Looking for a project

[turp23]

Happy New Year to all. I have passed through on occasion, now I am ready to get serious. I was hoping some experienced members could give me a gentle push in one direction or another. I have been around cars all of my life, and spent most of my grammar school summers in my Uncle's body shop. I did not do much more than strip paint, but I am hoping the smell of bondo and paint seeped into my blood.I have spent the past few years on project cars as a commuter for gas mileage. My wife is tired of me jumping from project to project, so I have decided I will build what I want and forget about mpg .

My biggest battle is whether or not I should go with a short bed or long bed. The short bed really lights my fire. I have no welding skills, other than mig welding two pieces of metal together. Short of welding, I can turn wrenches. I would like to build a motor, but I am not sure which motor or trans I want to go with. I am leaning towards the short bed, and my only other requirment would be a/c. It is really hot here!

My intention is to lower the truck, and have a rock solid motor and tranny. Cosmetically, I would like to go with a sleeper theme. All I need is a solid body, not a rust bucket. Any suggestions or advice on how to shop for one would be greatly appreciated. If someone wants to mention pros and cons on the shortbed vs longbed I would be ok with that too.

Sorry for the long post.

[terry b]

I own a 72 longbed but really like the looks of 67 or 68 shortbeds.

[67swb72klb]

short beds are more $ most times
i would get the most rust free truck that i find

[67ctener]

Can't go wrong with a 67-72 chevy pu. IMO a shortbed with be of more value in the end and look the best if your building a street truck. If you wanna build a 4x4 can't go wrong with a lifted k20. Any are great trucks just depends what you want
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[PanelDeland]

Longbeds will ride a bit nicer(all else being equal).The real decision is yours.If you want to know what to look for just keep reading.There are tons of threads on rust(it wasn't optional,it came standard in 40+ year old chevys),but most can be fixed.That said,if you aren't a pro body man the best bet is to buy the best body you can get,since that is usually the biggest cost factor in building one.The mechanicals can be as easy or as complicated as you want.

[turp23]

Street rod just about nails it for me. Thats exactly what I want to build. Digging around I have seen some really nice ones. I am willing to strip anything I find all the way down to the chassis if I need too. I know where I can find a longbed cheyenne for pretty cheep, I just don't want to settle for something because its a good deal. I would rather keep looking a bit longer to find exactly what I want.
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[turp23]

Any suggestions on what motor I should consider? Im looking for low end power/torque, a decent cam, and fits without having to mod the body or frame. I was thinking 454 but I read somewhere that it was too heavy for the truck.
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[CC69Rat]

I have a BBC Short bed stepper for sale. All the metal work has been done, no rust at all. Would be a perfect project for you. The build thread is in my signature.

[Nobby]

Come get this one...71 cheyenne,most of the hard parts done but it's fully disassembled and spread out all over the parish $3500.00 firm..

[turp23]

Nobby, that is exactly my style! Its just above my price range at the moment, but thanks for posting. Good to see somebody else from La here. I am working with a secret budget that my wife doesn't know about. When I do buymy chevy, she will not know that either until she gets home from work and sees it sitting in the driveway.

[Shyguy]

Big blocks are not too heavy for these trucks, mine and my son has 454s. One of the problems is if you start building the engine to have lot of hp and torque the frame and body may complain some.

The 454 in my swb stepper is mostly stock except for a mild cam and headers. It has a SM-465 transmission with 3.73 rear gears and seems to spin the tires without any effort.

[turp23]

Since a/c is a prerequisite, how should it influence my decision? Do I add an aftermarket one, or is it a deal breaker if I cant find one with it from the factory?
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[huahuamick]

Ahh! I stand corrected then, Thanks for clearing that up.

[bk2life]

Originally Posted by turp23

I am ready to get serious. I was hoping some experienced members could give me a gentle push in one direction or another. .

Originally Posted by Nobby

Come get this one... $3500.00 firm..

Originally Posted by turp23

above my price range at the moment.

Well I think you answered your own question on what project you are looking to get serious on..
Gentle push, start off with at least an 8k budget for a project..

