1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

Several years ago I wasn't as knowledgeable or as skilled when I built my '67. It looks good on the outside but It has its share of problems that have bee pop rivited and slathered with bondo. I had always planned on fixing it correctly, but never got around to it. So then I bought a minimally rusted '68 GMC longbed for the right price. The wife really likes the '67 and I had initially planned on rebuilding the same truck, however, I think the plan has changed. I am drawing from several renderings of trucks that I like. Mainly from Ben Hermance and Problem Child Kustoms. http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2..._concept1s.jpg
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1329091353

And of course before pictures:

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

first order of business: Shorten the bed and add a rake to the tailgate. Kinda like a Cameo, hence the first part of the trucks name "Camillian":

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

Man, that's crazy! Can't wait to see what you end up with. it's cool to see someone make a truck their own like that.

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

Thanks, I can't wait either!

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

Looking forward to this build! Cool ideas!

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

I like tha idea of tha raked tailgate

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

Any updates?

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

Nothing picture worthy, vintage air boxes showed up and a lot of welding on the bed, unfrotunately, I havent had a whole lot of time to work on it. Some maintenace on my daily driver (heater core) and work has kept me from it. I should be getting to it next weeekend.

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

Finally had some time to work on the truck this weekend. This weekend's task was the hidden fuel filler behind the brake light. The truck came with a Suburban gas tank and filler neck. After I had gotten the bedside where I wanted it, I cut the side of it out so i could see what I was doing. I modified the filler neck and bed pillar so the neck would fit and I made it a structural part of the pillar. Then I took a couple pieces of tube, bar stock, an old glove box hinge, an old throttle return spring, and old piece of throttle cable for my rendition of the flip down light. I mounted two pieces of tube parallel to each other the outside of the pillar. On the light, I welded part of an old glove box hinge and to the hinge I welded a piece of bar stock all at the height to match the lower tube in the bed pillar. I also welded a shorter piece of bar stock to the top of the light that would line up with the upper tube. I attached the piece of throttle cable to the light side of the hinge and then the other end to a spring which is attached to the rear wheel splash shield under the bed. The purpose of the spring is to hold the light in and hold it in the "open" position.

Basically to operate it, you pull the light out, flip it down and rotate it. The spring and throttle cable pull it back to keep it out of the way during fill up. Then when I am finished filling up, I Pull it back out, rotate it, flip it up and slide it back in. Once again the spring and throttle cable pull it in and hold it tight.

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

4 day holiday weekend netted 1 and half days of work on the Camillian. Unfortunately on the way to Thanksgiving Dinner with family I blew the 3-4 clutch out of the 4L60E transmission in the red '67. So that will be on the list before I can get back to the GMC.

Anyway on the Camillian, I got the drive's side of the bed stitched back together. That was a bit more of a challenge than I had expected. To get the sweeping body line right, I had to do quite a bit of finesse to the bed side. In all there are 4 pieces of the original bedside with a bunch of hammer/dolly work and some relief cuts to get the right shape. This would have been a great time to own an English wheel, but sometimes you just have to make do with what you have. After I had the shape as close as I could get it in metal, it got a coat of filler. It looks like quite a bit on there, but I want to make sure that this looks like nothing ever happened, so eventually the entire bed side with have a thin layer on it to ensure it is straighter than it would have been if GM did it originally. This is a typical technique to get a panel "laser straight"

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

More pics...

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

"New" used trans went in the 67, and it promptly left me stranded, in the rain, 115 miles from home, on a Sunday while getting parts for the Camillian... A tow truck ride and some really good guys at a Pep Boys (of all places!) got me back on the road and back home. Of course that ruined last weekend and I got nothing else done.

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

Since the 67 is now fixed and took me to work all week, I got to do some work on the Camillian.

Now that I have the shape of the bed figured out, I figured it was time to pull the body off the frame so that I can shorten it. While I was at it, I made some budget body carts. For the bed, I got casters at the local home improvement store and some 2x4s. I made a simple frame and set two saw horses on top. For the cab, I used a stack of four pallets (free!),two 2x4s screwed to the top to make the top the correct width for the body mounts. On the bottom I used four more casters. Total investment $55 since I already owned the sawhorses. Lastly Since the bed was off, I went to fix the front bed panel. Apparently someone who owned this truck in the past didn't believe in tying anything down and making alot of panic stops. Pictures don't show it well, but 6 relief cuts, big hammers and dollies and a bunch of welding, It is back to the correct shape.

Now that the truck is completely down to its major components I think I need a bigger shop!
Apologize for some of the pics, only had my ancient phone with me.

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

It's officially a shortbed! I followed glock35ipsc's how to shorted a lwb frame from the faq section. I do want thank glock35ipsc for the well written how to.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=123624

I don't want to rehash glock35ipsc's entire thread since I did exactly what he outlined. So in a sentence: Cut a step notch in the frame to remove 12" under the cab and welded it back together with appropriate reinforcements.

The hardest part was getting the frame clamped back together to weld it, mainly the procedure just takes time and patience. Don't want to rush this part.

Just a couple process pics, then I set the body back on to see what it looked like.

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

nice work...anytime you want to switch shops PLEASE let me know..you just have to account for the weather and the neighbors about the noise and to much stuff in your driveway..loll

True

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

I had a bunch of time over the holidays to get a larger part of sanding done! drivers side of the bed has been skimmed front to back, blocked out and shot with epoxy primer! Things I didn't take picture of was final welding the entire bed floor and final welding passenger side bed skin to prep for bodywork on that side.

