"Mabel" 1962 c10 long bed

[virginiaslim]

Picked up a pretty original '62 long bed as a replacement for my '72 I regrettably sold.

Truck came from OREGON and was used on a ranch as a work truck and it shows, but surprisingly pretty original. Knowing it was original I wasn't sure the direction to go until I got into it and now have a plan.

Has the i6 with 4 speed granny gear and 3.90 rear. Everything works as it should but smokes a little on acceleration assuming rings. I drove it from Temecula to Long Beach but realized this isn't going to work for day to day at 70+mph so going to likely do a complete 73-85 swap, 350/350 or 700, disc/power brakes, etc.

The body has the usual rust and damage for a ranch truck but I think it adds character. If the inner bed panels and cross braces were not destroyed by the layers of plywood added on top of the original wood bed I would be less likely to change anything but it is what it is.

With that said the plan is to leave the exterior as is expect repaint white and repro shiny bits, and update to newer suspension, brakes, etc for daily driving.

I found this truck for sell last year but passed on it at the time due to logistics and when it came up for sale again I went and grabbed it. I found the pictures from the first sell and then the second which i'll start with for this build thread.

[virginiaslim]

These were from the first sell which I passed on. It wasn't running and was missing battery, radiator, and a section of the engine harness apparently scavenged for copper.

Original price then $3800

[virginiaslim]

Here is how I got it on the second sell.

The wiring was fixed, truck was running, had cokers wide whites added, but the rest was left alone. Price was $5900 but was able to get it down to $4800

The work done was well worth the extra $1000.

[virginiaslim]

Everything works on this truck so not much to do there other than the rear harness has been spliced to many times so will need to replace that.

Since in '62 the front parking lights did not come on with the headlights, I wanted them on as it is a cool visual feature of the truck I connected the front parking lights to the rear lights at the switch.

As you can see, after some cleaning the potential really started to show.

[virginiaslim]

Started the clean up on the engine bay to see what I'm working with and also started to get down to the bed fiasco. The original horn does not work and is the horn itself which is the problem. I stuck a cheapo ooga horn in there to make sure it wasn't the wiring or horn button. Will be removed.

I forgot to take pictures but what I had was a rubber mat on top of multiple layers of plywood and then the original wood bed floor. Needless to say that ply wood rotted out all the cross braces and original wood and the lower 12" of the internal bed sides.

I'm thinking I will get a fabrication shop to bend me up some Z panels to only fix the lower internal panels. Would like to retain the "character" of the outer bed sides and replace the wood bed along with cross braces.

Did a quick polish to see where I was at with the original paint. Swirly is the best way to describe it I think.

[virginiaslim]

After the initial polish I was considering clearing it to get some shine back but went and hit it with some compound and the results were great. Going to continue buffing and then seal it with wax, maybe penetrol not too sure yet.

[CRGRS 66]

I had an Aunt Mabel... She was all original too!
Nice score, I like it.

[jimmythompson1964]

Definitely has character ����

[virginiaslim]

I think I should stop while im ahead, if she gets any shinier I will feel like I need to make the panels perfect... and add trim... and... well you know how it goes.

I dont really see alot if any 519 Yuma Yellow trucks, whats up with that?

[LostMy65]

Originally Posted by virginiaslim

After the initial polish I was considering clearing it to get some shine back but went and hit it with some compound and the results were great. Going to continue buffing and then seal it with wax, maybe penetrol not too sure yet.

Looking good
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=407983

[Katrina/10]

That is a cool color, I don't think I have ever seen it in person. Like what you did with the paint.

[virginiaslim]

Been a little slow getting stuff done more planning than anything. Did decide to redo the white parts, grill bumpers roof, so started removing the white paint that was added to the roof. Also buffed the windshield a bit need a few more passes on it. Used a mix of buffing compound and fast orange hand cleaner, actually works. Found some holes in the drip rail hopefully will be an easy fix.

[virginiaslim]

So a while back my lady was telling me about her grandfather and how he designed the mooneyes logo. Pretty cool to me as I’m a designer myself but she couldn’t really prove it just said that’s what she was always told. She pulls out this folder of stuff he had and was filled with isky cams, edelbrock, and mooneyes marketing material mostly stickers but no original artwork. So I stared to some research to see what I could find.

Well came across a reference in this edelbrock book and sure enough he is in the book. Crazy to me the family doesn’t have record of this but at least this confirms some of the story. Sure wish they would have kept more of his work. Apparently they just threw away a box full of photo slides. Who knows what was actually on them.

I’ve asked for them to let look through stuff before it made it to the trash, after throwing a mini tantrum.

[jimmythompson1964]

That's a cool piece of history

[jimmythompson1964]

That is a cool piece of history, did you ever meet him ?

[jchav62]

Cool history... wonder why they would throw that stuff out??

Really digging the way truck is looking. Buffed out really nice!

[rudyyloverboiii]

what did you use to buff the paint out?
Looks super rad!

[virginiaslim]

Originally Posted by jimmythompson1964

That is a cool piece of history, did you ever meet him ?

no I never met him, only his wife but she was in her 90’s by that time so I didnt ask any questions. Makes me wonder how much is lost or forgotten pre-internet.

[virginiaslim]

Originally Posted by rudyyloverboiii

what did you use to buff the paint out?
Looks super rad!

Thanks! I used Meguiar's M85 Mirror Glaze Diamond Compound Cut 2.0 and the harbor freight compound pad. I bought a bottle of the car show glaze
#7 which is suppose to make it even better but haven’t got that far yet.

[virginiaslim]

Originally Posted by rudyyloverboiii

what did you use to buff the paint out?
Looks super rad!

Originally Posted by jchav62

Cool history... wonder why they would throw that stuff out??

Really digging the way truck is looking. Buffed out really nice!

Yeah crazy right?!?! Some of the family members are into cars but not like we are, guess outside of the car scene really doesn’t mean much.

Thank you for the compliment. Love your truck and the story behind it! Tailgate is my favorite part, it’s just cool.

[virginiaslim]

Just been doing odds and ends on the truck with the little free time I’ve had.

After cleaning out the interior I’ve discovered some rot and need advise on what to do. Basically the roof drip rail has minor holes but that has lead to water leaking down into the A pillar along with a gap in the windshield allowing water to run along the dash into the pillar and door frame.

Should I cut it all about and repair all those spots? I’m afraid if I keep cutting I won’t stop. Thinking of peeling off the roof and seeing how bad it is, any thoughts here ?

[virginiaslim]

Pictures