Hello Guys and Gals!

[MEANlowGREEN]

Hey everybody, new to the forums. Not new to old Chevy trucks though. I've had my '63 since 2003. Unfortunately life has slowed my build down to a crawl but I keep making progress. I love classic cars and trucks and anything to do with them. I worked for almost twenty years as a machinist and programed and ran CNC lathes but I am also proficient on milling centers. I also have worked in various garages and the local custom trim/stereo shop learning everything I could along the way.

I got my '63 from a friend who had installed a fresh 327 in place of the stock 292 and swapped out the 3 on the tree to a turbo 350. He had moved onto Jeeps and the truck was just sitting in his back yard collecting dust needing only a minor repair to make it road worthy again. It was originally a long step side bed truck and it has the big back glass. I cut the frame down about two years ago and cut the bed up and shortened it to match. Last year I found a straight, solid fleet side bed and swapped it on. I've added 2 1/2 drop spindles, 3 inch drop springs in front and 5 inch drop springs out back. I also installed a set of cross drilled & slotted rotors up front and a power booster, power steering and a Old Air Products AC system. Future plans are to add air ride and a Porterbuilt drop member, a custom bridge out back and a set of 20 inch or larger billet wheels plus lots more.

I hope to make some friends here and learn some stuff and share my experiences as well. I'm not the type to stir up trouble and I won't even pretend to know it all so hopefully we will all get along nicely. I'll add some pictures of my ride so you guys can see what I've done. Look forward to talking with you guys! I just wish I had found this site a lot sooner!

[soba_03]

Welcome to the boards.. Glad you finally made it here..

If you can think of a question the folks here have done it.. It's a great place enjoy it...

BTW.. Great truck....

[4dranch]

Welcome, And nice looking ride you got...

[ChiefRocka]

Nice truck...my favorite year !!

Welcome to the dark side...you are definately stuck here now !!!

Everyone is cool here, and the info is never-ending !!

[SCOTI]

Nice truck.

It's always interesting to see them go through the phases of change like that: long-step, short-step, short-fleet & then everything back to the same color. Keep the updates (w/pics ) coming & welcome 'home'.

[Rogue 64]

Man, that truck need nothing but some gas in the tank!

Just drive it!

[kizer]

Not to offend any of the step side guys, but man that thing looks sweeeeet as a fleet.

I think originally mine was that color before somebody hit it with baby blue rattle can, but man I think I really like that as the original color seeing it on yours. I was wondering what it would look like with the side trim and honestly I really dig it with the two tone white you have on it.

You wouldn't happen to have a front end shot would you? Or a front shot with the side showing? Kinda like your last photo of the back/side?

[originalJD]

Very cool truck. Thanks for the pics and welcome to the site.

[MEANlowGREEN]

Originally Posted by kizer

Not to offend any of the step side guys, but man that thing looks sweeeeet as a fleet.

I think originally mine was that color before somebody hit it with baby blue rattle can, but man I think I really like that as the original color seeing it on yours. I was wondering what it would look like with the side trim and honestly I really dig it with the two tone white you have on it.

You wouldn't happen to have a front end shot would you? Or a front shot with the side showing? Kinda like your last photo of the back/side?

Thanks for the many compliments guys. I really appreciate them. I plan to take this truck to a whole 'nother level starting with a complete tear down & media blast within the next 12 months. I'm hoping to finally get my garage built within' the next 6 months so I can quit rolling around in the dirt and have a warm, dry place to do the job right. Here are a few more shots of the truck including some front angle views per kizer's request. Last shot includes my best bud Kirby and my daily driver '72 Dodge Dart.

[60ratrod]

welcome! i personally heart fleetsides. everyone here is friendly and many have answers to the questions that you might have or will know where to send you to find that answer

[PrerunnerRob]

That is one clean looking truck, very nice! Welcome to the board

[SCOTI]

Put a TKO500 behind that slant-6. Your performance & mpg's will both increase. 6's lose alot of their 'umph' when going through an auto trans so the TKO would help there & w/that OD 5th gear the 3.55's won't hurt @ all.

[MEANlowGREEN]

I love shiftin' gearz but I've had to install autos in my rides since breaking my back a few years back. I have nerve damage in my left side and I can't stand clutch pedals because of it. Otherwise I would be installing a A833 4 speed overdrive out of a Plymouth Volare or Dodge Aspen. Shiftin' gearz is lots of fun but autos street/strip shift kits that chirp the tires going into second are kinda cool too. I install one in every ride I drive. I may spring for a Gear Vendors overdrive someday but I'll have to crunch the numbers on that. They are rather costly...

