66 SB Step Side- Ex Air Force Base Truck

[Neatbeard]

Thats not a bad idea sir.

Ha if only it did get hot enough over here to melt it after a couple of years! At the moment it throwing it down with rain, just hailed and is way too cold for the time of year! Good ol England!

[Neatbeard]

My better half got me some more presents for the truck.

A cool lighter (even though neither of us smoke!), and some new rubber mats to protect the carpet.





Plus i've finally sorted out the rear bed wood. I couldn't afford a proper kit so I did it using 2 sheets of 3/4" thick Premium Marine Grade plywood, with the join in the middle under the center metal rail. I stained the underneath with 3 thick coats and the same (so far) on the top. I also made a point of sealing all the edges so hopefully it should last a while. I cleaned up and painted the metal rails satin black and used new galvanised (cross head) guttering bolts. I need to get some longer ones to enable me to pull the center down a bit better but its pretty much there. I still want to be able to use the truck to haul stuff about so didn't go for a full on immaculate finish, plus it would look out of place with the patina of the rest of the truck.

[Jmorales3181]

Bed floor came out really nice!
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[McMurphy]

Originally Posted by Jmorales3181

Bed floor came out really nice!
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[Neatbeard]

Thanks guys. Since fitting it I seem to of dislodged/broken something on my air bag compressor as its now not working.

Plus I need to try and use it more often as the sticky starter solenoid was a right pain the other day ad it took me 30 mins to start before going to a local car show last Sunday.

I'm slowly getting there and learning as I go...

[Neatbeard]

Thanks to a good friend who knows his way round air bags/systems we have diagnosed why the compressor wouldn't start up. It blew a fuse! DOH! Why didn't I think of that first!

Anyway he has advised using a larger fuse and larger guage wiring as when we put a new fuse in, the wire got too hot and another fuse blew..... so thats another job off/on the list as he's gona properly re-wire the system for me when I get the proper/thicker guage wire etc.

[Neatbeard]

I got an ex Royal Air Force blanket box off my better half for my birthday last week, its to go in the rear bed of the truck. It looks good as its a little beat up so matches the truck but I want to make it mine and showcase some of my painting/striping work so I made a start on it this weekend.

Still have to add a second colour to details the large letters and add some striping around the 'racing' below it......



I'm also going to pinstripe the top of it with a large design...

[Grizz1963]

Very neat mr Neatbeard.

Just about to start looking for a secure steel trunk for my truck.

Also going to look for a 10 liter steel petrol can. To keep as reserve when out on longer distances.
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[Neatbeard]

Yeah I wanna get a big old Jerry as well, worth the piece of mind especially as my fuel gauge doesn't work properly!

A friend of mine popped round last night to take some test shots of the truck ready for a longer shoot in a better location with better light. The light was fading quickly and he'd had a few beers so we're both happy with the results!



Love the contrast of the exterior and interior on this shot:



Loving this control room shot too:



Finally he did a Photoshop of it, as he didn't like it sitting in my driveway so we're gona find a good country location with old falling down barns to try and replicate this kind of feel:

[Grizz1963]

Some real neat pics there.

You may just give an old outboard boat motor fuel tank a thought, something different, and cheap enough on Ebay, but ask around, someone is bound to have one.
Once you do your magic with it, it will be just perfect.

Originally Posted by Neatbeard

Yeah I wanna get a big old Jerry as well, worth the piece of mind especially as my fuel gauge doesn't work properly!

A friend of mine popped round last night to take some test shots of the truck ready for a longer shoot in a better location with better light. The light was fading quickly and he'd had a few beers so we're both happy with the results!



Love the contrast of the exterior and interior on this shot:



Loving this control room shot too:



Finally he did a Photoshop of it, as he didn't like it sitting in my driveway so we're gona find a good country location with old falling down barns to try and replicate this kind of feel:

[Neatbeard]

Finished off the trunk to go in the back of my truck last night. I got a friend to clear coat it for me so that the patina is protected and it doesn't get too rusty in out great english climate!

