Project: Blue Baby

[Blue Baby]

Well I've been on this site for a couple of month's and decided to start my build thread. Here's the story / history of the truck, my uncle, and myself:

When I was a kid, I would go spend the summers on my aunt and uncle's farm. I remember when we first passed this truck at a local gas station and it was for sale. My uncle laughed at how "Blue" it was and also how clean it was. This was in the early 1980's. It had recently been re-done... not restored!!! Anyway it was very clean and with my uncle owning his business as well as running a large farming operation he thought it would be perfect for a second truck for his hired hand to use as both operations grew. He always called it "Blue Baby"...

When I was about 9 or 10... we were getting ready to head out for the day and my uncle told me to go to the barn, get "Blue Baby", load up blah,blah blah tools for the day etc... I looked at him and said " I don't know how to drive"... Being the old school farmer he was he said " You mean to tell me your 10 years old and don't know how to drive???" Well anyway, he went and got the truck from the barn and I loaded the needed tools ( I did know what tools were by then and how to use, just didn't know how to drive). Hahaha!!!

That evening after dinner, the old school farmer as he was, he took me out that evening and taught me how to drive... with a 6 cylinder, 3 on the tree no less!!! Every summer after that as I grew up, I spent a lot of time driving "Blue Baby" around.

Fast forward 25 years... My uncle's heath was not so good. He passed away this spring. My aunt knowing the connection that we had and the good times we spent driving around in that old ugly blue truck. She asked me if I would be interested in "Blue Baby"??? My answer was uummmm...... Yes.

Anyway, this is why I have such a special connection to this truck. I have a son 12 and a daughter 9, who I plan to teach how to drive in "Blue Baby" just how I was taught many, many years ago by a very special person in my life.

The first pic is where it was and how it sat since 2005. The second pic is with the new wheels and tires I put on it to bring it home and start the rest of the project.

[Blue Baby]

A couple more shot of the truck with new tires, before I brought it home to start the real work!!

[Blue Baby]

The first pic is the motor getting ready to be pulled. The second is the dirty old engine bay and the third is with the engine removed and a trip to the car was for a little power washing. We also lightly sand blasted around the master cylinder as it had been leaking for years.

[Low Elco]

Cool story, I learned to drive on farms in El Dorado and Osborne. Still have family in Salina. Hope it goes together well!

[Blue Baby]

Here are some photo's of the engine compartment all cleaned up, the firewall painted blue and the rest of the engine bay painted black.

[Blue Baby]

Here are some photo's of the new engine and it also installed in the engine bay.

[Blue Baby]

I also have to address some rust issues...

[Blue Baby]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Cool story, I learned to drive on farms in El Dorado and Osborne. Still have family in Salina. Hope it goes together well!

It's a small world... The farm that I speak of is in Rooks county (Stockton / Woodston area) and I have a ton of family in Osborne... that's where my mom is from. I also live in Salina... hahaha!!!!!

[Blue Baby]

I brought the truck home on July 28, 2012, so with the help of a good friend we have been very busy on this project. I hope to be driving it very soon. Up next is more rust repair on the driver's side... not as bad as the passenger side pics. And then after it is fully functional come's the fun stuff... lowering.... door logo's...

[Low Elco]

Ha, know Raymond Foster (Ramey) or the Ubeleikers? Know any of the Dumler girls from Salina?
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[VA72C10]

very cool story and truck! Will follow along!

[67c10rustbuket]

Great story and a sweet truck to save, I love it !! Are you keeping the service/utility bed or ?? fleetside, stepper????

[67chevy1series]

cool truck beautiful work done so far! love the engine back with its orange over haul

[flashed]

I hope youre keeping the service body for it ,it looks great so far.

[mooseknuckles]

x2....that would be a very cool "shop truck"

[Blue Baby]

Originally Posted by 67c10rustbuket

Great story and a sweet truck to save, I love it !! Are you keeping the service/utility bed or ?? fleetside, stepper????

I'm keeping the service bed!!! I'm going with the "Shop Truck" theme. Once I have it running, rust repairs finished, etc. It's getting lowered and shop logo's on the doors!!! The outside will remain rusty and crusty, service bed and all!!!

[Blue Baby]

The passengers side is almost done. New cab corner, inner and outer rocker panel, inner kick panel, some patch work on the floor, and cab supports. Next is the drivers side... rinse and repeat! HaHa!!!

[Tinkermc]

great to have a family heirloom

[Blue Baby]

Today we finished the entire passenger side rust repair, finished the driver's cab corner and painted all the repaired areas. Once it is all dry I will scuff it a little to blend it in with the rest of the truck. We replaced the cab body mounts and remounted the bed as it was removed to put on the new cab corner's. Also got new plugs and wires and started to mount all the pulleys and accesories on the front of the engine. Back at it tomorrow!!!

[Low Elco]

Great work! Neat matching into the old blue. Keep it up! Are you Coming to the riverside mo show?
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[Blue Baby]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Great work! Neat matching into the old blue. Keep it up! Are you Coming to the riverside mo show?
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I can't make it that weekend. We have plans. I would like to make it to that show next year though!

[Maddoxdb]

Subscribed. Cool project and great story!!
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[72k5zl1]

big fan of the body too!

[Blue Baby]

Update: I got my truck running last week and have been driving it as much as possible. Here is a side shot and a shot of the engine.

[Blue Baby]

Here is another side shot and a pic of the interior. When I saw this seat cover on E-bay I had to have it. A perfect match!!! I painted the bumpers to match the rims.