FNG here..... 1970 Chevy Longbed 350 (lotsa pics)

[greasy68]

welcome fellow Austinite. I will see you around town and give you a wave. Nice score. You are lucky I didn't see it first.

[chrislehr]

Originally Posted by greasy68

welcome fellow Austinite. I will see you around town and give you a wave. Nice score. You are lucky I didn't see it first.

I bet.

I looked at 3 others before taking this one.

a 68 swb 6 cyl (spit oil at me)
a 70 lwb 350 (this one)
and a 62 f100 (russssssty beyond repair, guessing was not a TX car)

[chrislehr]

Originally Posted by Hook'em

I'll keep an eye out for you. Looks nearly identical to mine, but mine has a later grill.

Wow, lotsa Austin folks - too bad 1431 is no more - do any of you go to any car show outings?

[greasy68]

My truck is too rusty and dirty to take to a show. I used to go to a few cruise ins but most are shut down due to the ricer crowds and the young guys who have to leave the parking lot smoking tires. I go to the heat wave every year and the occasional parking lot show now and then. Does anybody know of a good one? Sorry for the hijack.

[chrislehr]

Originally Posted by greasy68

My truck is too rusty and dirty to take to a show. I used to go to a few cruise ins but most are shut down due to the ricer crowds and the young guys who have to leave the parking lot smoking tires. I go to the heat wave every year and the occasional parking lot show now and then. Does anybody know of a good one? Sorry for the hijack.

Not a hijack at all, I asked. I used to go watch at 1431/parmer - I saw ramblings about a parking lot in RR off ih35, but looked like an old posting too...

[greasy68]

I used to go to the RR one off I35 but when the Outback steak house moved it it got shut down. There is/was one way down in oak hill but it is a long drive. I don't know about the one at 1431 and Parmer.

[chrislehr]

Originally Posted by greasy68

I used to go to the RR one off I35 but when the Outback steak house moved it it got shut down. There is/was one way down in oak hill but it is a long drive. I don't know about the one at 1431 and Parmer.

Oak Hill at the Y at the albertsons there? Not sure if that still happens or not...

1431 is definitely closed... TRS used to have a thread on where they all go, but same problem. Loud stereos and bouncing cars and squealing tires makes owners upset.

[Hook'em]

I believe there are people meeting at the Old Albersons behind the McDonalds at the southwest corner of RR 620 and I-35. I haven't been there in a while.

[PanelDeland]

Nice start for a project.That is a good deal if the areas mentioned are good.
If you guys are looking for a cruise night,there seem to be enough of you to just start one.

[chrislehr]

Originally Posted by PanelDeland

Nice start for a project.That is a good deal if the areas mentioned are good.
If you guys are looking for a cruise night,there seem to be enough of you to just start one.

Heh - very true!

So the car is now inspected (14.50 - gotta love no emissions) and insured... now just need to hit the txdot for registration and then I can drive it w/o fear a little more.

Also, got inspected at a land rover dealer - gotta love getting "sweet truck man" from people who sell 100k ones!

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by chrislehr

Heh - very true!

So the car is now inspected (14.50 - gotta love no emissions) and insured... now just need to hit the txdot for registration and then I can drive it w/o fear a little more.

Also, got inspected at a land rover dealer - gotta love getting "sweet truck man" from people who sell 100k ones!

I wonder how many junked out high end cars like that end up getting melted down and made into repop fenders and doors for our trucks.

[70' GMC]

Is that a 6ft bed or an 8ft bed???

[chrislehr]

Originally Posted by 70' GMC

Is that a 6ft bed or an 8ft bed???

Without a tape, I would say 8ft.

[1LoC10]

looks real good, especially for a 38 year old truck

[Striker169]

Nice truck Chris, can't wait to see it.

[arkracing]

looks super nice!!

Couple of suggestions. You can save yourself a lot of $ on the disc brake swap by buying a '71/'72 rusty truck and swaping the front suspension and the 5-lug rear as mentioned by C-30.

'73 - '87 Chevy front suspension will work too - and there are several articles/threads about the swap here on the board.

I wouldn't take the nose off it or anything, I'd drive it. If you take it apart it will sit in pieces for a long time. I'm sure lots of people will give you that advise.

Anyway, welcome and good luck with the new project.

[indyracer]

Looks like a nice find. Enjoy it..

[67c-10Texas]

nice score - i am in san marcos so let me know if you need anything - i have done the disc swap and have bought a lot of stuff that you might be thinking about

[Jcentsr6]

NICE....dont chop that bed! Seams like everyone wants to cut up a long bed now-a-days Have fun with it....and dont be afraid to ask questions on here--Everyone is great, you will learn alot

[chrislehr]

Originally Posted by Jcentsr6

NICE....dont chop that bed! Seams like everyone wants to cut up a long bed now-a-days Have fun with it....and dont be afraid to ask questions on here--Everyone is great, you will learn alot

Not planning on it - I like the longbed...

I took some time (in the rain) today to remove the seat, and brush out some dirt and crud.

Pics:







Think I know why my gas tank gauage is on E all the time - the cable was broken, and electrical taped. Will be replacing and getting some dielectric grease for the fittings as soon as I can use a new bare wire to test that the sender is still good. I really need to snag a voltmeter someday soon.

Nice boards, huh? Nothing like seeing SHINY hugger under all the crappy floorboard material!

[chrislehr]

And if a mod wants, this can move to the builds and projects section, as I will likely just keep bumping it.

[TruckinDaddy]

Good looking truck. Especially for the money.

I am almost that much into my FREE 68 and it doesn't look 1/2 as nice.

Also, welcome from another Austin guy.

[mfarmer]

Another one just north of you in Georgetown. Looks almost like my son's. He was given a 71 Chevy shortbed by his grandfather. Those last pics you showed looked exactly like my son's. Looks like you are going to need some floor pan and most likely rocker panel and a - pillar sheet metal work. We have Just completed all of that and are now taking a breather.

[chrislehr]

Originally Posted by mfarmer

Another one just north of you in Georgetown. Looks almost like my son's. He was given a 71 Chevy shortbed by his grandfather. Those last pics you showed looked exactly like my son's. Looks like you are going to need some floor pan and most likely rocker panel and a - pillar sheet metal work. We have Just completed all of that and are now taking a breather.

Yea, eventually... Its pretty solid though and could last a while before NEEDING it - it will be more of a "when I can afford to just drop it off somewhere" I think.


All you Austin area folks - let's do a friggin meet somewhere!

I spent a long time this weekend on those floorboards and exposing everything - took the seat out for some measurements and to fix the wire that opens the passenger slider. Came out OK, but the wire was so bent up it takes a few tries now to get it to lock in place. Oh well.


Measurements were for the /gf's new project... upholstry.


Here's what I am invisioning:


All in leather, I hope, with piping on the major seams, but smooth on the seat and seatback.

Thoughts? opinions?

Took her for a ride for a while tonight, and I think the next major focus has to be the fuel tank relocation. Sick of smelling like gas all the time, and the spare room back there would eventually be nice when it comes time to think stereo.

Another weekend, another few steps of progress.

Next minor focus will be the fuel tank sending unit, and changing plugs/tranny fluid, and a rear diff rebuild.

Fun Fun Fun.

Thanks for all the support!