Dad's '59 Retirement Plan

[Ratpin]

Well I finally bought me a Chevy truck..well actually I bought it as a surprise gift for my dad who retires later this year.

Every year my dad and I go out to the Portland Swap Meet the first weekend in April to drool over all the cool old junk for sale. If you've never been I suggest you go at least once, no matter how far away you live.

This year, the last day of the auction falls on April 6th, which also happens to be his 66th birthday. He is planning on retiring later this year and I have been trying to get him motivated to buy something to work on so he has something to keep busy with and hopefully keep him from getting old after retiring. It would also give us some good bonding time since I don't get to see him as much as I would like to, and I have a pretty well equipped shop at my house and plenty of space to work.

So last week I drove by a local guy who is a 58-59 freak (has like 12 of them and tons of parts) and what do I see? A '59 deluxe fleetside shortbed with big glass complete with almost perfect spear trim on the bed. I went and talked to him about it and the next day paid the man and brought it home. It's a nice old honest and solid truck. It has tons of Patina. It needs a bit of work to get road worthy, but that's the point right?







I had already reserved a spot at the swap meet so my plan is to have it out at the swap and surprise my dad with it as a birthday/early retirement gift. I can't wait to see his reaction.


Plans at this point will be:

Get it running
Get it stopping
Repair the rotted bed floor areas
Sid's drop front axle
Flip rear axle
Notch rear frame
Posies 3" drop springs