photos rolling. Thanks for sharing.

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

P.S. Once you have cleaned and painted something, put it back together as much as you can while the memory of fasteners, clips and such are still fresh. It will be harder to do the longer the truck is apart. A clip board or note book would be handy for listing parts to replace or for ordering. Watch for shelving on big garbage days to hold the parts your restoring and accumulating. Industrial racking can be a huge benefit in tight spaces. Tool wise, beg and borrow the expensive stuff. Remeber K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple Stupid. Don't let it get out of hand.

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

lol, i dig it too man...but im way into paint so eventually i wanna get it lookin a little sexier...and ya know, so the lady will feel the same way when shes cruisin with me...:fro:hahaha...but yeah, from what i can see, your truck looks sic though!...

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

hey tony! yeah man, i hear ya...sometimes im sittin there with the sawsall, a glass of scotch and a crazy twitch in my eye and i say to myself....walk away dude, walk away....haha...

but all that aside, my plan (in short) is to clean up the front end, tune up the engine, get the suspension and steering solid, derust and paint the panels, get the front clip back on, then move to the cab, and then the rear-end/bed while trying to keep the truck running throughout the whole process....i know its easy to say all this and its even its easier to get out of hand...so im just forcing myself to be patient and concentrate on one thing before i move onto the next....

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

well said man, im very familiar with the K.I.S.S. method...we had it drilled into our heads when i was in paramedic school, cause once you make something harder than it has to be, s@#t can go awry real quick... but yeah, everything ive taken apart on the truck (especially hardware, etc..) has gone in labeled and organized plastic bags...shoot if it didnt, my little apt. would be a dump for sure, lol...

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

Just a thought, but your truck looks to be a prime candidate for the CLR and scotch brite trick - removes the rust and leaves the paint! Check out post #678 and #679 on page 28 in the link for more details...http://www.impalas.net/forums/showthread.php?p=21924

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

hey nice truck. luv longbeds. washing truck parts in the sink & painting on kitchen table? not married, huh?
andy

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

thanks wildone, i had seen that a while back and wanted to give it a try, but then i stumbled upon this stuff...
-->http://safestrustremover.com
ive been grindin away at most of the body parts with a wire wheel...and its pretty effective, but obviously you cant get to those "nooks and crannies," so, im glad i found this site...i think im gonna save get the "5 gal. concentrate" and a small 1/6 hp submergable pump, hose and tarp to do my body panels and the whole front end...
...talked to them over the phone as well, and they were extremely helpful and informative:)...check em out if your interested...

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

hahahahah! thanks andy, that obvious huh:lol: shoot, and it aint happenin til she lets me use her clothes hangers to paint my parts with either!....(good luck with that though right)...

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

I think I would have just left it the way it was and drove the hell out of it.:smoke: Tearing it apart is the easy/cheap part. Putting it back together is'nt that easy/cheap.;)

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

i hear ya dave...unfortunately i gotta get this thing as solid and "weather proof" as possible before the winter hits again, (im lucky i found the truck in the condition its in, being the midwest n all) so i wanna do it right...

...plus its gonna be my daily driver (in the snow/mountains of salt), so if i dont get everything stripped and painted, its just gonna get worse and end up costing me more to replace the slightly rusty but solid metal i already have, (im sure youve seen how much those fenders cost:eek:, lol)
...not to mention havin the engine, frame and suspension easier to access for cleanup, tune-up and repairs...

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

found a pair of repro. front fenders on craigslist for $100!:metal::metal::metal:

i know theyre not original, but still...a hundred bucks?!?!?!

anyway, there was nothing wrong with them, and as you can see they had the factory paint on em, but just because i know how valuable these are and how easily they can rust out if the paint is weak (which it was)...and to make things harder on myself, lol....i decided to strip em down to the metal, and repaint them with KBS rust seal...

i dont know if you guys have used this stuff, but man i'll tell ya...its almost seems bullet proof! they give you a brush to paint it on with, as its a self leveling compound, but it sucks, dont use it...i went with a small .89 cent roller, and it went on like butta!

turned our firehouse into a body shop for a couple hours and ive got one done so far...the other one is stripped and ready for the first coat...not to mention the bumper, radiator gaurds and front grille housing...(no pics of those just yet)

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

Love the patina! That truck looks like it earned every square inch of it, too.

I'd get it mechanically sound and drive the wheels off of it just like it is.

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

Nice find on the fenders.:metal: What you going to do with your old ones? Better yet ,I would just keep your old ones they match your truck. You can sell me the new ones.:lol: Give ya 150:lol: Got a pic of the inside of the new ones? Just wondering if they came with all the parts?

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

lol...no way brother! keepin those babies:lol:...the old ones are just gonna sit there until maybe i wanna put em on C.L....if youre interested let me know, i can try to get some pics your way...honestly though the usual front and back tip areas were rusted out and i had to cut em to even get em off the truck, but the rest of the fender is in pretty good shape...

no pics of the back of the new fenders, but i can tell ya that they came solid with no extra parts...which parts are you refering to?

