ABOZ's 1963 Stepside

[aboz]

Just wanted you guys to see what I'm working with. I found this truck on ebay a year and a half ago. The owner stored it for six years after some detailing in the engine bay and installing a 250 six from a 1970 Nova. I drove it from W. by God Virginia all the way back to North Carolina with a leaky gas tank. Paid $4500. It is a solid truck with so much less rust than any '62-'63 that I looked at in the Charlotte, NC area. Turns out it started it's life about 35 miles from where I live. The original owner's dealership warranty info and registration was still in the glove box! So far I've replaced most everything under the hood except the engine itself. I replaced the grille with a 1960 four headlight set up. Just looks better to me. The price to re-chrome was out of the question so I had it powder coated silver. I put 5 lug Corvette Rally rims on the stock drum/drum set up. A power booster and a dual master cylinder will be installed some time this month. Having little to no mechanical experience I removed the Saginaw 3 speed and took it to a buddy who showed me step by step how to rebuild it. With much determination I re-installed it myself. It's amazing what you can do when a transmission is being held in place with your head! Body mods will come soon after I replace the floor pans, cab corners and rocker panels. I plan to fabricate a metal hood scoop like a '67 427 Sting Ray complete with the bumped out spear windsplit. Reverse louvers will be welded in behind the front wheel wells. If thats not enough, I'm designing a bed topper that will resemble a '63 Vette split window coupe! The extra dash and door panels are soon to be powder coated in black wrinkle finish. I'll post pix as the fun begins.

[joe231]

nice truck!!

[mneubecker]

very nice! paint is turquoise (510) so I can see how mine will look someday!

[aboz]

Actually mneubecker the paint is primer grey. Seems to be an epoxy base as its really held up well in the driveway. My plan (right now anyway) is to use a shade of warm pearl orange with flat black wrinkle and silver as an accent. I'm having the dash, inside A-pillars and door panels powder coated in black wrinkle finish. Orange and silver accents inside as well. Maybe I could use the same truck bed liner that I want in my all metal bed for my exterior accents? Just a thought. Tryin' to keep it interesting.

[Corts60]

Welcome aboard and nice clean truck! It will be interesting to see the bed cover come to life...

[mneubecker]

sorry, meant to say you should paint IT turquoise!

[1Bad62Pro/Street]

Nice truck Bud! She looks straight from the pics. How is the lower doors, and the cab drip rails? Looks like you have it all planned out. Have a good gas tank if ya need one! Can't wait to see her done. Still have a ways to go on my project. I had a vision ever since I got my ole' truck back in high school. After seeing the movie American Graffiti....that was it!

[kizer]

Looks like a clean truck

[aboz]

To answer your question 1Bad, the outside door panels seem to be rust free but I haven't started grinding away yet. The inside bottoms however are going to need a patch panel. Most of the obvious Bondo is in the cab corners, rocker panels and at the bottom of the front fenders where a previous owner put in the small patches at the rear of the wheel wells. With rivets no less! Now how about that '62 hood? I could really use a good start on my custom 427 hood scoop idea. Mine has a lot of rust under the front lip that would require me to fabricate several strips, some major sand blasting and dent/crease repair. I can put cash in your hand by the end of next week.

[1Bad62Pro/Street]

Originally Posted by aboz

To answer your question 1Bad, the outside door panels seem to be rust free but I haven't started grinding away yet. The inside bottoms however are going to need a patch panel. Most of the obvious Bondo is in the cab corners, rocker panels and at the bottom of the front fenders where a previous owner put in the small patches at the rear of the wheel wells. With rivets no less! Now how about that '62 hood? I could really use a good start on my custom 427 hood scoop idea. Mine has a lot of rust under the front lip that would require me to fabricate several strips, some major sand blasting and dent/crease repair. I can put cash in your hand by the end of next week.

Ok Buddy!!!!
Sounds good!!!!

[joe231]

Originally Posted by aboz

Just wanted you guys to see what I'm working with. I found this truck on ebay a year and a half ago. The owner stored it for six years after some detailing in the engine bay and installing a 250 six from a 1970 Nova. I drove it from W. by God Virginia all the way back to North Carolina with a leaky gas tank. Paid $4500. It is a solid truck with so much less rust than any '62-'63 that I looked at in the Charlotte, NC area. Turns out it started it's life about 35 miles from where I live. The original owner's dealership warranty info and registration was still in the glove box! So far I've replaced most everything under the hood except the engine itself. I replaced the grille with a 1960 four headlight set up. Just looks better to me. The price to re-chrome was out of the question so I had it powder coated silver. I put 5 lug Corvette Rally rims on the stock drum/drum set up. A power booster and a dual master cylinder will be installed some time this month. Having little to no mechanical experience I removed the Saginaw 3 speed and took it to a buddy who showed me step by step how to rebuild it. With much determination I re-installed it myself. It's amazing what you can do when a transmission is being held in place with your head! Body mods will come soon after I replace the floor pans, cab corners and rocker panels. I plan to fabricate a metal hood scoop like a '67 427 Sting Ray complete with the bumped out spear windsplit. Reverse louvers will be welded in behind the front wheel wells. If thats not enough, I'm designing a bed topper that will resemble a '63 Vette split window coupe! The extra dash and door panels are soon to be powder coated in black wrinkle finish. I'll post pix as the fun begins.

how did you put 5 lug wheels on the stock 6 lug parts??

[aboz]

My mistake...I meant 6 lug. Hey...I'm new to this "old truck" thing!

[joe231]

no biggie,
where did you get the 6 lug rallys?

[1Bad62Pro/Street]

Ha Ha.......
They do look nice on ya truck.
You can paint them orange too!
Will look great with the beauty rings.

Hey Bud can't remember if I told you when you came down, but check out the section of the forum:

North Carolina folks step inside:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php?p=3265375

And:

North and South Carolina:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/f...play.php?f=117

I used to go to all the local cruisins.

[aboz]

Originally Posted by joe231

no biggie,
where did you get the 6 lug rallys?

Ebay...Gratiot Tire and Wheel in Roseville, MI. had 9 sets with stainless trim rings and plastic chrome center caps for $349.00 for a set of (4) 8" x 15" My shipping was free by using a $50 ebay gift card someone gave me.

[aboz]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CHEVY...1%7C240%3A1318 here is the link for a set of new 5 lug 8 x 15 Rally Rims at auction on ebay for three more days. No rings or caps but no reserve either! Good luck.