68 LONG BED to SB Fleet

[68 short step]

looks good

[VA72C10]

Looks good...that's a cool color...we have a cabinet paint color called seaspray that looks similar to that and is very popular right now.

[Frizzle Fry]

Booya!

[blakeaz33]

Thanks guys - I've been driving it around with the black stripes on the bed for a while so I'm looking forward to one color again. I'm actually liking the green also VA72C10 seeing the new paint, my brother told me that I would end up panel painting the entire truck once I did the bed. I was planning on just the bed so I could try the painting myself and eventually having my brother help me out when I do a frame off color change to red. I'll post some pictures once I get a couple of coats on the runny side and have it back together.

[RCbowtie69]

looks great

[scottco]

Great job !!!!!! Getting ready to do my 68 !

[scottco]

Any new progress ? Did you custom make the driveshaft?

[blakeaz33]

Got everything back together after painting the bed - I've spent the last 2 weeks on collecting all the part for a PS upgrade. I've got everything for power steering except the correct pully for my pump - I've got four different pulleys and my belt alignment is 1/4" off with the closest one. I talked with someone today that may have the right one for me, as soon as I get the pulley I just have to switch out my manual box for the power box. I also have AC so I'll install that once the PS is done. I have my strong arms and bags, drop spindles, full disc brake set up, everything for the front but don't have the bags for the back or the air system yet. I think I'll put a 2004R or a 700R4 in before I finish the suspension though, I do alot of freeway driving and the 3.73 with the 3 spd keep me redlined at 55 mph - I am getting 15 MPG as is so I'm looking forward to what the OD trans will add the the mileage.

I had a local shop make the new driveshaft - I just provided him the measurements and the yoke from the 3 spd and he charged $250.

[blakeaz33]

I never posted any final pictures so I thought I would share a couple. I'm happy with the way the paint turned out and I got the power steering installed - it's always kind of fun to get something new. The power steering was a pretty minor upgrade (major upgrade if you consider hunting down OEM 6 cyl PS brackets) but it makes the truck totally different.

[caja_larga]

looks very nice. I will be looking foward to here how the 200/700r4 does. I have a turbo 350 behind my 250 and its alright but I think lower 1st gear in a 700r4 would be nice.

[blakeaz33]

I listed the truck for sale on the site and ebay as well without any interest (for my price at least) and my wife even got all pissed off about it, she's like you've done so much work on that truck why are you selling it... so I suppose I'll keep it, maybe even finish the original plans at some point. I even replaced the input seals this afternoon on the PS box I installed recently to fix the leak. Here is a picture of my 1 year old daughter ready to drive.

[sourkraut]

Originally Posted by blakeaz33

I listed the truck for sale on the site and ebay as well without any interest (for my price at least) and my wife even got all pissed off about it, she's like you've done so much work on that truck why are you selling it... so I suppose I'll keep it, maybe even finish the original plans at some point. I even replaced the input seals this afternoon on the PS box I installed recently to fix the leak. Here is a picture of my 1 year old daughter ready to drive.

I have to agree with your wife! why would you want to get rid of it now? Why not at least enjoy it for a littel bit! I dont have room to talk either I always do the samething too. However I do keep them for awhile after working on them to get some use out of them. I enjoy working on stuff to make them new or better than driving or riding them!

[LEEVON]

glad to hear you're keeping the truck, it's my favorite swb conversion.

[nuke1]

I am happy you are keeping your truck also, besides look at your daughter, you are already imprinting her brain with the truck, she will want it later on in life now.

[blakeaz33]

Thanks everyone, I've been managing the highs and lows of running my business for the last 5 years and recently going back and forth on a decision to relocate for another opportunity, the family likes it here but will do and support whatever I decide. I've got the truck and another muscle car project about complete and was thinking I should think about getting rid of some things if I'm going to make a change. Working for somebody else has its advantages and I've done it most of my career, but making my current situation work is the solution for the next 20 years and the other thing is the solution for the short term. Making it through tougher times has always made me better so I'll do what it takes to make this work. Appreciate all the encouragement from everyone.

[Rokcrln]

Hope it all works out for you and the truck looks great!! I am hunting around for a 68 LWB to do another conversion on for a customer but it will be way different that any seen on here before I think.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[72 SHORTBED 7.0]

Nice work ..

Some times you're ready for some thing else I wanted to sale my single turbo supra 20 or 30 times. My wife and my son gets all mad at me too so I think.
I will keep it .. You put all the work in to your truck keep it [IMG][/IMG]

[blakeaz33]

[QUOTE=72 SHORTBED 7.0;3324066]Nice work ..

Some times you're ready for some thing else I wanted to sale my single turbo supra 20 or 30 times. My wife and my son gets all mad at me too so I think.
I will keep it .. You put all the work in to your truck keep it

Thanks 72 SHORTBED - Nice looking Supra, I've always had muscle cars with high HP big blocks but have always been impressed with the built Supras and HP they get out of them. I got rid of a 69 Camaro a little over a year ago and have a nice 65 Chevelle now that the wife says is her car.

I'll keep the truck - will just have the grand plan on hold a little longer. I have everything for AC except a pulleys for the balancer and water pump so I'll get that installed soon hopefully and I want to get a 200r4 in next. I'll wait do the the air ride, brakes, and wheels when I'm ready to make that spend - the way I want to do that will cost more than twice what I have in the entire truck alone at this point. I'm still driving it everyday though, even in the 100+ temps we're having right now.

[72 SHORTBED 7.0]

Yea that's it keep it.. let us know ..

[Hart_Rod]

Any updates?

[blakeaz33]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

Any updates?

I actually ended up selling the truck - the new owner picked it up on Friday, a great guy and seemed to really like the truck. He actually wanted to drive it home and is on his way back to Melfort, SK for about a 1900 mile road trip in 110+ degree temps - here in AZ at least. A real coincidence because before this truck I had a 71 Cheyenne Super hugger orange and white that a guy in Canada bought about 2 years ago that lived in Saskatoon which isn't too far from where this individual lives. I had been going back and forth on keeping or selling the truck and decided to sell this one so I could build another - you can blame the guys on here that have the crew cab projects because now I want to try building one myself so I'm currently sourcing a couple of donors to start cutting and welding again.

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by blakeaz33

I had been going back and forth on keeping or selling the truck and decided to sell this one so I could build another - you can blame the guys on here that have the crew cab projects because now I want to try building one myself so I'm currently sourcing a couple of donors to start cutting and welding again.

.....

[CheyenneShop]

Blakeaz33 - good luck with your career choices. I just wanted to pass on that I really enjoyed your work on your truck and referenced it a time or two while working on mine.

If you tell me what your looking for, for the crewcab I'll start looking for you down on this side of town.

Best of luck - rw

[blakeaz33]

Originally Posted by theCheyenneShop

Blakeaz33 - good luck with your career choices. I just wanted to pass on that I really enjoyed your work on your truck and referenced it a time or two while working on mine.

If you tell me what your looking for, for the crewcab I'll start looking for you down on this side of town.

Best of luck - rw

Appreciate it RW - planning on staying where I am and doing what I'm doing, should be on track in the next couple of months to start looking for the next project. Would like to find a clean as close to survivor type 68 CST (like everyone else) 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton wouldn't matter. Seems like the loaded up 3/4 tons are a little easier to find in better shape for less money - not being in a great big hurry helps. Good luck to you on your project, thanks again and appreciate the kind words.

[drewskiren]

Very nice work