Project "Popeye"

[wild4wheels]

looks great! subscibed

[snm95ls]

Love it!

[par4tom]

Great thread...great project!

[1lo67]

where did you find the axle saddles for the 67-72 trailing arms? ive checked a few places with no luck..
Truck is looking sweet

[1948]

I am obsessed with this build. Perfect marriage of patina and clean, simple wheels.

[rhd_c10]

truck looks great..

[LEEVON]

Thanks ya'll and sorry so long! I'm back on it.

I started on the cab. Finished dis-assembly, gave it a good cleaning and started prepping for rust repair. I cannot believe how much dirt and crud was still in there. I emptied it once when I started this build, swept it out again another time but by the time I finished removing all of the under dash stuff, weatherstripping, glass, anything else attached plus mud dobber nests I had another half trash can full. I pressure washed the whole thing which knocked some of the heavier rust, grease and flaky paint down. Pressure washing along blew another 10lbs out onto the ground.

The goal is to assess the cab rust repair and make a plan. The plan is still working it's way through my head but I could end up with a whole new floor. I have had to stop and remind myself to keep it simple.

The big topic of conversation has been what to do with the interior. From going all the way (painting and replacing everything jambs in) or half way (dash and back of cab) or clear coating what's there or just fix the rust and put it back together. We've decided to gloss clear coat the dash. I polished the stainless glovebox and speaker grille then threw in my new gauges to see how it would look.

With the blue/white mexican blanket seat there will be plenty of color, and the dash may get striped at some point. I scrubbed the dash, jambs, and most of the outside with CLR and a green scotch brite pad and some 600 with decent results. The dash has a nice rich patina that is now very smooth. It will look great with a gloss clear I think. It was either clear patina, or Marina blue like the wheels, or the original color.

Here's a whole photo album: http://imgur.com/a/9u5pq

Before:

After (wet):

Guages mocked-up:

[LEEVON]

Rust never sleeps!







Window frames are good, pinhole in passenger side, no biggie:

[99 to Life]

hell yeah glad to see you back at it. The cab is far more solid than most the ones I deal with. Few easy patches, some seam sealer, maybe a coat of chassis saver, POR, or epoxy on the floor top and bottom and your good to go. I like both ideas on interior. I think either way will look great. But I love contrasting some new paint with patina, kinda like when you open your hood and bow, there is a nice clean engine in there. Same with interior. Your gonna have alot of people ask when your gonna paint it, so just beware, its sooo annoying explaining the concept.

[72BlckButy]

Nice work!

[LEEVON]

I got a second opinion on the dash, from a painter friend...his work is incredible, so when he has an idea I am inclined to take him up on it. He wants to shoot a very light candy clear in a natural tone like brown over the dash patina, maybe with some really light metallic. He said it will really pop the texture and color, i can see it. So that is settled just gotta get her ready!

Got into the doors today, both will need patching at the inside bottom, no biggie.

[69CST-V]

I like where your going with it. Keep at it and will turn out great.

[PurdueSD]

painter friend...heck come on over bud, lets lay some nice paint on this thang!

Seriously though...looking forward to ya getting back at it!

[oldman3]

Leevon, glad to see you back on the AD....Jim

[LEEVON]

Finished a couple of nagging mock-ups; the brake booster and clutch linkage. I had to locate and drill the firewall plate that I grafted in, which went smoothly.

The clutch linkage has taken some thought, but it's ready to go now. I'll need to set the cab on again to make final adjustments/ geometry modifications but that has been a nagging chore. Having the complete assembly from a '69 C10 from the clutch/brake pedals all the way to the fork rod has been a big help.

I might decide to spray liner in the firewall and also build a cover plate for the modified pedal assembly for looks. We'll see.

Also tore into the doors, located the minor rust to kill (inside bottoms).

[67cheby]

looking good man !

[oldman3]

Moving along...Jim

[LEEVON]

Many thanks all. Especially Mike Losh checking in on us little people in between SEMA builds!

I had to throw the cab on to finalize the steering, clutch and brakes. It was surprisingly light after everything was removed, spec manual says 258 pounds. Fellow board member BradMan72 lives across the road, and he came by to help. Thanks Brad! We were able to easily lift it off the dolly and walk right over the frame and set it down.

I started re-thinking the rust repair. I have been planning to go way to far for what this truck is. I think I should just do what is necessary to make it safe and let the rest ride (really just some small holes in the cab corners and lower back wall. That means front floor pans, cab support and lower pillars for structural integrity. The sooner I'm on the road having fun the better.

What are your thoughts on the Impala (I think) steering wheel? I'm using the original column tube, it fits nicely and the horn will work. I like the look, besides that the only major difference is that it is not flat like the stock wheel but offset from the hub a few inches. That could be a a positive move for safety though because I want the column as short and far away from my body as possible.

[CHIZZLER]

lookin good.glad to see your back on it.

[54worker]

Love what your doin with this build. Keep it up.

[oldman3]

Looking killer, one day I'm going to have to make a trip up your way and stop it...Jim

[99 to Life]

looks great, as for the wheel. I'm usually never a fan of non stock wheel in these trucks
but I do like a dished wheel such as that impala. I think it would look great. My friend has one similar to it but has a crome cone for a center cap. looks sooooo killer, but I'd just never run that in fear of slamming my face off of it, be a sure eye popper.

[LEEVON]

Finding a seat has been holding up some of the mock-up adjustments like the pedals and steering column. One popped up on Craigslist, it was cheap but dirty. Note the giant red/brown spot in the middle, I didn't ask any questions...so disassembled and cleaned it. Then I scratched my head long enough to build another truck before I moved the risers inward and fabbed a couple of small brackets. The way I installed the risers, there are two bolts at the front; the one you see in the pic on my bracket and another in the vertical part of the riser (other end of bracket) so I didn't need the front brace. The seat is wide, but slides forward and backward farther than you would need to go either way. A shorter person might not like that it sits a little lower but I'm 6'-3". Afte getting the seat set, I'm sold on the Impala wheel. The column has enough angle that I can slide in without hitting my knees on the wheels, it is far enough away it's not in my face and it just looks right.

Rex (RocketKing) called this week and said he was looking at a '50 chevy truck in my area. He bought it yesterday and came back to load it this morning, so I rode along and helped. He got a killer project for a great price, hope he's over here soon with a build thread!

[99 to Life]

seat looks good, whats it out of? A nice serape blanket will make that look stellar. Wheel looks great, again, I luv seeing the stock wheel but this looks really good.

[LEEVON]

Seat is an 88-94 silverado bench with a fold down armrest. They are wide but will fit. I beat you to the punch by editing my post and added a pic with the blanket! That blanket started the whole color theme of the truck.