First timer here, just trying to build a cool truck and not kill myself
 

Hello all,
Real name is Peter and i'm from Seattle, WA. Recently purchased my first home and have a garage now, so what else would I do with it beside start a car project! Some how convinced the lady to let do this and after a two weeks of Craigslist scouring I am starting my first ever car project.
The craigslist ad was for a "1962 Chevy Apache Rat Rod" aka, clapped out truck that he no longer had time for. It was far from what he led me to believe, but I had driven an hour and half with my brother and a uhaul trailer so I wasn't leaving without my truck. Settled on half the initial trade value and towed home the truck PLUS a small block 350 and turbo 400 transmission. Another added bonus was the spare windshield in the cab and an Edlebrock Performer intake for the 350.
Turns out the truck is a '61 not the '62 he thought, and it doesn't "runs and drive fine" as he advertised it. Also i'm pretty sure is got a different engine at some point in history. From what i've gathered on the interwebz it looks like a IL6 250? definitely not the 230/5 he said it was. Wiring is a mess, spark plugs look like they've been at the bottom of a swamp and there aint a single panel untouched by some level of rust cancer. But She's MINE!!
I have big plans, but aint got a big budget or all the know-how. My brother is a new mechanic and loves building cars, so i will be buying him a lot of beer over the next couple years. I'm embracing the slow process and the rat rod look it's going to have for a bit. I'll start a build thread at some point, when I have something worth sharing. Until then, any advice or encouragement is welcome. I know she aint a looker, but hopefully she'll go fast and make the neighbors hate me!
Peter

Re: First timer here, just trying to build a cool truck and not kill myself
 

Im in to see this one .

Re: First timer here, just trying to build a cool truck and not kill myself
 

Hey man! Jumped over here from the NW Members thread. I have fam in Seattle. You should just make this your build thread and let us know what you've got cooking? Cool azz truck! :chevy:

Re: First timer here, just trying to build a cool truck and not kill myself
 

Welcome sir looks like a great start
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Re: First timer here, just trying to build a cool truck and not kill myself
 

Build thread commencing, in hopes that it keeps me on task and moving forward. I'll warn you guys again that this is A) my first car project and B) i don't have much of a budget so new parts will be few a far between.
So far what i've done:
-got the engine running after replacing coil, plugs, "rewiring" most of the engine bay. Haven't been able to find the right engine numbers to get a build year, but i'm 95% sure its a 250 based off of distributor placement, intake and exhaust manifolds, valve cover shape. It's definitely NOT the original 235 that it came off the line with. Also has a four? (haven't been able to test drive fast enough to shift up out of third) speed manual tranny with a shifter on the floor. Steering column shifter linkage still in place in the engine bay.
-rebuilt the Rochester BV carburetor
-removed the gas tank to empty the varnish that was sitting in there. inside of tank was surprisingly "clean" and the sending unit looks to be less than 10 years old. added a clear in-line fuel filter before the pump and haven't had any debris show up.
-bled and replaced brake fluid. pretty sure the front passenger drum isn't really working. I picked up a booster and MC from a '76 c10 for $25 on craigslist in preparation for front disc conversion
-general cleaning inside and out. pressure washing revealed at least three paint colors and a whole lot of filler and rust cancer. body work is low on the priority list though, rat-rod style for the first few years has been accepted as the plan.
-Truck deal included a seized up small block 350 and TH400. my brother in-law is pulling a '78 Corvette's 350 out for a bored out new engine so he's giving me that since it's running already. It's partially removed from the vette currently as life has held up progress on that.

Status as of September 1, 2015: Running smooth after the carb rebuild and driving ok, during the day. No working head lights yet but I do have taillights, one brake light and front/rear blinkers. Tires are showing major signs of cracking in between the tread, so not sure how long those will last.

Re: First timer here, just trying to build a cool truck and not kill myself
 

It looks much happier off that trailer and under its own power but be forwarned ,1 truck leads to 2 ,then three ,then 6 .I dont know where the madness stops at.

Re: First timer here, just trying to build a cool truck and not kill myself
 

Cool man, it's a runner! Those slug tracks on the window?

