Just another 68 side stepper

[summitflier]

My 1:1 scale model kit. Looks like this when you take it out of the box.
Thought I would take one last pic of the body parts before the sandblaster gets to them.

[Justin@EntropyRad]

Testors models gone wild!

[BossHogg69]

Cool build so far - subscribed!

[summitflier]

Got everything blasted. The cab came out amazingly well. Very happy with the frame and bed sides. The radiator tower will have to be replaced. The hood ended up having quite a bit of bondo, will likely replace that also. (cowl induction or not?)

[Xeen]

I have been wondering what equipment and skill you possess.
Do you have a welder and know how to use it.
Do you have a stud welder and a slide hammer.
Like for instance your radiator support may be fixable if you have the equipment and skill.
If you don't have these things now is the time to learn because it will be cheaper to buy a welder and learn to do it yourself rather than pay someone else to do the work for you, plus the added bonus that once you have the equipment and skill it's yours for life and you will be a lot more capable for future projects.
Just some food for thought.

[summitflier]

Originally Posted by Xeen

I have been wondering what equipment and skill you possess.
Do you have a welder and know how to use it.
Do you have a stud welder and a slide hammer.
Like for instance your radiator support may be fixable if you have the equipment and skill.
If you don't have these things now is the time to learn because it will be cheaper to buy a welder and learn to do it yourself rather than pay someone else to do the work for you, plus the added bonus that once you have the equipment and skill it's yours for life and you will be a lot more capable for future projects.
Just some food for thought.

Thanks.. I'll take all the advice I can get.
In this case, I'm not a welder and don't have a welder.
But I have friends who are, they are helping on the truck.
I would say within a week or two some of their work will be posted on here.
I suspect it will be pretty good, but in any case, the price is right.

[summitflier]

Finally got the front suspension and rack and pinion steering on.
The disc's are just mocked up. I hope to have the wheels/brakes on this evening.
All in all, I think it came out pretty good.

[Xeen]

That IFS kit is awesome and combined with disk brakes and rack and pinion steering she is going to drive like a dream.

[jlsanborn]

You're flying through this thing man and the new stuff looks great! There's a North 40 Outfitters in Moses Lake. Go there and check out their VanSickle paints. Get the spray gun kit from Harbor Freight Tools and don't look back. The satin black (with hardener) is what I've been using as "chassis black". Way better results and cheaper than spray cans. They also have self etching primer in the quarts. DON'T TRY the self etching stuff in the spray cans. It just clogs and sputters.

[slowcpe]

Nice headway. Makes me realize I need to get started on my front end. What brakes are you running?

[jlsanborn]

Saw your visitor's message but I can't figger out how to reply. Maybe need premium membership? We are going to GG's this weekend!

[summitflier]

Originally Posted by slowcpe

Nice headway. Makes me realize I need to get started on my front end. What brakes are you running?

Posted via Mobile Device

[Elliot949]

Very Nice... I am on board watching this one... Are you going back with the 68 Front Sheet metal?

[summitflier]

Originally Posted by Elliot949

Very Nice... I am on board watching this one... Are you going back with the 68 Front Sheet metal?

Right now, I have a lot of time and effort invested in repairing the stuff I have.
But there is a C10 in the local salvage yard being parted out. (He won't sell it outright). The grille is missing, but I think it's a 71/72. So with what I already have, and what's available in the area, I think I will stay with the 69/70 look for now.

Also I have noticed that the majority of C10's (at least in this area) are longbed fleetsides, shortbed fleetsides are more rare. Stepsides are even more rare (I have the only 1 in this town). But even then, it seems most stepsides are the 67/68 variety, so I feel unique running a 69/70 front end. Besides, I like the way it looks. Even here on the truck forums, I see very few 69/70 side-steppers.

[summitflier]

Rubber on the ground for the first time in over a month.

[summitflier]

Got engine and tranny in. Headers tomorrow.

[Xeen]

It's lookin' good man!

[jlsanborn]

Looks killer!! I used to run them see-thru caps on my air-cooled VW's.

[slowcpe]

Looking good

[Hart_Rod]

Nice project.

[summitflier]

Got the headers and spark plugs in. Easily the quickest header install I ever did. Very good fit. Lots of room. Went with the ceramic coated. Hopefully they wont rust as bad.

[Taibo]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

Who could do such a thing to a 68? I mean, swap a 68 nose onto a 69-72, but the reverse? BLASPHEMY!

There's no explaining why a PO does what PO's do; they are PO's....but you either live with it or you have to fix it. In this case, I would switch it back.

[jlsanborn]

Originally Posted by Taibo

There's no explaining why a PO does what PO's do; they are PO's....but you either live with it or you have to fix it. In this case, I would switch it back.

I would too if I could BUT it'll still be super cool. Budget, schedule, what-if's, should-have's, I'm right in the middle of that trap and am still MONTHS, prolly years and $$$ from driving mine because of those things. Nothing your doing can't be redone later.

[sduckworth13]

Your blazing through this build, your doing some great work.

[summitflier]

Got the new ring and pinion with the posi spool in the rear end.
(still waiting on disc brake parts to arrive).

Got the radiator support tower fixed and installed.

Got the trailing arm polyurethane bushings installed, and the trailing
arms connected back to the frame.