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

chevyresto: for sure! it was an old pig farm truck...used to carry hay, feed, pigs, probably some dead mobsters, etc...lol...

but yeah, "patina" is one thing, and i do dig the way it looks, but as i mentioned a few posts back...rust wont remain in its classic/worn "seasoned" look, but will turn into that wonderful swiss cheese we all love dealing with, once the snow hits:banghead:......otherwise i might have concidered it...plus i love the whole custom paint aspect, and im pretty good with a rattle can...:smoke:

not to get off track but heres a couple of things ive "done up"...my cruiser and the gas tank and fender (before the right pinstripe was done) for my buddy's '85 honda rebel...

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

oh and by the way...i just went to check out your build thread...THAT DASH IS F@#$IN AWESOME!!!!!....i damn near fell off the chair i was so excited to see that in your truck...if only they came stock like that...my hats off to you on that one man!

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

Thanks. I guess the part of the fender is called the rear fender brace? I need to get a couple fenders and I did'nt know if those came with the brace or if they hit you up for another 40 on top of the 185? I've never seen the back so I was just wondering. I'm thinking it comes with it.;)

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

ah ok...yeah i looked at it and i was wondering if you were talking about the braces...so yes, they both came with the rear braces already welded in...

but hey...i'll trade my fenders for your garage....?....:lol:

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

You already have a garage.:lol:

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

lol...at least yours serves a purpose more than just squeezin your ride in...lol...i cant even keep my tools in there cause my punk-a$$ neighbor never remembers to shut the (automatic-single push of a button) door when she leaves...:hc:

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

I feel for ya. It does look alittle tight. I've seen worse.:lol: this guy painted his in a storage shed.:lol: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=364425

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

Ok yours might be smaller:lol: You can get even with the bit#h when you leave overspray all over her ride.:lol:

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

To the OP: Very cool truck. Having grown up doing all of my previous work in an uncovered gravel patch next to my parents driveway, I am quite familiar with doing the best you can with what you've got. Since then it's been dirt driveways, apartment parking lots, public parking lots (yeah that intake manifold gasket change was fun), and a two car garage that seems to be similar in size to the one you have. Finally I have my own shop, but all along the way I have had to remind myself that "where there is a will, there is a way." Good luck with the build, and don't forget to have fun.:chevy:

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

yeah, i saw most of his build, thats pretty bad ass and it is a tight space, but then again im sure he might have just a little more loot than i got to make that whole situation work out:waah:...haha...and yeah, id love to just superblast her little red ford focus with some of that white KBS paint i got:devil:....but then im sure my truck will end up sittin in the street when my landlord finds out:dohh:

all good though, at least i actually have somewhere to work and even just the opportunity to restore such an awesome old ride:thumbs::metal:

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

hey thanks fryer!...i appreciate the encouraging words man!:)...i admire folks that have that optimistic/adapt and overcome outlook on things...always cool to hear...

and yeah, most importantly...havin a ton of fun too!:mm::smoke::uhmk::barn::metal:.......:lol:

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

got a free chrome valve cover and gasket from a buddy, so i decided to do a little switch-a-roo...unfortunately the new cover didnt come with a oil cap, and the one on my current cover doesnt fit...so i could only replace the gasket....which its cool cause the other gasket was about as trashed as charley sheen at a strip club....

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

hey i want to respond to the "do the best you can with what you have" posts here. don't let not having the kick ass shop & other neat tools keep you from getting your trucks going. it might be cold & wet out in the drive sometimes but you can live through it. i painted my neighbors 359 pete (at his insistance) in his driveway. bright yellow. i couldn't beleive it. when i got done there was not a leaf print or a bug track in it anywhere. so don't give up. i have a good shop now but i built many a vehicle out in the yard. i like the attitude of folks here, i hope most of you are young men cause that kind of attitude will take you a long way in life. good luck!
andy

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

yeah...i figured out a long time ago that youre not gonna get very far, with anything, if you dont have that attitude.....im only 28 (not that thats super young, or super old) but regardless its done me well so far:)

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

:barn:...yeah, you may need a little of that too at the end of a long night.:lol:

Your welcome bro. I'll be looking forward to watching the progress on your pickup.

Re: 63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build
 

shoot by the end of the night i'll probably have had more than a little...:)

i'll try to keep the pics frequent...but right now im waitin for my next paycheck so i can pick up some of the "safest rust remover" i had highlighted in an earlier response...

as soon as i get it delivered, im gonna attempt to soak and derust the full front crossmember, (suspension and all) without fully disassembling...i know it sounds kinda crazy, but this is what the company claims, along with pictures and tutorials to prove its effectiveness......so, needless to say, im super excited to see how well it works:)...