63 c20 tear down/no money sidewalk build

[valero]

hows it goin!...finally got to start tearin down my $750 craigslist barn find now that the weathers warm

gonna try to keep the jabber short and the pictures abundant so heres a quick overview

-solid frame
-cab with some rust but strong rockers, floor panels, and firewall
-292 with 62k original miles, runs smooth, small oil leak through the valve cover gasket...no exhaust...little smokie during startup
-body.....well, youll see in the pics...

this is the first time ive ever tried to do any type of resto work, so needless to say, im learning as i go, plus i have 1 small spot in a 2 car garage, that barely fits the truck... in the city, with limited tools, lol...but your only as good as your ability to figure s#!t out with what you got, right!...so, as you can probably guess, theres not gonna be a lot of awesome metal fabrication, or performance engine work (at least not right now)....but, if you want, im always lookin forward to hearin everyones advice and opinions, so feel free

[valero]

when the truck was sittin in the garage (while the weather was bein an A-hole) i wanted to at least get something done...so i took out the heater box to clean out all the dried grass and hornets nests, and give it a little clean up

[aerotruk63]

What would you like to see the truck as when your finished, though you never do. I see your baggin & taggin and taking alot of pictures, wise move.

[valero]

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[valero]

Originally Posted by aerotruk63

What would you like to see the truck as when your finished, though you never do. I see your baggin & taggin and taking alot of pictures, wise move.

whats up aerotruck....as far as the look (as of now), mostly a stock cruiser/ daily driver with flavor i eventually want to do a 1/3 lowered stance, with gunmetal exterior paint, all white interior with chrome/gunmetal trim....still kinda contemplating a powder blue secondary to the gunmetal too, we'll see)
-definitely keepin the 292...i love the way it looks, and im slowly learning that these engines are strong as hell, and still able to be beefed up (if eventually i wanna go that route)
-3" white wall tires, with smoothies

annnnnd....thats about all i got right now...

[CHIZZLER]

nice lookin truck.do you plan on driving at stock stance. that patina looks killer

[valero]

Originally Posted by danny piscitelli

nice lookin truck.do you plan on driving at stock stance. that patina looks killer

thanks man! ya know, the only reason i dont like the stock stance is cause of that stinkbug look it has when theres no payload in the bed...so eventually im gonna do a 1/3 to get that semi-lowered/muscle-ish look without droppin it...

[valero]

heres what ive done over the past few weeks...

picked up a cheap impact wrench from menards, grabbed my landlords sawsall(cuts like butter!!!! i love that thing, some pb blast, and my socket wrench set and just dove in...haha

tons of dirt, metal, rust and my skin flyin everywhere....good times

[CHIZZLER]

nice. i really like the worn out paint.that was the look i was going for.

[valero]

Originally Posted by danny piscitelli

nice. i really like the worn out paint.that was the look i was going for.

lol, i dig it too man...but im way into paint so eventually i wanna get it lookin a little sexier...and ya know, so the lady will feel the same way when shes cruisin with me...hahaha...but yeah, from what i can see, your truck looks sic though!...

[LILRED66]

Great rig to start with. It looks complete and in restorable condition. As with any new project, I suggest having a plan, no matter how big or small, before enbarking on a journey like this. Since time, money, space, tools and knowledge are often important elements of a project, it is rather important to have a plan based on the availability of all of these things. So often, in the haste of "making it happen", the running/driving truck is torn down to the frame, without a plan and when the overwhelming task of putting it back together is too much to comprehend, so the project goes to the wayside.

Keep up the good work and the photos rolling. Thanks for sharing.

[valero]

Originally Posted by LILRED66

Great rig to start with. It looks complete and in restorable condition. As with any new project, I suggest having a plan, no matter how big or small, before enbarking on a journey like this. Since time, money, space, tools and knowledge are often important elements of a project, it is rather important to have a plan based on the availability of all of these things. So often, in the haste of "making it happen", the running/driving truck is torn down to the frame, without a plan and when the overwhelming task of putting it back together is too much to comprehend, so the project goes to the wayside.

Keep up the good work and the photos rolling. Thanks for sharing.

hey tony! yeah man, i hear ya...sometimes im sittin there with the sawsall, a glass of scotch and a crazy twitch in my eye and i say to myself....walk away dude, walk away....haha...

but all that aside, my plan (in short) is to clean up the front end, tune up the engine, get the suspension and steering solid, derust and paint the panels, get the front clip back on, then move to the cab, and then the rear-end/bed while trying to keep the truck running throughout the whole process....i know its easy to say all this and its even its easier to get out of hand...so im just forcing myself to be patient and concentrate on one thing before i move onto the next....

[aerotruk63]

P.S. Once you have cleaned and painted something, put it back together as much as you can while the memory of fasteners, clips and such are still fresh. It will be harder to do the longer the truck is apart. A clip board or note book would be handy for listing parts to replace or for ordering. Watch for shelving on big garbage days to hold the parts your restoring and accumulating. Industrial racking can be a huge benefit in tight spaces. Tool wise, beg and borrow the expensive stuff. Remeber K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple Stupid. Don't let it get out of hand.

[valero]

Originally Posted by aerotruk63

P.S. Once you have cleaned and painted something, put it back together as much as you can while the memory of fasteners, clips and such are still fresh. It will be harder to do the longer the truck is apart. A clip board or note book would be handy for listing parts to replace or for ordering. Watch for shelving on big garbage days to hold the parts your restoring and accumulating. Industrial racking can be a huge benefit in tight spaces. Tool wise, beg and borrow the expensive stuff. Remeber K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple Stupid. Don't let it get out of hand.

well said man, im very familiar with the K.I.S.S. method...we had it drilled into our heads when i was in paramedic school, cause once you make something harder than it has to be, s@#t can go awry real quick... but yeah, everything ive taken apart on the truck (especially hardware, etc..) has gone in labeled and organized plastic bags...shoot if it didnt, my little apt. would be a dump for sure, lol...

[wild one]

Just a thought, but your truck looks to be a prime candidate for the CLR and scotch brite trick - removes the rust and leaves the paint! Check out post #678 and #679 on page 28 in the link for more details...http://www.impalas.net/forums/showthread.php?p=21924

[andyh1956]

hey nice truck. luv longbeds. washing truck parts in the sink & painting on kitchen table? not married, huh?
andy

[valero]

Originally Posted by andyh1956

hey nice truck. luv longbeds. washing truck parts in the sink & painting on kitchen table? not married, huh?
andy

hahahahah! thanks andy, that obvious huh shoot, and it aint happenin til she lets me use her clothes hangers to paint my parts with either!....(good luck with that though right)...

[valero]

Originally Posted by wild one

Just a thought, but your truck looks to be a prime candidate for the CLR and scotch brite trick - removes the rust and leaves the paint! Check out post #678 and #679 on page 28 in the link for more details...http://www.impalas.net/forums/showthread.php?p=21924

thanks wildone, i had seen that a while back and wanted to give it a try, but then i stumbled upon this stuff...
-->http://safestrustremover.com
ive been grindin away at most of the body parts with a wire wheel...and its pretty effective, but obviously you cant get to those "nooks and crannies," so, im glad i found this site...i think im gonna save get the "5 gal. concentrate" and a small 1/6 hp submergable pump, hose and tarp to do my body panels and the whole front end...
...talked to them over the phone as well, and they were extremely helpful and informative...check em out if your interested...