1968 Chevrolet SWB Stepside Restomod

[JonnyC10]

Love that style. I got some 20" Torq Thrust ST's that I scored on Craigslist for mine.

[gdavis]

I like them if only they were mine.

[Low Elco]

Nice!

[BlueRidgeMountainDew]

Enjoying the thread, thanks for the learning experience. Stocking up parts for a 68 stepside mod fest of my own. Looking forward to your progress. Good luck and keep at it.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Xeen

What do you guys think of these wheels, they are US Wheel gunmetal sport mag.
The only thing I'm wondering is if a 4.5" backspace on a 18x8 wheel will clear the lip on the wheel well if I decide to slam the truck later.

Very nice wheel, I like the soft lip.

[Bomp]

I like those rims. Great choice.

[Xeen]

I have been casually looking for an aluminum wheel in that style that wont break the bank, that one is in the $170 range.

[Xeen]

Originally Posted by BlueRidgeMountainDew

Enjoying the thread, thanks for the learning experience. Stocking up parts for a 68 stepside mod fest of my own. Looking forward to your progress. Good luck and keep at it.

Thanks and stop back by again, I'm glad you were able to pick up a few tips.

[gdavis]

get off the couch and do some work on the ole girl.

[Xeen]

Originally Posted by gdavis

get off the couch and do some work on the ole girl.

I'm trying to rustle up a little cash and while that is happening I have been thinking about what needs to be done and what order it needs to be done in.

[gdavis]

Originally Posted by Xeen

I'm trying to rustle up a little cash and while that is happening I have been thinking about what needs to be done and what order it needs to be done in.

I can go along with that. I to am trying to figure what has and needs to be next after the rear bumper of course.

[BlueRidgeMountainDew]

I was thinking you could have used the speedway harness to control your cooling fans but now I'm looking at the harness more and don't see many relay options. Does speedway kit house any relays that are configurable? Thanks, I am considering that kit but want as much control over my circuits as possible.

[Xeen]

Originally Posted by BlueRidgeMountainDew

I was thinking you could have used the speedway harness to control your cooling fans but now I'm looking at the harness more and don't see many relay options. Does speedway kit house any relays that are configurable? Thanks, I am considering that kit but want as much control over my circuits as possible.

I built my own triple relay fan harness, check out page 24 of my build.

[Xeen]

Hey all;
Sometimes decisions can be really difficult, I have been wrestling with the desire to drive my truck and doing the restoration the right way before I ever drive it...sigh
At the moment doing it the right way is winning which means taking more time and more money and the truck will probably sit another winter.
Building a new fleetside bed from nothing has been extremely expensive and has gobbled up every dime of my truck money this year and it's still not done yet.
I have been unable to sell the Stainless Steel Stepside brake light assemblies and brackets I purchased before I changed directions on my build, I could really use that money to put towards more fleetside bed parts.
I want to complete the bed and have it painted before it is installed.
I'm sitting here shaking my head, it's very frustrating.

[Bennett68C10]

The only thing I can say is that I have been working on my truck for close to 5 years now and have never driven it. It went straight from a field onto a trailer and into a garage. Looking back at it now I would have never taken it apart, I would have left all the rust and patina and just did what some people were telling me to do. Bag it, put a drivetrain in it and drive it. There would have been plenty of time to tear it back apart and do the bodywork and paint but at least I would have been able to drive it for a while. My vote is for driving it.

[Xeen]

Originally Posted by Bennett68C10

The only thing I can say is that I have been working on my truck for close to 5 years now and have never driven it. It went straight from a field onto a trailer and into a garage. Looking back at it now I would have never taken it apart, I would have left all the rust and patina and just did what some people were telling me to do. Bag it, put a drivetrain in it and drive it. There would have been plenty of time to tear it back apart and do the bodywork and paint but at least I would have been able to drive it for a while. My vote is for driving it.

Point taken.
I guess I will get the bed painted and installed with a plywood floor in it temporarily then start driving it and keep fixing it up as I drive it.
I still need to purchase a tailgate, fleetside rear bumper, tail light and backup light assemblies but I already have the cash for that stuff.
I just need to save up some more cash for the paint job.

[Low Elco]

Drive it!

[gdavis]

Originally Posted by Xeen

Hey all;
Sometimes decisions can be really difficult, I have been wrestling with the desire to drive my truck and doing the restoration the right way before I ever drive it...sigh
At the moment doing it the right way is winning which means taking more time and more money and the truck will probably sit another winter.
Building a new fleetside bed from nothing has been extremely expensive and has gobbled up every dime of my truck money this year and it's still not done yet.
I have been unable to sell the Stainless Steel Stepside brake light assemblies and brackets I purchased before I changed directions on my build, I could really use that money to put towards more fleetside bed parts.
I want to complete the bed and have it painted before it is installed.
I'm sitting here shaking my head, it's very frustrating.

I know how you feel, sometimes I think what and where would I be if I only fixed the thing needed to drive the truck safely. But on the other hand I am sure I made the right decision on tearing it down. Like the gas tank I pulled out of my truck. I worked putting it in the truck and worked pulling it out. But now I don't have to worry about the gas neck and that expence. But Brian I understand where you are coming from. I wish I could afford the lights from you. But money is tight everywhere not just in your pocket. You know about all the changes I done after I made a decision to do something. Fixed and re fixed the same thing to make it better.

[empi1776]

Dr

[empi1776]

Drive it I mean.

[mcbassin]

Point taken.
I guess I will get the bed painted and installed with a plywood floor in it temporarily then start driving it and keep fixing it up as I drive it.
I still need to purchase a tailgate, fleetside rear bumper, tail light and backup light assemblies but I already have the cash for that stuff.
I just need to save up some more cash for the paint job

Sounds like you have a good plan. I've recently gotten to drive mine. Dang 5 years in the waiting but worth it. Had a complement at the first gas station I went to. That was pretty cool.
In the end, you have to do what makes the most sense, financially and in the right time frame. I think these old trucks need to be driven! good luck.

[Xeen]

Hey all;

Today I'm headed to LMC Truck to pick up a fleetside OE tailgate with Chevrolet script, brake light and back up light assemblies and a triple nickle rear bumper.
I will toss up some pictures when I get back.

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by Xeen

Hey all;

Today I'm headed to LMC Truck to pick up a fleetside OE tailgate with Chevrolet script, brake light and back up light assemblies and a triple nickle rear bumper.
I will toss up some pictures when I get back.

Sounds like a bunch of nice parts! Double check that bumper before you leave LMC. I had a bad experience with my aftermarket bumpers (not from LMC). From what I understand they are all made in Tawain and the quality varies from one to the next.
I'm not saying you will get a lemon, I just had a huge bow in mine and when mounted it got real bad.

[Xeen]

Hey all;

Just got back from LMC Truck, here is a shot of all the boxes.

[Xeen]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Sounds like a bunch of nice parts! Double check that bumper before you leave LMC. I had a bad experience with my aftermarket bumpers (not from LMC). From what I understand they are all made in Tawain and the quality varies from one to the next.
I'm not saying you will get a lemon, I just had a huge bow in mine and when mounted it got real bad.

Yep I checked out all the parts before I paid the bill.
They had to bring out 3 tailgates to find one that wasn't dented up.