Re: First timer here, just trying to build a cool truck and not kill myself
 

Took my lady for her first drive in the truck! She was a little nervous but started to enjoy herself after a few miles. Her confidence in my wrenching skills is growing, slowly. After the drive I pulled her into the garage, the truck not the wife, and replaced the valve cover gasket and lowered the rear end about 1.5".
Valve cover took about 2 hours to clean out the inside with it's 1/8" of crud build up and another 45 min trying to clean up lifters, rocker arms and springs on the engine. I know the pictures look quite dirty still, but imagine what they started as! Finally got some numbers from the head that may lead to what year this 250 is from. While I had the cover off I sanded off the paint and rust and wire brushed the raw steel then sealed it with a gloss clear coat, turned out pretty nice.
Lowering the rear was just removed some riser blocks that had been put under the springs at some point. Really just needed something to do while the engine cooled off.

Re: First timer here, just trying to build a cool truck and not kill myself
 

Very cool, go Hawks!

Re: First timer here, just trying to build a cool truck and not kill myself
 

great work! I dont think I was near as adventurous as you have been when I started wrenching!

Re: First timer here, just trying to build a cool truck and not kill myself
 

Forgot to post this pic of the brushed steel air cleaner. This was before the valve cover cleaning, so I'll have to get a pic of both brush steel parts together.

Re: First timer here, just trying to build a cool truck and not kill myself
 

Love that truck, thanks for joining.

Tony:metal:

Re: First timer here, just trying to build a cool truck and not kill myself
 

Looks like money well spent.
Sub'd

Re: First timer here, just trying to build a cool truck and not kill myself
 

Haven't made much tangible progress on the truck lately. Went to a car show and got some good inspiration, found a few relics hiding away on Vashon Island during our anniversary day trip, brought home the small block and th400, and got some sweet original badges as my anniversary gift! (6th anniversary gift is iron, there's iron in steel and truck parts are made from steel!)

Re: First timer here, just trying to build a cool truck and not kill myself
 

Neat project ... But I think you should have a mod move this to the appropriate forum, you will get more views, and help if needed that way. The welcome area is just a place for intros and to say howdy.

And welcome from another NW guy.

Re: First timer here, just trying to build a cool truck and not kill myself
 

Parts ordered!!!

Re: First timer here, just trying to build a cool truck and not kill myself
 

Congrats! This is going to be cool!

Re: First timer here, just trying to build a cool truck and not kill myself
 

Been awhile since last update, and things have happened.
My parts came in for the disc brake conversion and suspension lowering, I got my heads lights working and the carburetor was rebuilt and running good. Then I found a guy looking to trade his v8 for an Inline-6 on CL and I jumped on it, meeting up one weekend for him to hear my engine run and then he brought the engine over the next weekend. So my winter project has grown from lowering and disc brakes to now include a drivetrain swap! The 350 SBC is from a '71 Chevy truck and will mate up with the TH400 I got in the original truck deal. Now I just got to figure out how all the parts will fit...

Re: First timer here, just trying to build a cool truck and not kill myself
 

Good stuff! We gonna break that V8 down at all for inspection and re-seal?

Re: First timer here, just trying to build a cool truck and not kill myself
 

There is a chance yes, but it depends on how quickly I can figure out the cross member modifications need to fit the th400. The engine was running this spring when pulled, I will do a little tune up and parts replacement, clean and paint, but I don't know how far I want to dig in to her before I need to.

Re: First timer here, just trying to build a cool truck and not kill myself
 

Hey, I'm also in Seattle. Similarly little know-how, but generally handy. Let me know if you ever need a hand.

Re: First timer here, just trying to build a cool truck and not kill myself
 

Your putting a lot of time and elbow grease into the truck, nice to see it come along, wish my wife smiled that much in my truck, keep up the good work.

Re: First timer here, just trying to build a cool truck and not kill myself
 

Thanks man! I'll let you know when the heavy lifting is!

She wasn't smiling when I gave her my christmas list this year and it was all truck parts!

Re: First timer here, just trying to build a cool truck and not kill myself
 

Build thread started officially in the right place: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=694506