MoeMan's 65 BBW shortbed build

[MoeMan]

After years of lurking the forums and a year after I purchased my '65...I finally started today.
My truck is stored 110 miles away so time is precious. I removed the front fenders and the tops of the radiator, and upper fender pieces and brought them home to work on them.
It really opened up the front floor so I can now better see the pieces of sheet metal I need to buy at Spring Carlisle in a couple weeks. (My truck is up by Carlisle, so I plan to bring the cab back when I go up for Spring Carlisle.)
Cab needs most floor pans and rockers and the portion that goes down to the rear bottom fender brace. Windshield area is really clean so that's one plus.
Plans are for tubular upper and lower a-arms, rebuild front end with 4" drop, 5" drop and half circle frame reliefs. Converting to 5-lug 4-wheel disk brakes. Built a stout 406 sbc for it, but now going with BBC. Merlin 4.600 bore with a 396/427 crank. Going to put as long a rod as possible for the best rod ratio to better enable running regular gas with 11.0.1 compression. I think it works out to around 500 ci. Backing it up with a muncie 4-speed.
I am thinking of painting it fawn with white top. Steel wheels.
We will see how many times I change my mind, read along and enjoy!

[MoeMan]

Before

[MoeMan]

Before 2

[MoeMan]

She was in a barn a number of years before I bought It last year. Has more than it's share of rust, and bruises.

[Ta2Don]

Good Start… I'm in…BIG BLOCK!!!

[TJ's Chevy]

I second what my brotha said...and I'm loving that hood bird!

[1963c-10]

Welcome and great looking truck. The deluxe trim package is another plus. Looking forward to more pics and progress on the build.

[Jeff La]

Welcome, looks like you have a good starter there.

[MoeMan]

Thank you. My buddy and I were trying to figure our that bird yesterday. It fits the contour of the hood perfectly...surely it didn't come that way though.
What is the deluxe trim package?

[MoeMan]

Been in the garage today a little. Pretty much smoothed out the front part of the driver fender. Started cutting rust out in the rear by the door. Pictures coming soon! Can't believe how slow I am at this!

[MoeMan]

After priming, I see some areas I can clean up a little more. I used a hammer and dolly for close to an hour before I was able to get it close enough to apply a little putty.

[MoeMan]

This the hammer and dolly metal worked. Sorry the pic is bad.

[MoeMan]

Here it is smoothed and primed. Like I said, I see a few spots I need to work a little more...there is always tomorrow!

[MoeMan]

Here, I cut out about a 4x4 square of soft metal. All the sandy mud you see was packed behind the rust. Have to stop here before welding in a new piece...need to address the rust with a wire wheel and some POR 15.

[MoeMan]

So tomorrow if there is time around Easter festivities, I'll get back to the front part of the fender for a little clean up work. At this rate, I should be done in a few years!

[TJ's Chevy]

Be sure to hide an Easter egg in the hole on the fender! LOL!

[Ta2Don]

Originally Posted by T.J. MCCAULEY

Be sure to hide an Easter egg in the hole on the fender! LOL!

As for the Bird, it looks alot like the one I found for my build… It's off a '56 Chevy Car...