My 1962 project "my last truck"

[hardwaa]

Back on March 29 2022 I was looking for a tailgate for my 59 gmc and I found a guy selling a tailgate on FB marketplace I went to look at the tailgate. He ended up having a yard full of treasures. I bought the tailgate and this 1962 1/2ton shortbed disaster, but it had original paint Cardinal red paint on it. I'm a sucker for original paint no matter the condition.

[hardwaa]

I ended up going back on March 31, 2022 with a trailer to pick up the 62 project. I removed the cab from the frame. The frame was pretty mangled up on the front and rear frame horns.

As luck would have it I had a 1962 GMC shortbed frame roller I had bought back in November 2021.

I Had bought the gmc frame to build for my 61 apache Beater, (I was gonna clean and paint the GMC frame and put a V8/manual trans in it, but I ended up selling my 61 apache before any of that happened.

[hardwaa]

Back in December 2021 after selling my 61 apache I found this 1960 hood forsale locally and bought it. I had the 62 GMC chassis and the 60 hood I figured sooner or later I would find more parts to cobble another beater together...

[hardwaa]

So after finding the 62 Cardinal red project I knew I had some key parts to put another "61" (1961 chevy apaches are my all time favorite GM trucks) truck together. I asked around to some buddies looking for other parts. This is what I was able to scavenge.

[hardwaa]

On April 10, 2022 after assembling all the parts I had at my buddies shop I was able to bring this "mutt" home and tuck it in the backyard for a later date. My plan was to keep accumulating parts and build a "61" truck that would be mine and not forsale.

[SkinnyG]

I approve.

More! More! Keep going!!

[Braunschweiger]

This is how the parts fit together, more of them.

[rbruno68]

Wow, talk about being able to see "what could be". You did some great scavenging there and looks like you are on your way to a cool truck.
Rob

[hardwaa]

More to the story.

I had gathered more parts. I had a local guy who has become a friend do a 2" pancake crossmember (coil spring style) for me. I ordered new short bed sides, chrome bumpers front and rear and rear bumper brackets. I also found 1961 hood I bought and sold the 1960 hood I had on the truck.

[hardwaa]

More to the story.

I also bought a slightly used ZZ4 crate engine from a buddy. I also bought a set of torque thrust for the 62. Then I decided to use the torq thrust on my 59, so I bought a pair of American rebel starburst bolt on spindle mount style front wheels.

[hardwaa]

Last fall as I I was getting my 59 roadworthy I decided I was going to keep the 59 it's such a cool HOTROD truck. That decision made me realize I wasn't going to build the 62 for me. So I started selling parts I had accumulated. I sold the ZZ4 and the American rebel wheels.

A pic of my 59 from last fall to help with the story (madness in my head).

[hardwaa]

January of this year I get a call from another buddy he is cleaning out his spare parts I go shopping and end up buying a CHEAP fleetside 66 shortbed from him that was in pieces. I thought this will be great to bolt on the 62. I can sell my new bedsides that were still in the box. Basically pull cash out of the 62 since I was thinking I was gonna sell it as a roller and not build it.

[hardwaa]

So this summer I assemble the bed on the 62. I also gather some 16" steelies and put some staggered sized used radial tires on them. Then I paint the steel wheels silver (pic below is just the front wheels all four were painted silver). Thinking this will give the truck a great look (curb appeal) and will help the sale. Also because I'm a knucklehead I feel like I am giving the truck a good chance of being sold and getting back on the road. Hopefully I can sell the dream to the next guy.

[hardwaa]

I also to decide to get more parts from my buddy that was cleaning out his extra parts. I got a 62-66 hood that came off the truck the bed parts I got from did so the paint matched old metallic teal/turquoise color. So then I sell the 61 hood again pulling cash out of the project.

The guy that buys the 61 hood from me also wants the automatic steering column that was in the 62. So I sell him both and pull a lot of cash out of this 62 project.