Driving "Miss Daisy" - 68 SWB Stepper

[oldgold70c10]

Love the stocker/shop truck look your giving her.

[nds1968]

Here goes some links

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=276503
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=301160
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=321961

[NoNeck]

We got the dealer step bumper off the back of the truck this weekend. I think it looks much cleaner without it. We have another bumper from my son's truck that we are going to install, but it is chrome. We are trying to decide if we are going to sandblast it and then paint it white to match the front, or leave it chrome and locate a matching one for the front.

Decisions, decisions...

Our next step is to break out the Liquid Wrench and replace the trailing arms with some really nice ones my son traded for a while back. At the same time we are going to install lowering springs (4" I think), adjustable panhard bar, (thanks junkyardjohn) and shocks.

At the same time, we will be installing 3" lowering springs on the front.

NoNeck

[CC69Rat]

Hey pop, post up that Photoshop you did with it lowered.

Also, anyone have any stainless centers to fit the steelies? please post pics / prices if you have anything you might want to part with.
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[NoNeck]

Here are a couple of photoshopped ideas we are tossing around.

There will be a bumper on the back, it is not installed in this photo. Also, the top will be painted white, and we are looking for some nice dog dish hubcaps.

NoNeck

[CC69Rat]

I think you might need a bit more than 3" to get it that low in the front. With the drums, that might be the best we can do for now though.
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[VA72C10]

Very cool truck!!!


yep, photoshop is probably 5" front and 7" rear...

I like it

The logos are cool!!!

I'd go white on the bumpers with the theme you have going on...

and don't forget new shocks/shock relocators when you lower it...

[CC69Rat]

Dad, you gotta do the logos. Go for it. I'll order the springs / blocks tonight.

Does anyone know the size of the U bolts we need? How large / space between the 'U' for the axle tube? I'll get us some new bolts too. 4" spring, 1" block and 4 deg pinion shims (?). The truck has drums in the front now and I can't really afford a full disk conversion right now. 3" CPP springs is about the best I can do. This is a shop truck anyway. Not going to be a show truck. Just a low buck swap meet ride.
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[NoNeck]

Yeah, I like the door logo. As a matter of fact I had already started preliminary sketches to get started. I thought about starting a new thread outlining all the steps from start to finish in case it might help someone else.

I wonder if there would be any licensing problems (i.e., lawsuits) from GM if we were to use the old "Genuine Chevrolet Parts" design? It would only be used for this truck to enhance the "shop truck" look, and we would not be selling reproductions. Any advice from members would be appreciated.

NoNeck

[CC69Rat]

People paint Chevy bowties on their cars all the time. Race cars, graphics, etc. I wouldn't think there would be a problem. I'd still like something like "Busted Knuckles Garage" or something. I like that round logo but I think it would be more unique if we come up with something catchy with a cool logo and/ or text design.
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[bundeber]

Love the hee haw reference, BR-549. Now that's funny!!!

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by CC69Rat

Dad, you gotta do the logos. Go for it. I'll order the springs / blocks tonight.

Does anyone know the size of the U bolts we need? How large / space between the 'U' for the axle tube? I'll get us some new bolts too. 4" spring, 1" block and 4 deg pinion shims (?). The truck has drums in the front now and I can't really afford a full disk conversion right now. 3" CPP springs is about the best I can do. This is a shop truck anyway. Not going to be a show truck. Just a low buck swap meet ride.
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You can usually get lowering block kits with the longer U-bolts. Try POL online or ebay

For the front, you can get lowered lower control arms (3" lower) and with a 2-3" spring be 5-6" in the front while still keeping drums. Then you could do a 6" rear spring and a 1" or 2" block and end up with a look like the photoshopped pictures....

.....or you could replace the springs with airbags placed on schrader valves in the rear so you can add air when you haul something

[NoNeck]

My son (CC69Rat) and I installed a new high-torque starter yesterday. I made a poor man's version of a heat sheild to help keep the headers from cooking the new solenoid.

I took an old Rod Run plaque that I had laying around and rolled it to about the size of the solenoid. I marked about where the mounting screw attached the solenoid to the starter motor and drilled a hole large enough for the screw to fit through. Then, I used snips to cut about an 3/8" tab in one corner. I have attached a couple of photos.