[kizer]

Originally Posted by MEANlowGREEN

Thanks for the many compliments guys. I really appreciate them. I plan to take this truck to a whole 'nother level starting with a complete tear down & media blast within the next 12 months. I'm hoping to finally get my garage built within' the next 6 months so I can quit rolling around in the dirt and have a warm, dry place to do the job right. Here are a few more shots of the truck including some front angle views per kizer's request. Last shot includes my best bud Kirby and my daily driver '72 Dodge Dart.

Ok, its offical. My truck is going mint green. I've been wanting to see what it would look like since it was originally mint green, but the previous owner sprayed it baby blue to hide all its flaws.

I hope you don't mind I might even borrow the two tone white idea from you. Don't worry mine is a long bed so we wouldn't really be twins. As well its a long time before I hit paint so you don't have to worry about me stalking you. hahahaha I'm in the process of tearing it down to frame and painting everything so the body is way off.

[MEANlowGREEN]

Originally Posted by kizer

Ok, its offical. My truck is going mint green. I've been wanting to see what it would look like since it was originally mint green, but the previous owner sprayed it baby blue to hide all its flaws.

I hope you don't mind I might even borrow the two tone white idea from you. Don't worry mine is a long bed so we wouldn't really be twins. As well its a long time before I hit paint so you don't have to worry about me stalking you. hahahaha I'm in the process of tearing it down to frame and painting everything so the body is way off.

I don't mind at all. I'm painting this one a metallic lime green pearl anyhow. This mint green is what came on it when I bought it. When I got the new bed I sent a panel I had cut off when I shortened the step side to a place I found online and they matched the color and put it in spray cans for me. I used it to cover what was a show quality 2 stage paint job which kinda hurt but it was maroon and even though it was nice I had no intention of painting the cab maroon so it had to go. If I were you I would paint the strip in between the moldings on the doors & bed sides white as well when you repaint yours...

[kdrodworks316]

sweet lookin ride man, just cruize that thing

[Demmit_Hemmit's 65]

Welcome to the board from the Hoosier state............................This is a pretty good site to get info and help from................btw.......nice looking truck....................................Hemmit

[Hoffman65burb]

Welcome, great lookin truck!

[protrash64]

Nice work and a very cool truck.

[Alan's Classic]

Sweet lookin' truck!! Oh yeah, welcome from North Georgia.

[sixtyfour]

Wow, looks great as a short fleet side! I roll in a long step, there are very few of them around!!

[hewlett2002000]

welcome!!!!
John

[283 Man]

welcome to the board sweet looking 63 got a 63 and a 66 myself..hoping my 63 will look like that one day..

[Stepside65]

beautiful truck. How about some more pics of that dart now? Btw welcome to the board from SE New Mexico.

[MEANlowGREEN]

Originally Posted by Stepside65

beautiful truck. How about some more pics of that dart now? Btw welcome to the board from SE New Mexico.

Thanks for the compliment. Nobody shoot me for posting a bunch of Dodge pictures on here. I'm doing it by request! ) It's a mostly original '72 Swinger Special with a 225 Slant 6 and a 904 auto trans. The paint wheels and seat covers have been changed otherwise it is an unrestored 80,000 mile survivor. I have some mild performance upgrades just waiting to go on it. Including, Hooker Super Comp headers freshly back from Jet-Hot after being coated, a 2 barrel intake with fresh built carburetor, dual 4 inch round Magnaflow mufflers and X pipe, a 3.55:1 gear set with a limited slip differential unit and a Trans-Go shift kit. I just need the cash to get the exhaust bent up and I'll start installing it all. I mainly bought this to use as everyday transportation and the upgrades are aimed at improving mileage. All except for the 3.55 gears which I may or may not install. I'm gonna wait to see how she does with the other upgrades and make up my mind from there. I've already installed a Pertronix Ignitor electronic ignition and coil and a Flex-a-lite electric fan along with a thorough tune-up. I'm hoping to get into the 20+MPG range. It's been years since I've owned anything that got better than about 15MPG. (The '63 gets 13MPG when it's dialed in and providing I can keep my foot out of it and I CAN'T!!!)The skyrocketing gas prices are killing me! Hopefully this car will get me there and I won't have had to resort to a boring economy car for a daily driver. I hate driving boring stock vehicles!