'67 step-side replacement rear bumper

[Richard8971]

Sence I have gotten a couple of complements on the insides of the bed I thought I would post a couple of more close ups of the inside bed skins I put in. The cab should be painted in the next couple of days and then I can mount it on the truck and start putting the cab and front end back together.

Later for now...

Don

[Richard8971]

The fenders have been reworked and ready to block for paint. I will paint them tomorrow and I will post pics. Here is the before and after.

[PanelDeland]

Just curious as to why you did not relocate the tank.As much work as you have put into this project(and it shows very nicely by the way)I would think since it is for "KEEPS" you would want to get the fuel and smell out of the cab.I love that color and think the short step w/small window is the ultimate body syle of these trucks.
BTW,I'm subscribing to this thread.

[Richard8971]

Originally Posted by PanelDeland

Just curious as to why you did not relocate the tank.

I thought about it but I wanted my money to go to getting the truck mostly finished and back on the road. I knew if I kept the truck as original as possible I could keep costs down. If I ever decide in the future to relocate the tank, the beauty of this is, I can make the change and weld up the hole and repaint that part of the cab. It's not like I can't make changes down the road if I decide to do something different.

Personally, I kind of like the "old" look of having the fuel fill tube in the cab.

In the couple of weeks of driving it before I tore it down, I never noticed a gasoline smell in the cab. I figured that either the seals were in good shape or maybe thats because I have been around paint fumes for 20 years and my sence of smell is shot.

Thanks for the complements!

[basketcase]

Nice work. When I read that you wanted a beefy rear bumper I was thinking that you needed my old diamond plate step but I see that you already have one. If anyone else feels the need for ultimate rear protection you can have it for hauling it away.

Thanks for the pics of the side marker removal on the stepside fenders. I'll be doing the same thing over the winter. My truck also had a sunroof. I have a doner roof for patch panels. Should be fun.

[Richard8971]

Originally Posted by basketcase

When I read that you wanted a beefy rear bumper I was thinking that you needed my old diamond plate step but I see that you already have one.

I think my truck raised up about 4 inches in the back when I got that behemoth off of the back end of my truck. Good lord. It took me a day or two to get out from under that thing when it fell on top of me. A semi truck could smash into the back end and get totaled with that thing back there.

I have a rear bumper off of my old ("old...") '97 Dodge full size that I think I will use. I think with some bracket modifications I can make it work and it seems to be the right size and strong enough to take a good hit. Thanks for the complements, good luck on your build!

Don

[Richard8971]

Here is a photo of the painted fenders. I (as with the rest of the truck) painted them yesterday and then wet-sanded the clear with 800 grit paper to smooth out the orange peel and then re-cleared them today. The photos are of the re-clear. I should have the cab painted by this weekend. Whoo Hooo!

[kyull67]

Looks great! I'm a little bit jealous.

[Spanky_Pete]

Looks like a very fun build you've got going. I love that paint choice.

[Richard8971]

Originally Posted by kyull67

Looks great! I'm a little bit jealous.

Don't be jealous. This project has taken way more hours than I care to admit. I appreciate the complements from all of you. Like it has been said, most people would have passed on this truck. Maybe that is just the stubborn streak in me. There are alot of pieces on this project that should have been replaced with new ones, but I decided to rework them instead, mainly because I am a poor body shop owner. This truck has several rust issues that I am sure will present a problem in the near future, but I am willing to deal with them later as they creep up.

The only way I have been able to afford this truck is that 1) the truck was given to me. 2) I am able to do the work myself and my shop is covering some of the cost of the materials for advertising purposes and 3) the paint was donated by my paint supplier because he believes I can finish this project.

All of the "upgrades" like the 700R4 transmission to the power brakes and power steering are from B & R auto wrecking in Oregon. Talk to Buddy there, he can help you find anything you need. I have alot of support from friends and esp my wife, Shea. She is a huge Chevy fan (she owns a '96 chevy x-cab dually) and loves the idea of finishing this project and having something we can show at the local events.

I am not sure I would ever try to rebuild such a beat truck again. There are way too many clean rust-free trucks out there that are simply begging to be redone. This is the first old truck I have done for myself and I am looking forward to getting it back on the road. I will post more pics as I finish each step. Thanks again guys!

[ChiefRocka]

I like the way you work...very clean work , and attention to the details !!!!

I am the same way when it comes to the mechanical/custom side of engines, suspensions and chassis'.

Awesome body-work, man !!!

Nice color too !!!

That is cool that you were able to get it in a two stage !!!! What a help out that must of been.

Keep the pics coming !!!

[Richard8971]

Phew... after a couple of weeks of out-of-town company and crap going on at my shop.... BEHOLD!!! The painted cab!!! Serious though, now that it's painted I can start putting this beast back together. Just need to paint the doors and then I can maybe start driving this thing in the next couple three weeks. Wish me luck... Hope you enjoy the updated photos!

[JHART]

I love that color ....

Yep .... i'm jelous. MORE PICS PLEASE!!!

[Richard8971]

Originally Posted by JHART

MORE PICS PLEASE!!!

