[rcsbls2]

Ok I'm back. This pickup has been in our plans for a few years. After they got it to Michigan they drove it some that summer. The plan is to upgrade engine. have gone through short block and I had a set of Twisted Wedge aluminium heads that have been installed. They have purchased a Thumper Cam for it. Edelbrock Air Gap Intake, headers and dual exhaust will complete engine.The 350 turbo has been gone through.

The son began disassembly of the truck, Removing a few pieces at a time did good job of bagging bolts and keeping track of things. He continued until only thing on frame was the empty cab. All interior, dash, wiring, seat, Carpet, headliner, windows, seals, everything!!! was removed. They then told me it was ready for paint.

I did not what direction to go. I decided to make up a detailed build guide to determine what they want truck to be in end. I printed 2 copies and gave each of them a 6 or 7 page paper. Started with what do you want to do with it? Both want to drive and take to some local shows. What color? Son thought Black, Dad was thinking something brighter near its burnt orange orginial color. It went on describing 2 different trucks. So I went back and talked with them and tried to come to middle ground.

The frame has been blasted , painted and some reassembly done. All at Todds place. Front suspension, dropped spindles and brakes are on. No rearaxle ,needs painting, flipkit there. no fuel tanks, brake lines or fuel lines. No work done on any other parts Brake booster, master cylinder, wiper motor ,air conditioner parts, ect have been touched. Interior parts same program.


When I think of building this truck I can see very detailed body mods that will yield a clean smooth lowered street special truck. This has all taken about 7 years at this point. Todd has been very understanding that I have been busy with lots of things. I am a type 1 diabetic and my wife has health problems. So he has been waiting for me to get time to do the body work and paint. Last spring he to me they were having a garage sale and needed to get it out of there. So I told him bring it out and I'll try and get in garage. He brought all separate pieces, cab, doors, hood, fenders, stepside box, bed rails, tailgate...radiator support ect inner fenders.

When I began to look things over, the panels are perfect....NO rust. But they are dented up and I have been trying to get some things started. Striped the fire wall down and removed seam sealer and black tar. Have straightened out back wall of cab, all the spot weld deformed recesses in back panel. Redid bottom of cab corners where they meet bottom of floor panels, just kind of deformed while factory spot welded togather. Tried fitting doors to openings, the back edge of door opening in cab were uneven and different side to side, the doors were smaller than the openings, the curve of the door is different than that of the cab.

The box, started looking it over, the stake pocket on rear passenger side sat 1/4' lower than the box side so the top rail leaned down where as the drivers side almost leans up a little. I removed the corner from the box side and raised it up. I have installed caps to the back ends of the toprail. by welding to the edge of tailgate opening. Installed latches and integral steel check straps to hold the tailgate in the open horizontal position. Then removed the orginial latching system for the chains from the tailgate and sides of box sides. the edge rail for the wood attachment over hung the back of rear crossmember and was short of front panel. So drilled out spot welds and moved it forward 1/2'. Seems like maybe built on a Friday at Fisher Body back in '76!!! So I have this and more done but doesn't look like I've done anything!!!!

I have been reading about all the builds here and think that if I share what I'm doing you guys can motivate me to get out there after dinner and on weekend and get it done. Golf season is about done here and its time!!! Now tonight my phone won't hookup to computer so no pics yet but their coming. Enough rambling for tonight. Back to Michigan State - Nebraska!!