Canadian Rustbucket 66

[northern 85]

Very nice, that looks fantastic!

[noonzor]

looking sharp! coming along real nice!

[rustbucket66]

Thanks guys, I appreciate it.

[rustbucket66]

Just got my glovebox back from the air brush artist. I'm happy with how it turned out. It is kind of the same as the sales ad in the magazine, and reminds me of growing up on the farm, and the harvest every year. We couldn't afford 2 new trucks like these guys though.

[rustbucket66]

Here are the valve covers that came home today also. They are powder coated white and the embossing painted silver. The pinstriping is subtle and adds a bit to the appearance.

[rustbucket66]

Last, is the air cleaner, I let the airbrush guy to do his thing with a couple of suggestions of what I would like. I'm very pleased with this piece also. The first pic is a bit blurry, I must learn to hold the camera still.

[ctandc]

Beautiful truck. That thing is going to be sweet.

Subscribed.

[lenguini]

Originally Posted by rustbucket66

Last, is the air cleaner, I let the airbrush guy to do his thing with a couple of suggestions of what I would like. I'm very pleased with this piece also. The first pic is a bit blurry, I must learn to hold the camera still.

Very nice, over the top show quality !

Cheers,
Ed.

[rustbucket66]

It has been a while. The cab, fenders and chassis are at the bodyman's still, so I decided to start on the box. I built a rolling jig for it to sit on, then took it to sandblast. Wow, did I uncover a lot of damage. I thought the thing was pretty good when I had it painted 30 years ago. The tailgate is rough, and there is a lot of evil living on the boxsides. I have patch panels ordered for around the wheel openings, and the tailgate and boxsides are going to need a lot of lovin.

[rustbucket66]

This is where the evil lives.

[rustbucket66]

The inside was pretty good, and the wheel wells, not in this picture were ok also. No suprises here.

[Dinos63]

just went though the whole thread nice job and a cool build

[rustbucket66]

Picked up the engine today. It needs some paint, and start putting parts on. Got the powerglide back from rebuild also.

[CRGRS 66]

Just found this build tonight, very, very nice work, love the colors, and especially love the power window controls, have never seen that before.

[rustbucket66]

Thank you very much. here are the bumpers that I was messing with a while ago. I've filled the bumper holes and license plate holes, and have studs coming out the back for mounting. Had to cut a slot in the front bumper lower mount on the frame also. I've seen a few cars with it, and I think it looks cleaner and smoother. 99 percent of people that look at it don't notice that the heads of the bolts are missing. I still have to take them to the chrome shop, I bet they roll their eyes when they look at my junk coming in.

[lenguini]

Who.s doing the plating for you ? I heard good about Fairmont and may send my bumpers etc there.Your thoughts ?

Cheers,
Ed.

Originally Posted by rustbucket66

Thank you very much. here are the bumpers that I was messing with a while ago. I've filled the bumper holes and license plate holes, and have studs coming out the back for mounting. Had to cut a slot in the front bumper lower mount on the frame also. I've seen a few cars with it, and I think it looks cleaner and smoother. 99 percent of people that look at it don't notice that the heads of the bolts are missing. I still have to take them to the chrome shop, I bet they roll their eyes when they look at my junk coming in.

[rustbucket66]

I have taken my stuff to Calgary Bumper in the past. I really can't say who is the best or who has the best pricing in Calgary. I'm sure both are good, as they have each been in business a long time. Doesn't anyone in the Okanagan do plating? That would be a bit of a nuisance to have to ship all that stuff. My truck will be getting out of the bodyshop in a week or so, and I am anxious to get back at it.

[lenguini]

There is one shop out here,not the greatest rep and double what Fairmont charges.Shipping is not an issue with friends in the business.

Did you cut down the front bumper bolts after welding in place? looks like I may need to at 1 1/4 log...your thoughts ?

Cheers,
Ed.

Originally Posted by rustbucket66

I have taken my stuff to Calgary Bumper in the past. I really can't say who is the best or who has the best pricing in Calgary. I'm sure both are good, as they have each been in business a long time. Doesn't anyone in the Okanagan do plating? That would be a bit of a nuisance to have to ship all that stuff. My truck will be getting out of the bodyshop in a week or so, and I am anxious to get back at it.

[coulter]

Top notch build man!!! I dig all the little details
Posted via Mobile Device

[rustbucket66]

I just cut the head off some grade 8 1/2 inch bolts, then welded them to the bumper with some of the bolt sticking slightly above the hole. I think they were 1 1/4 long, then ground the weld as flat as I could. You will have to notch the frame in the front on the top two holes, because you can't install it on the front with the studs on the backside. The rear one mounts easy because it has brackets that mount the bumper to the frame.

[rustbucket66]

Got some paint on the engine, and was mocking up what it will look like. A fairly stock 283 with double bump heads, and a bit of a lumpy cam. That is what the nicer half tons had, a 283 and a powerglide. Very few automatic trucks up here, I've only seen a handful. I'm using the old 4 jet carb and manifold, so the diameter of the carb is smaller than Qjets or holleys. I will need an adapter of sorts for it to fit the air cleaner. I have a dropped base bottom section of the air cleaner on there from a 69 Camaro. I brings the air cleaner down more towards the manifold. I kind of like the look of that, there is a difference of a couple inches of height between it and the base the air cleaner came with. Lots of pieces to go on there still, and will be a while before it fires. Not going to be a tire burner by any stretch, especially with the powerglide. I talked to a fella about putting a Gear Vendors trans where the hanger bearing lives. Sounds interesting, would give more gears, and still keep the powerglide. Hmmm. I don't mind a powerglide though, I drove it previously for a few years, and didn't mind it. Goes down the highway just fine. My computer won't load the picture for some reason, I'll try and post the picture tomorrow.

[rustbucket66]

The picture for the last post.

[rockasilly]

I love the wire wheels. It will be nice to see it all tied together and bring back the feel of the period.

[CRGRS 66]

engine looks great, can't wait to see it in the engine bay

[rustbucket66]

Another big day for me. The thing is in the paint booth, going to have the cab and fenders all painted. The cab was painted previous, but when we put the crap repo fenders on, there was some bodywork to do. The fenders were painted previous in a one stage white primer. Anyway, long story short, it is all being painted together this weekend, and I'm supposed to pick it up on Monday morning. Then it's game on. All kinds of things to do, Get the engine and trans in, all the wiring, put the glass back in, the list is very long. Getting exciting now, there will be a lot of garage time for the next few months. The box is awaiting the sheet metal guy, talked to him last night, and he is almost ready for it. He will have a lot to fix, but it will be straight when it gets out, he is very talented. I can't put my bodyman through much more pain, as he has had plenty of that with the cab, fenders and header panel. I would never use repo body panels again. Furthermore, I wouldn't start with a rustbucket of a cab either. I've learned my lesson the hard way.