Back in the day (1969), this helped on my 1966 SS396 Chevelle when I installed my first set of headers.

NoNeck

[NoNeck]

Later Saturday we received 2 Camaro dog digs hub caps that my son Chad purchased from evil-bay. We shined them up with Never-Dull polishing cloth, and popped them on. I LIKE IT! I have included a close-up of how they look. Now we need 3 more (one for the spare).

We installed our restored stepside bumper on the rear. When my son bought his '69 Stepside, his truck came with a decent chrome bumper. He decided that he wanted a new one for his truck, so I took his and changed it to white.

I used a DA and various grades of sandpaper to rough up the surface, then gave it several coats of Etching Primer. After much hand sanding and smoothing, I painted it Arctic White to match the steel wheels and grille. The top will be the next part of the truck to be changed to white.

QUESTION: Should the rear step bumper have a slight tilt to it? See the one photo from the rear... it looks like the bumper is pointing down slightly. But, the tag assembly looks straight. Our brackets were spot on, so I think the bumper is installed correctly. Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks guys...

NoNeck

[BlackTopMotors]

I know its been said but, "looking good!"

[67chevy1series]

you have a fleetside rear bumper you need the stepside rear bumper. REALLY NICE LOOKING TRUCK LOVE IT

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Good looking truck..

[R&K's71]

looking good done anything to it lately

[NoNeck]

R&K's71 - I've been able to get a few things done this week. It has been reaching about 97 degrees all week here in Chattanooga Tennessee... too hot for an old man!

It was scary, but I started painting the shop signs on the doors. My son and I wanted to build an old "shop truck" from the day we brought the old '68 home. I wanted the signs to look like they have been on the truck for years, so my next step is to rough it up. I'm not a sign painter, but I think it turned out pretty good for rattle cans. I'm going to add a shop name (Booger Bros?) and a fake phone number. Also "24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE" on each step fender.

Over the weekend I traded a muffler shop a business card design/printing for an exhaust update. I had purchased a couple of Cherry Bomb mufflers from Summit a few weeks ago. I wanted to have the exhaust turned down at each rear fender. He used custom bent 2.5" tubing and new hangers to get exactly what I wanted. Sounds really good... not too loud or too quiet. That's my crazy Manx Bobtail cat "Bob" in the foreground. He would not get out of the picture.

Today, I have been working on my gauge cluster. It's the first time that I have ever removed one of these clusters, but I researched some tips from this forum and everything went really smooth. Except the choke knob... it didn't have a set screw like the wiper knob. It evidently screws off, but all it would do is spin. I finally got it off, so now I am restoring the cluster.

More tomorrow...

NoNeck

[R&K's71]

Hey NoNeck its looking great and i hear ya on the heat looks like summer finally made it. Quick question what size wheels and tires do you have on that truck they look good. Thanks in advance

[NoNeck]

R&K's71 - Thanks for the compliments.

The tires are BFG Radial TA's on 15" x 8" Steel Wheels.

The fronts are 235-70R-15 and the rears are 255-70R-15.

NoNeck

[bollybib]

re: Post #30, first pic. It doesn't look all that bad with no bumper at all.

& the dogdishes set the wheels and tires off real nice.

(staying tuned for future episodes here)

[NoNeck]

Bollybib -

It's funny when I saw that photo I thought the same thing! I liked the way those fat fenders looked without the bumper... especially lowered.

The state of Tennessee has this crazy law requiring all vehicles registered in the state to have bumpers. Not that the bumper would help that much in a rear end crash. I don't want to give "Barney Fife" any reason to ticket Miss Daisy.

I agree, those dog dish caps really finish those steelies. When we popped them on, we knew we were on the right track. We have 4 more on the way, so I will be able to get the other side and the spare looking sharp.

Thanks,

NoNeck

[CC69Rat]

Hey pop, post up some pics of your door logo!
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[NoNeck]

Chad (CC69Rat) -

Here's a close-up of my "artwork" on the door. I purposely made it kind of rough, and now I am going to make it even rougher, removing paint here and there to make it look aged.

(Forgot to include photo... see next page)

NoNeck