Allow me to introduce Frank!
 

Well an 8 hour trip each way (including a 2 hr ferry ride X2) and I'm the proud new owner of this 60-61-62 Chevy ShortWide (I'm new to the internet world of this era of trucks, forgive me if that's not the correct term for this body style)

It's a Canadian built truck, model C1434 so always a shortbox fleetside I believe. It was said to be a 62 by the person I bought it from, but it's actually a 61 and has a 60 grill, which I may replace with a 63 grill! So I guess then it would be a 61-62-63 :)

It had been parked for many years but I was told it was running and driving - HA yeah right! The guy had some big racing carb on it running off of a 5 gallon can in the bed, but running's not really the word! Trying to run more like, missing on more than it was hitting. He had it stuffed into a corner of his yard with a bunch of cars in the way so there was no trying to drive it either...I let him keep the big carb and decided I'd try to see what I could do with it once I got it home.

There was definitely some interesting stuff in the yard!

Re: Allow me to introduce Frank!
 

Good looking project to start with, already looking to have some sort of 5 lug conversion so make sure to check out what all is already done before ordering parts.

Re: Allow me to introduce Frank!
 

Got it home last night and pushed it into the garage with some help from some friends and family. It was a little up hill and we barely made it! Looked it over quickly and boy I have some work to do :waah: No problem, we're not building a grand piano here!

Today after work I spent a couple hours on it and got it running, properly this time! Did a compression check, turns over good and all cylinders were close enough within reason. Turns out it's 3970010 350, blue block so nothing to get excited about, fine for now. Replaced the plugs, cap, rotor and put an Edelbrock 600 on it. Cleaned up the wiring slightly(lots more to do there) added some fresh gas and let'er rip! Fired right up and after a few seconds running it cleaned up and idled just fine. Set the timing and adjusted the mixture and it seems ok :)

Hooked up the headlights, all working and got the brake lights working too. Next time I get the chance to get out there I'll change the oil and filter, find an air cleaner and then move on to the transmission. One small job done few more to tackle to make it move under it's own power.

Also picked up a comfy bench so I can get rid of the Blazer buckets and console! A little sewing repair and a cover and it will work just fine, all in all not too shabby for the first day.

Re: Allow me to introduce Frank!
 

Thanks! Yes it looks like someone swapped a squarebody front crossmember onto it and added a 5 lug 12 bolt rearend to match. It has power front disc brakes and power steering. This was another reason I chose this truck, all things I would want to do anyway so definitely a bonus :metal:

Re: Allow me to introduce Frank!
 

Just a shot from another angle. It's been a long time since I've had an older shortbox fleetside, love how the box sides follow the contour of the cab!

Re: Allow me to introduce Frank!
 

The paint code on the truck is 5011 Omaha Orange, then it was painted reddish orange and finally the blue it is now. So 2 repaints in over 60 years. I picked up a couple of color samples while I was at Home Depot just for ideas, and mixed up a quick turquoise and a dirty white from some paint I had on hand, just fooling around.

Still lots of time to choose a color, won't be painting for quite a while yet, but I had to try out an idea or two right away!

Re: Allow me to introduce Frank!
 

Looks like a good catch,
I'm excited to see what they conjure up with it.

Re: Allow me to introduce Frank!
 

Subbed for the build.

Re: Allow me to introduce Frank!
 

Glad you got it before he chopped, channeled and sectioned it!

Re: Allow me to introduce Frank!
 

Great truck. Good progress to get it running, Your color mixes look really good.

Re: Allow me to introduce Frank!
 

Started gutting the cab, got rid of the seats and console, tank is mint inside so going to use it, tossed the carpet and stripped the dash out. Started cleaning up the cluster but that's a another topic. For now decided to get to work on the floor and body mounts ( or what was left of them!) Floor looked ok at first glance, just a couple small patches needed, but it was worse than I first thought....Right front mount was crumbling mass of cornflakes. Sorry no pic of that, just cut it out and moved on lol. Took it slow and managed to get the bulk of the rocker out of the way ( I knew going in they needed to be done)

Re: Allow me to introduce Frank!
 

Sorry about the sideways pictures, not sure how to fix that. I couldn't resist trying it on just for a preview! Still a lot more work to go before it goes on for real though!

Re: Allow me to introduce Frank!
 

Great fitment on that rocker.

Sometimes no matter how you hold the phone, They rotate.
I always crop my pictures ever so slighty and that helps.

Flip for ya.

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Re: Allow me to introduce Frank!
 

Nice to see another BC knee-knocker here!

Re: Allow me to introduce Frank!
 

Thanks for the rotation Getter-Done, I'll try the cropping too!

Hey SkinnyG it's not just a knee-knocker, it's a bone-shaker and a knuckle-breaker too! It's was also originally an Omaha Orange 61, who knows what it'll end up as...

Re: Allow me to introduce Frank!
 

Welcome Frank……

And Bob.

Amazing to see you straight in at the deep end.

Re: Allow me to introduce Frank!
 

Good decision to build a knee knocker, welcome to the Club.

Re: Allow me to introduce Frank!
 

Good find! As usual, more to do on body than anticipated, but will be a great project. So many have the roughly hacked up speaker holes, haha!

Re: Allow me to introduce Frank!
 

Jumped to the back of the truck while I wait for parts to arrive for the cab floor. The tailgate had been welded shut sometime in the distant past. That won't work for me, need the tailgate to be operational. Cut the welds without too much trouble but found out why it was welded shut....sigh...I'm really not surprised, oh well easy fix.

Pulled bumper off (heavy) and had to cut all the bolts holding the box(bed?) onto the frame. Luckily all the wood is rotten so no worries about mucking it up! Bright side to everything :) Pulled the rear wheels and I was able to get the bed off by myself (VERY HEAVY) but just barely, between trying not to wreck it or my 60 yr old back lol SUCCESS now straight to the house for Tylenol and rest on the couch, tomorrow is another day!

Starting to get a little pile of "old truck" as the work continues, tip of the iceberg so far...

A little shot of the carnage underneath

Thanks for all the comments, I'm just trying to clean it up and make it a decent daily driver, I really don't want or intend to get into a full restoration, who has time for that??

Re: Allow me to introduce Frank!
 

Good work! You got it unning and driving really quick. Glad you are saving that one. One vote for the original color, gotta be pretty uncommon to see (not trying to mess with your plan - just throwing that out there).

Re: Allow me to introduce Frank!
 

Looking really good, I've been through similar rust repairs on my 64.

Re: Allow me to introduce Frank!
 

I'm re-living trauma from the rust on my '61

Re: Allow me to introduce Frank!
 

A mountain of work, the memories come back.
It will be great.