New project and had to share

[laplander]

My daughter has been bugging me for either a Blazer or a four wheels drive pick up since she gets her license in a year. Yesterday I cane across this '68 4WD with a 6 cylinder and a 4 speed and a short wide bed. It needs some work, obviously, but it looks like just what she needed. No rot that I could find anywhere, even in the steel bed floor. By chance I had picked up a set of buddy bucket seats for another truck, but I think they will go in here, and I think the 6 banger will stay too. Now I just need to find some decent 6 lug wheels and tires and slowly figure out the paint color combo. Any ideas or pointers?

[laplander]

I'd really like the thought of putting 4 wheels discs on it, but what do yu think would be better in the long run, go with 6 lug discs or switch everything over to 5 lug since I'm already doing the conversion?

[STOCKISH]

Nice! You guys have it made with the rust free trucks! Its cool your daughter wants an old truck instead of a Civic or something! Cant wait to see what you do with this.

[laplander]

Originally Posted by 1972SuperCheyenne

Nice! You guys have it made with the rust free trucks! Its cool your daughter wants an old truck instead of a Civic or something! Cant wait to see what you do with this.

You aren't kidding about the rust part, I grew up half my life in IL thinking these things came from the factory with rusted out cab corners and sill plates. It's amazing how fast stuff can get done when you aren't patching quarters or wheel well housings.

[CastIron]

Nice find. I would stick with the 6 lug wheels. Isn't that what most 4wds have?

[tommys72]

Throw some 4x4 rallys on there and it'll be good. What is that on the hood? It looks like a water faucet almost from what I can see
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[67ChevyRedneck]

That's a pretty damn rare truck you have there! Obviously, the bed has been swapped, so maybe it was converted to 6 lug and/or chopped down from a lwb, but there was only 1,449 swb 1/2ton 4x4's made. Definitely check out the SPID! Even if it started as a 3/4 ton long bed, they did not build very many of these either.

http://outintheshop.com/prodnum.html

[SS Tim]

If the truck is to be a driver then you will need to consider running a later disc brake front end and matching rear (set of blazer axles) P/B and maybe P/S. Rear discs are probably overkill and the stock rear drums are pretty bullet proof. Can't imagine how you would convert it to five lug without FORD parts or why you would want to other than to be able to use Jeep intended wheels.

Here is a picture of an early 4x4 as inspiration. However the rally wheels just seem so overdone and really would not even be a consideration for me. A set of 16" black stock steel wheels and 235 or 255 tires without caps would be perfect. To me the 505 green here or a 511 looks right but color is a personal choice. The 67 factory plum or dark turquoise from the carline would look great too with the stock 68 fawn interior. Call it a special paint truck.

[Tinkermc]

might consider asking her what she might like

[laplander]

The VIN shows it started out as a 2wd and then was shipped onto a 4wd running gear,, originality to m isn't a big issu yet, I've had those before and didn't like it. This one she can g out mudinn' and enjoy herself.

[laplander]

I think after the mechanicals get lined out I'm going to yank the bed off and have the body shop strip the outside and blast the inside. Even the floor is remarkably straight. While they are doing that I can have my oldest son start checking the brakes and prepping the frame for some paint and put a normal rear bumper on it. Then I'll start throwing the parts I have accumulated at it and let her decide which way she wants to take it.

[sasquatch58]

summit racing has corvette style ..6 lug c-10 ralley wheels on EBAY for 121.00 {pkg of 2} FREE SHIPPING.NO TAX !!...BEST PRICE ANYWHERE.I have these on my c-10 with flat nove chevy caps and they look great..P.S.price is for 2 wheels only.

[magwakeenercew2jh]

Originally Posted by laplander

I think after the mechanicals get lined out I'm going to yank the bed off and have the body shop strip the outside and blast the inside. Even the floor is remarkably straight. While they are doing that I can have my oldest son start checking the brakes and prepping the frame for some paint and put a normal rear bumper on it. Then I'll start throwing the parts I have accumulated at it and let her decide which way she wants to take it.

I have three grown daughters....Seven grandkids, of which three are now driving. I don't believe you asked for opinions about WHAT to do, did you?
But, for my (previously spent) money, I'd:

1) Make that one into a mechanical sewing machine so I didn't get calls every third day for the AAA card number;

2) Put good brakes on it;

3) Make sure it had 3:07's and the smallest carb I could find so the local gas station owner didn't find
a new place as a guest at our Christmas dinner;

4) Solid bumpers (REAL SOLID) front and rear;

5) Good tires (see #1, above);

As for paint? Mudding? Really?

6) Driveway "Tractor Supply" Black Matte paint ($30/gal)...Teach her how to paint it at home.
That skill will be needed more than once.

My $.02. Because, I've BTDT.