resto or not??? original 66 shortbed project

[billetproofcustoms]

Originally Posted by likaroc13

awesome! so cool that you decided to go this route ...I opted to do something similar with mine since it seems so few are doing it...but yours is more original than mine, with a better background story, not to mention the physcial proof (build sheet) you have ...I want to keep physical appearance as original as possible with mine...but I plan to drive mine as well & decided to upgrade brakes & steering...and I have a '66 327/Powerglide but plan to upgrade to a 700R4 trans....it won't be original in the sense of a purist form, but mostly original with a touch of modern

as for original parts, one guy I can recommend is Tony Smith @ http://www.4-5-6chevytrucks.com/

Thanks for the info. about all I need to replace is a few trim pieces, and maybe the front grille..

[LEEVON]

Originally Posted by LEEVON

power disc brakes, drop, white walls, new seals and DRIVE

What this guy said~!

[LostMy65]

I'd try to keep as much 'as is' to keep grandpa as much as was. I'd want to see it remain how grandpa had it to keep the feel of it still being grandpa's truck.

.
As it is, it looks like grandpa's truck.
I'd want to keep it that way.

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It's a very, very rare privilege to get grandpa's truck.
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[LostMy65]

Originally Posted by billetproofcustoms

Ok,

So I have decided to do a fresh resto on it, I ended up finding both original (and legible) build sheets in the back and the underside of the seat. It was/is pretty much a fully optioned truck, so I just cant see doing anything other than a resto. Just too much cool OEM stuff on it to not do it, I even found the original ashtray under the seat, just too cool.

I'm going to do it as correctly as possible, but not to a concours level, I just want it to be a daily driver stock truck. I have been looking at all the resto truck pics on here, and these were just beautiful trucks when they were "new", plus, thats how my grandpa bought it, so it would be awesome to make his truck new again. I am going to try to get only oem parts if possible, althogh it really doesnt need much of anything. I will start documenting the progress as i go.

Yes!

I think of how different styles make me feel.
I love the rods. - Cool. Awesome. Radical.
I love the slams. - Cool. Laid Back. Stylin'.

But a survivor kept original makes me feel oh so warm and fuzzy inside.
Posted via Mobile Device

[McMurphy]

I think Modges has a point, it is yours, do what you want.
I also think the strong argument is made by it being so close to stock original. The closer it is to stock, the easier it is to do a full on restoration.

I would leave the mods to a truck that needs all that work done anyways, like mine. My thought process is most usually along the lines of "Well I gotta mess with this anyways, might as well tweak it while I am there"

Good luck on your build, looks like a very fine specimen and something you are going to be VERY proud of !!!