[turp23]

Allow me to clarify. I do not claim to know anything about these trucks much less their value. It is undoubtedly disrespectful to try and put a dollar on anyones blood, sweat, and tears. Not to mention labor and time away from your kiddos. For example, the truck that Rat mentioned he had for sale is no doubt worth way more than what he is asking based on labor alone. Not to mention, did you see that engine? Nobby offered his for sale, and I absolutely believe that the tires and rims alone are worth what he is asking.

My point is that I do not expect to get in a running truck on my budget, much less one with the engine. A gentle push meaning swb or lwb, a/c or no a/c and so forth. I am ready to get serious about figuring out what I want, how to shop for it, and what engine would best suit me. I do however, disagree with an $8k budget to get started. There have to be members that got started for much less. As I grow in knowledge so will my budget. Don't mean I can't ask questions though, right?
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[mcmlxix]

Originally Posted by turp23

Nobby, that is exactly my style! Its just above my price range at the moment, but thanks for posting. Good to see somebody else from La here. I am working with a secret budget that my wife doesn't know about. When I do buymy chevy, she will not know that either until she gets home from work and sees it sitting in the driveway.

Its easier to ask for forgiveness then it is for permission....

[mcmlxix]

Originally Posted by turp23

Since a/c is a prerequisite, how should it influence my decision? Do I add an aftermarket one, or is it a deal breaker if I cant find one with it from the factory?
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If you're going to restore the truck to look stock in almost every way, find one with AC as it will be more work to convert it from non-AC truck... If you want a resto-mod that has some custom touches, just find any rust free truck and add aftermarket AC... Vintage Air kit is about $1400 and its all new parts...

[Moline_Puller]

Hey,

Personally, I like the long beds...but I'm biased. The '67-68 shortbeds are awesome looking trucks...but everybody wants/has one, and so, they are a little higher priced. The '71-72 trucks have disk brakes on the front, which is something to think about...just because, you'll probably want disk brakes eventually.

Good luck with whatever you get...you really can't go too wrong with a good solid '67-72 Chevys...ya gotta love them!


Chris

[cst69]

I done some trading for my latest project, traded a set of stock bullet hole wheels & tires + a home theater surround sound system for a 68 chevy short bed truck with title (well, part of a truck). Truck had no drivetrain, no bed and no front fenders along with the typical rusty rockers & cab corners. It is a project though and I had $0.00 money out of pocket to starts with. You can find all kinds of deals on individual parts to put it back togather though, and it's all your free labor doing so. That being said, it's a better deal if you can find someone else that has abandoned a 80-90% done project and buy it pennies on the dollar.

BTW, engine of choice for the purpose you explained....500 caddy V8 w/ alum. intake. Lots of low & mid torque, weights within 60 lbs of a small block chevy w/ alum intake and not that bad on gas either. And they are cheap if you can scrounge one from a wreck. Got mine from a 76 herse w/ 40 k miles + all the accessories and a turbo 400 tranny still attached, all for 425.00. (score!)

Good luck with your build.

[turp23]

If I come across a stepper, can I put a fleetside bed on it?
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[turp23]

Still researching, still saving, and still shopping. There sure are a lot of lwb trucks out there. I have come across a few swb projects, but I am real nervous about rust. I want to do everything myself, but replacing rocker panels and such make me squirm a bit.

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by turp23

If I come across a stepper, can I put a fleetside bed on it?
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Yes.

As far as a/c goes, if it has factory a/c and it doesn't work, there is a good chance you will sink just as much money fixing it as you will buying an aftermarket kit.
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[Scott>72-GMC]

Might be easier there but rust free rockers on a project truck are rare unless already patched
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[turp23]

Thats pretty much what I figured. I have seen a couple of ytube videos on replacement, just don't know if I am competent enough to weld them in myself. The whole problem here is patience. I will find the right one, I just have to wait for it to show up. I will keep saving in the mean time!
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[Scott>72-GMC]

If you can find a local body shop just have them weld them in smooth them out but you do the rest. Shouldn't be to crazy of a cost. Then the rest u can mostly tackle urself or find help here
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