Saving the 68 shortbed stepside - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

rnemtp3 · 03-17-2011, 10:27 AM

My dad bought this 68 back in the late 80's. I promptly took over and drove it while in high school. The truck was also used by my sister when she was in high school and then dad used it as a work truck until around 05-06. It sat unmoved from sometime at the end of 2005 until this past year when I asked dad if I could fix it up.
It will be a long and slow process working on it when I can and when I get the cash. The motor, a 307, still runs. It has 350, 3 speed transmission and low rearends, 4:10 I think. Manual drums all the way around and power steering. Of course, all the brake lines have holes in them and I will be redoing the whole brake system before actually driving it. The truck has been unchanged since he bought it except maybe an exhaust pipe or some other little thing.
I have been lurking around the board for the past year or two and have asked a few questions. I am sure I will have more when I really get into this build. I already have found a ton of great stuff here. I know that some people will suggest not even starting and looking for something cleaner, however, it has been in the family a while and I want to fix this one up. I look to do the majority of the work myself (and with my dad) so there will be a lot of learning and trial and error in my future.
We would like to put a 350 or 383 in and probably keep the 350 and lower rear ends. There wont be a lot of long distance driving for it. When I drove it in high school it got about 10 gallons per mile.

Anyway, here are some pics because no pics and it didn't happen, right? As I do more work I will post some more.

dmack91 · 03-17-2011, 12:49 PM

Looks like a fun project, and special since it has been in the family for so long.

The best advice I have seen is to get it running/driving safely first, then tackle individual projects as you can. Too many people start by completely disassembling the truck and then get overwhelmed and burned out on the seemingly never-ending project ( I have a Moto Guzzi in my garage that fell into this category).

If you can get it on the road, after each project you complete, you can drive it and enjoy the progress and improvements as you go.

Good luck and enjoy.

rnemtp3 · 03-18-2011, 05:54 PM

Great advice dmack. That is my plan, fix it up while driving it as much as possible. I am having a hard time trying to figure out what to fix when. It would be real easy to start tearing into it and having the whole thing in pieces in no time. I want to fix things while I have other items tore down in the same area to minimize redoing stuff but, with this much to fix I don't see much option sometimes. It will be fun anyway.

03-17-2011, 10:27 AM	#1
rnemtp3 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Lebanon, VA Posts: 11	Saving the 68 shortbed stepside My dad bought this 68 back in the late 80's. I promptly took over and drove it while in high school. The truck was also used by my sister when she was in high school and then dad used it as a work truck until around 05-06. It sat unmoved from sometime at the end of 2005 until this past year when I asked dad if I could fix it up. It will be a long and slow process working on it when I can and when I get the cash. The motor, a 307, still runs. It has 350, 3 speed transmission and low rearends, 4:10 I think. Manual drums all the way around and power steering. Of course, all the brake lines have holes in them and I will be redoing the whole brake system before actually driving it. The truck has been unchanged since he bought it except maybe an exhaust pipe or some other little thing. I have been lurking around the board for the past year or two and have asked a few questions. I am sure I will have more when I really get into this build. I already have found a ton of great stuff here. I know that some people will suggest not even starting and looking for something cleaner, however, it has been in the family a while and I want to fix this one up. I look to do the majority of the work myself (and with my dad) so there will be a lot of learning and trial and error in my future. We would like to put a 350 or 383 in and probably keep the 350 and lower rear ends. There wont be a lot of long distance driving for it. When I drove it in high school it got about 10 gallons per mile. Anyway, here are some pics because no pics and it didn't happen, right? As I do more work I will post some more. Attached Images Last edited by rnemtp3; 03-17-2011 at 10:55 AM.

03-17-2011, 12:49 PM	#2
dmack91 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Redmond, OR Posts: 754	Re: Saving the 68 shortbed stepside Looks like a fun project, and special since it has been in the family for so long. The best advice I have seen is to get it running/driving safely first, then tackle individual projects as you can. Too many people start by completely disassembling the truck and then get overwhelmed and burned out on the seemingly never-ending project ( I have a Moto Guzzi in my garage that fell into this category). If you can get it on the road, after each project you complete, you can drive it and enjoy the progress and improvements as you go. Good luck and enjoy. __________________ 68 Chev C20- son has it now 83 K20 - bought from son 70 C20 - in progress

03-18-2011, 05:54 PM	#3
rnemtp3 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Lebanon, VA Posts: 11	Re: Saving the 68 shortbed stepside Great advice dmack. That is my plan, fix it up while driving it as much as possible. I am having a hard time trying to figure out what to fix when. It would be real easy to start tearing into it and having the whole thing in pieces in no time. I want to fix things while I have other items tore down in the same area to minimize redoing stuff but, with this much to fix I don't see much option sometimes. It will be fun anyway.



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