Project "PaPaw"

[KEWLKATDADY]

So just a little history of about this truck.
My dad has owned (2nd owner) since the early 80's and was his daily driver up until '99.
The day he brought this truck home my mom dubbed it "Papaw" because it looked like an old man's truck. The name has stuck for over 3 decades.
My oldest memories are sleeping in the floor board of this truck coming home from weekend lake trips. The was "dad's truck" my whole childhood.

He and I did a freshen-up job on it back around 1990. 468/ th400 with a shift kit, paint and interior.

This was now my truck in high school thru '95. I got a new truck, and he went back to daily driving it up until '99. This is when the old big block had some head issue and we pulled it apart and got very un motivated. Dad bought a new truck and Papaw went out to pasture (backyard behind the shop). It's still there today, in all its glory, heads off, squirrel sanctuary.

[KEWLKATDADY]

We've had SEVERAL conversations about what to do with PaPaw. The concensus was to get rid of it.
Neither one of us was very motivated to get rid of the old truck and then finally I saw a commercial Chevy commercial that hit home for me as I just had a son.
http://youtu.be/obW8DQByHKw

This commercial is going to cost me a TON of cash. But it'll be worth it to see me son white smoke the tire on this truck just like I used too.

[KEWLKATDADY]

So the plans are:
6.0/ 4l80E conversion- I bought a 2004 2500HD with the lq4 that I'm stripping the drivetrain

frame up restoration.

There is some rust in the normal spots, but dad and I have a lot of work ahead of us.
We're not in any hurry, we want to do it right.

[slowcpe]

Nice truck and with the history I wouldn't sell it at all. 1967 CST shortbed AC truck? Very nice!

[KEWLKATDADY]

I don't think its a CST, I think its just a custom.

They may be 1 in the same, I'm not sure.

[octain]

A 67 with factory air? No way I'd let that one go.

[67chevy1series]

This truck has some really nice options! If say this is a pretty uncommon 67 as most were longbed fleet or shortbed stepside and most don't have factory AC cabs

[KEWLKATDADY]

So this weekend I was able to peel away from the wife and kid for a few hours. Went over the shop and started stripping the '04 donor vehicle. 3 hours on Saturday got me here...

[KEWLKATDADY]

a few more hours on sunday got me here...

[KEWLKATDADY]

Pulled the '04 lq4 motor, trans(4L80e), tac and gas pedal.
engine and trans harness were also pulled.

[KEWLKATDADY]

so after the drive train falling into our laps, we decided we had to get the shop ready for the project. Storage shed built, dry wall tear out, new insulation and dry wall. The birth of my daughter it was finally time to get started.
Truck recovery:

[KEWLKATDADY]

pressure wash

[KEWLKATDADY]

cleaned up nicely!

[cooperhw]

Boy she cleans up real nice. great story with all the history that truck brings to the party I would NEVER sell it.
Going to have 3 generations of memories attached. Maybe 4?? in the distant future.

[Xeen]

Originally Posted by KEWLKATDADY

cleaned up nicely!

Boy I'll say, we all dream of starting with one that nice and free is always a bonus.

A little clear coat compound and some elbow grease and I bet you that paint will shine up real nice.

[KEWLKATDADY]

I jokingly said "we don't even need to paint it" it actually did shine. I was shocked.

The truck was taken to bare metal in 1990 ish. the paint has held up well except in the spots where there were scratches. The rear window bottom corners are rusted pretty bad and the outter rockers will need replace.
It may be a few more months before any major work happens. This resto is in no hurry.

Other than that, total interior resto and ALOT of wiring due to rat/ squirrel damage.

I'm pretty stoked. Only thing holding me back is family(time) and cash.

[Elliot949]

Great Story.... Welcome... I will be following along as the 67/68 trucks have a soft spot in my heart...

[Xeen]

What are your build plans other than the LS motor?
Are you going to be doing the metal repair yourself or subbing it out?

[Justin@EntropyRad]

Love the truck..just some bolt-ons on the LQ4 and you will love it

[KEWLKATDADY]

Originally Posted by Xeen

What are your build plans other than the LS motor?
Are you going to be doing the metal repair yourself or subbing it out?

There is really very minor metal work that the truck needs. The more I look at it, the more I find. I'm working on get the passenger door open (something is seized up) I've bee jacking with this for a few hours here and there will no success. Once we finally get the door open and clean all the rat/squirrel crap out of it and remove the seat and carpet, I'll have a better understanding of what condition the truck is in. I know drip rail and outer rocker. Rear window has some issues and a couple of other minor spots. As long as it stays minor, we'll do the repair, if it gets too out of control, we'll have a decision to make.

Originally Posted by Justin@EntropyRad

Love the truck..just some bolt-ons on the LQ4 and you will love it

Going to do cam, 823 heads and intake. Then a tune should really bring it alive.

[KEWLKATDADY]

got a picture of the SPID yesterday.

[68Gold/white]

Look'n Good in the neighborhood!!!

[68bowtie]

awesome truck and neat story. hang onto that thing, it's a keeper!

[JJ's Sierra Grande]

I agree with the others, great starting point. and as you said, there's no rush on it so don't be intimidated by it. it seems to be easier if you set your build and your purchases in small goals. I think everyone can agree if we just looked at the total of hours and $$ we will end up spending we would never think it possible. But in small batches it seems way more achievable. good luck I'm definitely following along.

[notsolo]

Great truck, as I read it Dad is going to help with the build...Priceless....My 2 cents, I would be to add Front disk brakes and a booster, 3 point seat belts. Carry On.