Baby Blue 1967 Renew Project

[kxmotox247]

I probably should have started a post when I began disassembly. I've gotten a bunch of PM's asking about the project over the past year when people figured out I dissected the truck. Most people will recognize it as the 1967 SWB truck from the House of Kolor digital digital paintbooth software.
The truck hasn't been on the road since around 2008. I kept putting it off since every time I thought about what I wanted to do...the list kept growing. I finally dove in and disassembled the truck completely over a long labor day weekend in 2013. My motivation has been giving my wife something fun to drive and to also perfect a truck that had a good look to it before but was short on details. It still won't be perfect but it will be a very nice truck that I want her to drive.

I paid a guy to come to my house to blast all the large pieces with crushed glass. It was $150 an hour and well spent. Lucky for me I work at a place with a large glass bead blaster so I did a bunch myself. Within a month and a half I had everything blasted and recoated with epoxy and back on the frame. The truck had several surprises waiting for me under the old paint. Even the good areas weren't that great. Fortunately rust was fairly minor. I reassembled everything to replace the inner and outer rockers as well as several other very small patches. I had lots of "gapping" to do and was less than pleased with the fit of the repro goodmark fenders. The drivers side was decent but the passenger side was a joke.
The truck had a 350/350 in it and everything I have gets a big block so that had to go and a dual quad topped 468 sits in it's place. The truck had a Camaro rear that fit but was a wimpy 3:08 open so I cut down a Ford 9" traction-lock that fits even better. Tire sizes remain virtually the same but the rear is slightly taller. I always felt the rears on there before were a little too thin.
Once all the sheetmetal work was finished I stripped it back off the frame and dissected the chassis. I fabbed several new crossmembers and put in a PB trailing arm crossmember for the adjustability and ease of running the exhaust thru it for clearance. All new stainless brake lines and virtually everything is powdercoated.
I finished the chassis and have been working on bodywork and final paint for the past 3 months at home in my booth. I was trying to beat winter to get everything done but it looks like I'll have to save the work on the bed till early Spring since it's harder to keep the place adequately warm without breaking the bank on utilities. My wife and I mixed the color ourselves. It's a little darker than what was on it before but still lighter than the stock 1967 light blue. We mixed House of Kolor shimrin2 white with a Valspar blue toner. Over that we sprayed 3 coats of SG-150 flake carrier with blue ice pearl suspended in it. The clear coat is UFC-35 which is a flow clear that has excellent gloss.
The truck was a factory air truck but everything in the stock system had issues so I've gone the vintage air route. Hopefully over xmas I'll get my new wiring done. Everything will be fresh.
I've enjoyed reading the build threads on here. I'm amazed at how well some of these guys document their projects. I've taken a ton of pictures but just haven't taken any time to share until now. I'm super pumped up because I've got the cab back on now with the doors in place and by the end of the weekend I'm hoping to have the front clip back together. Hope you guys like the progress.

[kxmotox247]

More pics... setting everything back up with fresh mounts.

[kxmotox247]

More...

[kxmotox247]

Still just setting up everything... new rear end. New rockers are in. Exhaust is finished and can be seen sticking out. Getting ready to take everything back apart again.

[kxmotox247]

Color experiments.... final mix and some fresh paint pics... Bed floor in final priming.

[kxmotox247]

Putting the cab back on a few weeks ago. You have to be creative! Doors are on now. Valve covers and dual quad setup is in place. This weekend is the front clip. I hope to have some updates to share but hopefully none that include anything about chipped paint. That's it for tonight.

[GSFMECH]

Awesome!! I've always loved this truck and it will be even better now.

[kgmunro]

Love this truck!

[Sac]

Looks awesome! That color combo against the motor is badass!

[kxmotox247]

Put the front clip together today. Don't have the latch painted yet though. I'm a big believer in using the 1/8" holes to help aid in realignment after paint. So much easier when you don't have to fight that battle. I'll get some better pictures once I get the garage picked up.
Thanks for the compliments! I'm really happy with the color combo too. I had the inner fenders powder coated but decided to paint the engine compartment side. Same with the hood. I had planned on shooting everything semi-gloss black but I'm glad I went with the body color.

[greystoke]

really looks fantastic..even love the green primer. Beautiful truck!!!!

[HSRACER]

Beautiful truck! I grew up in Illinois and my parents still live up there. I miss it some times until I remember the winters. I will be following along

[smbrouss70]

I've wondered what had happened with this truck. I'm glad to see that it is getting some love. Looks Good! keep us updated.

[Hart_Rod]

One of my favorites.

[gringoloco]

Rebirth of an icon. Whatever happened to the similarly setup Blazer?

[low&slow]

I'll follow even though it looks like you're just about to finish it up

[kxmotox247]

I'm not sure what happened to the Blazer. It was pretty solid. Probably still up in the Northern Indiana area.
I'd like to think I'm on the better side of wrapping it up. Still a lot to do. I decided to give up on painting the bed and focus more on getting the rest of the truck finished. The bed has been guide-coated several times and is almost ready for paint but I think it'll have to wait till March or April.

[kxmotox247]

Thanks again for the compliments. I'm hoping to get quite a bit more done during the holidays.

[Bennett68C10]

Man this is a beautiful truck, love everything about it.

[lolife99]

Wow.
Like others,... I always wondered what happened to this truck and the blazer.
Love them both.
And your's just got better!!
Keep the updates coming.

[kxmotox247]

Thanks guys!

[Elliot949]

Following this... Would go great with my 67... LOL

[slowcpe]

Great looking truck! Dig the red one too!

[c10Dream'n]

this truck is SAHWEET!!!!!!!!
what are the specs on the wheels and suspension setup, I don't recall ever seeing it. thanks

[kxmotox247]

Thanks... Wheels are 18x8's and 20x10's. 245/40/18 and 295/45/20. I'm running 3" drop spindles and bags with a notch in the rear.

Worked on prepping my steering column and brake booster for paint tonight. Probably will prime those tomorrow and possibly start laying down dynamat in the cab so I can start putting it together.

Ordered a power steering rebuild kit today. I've never had one apart but they don't look too bad. I figure I might as well throw $10 worth of seals at it while I can. There's lots of good write ups on the web for those.

Attempted to put my new headlight bezels on and the mounting holes are off. WTF? I fit the truck with TWO different pairs of OEM bezels so I know it's the repros that are off. I should send my OEM steel ones out for chrome. I wonder what that costs.....