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

great looking project !

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

Wow! Nice work!

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

Gonna haft to climb aboard on this one, looking good.

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

Doesn't look like much, but on the drivers bedside, I sanded out a couple runs in the epoxy sealer and added some filler in a couple of small spots with pinholes or large scratches I missed. Then I layed a coat of High build primer on it and blocked it out again. I think it is straight enough to seal one last time and put color down. I may seal it to protect it, because it will probably be a little while before I should paint the final color on it.

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

Been busy with work because spring is approaching and everyone wants their car back. We also had a guy quit on us so we have been putting in some overtime. I finally got the passenger bed side stripped and started doing bodywork on it. I also stripped the suspension off the frame, except for the drivers rear spring is being stubborn. Planning on getting the frame ready for paint soon.

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

Looking good friend!

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

Thanks!

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

I really like how the way you pitched the back of the bed sides is so subtle.
Are you removing the middle stake pockets?

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

Thanks

I actually filled all the stake pockets on top of the rails for a smooth look when it gets the tonneau cover. I am leaving the inside portion of the pockets so there are still places to tie cargo down since I plan on using the truck. I will also be adding D ring tie downs in the lower corners of the bed like late model trucks have.

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

Nice work on shortening frame, bed and auto body work, you make it look so easy.
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Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

Thanks!

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

Not a whole lot of progress to report. I did want to say that I had switched from cheap Bondo to Evercoat Quantum 1. Part of this was because we had been using 3M platinum Plus at work, which I had never liked, but the shop has switched to Evercoat. The other reason I had used cheap bondo is because I had purchased a couple gallons a while back for $15 and I figured I should use it up. The cheap Bondo does the job just fine but it takes longer to sand, you burn up more sandpaper (which isn't cheap), You have to sand it with 80 grit if you ever want to get done, and then you have to cover it with a glaze coat (also costs $20-$30 a qt) and sand that to 180 before priming. The Qantum 1 seems expensive at nearly 4 times the price, but It only requires one step. You lay it on and it sands easily with 180 grit paper, doesn't wear paper out so fast, then once the contour is correct you can go straight to primer. The other things that make the quantum 1 so nice is that it has three options for catalyst: Low temp, Fast and Slow. This takes the guesswork out of miking filler, so that you don't over or under catalyze the filler in an attempt to make it set faster (when its cold in the shop) or slower (when you spread a whole panel). If anyone decides to switch, keep in mind the ratio of catalyst to filler is 4 times what regular body filler is. There are also two "formulas" that are available, I am using the " small repair" which is creamier and a little easier to spread, it is meant to be easier to spread in smaller imperfections, this doesn't mean it can't be used for a larger imperfection is strength and sand-ability are the same as the "large repair" formula. The large repair formula just is a little thicker to make it easier to spread into larger imperfections.

In other news I spread some Quantum one and sanded, still have more to do before the passenger side of the bed is finished. I also finished stripped the removable components from the frame. I need to do some minor repair to the passenger rear spring mount, install the C notches, and get it cleaned and painted.

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

Nice! Thanks for all the info on the evercoat.

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

bed is looking good !

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

Thanks!

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

Finally have the passenger bedside blocked out in filler, now for a couple coats of primer, but I did decide to take a break from bodywork and turn my attention to the frame. The poor thing was just caked in grease along the entire passenger side and the center crossmember. The truck must have leaked since it was new. I also disassembled the front suspension so that it can be degreased and painted. Since i am trying to keep the budget under control, I also decided that I would make my own c-notches instead of purchasing the $150 (or so after shipping) kit. I went to my local steel supplier and purchased a whole $15 worth of 3/16" plate to make my notch with. I also figure that welding it in is stronger than bolting in the kit. Unfortunately, I ran out of mig wire before I was done welding the passenger side and I didn't want to waste an hour going to the store. So I set the bed back on to see about mounting my 'burb tank under it and to see how much I would need to shorten the panhard rod to center the axle at my planned ride height.

On another note, a '69 Camaro hood front valance and spoiler appeared in the back of my '67. My plan is to do an interpretation of what GM could have done if they had made an "SS" pickup. I am going to make a spoiler fro the tailgate basing its shape off the Camaro spoiler, Cut the hood lover mounts out of the hood and graft them into the truck's hood, and modify 68 Camaro bumpers for the front and back mounted over roll pans. I want to keep all '68 elements so I don't know if i will use the '69 Camaro valance as part of my front roll pan. The spoiler and hood louvers are the same from 68 and 69 so they keep in the '68 theme. Now you can see where the trucks name is going: Cameo for the raked tailgate, Chameleon like the lizard that changes its appearance, and a play on my name. (That is still a secret....)

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

The first Camaro element got installed today. Clearly a trunk spoiler off a Camaro wouldn't just fit. So I placed it on the tailgate to get an idea of what it would look like then I Bent a wire frame in a similar shape and hammered out sheemetal to fit, then welded it all together. A little bodywork and it should look like it was meant to be there...

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

A few more pics

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

Very cool!

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

Man this things gonna be sick, Im in!!

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

WOW, nice fab work on the spoiler

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

Great fab work, Subscribing to this thread to follow your progress.

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

Thanks! Hope every sticks around to see it finished...

Re: 1968 GMC "Camillian"
 

Didn't get a whole lot of time this weekend. I stripped the tailgate, filled in the GMC lettering to smooth to the gate and started bodywork on the spoiler.