My Free Truck-Project Rhino

[BigDan3131]

In the general 60-66 forums I posted about getting a 63-64 for free. When I have time to work on it I will report progress with pics.

Here is what it looks like now.

[Alan's Classic]

Can't beat free. Looks pretty solid.

[BigDan3131]

I found a set of wheels I want to use:http://www.jegs.com/i/Weld-Racing/92...rentProductId= Its just a matter of how big I want to go. I could just buys these: http://www.jegs.com/i/Mickey-Thompso...rentProductId= and then paint them to match. If I do the MT wheels it would be 16x8's and 16x12's.

[C@rnut001]

Looks like a great start and especially for free! Good luck on your build with her....

[BigDan3131]

I found a pair of seats that should fit nicely. They are from a Nissan NV1500 Van they are just the right height to fit. I will probably build a center console from 1 3/8" tubing to mount a new pro stick shifter and a pair of cup holders.

I plan to Rhino line a large potion of the inside and outside and use it as both a driver and a display vehicle for the different uses you can use liner for.

[BigDan3131]

I power washed the truck today and the green mold is gone along with minor grease in the engine compartment. I started figuring out my drive train...mostly which trans & engine.

Trans will be a built TH350 able to handle up to 700HP

I have a shop I can go to that will take the powerglide as a partial trade for the work.

The engine on the other hand will be a stock bore and stroke 5.3L with this intake:http://www.jegs.com/i/Holley/510/300...ductId=1646023 and a pair of 600 cfm carbs. More than likely a pair of shiny DP's since I have one already laying aside.

Cam will be from Comp:

Duration @ .050” 239°/243°

Lift with 1.7 Rockers .624“/.624“

Lobe Sep. Angle 109°

[Captainfab]

So you're planning on keeping this truck 8 lug?

They sure are proud of those Welds

[BigDan3131]

Yeah I'm staying 8 lug and the welds are kinda pricey so I'm leaning towards XD Wheels like these:http://www.4wheelparts.com/Wheels/XD...XD79889080712N and these: http://www.4wheelparts.com/Wheels/XD...PXD80389080700 the last ones would be painted to match the vehicle not left like they are. Paint wise I'm really leaning towards purple base with rootbeer candy. It looks like the burned orange.

[BigDan3131]

I took more pictures and the one with the tape lines showing a curved line is where the Rhino will end. So just the upper half will be done in normal paints. Since the rhino can be painted over...I just might.

Next weekend I will be walnut blasting and epoxy primering. The front fenders may or may not be replaced due to the rusted out bottoms but the hood will be gone due to the cost of the replacement panel cost and want of a glass hood.

[BigDan3131]

I've decided to start small and work my way outward. I pulled up the floor mat to find holes in the usual locations and loose flaky rust over most of the floor. Tomorrow I will be killing the rust with a NAPA brand rust killer which works great as I have used it for years. I will take a few photo's of the before and after treatment and of my fiberglass repairs.

It goes like this, kill the rust and wait 24 hours for it to cure. Then sand the floor not covered in rust followed by at least two coats of fiberglass resin. Let that cure then scuff/sand it with 36 grit and apply more resin along with heavy mat cut to fit each rusted out area. Once all the holes have been filled and smoothed with the 36 grit I will shoot Rhino over the entire floor.

[Bazooka]

I really like these

http://www.4wheelparts.com/Wheels/XD...XD79889080712N

[niterider65]

mmmm man the left front fender look like the po thought it was cheaper to reform the front of the fender in bondo . looks a little thick

[awbrown]

Originally Posted by niterider65

mmmm man the left front fender look like the po thought it was cheaper to reform the front of the fender in bondo . looks a little thick

That is the instant fender kit ..........

[shok]

It's fender in a can!
Posted via Mobile Device

[BigDan3131]

I am the 3rd owner the second owner was 16 when it was given to him by his Dad and he did that wonderful body work. Here are the before pics of the floor.

[BigDan3131]

Here are the after rust treatment.

[LostMy65]

[BigDan3131]

I'm replacing both front fenders and the hood with fiberglass parts. I will be moving the batteries to the rear and the stock tanks are all going bye bye.

[BigDan3131]

Since it started raining its been tough to spend time on it. The last thing I did was use resin to seal in all the rusted out areas. Work is way too busy for me right now, I have a full frame off resto of a 1958 Ford Custom 300 and after that is a 48 Ford Tudor. I know I know...They are both owned by the same guy besides its better than being unemployed. Friday I found out I have a 55 Chevy pickup to do sometime this summer.

Back to the truck, I was going to do a 6.0L but since they are so much $$$ I have decided to go another route. So instead it will be a 5.3 with a 6-71 on it with two 650DP's and no hood. I'm keeping the 8 lugs to be different and since the former owner just put $600.00 into the brakes.

[BigDan3131]

I got the bug to do some work on it. I got the glass laid out on the drivers side and resin laid over it. One more area to cover and another coat of resin and the drivers side is done until rhino lined.

[BigDan3131]

I made a decision about the truck.

At first it was just going to be a short term fixer to sell for other projects. Then it was going to be a bad blown toy. I have decided to turn it into a full time daily driver to replace my aging S10. So it will be getting either the 6.0L like I had planned with the dual carbs or more than likely a 5.3L with two smaller carbs on same manifold from Holley. Instead of a 4L60E or 4L80E it will get a TH200R4 built to handle five or six hundred horsepower, for a future turbo upgrade. It will get A/C and power steering and brakes none of which were in my original plans. I'm having classic dash take a blank chevy one and drill it for my tastes in gauges which even include a clock. I don't see any reason I can't get good gas mileage out of it with the right gearing, OD and tire height along with cruise control.

[Crx150zc]

Nice, I love seeing build threds like this

[BigDan3131]

Well as it turns out the truck is actually a 65 because today I was handed the title. Along with a copy of the build sheet and the original handbook. The two things I'm happiest about are the 4.10 gears and the locker to go with it.

I was at that 6066guy website and found the 305 that was in it weighed about 800 pounds dropping my now engine free chassis to a neat 3530 pounds. After relocating the batteries to the rear which is like removing weight from the vehicle it will feel lighter but not. The saddle tanks and stock tank will go bye-bye shedding some more weight and adding a glass hood will drop it a bit more. I figure with me and the LS in it I should be at 3850 pounds.

[BigDan3131]

Money is tighter than before and I have decided to now keep the saddle tanks but relocate them to inside the bed with a cross over line so both tanks become one 32 gallon tank.
This weekend is out I have a 53 Chevy Bel Air side job I'm working on for a motor build and of course its Fathers Day Sunday...Happy Fathers Day to you Dads out there.

Here is a link to the color the upper half of the truck will be: http://stevesharpphotography.files.w...cover_blog.jpg Its called Cocoa Powder Pearl by HoK.

[BigDan3131]

Well...Its been too long since an update.

So I have moved the truck down the street to our new spraybooth/work area and when the room isn't full of parts or another vehicle my truck goes in it. Tomorrow the 2nd it will go in if its not too sh*tty outside and since I have no one to help me push it inside I might go buy my paint instead.

If I get it inside all the bodywork will be done tomorrow and primered and I have about 75% of it done now. Then next weekend finish the inside glasswork and then it will be ready for bedliner. That to has been revised as to where I plan to lay it out and since paint is just stupid expensive I will be using left overs from the spots/blends we have done over the years. The base will be Antique Bronze and then covered in Rootbeer Candy. The bedliner will be shot with Tangerine or Persimmon candy.

Photo's to come soon.