My 1969 swb patina truck, need some help

[murguia]

Just picked this up off of the second owner and I'm finally in a position to build a patina driver.

Background:

Truck came out of Lindsay/Tulare area where it was used as a farm truck all of it's life. I just had a family member contact me about the truck and the second owner wanted to get rid of it so I shot down and picked it up.

It's all original sheet metal with the only rust being in the rockers. It's had one repaint but that's back to the original color. Interior and motor compartment are all original. She fires up but can use a major tune up.

Options (Simple)
V-8 truck with a 3 on the tree

Here is where I need help.

My plan for the truck is to replace all of the moldings, front bumper, grill, tires, powder coat the original steelies and to re-do the entire interior to original.

Motor wise, I'd like to rebuild the original motor in it but I wan to change over the 3 speed to an automatic with a 700 R4 transmission and maybe a different rear end? I want to add power steering and power brakes as well. When all is said and done I'm going to bag the truck so it lays as low as possible without having to cut it up.

I'm wondering how hard it is and exactly what needs to be done to convert to the 700R4 with an automatic and if the rear end on there now will be good or if I should swap it out for another.

Please feel free to chime in on this as I really don't know where I should start.

[murguia]

Picture

[VetteVet]

,,,,,,
http://www.google.com/custom?domains...D%3A1%3B&hl=en

[68bowtie]

congrats on a nice find! lots of potential there...

my suggestion is start with the bare minimum to get it on the road (tune-up, brakes, etc). then take it piece by piece with the cosmetic stuff. drive it and enjoy it til you're ready for the bags and drivetrain work. i've learned the hard way not to start out biting off too much and ending up with a garage full of parts and no time/money to finish...

[sierragrande71]

Nice truck

[yuccales]

Good looking truck.

[BB72CHEVKT]

Score!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mike C]

5" - 7" static drop with c-notch. Re-do the interior, add power steering and discs with a 5 lug swap. Buy a TH200 4R and keep stock rear end (should use same driveshaft as the 3 speed). Add some tunes maybe a Vintage Air. Drive the crap out of it.

Hey, that sounds like my truck! Saving up for the TH200...

[murguia]

So far I've cleaned the whole inside out, replaced the mat, cleaned the seat, redid all the brakes, put a power brake system, replaced the front bumper, rebuilt the carb and put a new tank, powder coated the rims, new tires, new rear view set up, new belts

On it's way, original tilt, original wheel, nice set of 3/4 caps, new moldings all the way around, redo the electrical, buff out the paint, swap it to an automatic tranny, bag it and put a stereo in it

[murguia]

Before

[murguia]

After

[murguia]

New bumper

[murguia]

Moldings coming off

[murguia]

New mat and trim, should I keep the seat original or recover it?

[murguia]

Before

[murguia]

After

[murguia]

Trim off. More to come

[murguia]

Buffed out, new sound system, mint hub caps mounted.

Next comes 700r4, tilt column, original wheel and then bags

[murguia]

Caps

[tommys72]

Nice progress. Looks good

[murguia]

Thanks brotha! It's coming along slowly but surely

[chopnchaneled]

Thats one of my favorite color combo's
Congrats on your find, I'm gonna tag along and see how this comes out,
you have a good start.

[CaliLivn]

Lookin real good. If I may ask how'd you buff your paint out?

[murguia]

You know I probably shouldn't have said buffed out. I used mothers rubbing compound by hand and it took a lot of the oxidation off but it took forever and was a workout! It did come out nice though

[murguia]

Almost done