Mike J's ratty 68 Longbed project

[Mike J]

FINALLY gonna start a build thread on my truck. Got motivated the past couple months and have really gotten started on it. Pushed it in the garage about a year ago and there it sat until maybe Oct. of 2009.
Began by ordering a TON of parts, and I'm slowly but surely making some progress...

I'll begin by listing what I've gotten done so far, but I haven't really taken any pictures til recently. Sorry guys, I know how everybody here loves pics!!!

[Mike J]

Ok, I bought the 6-lug Grand Slam kit from CPP and installed most the the front end by now. I have 3" drop springs and 2.5" drop spindles. New tie-rods inner and outer, the custom CPP adjusters, new upper and lower balljoints, and front disc and caliper conversion, also drop shocks. Just sanded and black spray-bombed frame in front and both upper and lower control arms and the new backing plates.
Removed inner fender wells. Installed CPP disc master cylinder/power brake booster and new proportioning valve. Bought 6' lengths of front and rear hardlines, but havent run them yet.
Got 6-lug Wheel Vintiques Truck Corvette Rally copies in 15x7 (all 4 corners), painted them red and mounted 225/75r15 skinny whitewall tires. Also using 4.5" Bullet centers in the wheels and Bullet style lug nuts. No trim rings.

[Mike J]

Bought a bunch of engine parts to get her running again- she has a mid-70's model 250 6-cylinder (which I plan to keep in her) - got new plugs, wires, cap, rotor, and coil cover for the HEI dist. that someone else had already installed. (bonus!) Also got a rebuildt Monojet carb and linkeage off of Ebay. New carb base gaskets, new carb fuel filter and a new in-line fuel filter as well. new valve cover gasket and new side cover gaskets- but I haven't installed them yet. Got a giant 4-core radiator (overkill but only one they had in stock- got it for the 1-core price!) and bought new upper and lower radiator mounts and pads- turned out radiator was too tall for upper mounts, so I made some of my own. New radiator hoses and heater hoses. Also installed electic fan (in front as puller) because no room for factory mecanical fan with the giant radiator. Wired up fan with relay. Soon as I got her running realised the heater core is blown-- so I now have one on order.

Update more later-- and I'll add in some pics

[Mike J]

Here's some pics finally. The first ones are right when I got the truck. The rest of them, including engine bay pics, are recent ones after i've been working on it.

[Mike J]

some more pics of progress.

[Mike J]

I know my project probably isn't all that exciting, but I just wanted to have all my pics that I do have together in the same place. Slowly but surely I'm getting closer and closer to getting her on the road...

[Mike J]

I didn't too much exciting last night. I cut the old rear springs out (retainers had welded nut broken loose, just spinning) and removed rear shocks. Bolted my wheels and tires on and let it down on the aux. rear springs just to see how it sat. Looks really good!
Anyways, also removed the radiator again and installed a new battery box- old one was really rusted out.
Also drilled out the hole and installed blue dot in one new taillight lens. Will do the other one tonight.
Slowly but surely! at least it's progress...

[Sinister]

Nice! Your wheels/tires look great.

[sgaylord]

Keep it up and you will have something you are really proud of. It takes a lot to bring back one of these trucks. I think it's because of that time dedicated that makes us love them so much.

[Mike J]

Got the bed bolts out tonight, need to take the bed off soon. Also got 3 of the 6 stake pocket holes filled in and ground down. Took a picture of one tacked in, need to get it off my phone. My fiance is out of town all weekend so I need to get some work done while she's gone.

[Mike J]

Me and 3 friends pulled the bed last night and set it up on some sawhorses. Started tearing down the rear suspension. It's time to start cutting out more rivets, yay!

[Mike J]

Got the driver's side c-notch finished today- ran out of cut-off wheels til tomorrow- man, it sure is scary cutting your frame and not knowing if you're in the the right place! lol - but the driver's side came out real nice.

[OARNGESI]

Really nice how low is the back going to be

[Mike J]

just 7" drop for now - 5" spring and 2" block - will eventually be step-notching and bagging- but this is just phase 1 lol

[Mike J]

Ok, so here's where I am at the moment:

[royo]

T T T I hope you and the windshield made it home ok seeya royo

[VA72C10]

Looks like a cool project!!!!

[Mike J]

Roy - Yeah I made it just fine, got home a few hours ago. Yeah, after seeing your avatar pic, 've checked out your truck quite a few times, pretty badass! Once again, good to meet ya brother!

VA72C10 - Thanks man, appreciate the comment. My project is coming along pretty well, slowly but surely!

[Mike J]

Went and picked up a windshield, rear sport bumper, and some cab sheetmetal from BillBowtie today! Thanks again Bill!!! I've been doing lots of work on the truck lately... really need some new pics, and some better pics- I know how everyone on the site loves pics!!!

BTW, if I hadn't said before, Truck's name is "Gurdy" My girlfriend named the truck, and I think the name fits pretty well.

[bigguy69]

looks like a cool project!

[royo]

Hey bud look here this guy has what your looking for. and his in your area

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=394680

[Mike J]

Well, The car show I was building the truck for is this Sunday, and I finally have her out on the road!!! Will be going back and doing more bodywork over the winter again, but am gonna take her to some shows and enjoy driving her all summer!!!

here's the latest pics:

[OARNGESI]

Trucks look great enjoy the summer

[Mike J]

thanks man, I appreciate the comment!

[bigguy69]

i like it i wouldnt change a thing!!!