Project#2 67-72 Restoration's Shop truck

[Xeen]

If you are like me the work involved is the fun part because I like to create and when I restore something I try to improve on the original work and leave my mark on it hopefully for the better.
As far as a shop truck goes as long as you are diligent and keep to a yearly scheduled maintenance checklist on the truck it will literally drive forever and its condition wont deteriorate any further than it is when you finish it.
Also there is no reason why you cant improve on it here and there as you go along.
Here is some food for thought, as far as keeping the natural patina goes keep in mind that the shop truck represents your business and not everyone gets the "patina" thing as you know and people are judgemental by nature.
Psychology is complicated, some people may have a adverse reaction to the truck being what they would consider beat up and rusty.
You might want to consider painting it at some point when you can afford to do it, because there is virtually no one that would think "man he ruined it by restoring it" see what im getting at?
Anyway its something to think about and its just an opinion, and you know what they say about opinions, so take it for what its worth.

[VA72C10]

I certainly appreciate all the input I can get!

I have thought about people's perception and have friends and neighbors who are shocked I'm going through all this work and not painting it....but it'll be more fun for me if it's not perfect and I can use it w/out worrying about scratching it....and I can continue to upgrade as I go like you mentioned...

At this point trying to do everything I NEED to do so that I can drive it to the board meet on the 13th of next month....while dxoing that I come across items that are easier to do now vs later they will take a lot more time and/or require me tear the truck down again......

Went out to eat with my wife (mother-in-law watched our three girls) and when I got back I went through my partsz for this truck and proj#1 to see what I need to order on a tight deadline.
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[Xeen]

I hear ya on the part about using it without worrying about scratching it but you dont have to put a $10,000 paint job on it either. You can put a John Deer Impliment paint job on it and it will look real nice for years and it will be cheap too, you cant beat that!

[VA72C10]

I forgot to add the other reasons this one won't be painted now....

1st: my wife loves the way it looks and I do too....as do all my enthusiast friends
...it's a niche...but a big one....right now I'm seeing patina trucks sell for more than some comparable trucks with decent paint jobs
...also at shows the patina trucks get the attention...

Hopefully the business takes off and I can afford to build my second company/personal vehicle and retire my wife's van (200k miles). That will be a custom full on show truck crew cab 67.....with shiny paint
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[Xeen]

I dont disagree about choosing to keep the truck the way it is now, the most important thing is for you to be happy.
Man you must have some serious fabrication skills or you are willing to spend 15,000 to have the cab custom made by atvpro either way it will be awesome and a very fun project.
If things work out with my latest business plans I might be calling atvpro myself in the near future.

[Beetle]

Lovin the look of this truck! This is the route my dad and I are going with on our short step 68. The red oxide primer with a flat clear, some pinstripping and maybe some door logos. It is gonna be sweet! Keep up the good work. If I am ever near Richmond I will drop by to help you out!

[duallyjams]

Your build is perfect for a daily driver. I would not do anything different then how you are doing it.

[Maddoxdb]

Originally Posted by duallyjams

Your build is perfect for a daily driver. I would not do anything different then how you are doing it.

X2
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[ECU PIRATE]

Nice ride bro

[1972BackInBlackC10]

Xeen i'll go ahead and say the pg rated version on opinions so noone gets offended "opinions are like belly buttons everyone has one"

[Xeen]

Originally Posted by 1972BackInBlackC10

Xeen i'll go ahead and say the pg rated version on opinions so noone gets offended "opinions are like belly buttons everyone has one"

hahaha! Exactly

[Bennett68C10]

Nice work, truck is looking good. You are right, patina is in right now and your truck will look solid everywhere like you said painted frame, clean wiring, clean motor, nice interior etc. I think people will realize your quality of work.
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[VA72C10]

Thanks everyone! Got a lot done tonight and took a lot of pictures but need to hit the hay....long day tomorrow again....

Quick overview....got my rear bag brackets in and painted

Engine, trans, and engine pulleys/alt prepped, primed, painted and cleared

Also a picture of how clean my cab floors/inner rockers are (undercoating did its' job)
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[VA72C10]

Exciting (and expensive) day today! Ordering all my saddle interior parts from forum vendor truckseats. Seat cover with houndstooth inserts, door panels to cover the factory ones, headliner (going up w/out trim) and material for my dash pad and visors.

Some more pictures from last night.
Decided to pull up the mat and spray rust converter everywhere there was surface rust. Then sprayed a satin black top coat.

Sprayed undercoating in the wiring gutter. Sprayed rust converter and primed them the other day. There is some rust but now I'm confident it's been stopped and is sealed up now. Probably do one or two more coats of this to level it out nicely.

If/when I eventually do the LS swap....I will shave the firewall and wire gutter at that point


Also cut out the rust in the front cab support and sprayed rust converter inside. I cut much bigger than the actual rust to make sure I was back to good metal and can weld in a nice rectangular patch.
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[VA72C10]

Oh...and the last picture....tightening down the valve covers and before it was even tight this bolt (bought in a kit from summit) broke off. Thankfully there was enough left exposed for me to get it out with some vice grips.
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[gcburdic]

I think you'll finish this one....oops...did I just jinx this build

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by gcburdic

I think you'll finish this one....oops...did I just jinx this build

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[NewType72]

Yikes that bolt woulda been scary to get outta that spot. Tell me how the truckseats order goes I'm looking to get a white and black houndstooth for my bench in the near future
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[BMERDOC]

Originally Posted by gcburdic

I think you'll finish this one....oops...did I just jinx this build

Oh he'll finish this one! I put my own name on that one!

Jonathan, I see a freshly painted motor and trans. What don't see is an old crossmember laying on the ground! tick tock tic...

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by NewType72

Yikes that bolt woulda been scary to get outta that spot. Tell me how the truckseats order goes I'm looking to get a white and black houndstooth for my bench in the near future
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Just got two pair of those and they are super nice....been very happy with his products and service.

Originally Posted by BMERDOC

Oh he'll finish this one! I put my own name on that one!

Jonathan, I see a freshly painted motor and trans. What don't see is an old crossmember laying on the ground! tick tock tic...

Yes sir! Finishing this one up for sure!

The crossmember is 1/2 out picked up larger cut off wheels tonight!

Updates tomorrow...
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[VA72C10]

Crossmember is 80% out....brief break while I tend to my wounds and work on the other project...
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[original-71]

enigine and tranny turned out very nice

[VA72C10]

Just a flesh wound on my upper arm....laying on my back with no room under the truck....blade catches on the tiny piece left and swings down catching my shirt....and twisting into my arm...

My fault for using a 6" balde on a 4 1/2" grinder....nowhere to hold it firm enough for the kick-backs....

Got the floor finished up last night and jammed the passenger door in satin black as well as the firewall...
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[Xeen]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

Crossmember is 80% out....brief break while I tend to my wounds and work on the other project...
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Im glad you are ok, I take it you got lucky and didnt get wounded real bad like I did, You were wearing safety clothing that saved you?

[1972BackInBlackC10]

yea his sweat shirt was made with kevlar