Newbie with a new build thread

[68chevy68]

I went to three different parts stores to find the axle straps for the drive shaft i just shortened. Came home with what I thought to be the correct ones and they are too short. I think I now have the right ones. Have to wait till I get home to find out. Pics will follow.

[68chevy68]

The drive shaft is now installed now that I have the correct straps. I jumped the gun again and put the cab back on the frame. I wanted to check to see if the brake booster was going to clear the valve cover. They do. Pictures will follow.

[Boog]

Well howdy neighbor! All this going on and right under my nose too. You have done a lot and in a short time too. I think you know more about what you are doing than you will admit to. Nice big shop, lots of tools and all your other rigs. 69 Chevelle, oh yeah. You didn't have it in the car show at the LR convention center back at the first of the year did you?
? for you. Why use the bear claw latches? The stockers work just fine. Cleaner door jamb? I'd like to see later model stock truck latches used as they have a plastic coating to help keep down rattles and quiet the latch too.
Anyway, nice work.

[68chevy68]

Honestly, the 68 is the first vehicle I have ever built. I bought the chevelle. As for the latches, The stockers or slammers I should say were a little rough from my old truck and the new ones were as much as the bear claw ones. A buddy of mine installed some on a 1969 chevelle and they worked great. They are just really smooth and latche really well. I sound like a dealer don't I.
My chevelle is not nice enough for a car show yet. It will get made over much later on.

[68chevy68]

Finally took some pictures of the things I have accomplished the last couple of weekends. Also worked on the 48 some, I can't help it...

The axle straps and the installed drive shaft with a lazy paint job on it....


Bent some tubing to make an L so the rubber line would not rub. I think I have to do some more work, still rubs, just need to bent it a little tighter...


Jumped the gun and put the cab back on. Still have to do filler and primer...


This is the vacuum line for the tranny. I have a cheap bender so the line is not as nice as some of the ones I have seen some of the other ppl on this site....



I put the brake booster on to check the clearance to the valve cover, Fits fine...

[68chevy68]

This is the reason I am building the 68. I need practice before I tackle this one. Bought it in california and drove it home. What an awsome trip that was.


I took the front cap off the 51 and set it on the S-10 frame with the 48 cab. Its gonna take a lot of work to make it all fit. Fun!!!

[68chevy68]

Well looks like the lower radiator hose is going to JUST work. I was afraid it was going to be more of a problem...This is not the core support I am using, but they are all the same. It is leaning back a little, the picture shows the lower hose connection to be on the frame, it actually is about 1/4" off when it is in the correct position.

[68chevy68]

Did some filler work tonight on one of my door jambs. Sanding that stuff by hand takes forever. These pictures are not the finished product. I still have a ton of sanding to do, I was just too tired to finish it up. I could just tell it was time to walk away and come back fresh later on. This stuff is harder than it looks. Kinda feals like i lifted some weights tonight.

[68chevy68]

Ok, got home a little late, was going to finish the driver side door jamb, but it will just have to wait.

[68GMC454]

its looking good so far.. i like the 48 to...by the time you get doen with these 2 you will be ready fro the 61..

[68chevy68]

Originally Posted by 68GMC454

its looking good so far.. i like the 48 to...by the time you get doen with these 2 you will be ready fro the 61..

Thanks, I hope so, I have a long history with that 61 and would like to start some new ones after its built. I don't know how radical I will go with it, but it will have to be something pretty amazing to keep up with the folks in this forum. Amazing work coming out of here.

[68chevy68]

This body filler work sucks. Looks so easy when you watch someone who knows what they are doing. My door jamb is looking ok, but I have sanded and reapplied several times. The finished product will be nice but by no means professional.

[68chevy68]

Not much done in a while, started working on the doors. Since I installed bear claw latches, the the stock latch locations have to be smoothed. I also have some holes where someone put some speakers in the doors. Those will be filled/patched as well. Pictures will follow.

[BACKYARD88]

I'm waiting

[SBCustoms]

Originally Posted by BACKYARD88

I'm waiting

Me, too!!! this is an awesome build, i hope mine is just as exciting!

[Rokcrln]

You are doing a great job on this truck! I just picked up a 63 SWB GMC I am looking forward to getting to in the next few months or years A trick to save your self some arm ake with the filler is to put it on this so it just needs to be knocked down before the topper coat. It takes about the same amount of time but instead of sanding you are waiting for it to dry allowing you to work on other areas instead.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[68chevy68]

Thanks for the compliments. I have not really worked on it for a while. I came across a dash from a 1959 edsel and decided to put it in. I have cut my dash out and have started on the edsel dash. I will have some pictures later on. I also have finished the welding on one of my doors. I have just been too busy lately to get much done. Work has been killer.

[68chevy68]

Well I finally got some pictures of the edsel dash. Not sure if my skills are going to get it to work for me or not. Sorry Butch and Rodney, not trying to copy ya or anything, not that I could, but a free dash is a free dash. lol

[68chevy68]

Still working on the dash. not sure it is going to work with the skills I DON"T have. I will do what I can to make it work though and it also look good. I'm not going to have it look like crap and just go with it. I can always weld the stock dash back in. Made sure when I cut it out that it could go back in pretty easy. more pics later.

[Frizzle Fry]

I dig the dash. Hopefully you can make it work. You planning to mount the "end wings" on the doors?

[68chevy68]

Yes, my plan was to incorporate the wings into the doors and actually make them a permenant part of the door. I even thought about putting some defrost vents in the top of them like some of the newer cars.

[c10addict]

Make it work!! Looks bad a$$ !!! What a great mod!

[BACKYARD88]

It looks good! There's got to be a way to make it work. Be patient and persistent and it'll work out.

[68chevy68]

OK, I have been working on the dash a little and have found a way to make it work, i hope. Had to trim about 4 inches off the edge that mates to the firewall to get the steering column out of the instrument cluster . After I cut that off, I hammerd and a dollied that edge to make a lip so that the dash will be a complete bolt in deal, less welding. I just hope i can make a cover that hides the bolts like the edsel was originally, well basically all the cars from back then. I will have pictures later to show what im talking about. lol

[68chevy68]

I have been working on the dash here and there when I have a minute. Here are the pictures I promised.
This is going to really look good.



I will have to do some fab work to fill the gap from the door to the dash. I will still use the "wing" on the end of the dash, Its going to be a permenant part of the door when im done.