Project: Fatso's Ghost

[FATSO64]

Been scanning the forum for a month or two now trying to come up with a plan for my 64 Step side. I figured I'd introduce myself and give a little backstory with an outlook to what I'm hoping to accomplish in the future on this project.

This 64 was purchased by my father back in 1973 from its original owner as my father once told me. My uncle painted the truck in the mid-seventies with a basic enamel that was what I would call a metallic root-beer color after molding fender flairs to all four fenders with at least 1/2" worth of bondo. The truck was stollen from my father shortly after painting, but was recovered a few days later, minus some wheels and a few parts.

I came into the picture in 1981 and have seen the truck go through 30 years of abuse, and poor repairs/modifications my father made in those years. The truck is on its third or fourth engine (that I can remember). I believe its a 327 (approx.) out of an Olds Cutlass circa the late 70's. Three speed automatic trans with floor shifter and I believe the stock rear end with a posi upgrade that was done in the late 90's.

Jump to the beginning of this past March, my father past away at 75 years, leaving me his collection of tools, trailers, junk, and above all, the truck which I grew up in.

The truck had a dead battery when I attempted to drive it to my house for storage (didn't want it stollen), so I got it all charged up and started. Then...The brakes wouldn't work. This puzzles me because my father drove it about 2 weeks before I tried to move it. Non-the-less, I towed it to my place and its been sitting in my garage for the last two months or so.

Been tinkering with the truck here and there trying to figuring out what to do with the thing. I know I want to keep it. But the question is do I just get it up and "running" (all 8 miles a gallon running) or do I want to do the truck some justice and give it "NEW LIFE"?

After negotiating with the misses, the truck is going to get a new life! It'll just take a while.

Here's the plans as of today:

Full body off rebuild. Full Porterbuilt Suspension all around, with Accuair air management system. Wilwood 14" front disks, with 12" in rear. Gas tank relocation under bed, but still needing to retain the use of a towing hitch.
Power train will be 6.2L LS3 E-ROD crate engine with TCI 6X Six Speed Electronic Transmission with paddle shifting. Wheels are unknown as of now, but i know the tires will need to be at least a 40 series. No rubber bands!
Paint color is still to be determined, but the old man always wanted a bright orange color like Allan's 65. Not sure about that color, too loud for my tastes, but thats way down the line.

I know this is a long sob story, but its one I think I need to tell. As much as my father and I didn't get along, I still loved the old man and his 64. Hence, the projects name; Fatso's Ghost. My fathers nickname in the family was always Fatso, and I feel he's going to be watching me tear his truck apart piece by piece cursing at me the whole way (lol).

The pictures posted are the way the truck was left for me...a real mess.