So here is the finished article, sorry for the blurred picture:

[Jmorales3181]

Truck is looking good man!
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[Neatbeard]

I havent updated for a while as ive been driving 'her' and having fun at various meets etc.

I fitted a new starter motor to 'her' last weekend (a friend had a brand new one designed for a V8 that I swapped the nose cones/fittings over and it bolted straight on). So no more intermittent starting issues. Plus it flew through the MOT (our annual inspection here in the UK), with no advisories and comments from the guys that "...it's really bloody solid underneath with no rust or welding ever done....".

Just hoping the weather stays good and then I can cruise to the shows and start using it again.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Neatbeard

I havent updated for a while as ive been driving 'her' and having fun at various meets etc.

I fitted a new starter motor to 'her' last weekend (a friend had a brand new one designed for a V8 that I swapped the nose cones/fittings over and it bolted straight on). So no more intermittent starting issues. Plus it flew through the MOT (our annual inspection here in the UK), with no advisories and comments from the guys that "...it's really bloody solid underneath with no rust or welding ever done....".

Just hoping the weather stays good and then I can cruise to the shows and start using it again.

Wheels day??

Chatham docks Steam and Traction show??

Good to see you back.

[TJ's Chevy]

Good looking truck!

[Ta2Don]

Originally Posted by Grizz1963

Wheels day??

Chatham docks Steam and Traction show??

Good to see you back.

Ditto, Glad to see you back...

Hope you and Grizz get a chance to meet at the Wheels Show this weekend...

[Neatbeard]

Awww thanks for the welcome back guys.

I've been pretty busy with DIY work on the house and 'life stuff' suffice to say we have another little 'un due at the end of May!! **EEK**

So most of my 'spare' time has been devoted to getting a nursey ready and decorating bedrooms etc so that my other two lads can share a bigger room. Plus we had a burst pipe that flooded our bathroom and the kitchen below so had that to contend with as well! It's been all go.

@Grizz - I'm afraid I can't make Wheels Day due to family commitments etc. I'm sure we'll get to meet up soon though.

I've been wondering whether to 'detail' bits of the truck. I'm thinking of painting the roof white, the front and rear bumpers white and also the grille/headlight surround white, plus paint the 'Chevrolet' lettering on the tailgate white too......? If it looks naff being all clean n shiny then I guess I can always age it to match the rest of the truck......

Thats as well as adding some pinstriping which im deffo. gona do this summer.....

Hope you guys are all well.

[rusty76]

Really cool truck and don't know how I missed this one.....

[Neatbeard]

Well just got back from the first proper run out this year to a local(ish) car show and it turns out that even with the new starter I have uncovered a new starting issue......

It doesn't seem to want to start when hot...... it starts fine when cooled down, but if I stope for 15/20 mins or less it doesn't wanna know!

Back to working out issues I guess.

[Neatbeard]

Pic from todays show with a couple of mates in their 3100's.......

[Neatbeard]

Been wondering whether to paint my front grille and light surround white for some time now so decided to give it a go today. Im going to pick out the Chevrolet lettering in dark blue and also paint the front bumper white as well. It helps to break the front of the truck up a little I think.....

[Grizz1963]

That looks good from where I am sitting mate.

I like it,

[C@rnut001]

I think it makes the front of your truck look good. Keep up the great work.

[Neatbeard]

Thanks guys.

I wanted a before and after pic so I could compare but my phone dies while taking the before pic! It'll looks loads better with the front bumper being white and repainting the roof too........ hopefully.......

[Neatbeard]

Well I finished off the grill by picking out the lettering in blue and painted the bumper white to match, I even masked up the USAF Beale Air Base stickers so that they are still visable on the bumper. I think it looks loads better now and helps to break up the front a bit more as it was too blue before....