Ok... I started putting interior stuff back in and took a few more photos. I love how everything is comming together. I need to get the cab over to Ben at Lad's to finish up the carpet so I can get my seat, seatbelts and tank back in. I am going to try to get the engine and tranny back in the frame this weekend so I can mount the cab and start getting the front end back together. Everything is painted except my doors but they are ready to be blocked and colored. Sence this will be driven daily I didn't see the need to paint inside the engine compartment the color of the truck, so I painted it flat black. Hopefully I should have more pics soon...

[Richard8971]

Ok, got the engine, tranny and cab on today as well as the fenders and grille. I posted pics so I hope you enjoy. I ran into one "problem". When I dropped my 305 engine with the 700R4 transmission in, I do not have a rear transmission crossmember. Any ideas on where to get one or will I have to make one? Either way is cool, just wondered if any of you all's had some thoughts. Carpet, front winshield and back glass will get put in this week and I will paint the doors this weekend. I still need to get the bed wood, but thats the least of my worries. Need to rebuild my wiring harness next... that should be fun...

Till next time...

[toomanytoyz]

Look's Great, I Really Like the way it's coming together for You..............

Rick

[PanelDeland]

Richard, there are lots of auto tranny crossmembers out there.You will probably have to find one in the "Auto Recyclers"(wrecking or junk yard.Should you subscribe to the BB then you could use the parts section.There may be one listed or you can post a WIB(want to buy).
The truck is really looking good and coming together well.Should make a nice rolling business card.

[72Levi]

If you have no time, you can always buy one here, www.earlyclassic.com they sell one. Your truck is looking great.

63-72 700R4 TRANSMISSION CONV. KIT

KIT INCLUDES CROSSMEMBER, RUBBER MOUNT, STAINLESS SHIFT LINKAGE, ADJUSTABLE VACUUM SWITCH AND HOSE, LOCKUP SOLENOID, PRESSURE SWITCH,
AND ALL NECESSARY WIRING AND HARDWARE.

$299

[Richard8971]

Originally Posted by 72Levi

If you have no time...

I have plenty of time, it's the 'plenty-of-money' thing I have problems with. I will prolly go with a conversion kit, seems to be the best way to tackle the job. Here are a couple of pics of the rear glass and the front windshield and the headlights installed. Looking back at the truck when I first got it, it's hard to believe it's the same truck. I just gotta finish the doors, hopefully this weekend. Carpet got postponed until next week which is ok, that will give me time to drill the new holes for my Ford Mustang shoulder strap seatbelts I'll be installing. Funny what you use when you have totaled cars in your shop and available to you to strip before they take them away to get scrapped... I'll keep you guys posted.

[toomanytoyz]

Good Job, Still Really like your Color Choice.................

Rick

[Richard8971]

Originally Posted by toomanytoyz

Good Job, Still Really like your Color Choice.................

Rick

Thanks Rick, I get more complements on that color than anything else. It just has to be the coolest, cleanest, most beautiful orange pearl out there. What I like about it the best is that even when the sun isn't out, it simply looks like a really nice looking solid bright orange. But when the sun is out... those pearls really light up. Not too many orange pearls can say that, most get muddy looking on the side cast or when the sun isn't out. Even tri-stage orange pearls can get a little funky looking in certain lights or in certain angles of viewing. Just FYI, I have gone through 2 gallons of basecoat color alone and almost 2 gallons of clear and I still have more to paint. I like how everything matches even though it was painted piece by piece, not all at once after assembly.

[sergio rios]

looks great keep it up.........

[Richard8971]

Just a couple of pics to bring this whole project back into perspective. Some before and after pics if you will. Reminds me why this project has taken almost a year so far...

Hard to believe it's the same truck.

[toomanytoyz]

Were u able to Mount the Mustang Belt's Yet, I'm interested in seeing how these come out? May want to do them in my 67 Mike is Building...........

Thanks, Rick

Truck Still looking Awsome, You Have Done an Outstanding Job on it, Should Help Your Shop a Lot when People see how Talented you are....................

[Richard8971]

Originally Posted by toomanytoyz

Were u able to Mount the Mustang Belt's Yet, I'm interested in seeing how these come out? May want to do them in my 67 Mike is Building...........

Thanks, Rick

Truck Still looking Awsome, You Have Done an Outstanding Job on it, Should Help Your Shop a Lot when People see how Talented you are....................

Hey Rick, I have figured out how to do the seatbelt arrangement. I don't have pics yet, so I will try to explain the best I can until I can post them. The belts were taken from a '96ish Mustang. They were the rear seatbelts. I had to bend the mounting bracket to match the position they would naturally sit so that the belts would side in and out without catching. I had to drill a new hole in the floor to bolt the belt housing to sit in it's natural position. If you try to mount a seatbelt in anything other than it's designed position, you cannot easily pull the belt from the housing because the mechanics think they were in an accident if you don't. I really hope this makes sence without pics. I will post them tomorrow on how I did it. I just didn't want to put lap belts in. I wanted the protection of the shoulder belts.

Thanks for the complements Rick, I really hope you are happy with your truck when it's finished. I love the way it's being built. I have been following your thread... it's good to see how other people tackle a project like that. Gives me ideas...

"talent" is a very mis-understood word. In my world, "talent" costs money. My customers have a VERY hard time letting go if that thing called "money". They love how the finished job looks, but when you tell them that the same job will cost them 10-15K, they freak out. Guess you need to have a sence of humor in my line of work... Keeps me sane... right???

Don