1965/73 Cheap Build Up

[McMurphy]

I remember sitting around the picnic table doing some squad level training one day, and our conversation must have drifted from the training. At some point I must have said the word "need" too many times, or put it in a context that my Squad Leader keyed in on, because next thing I knew, he had come around behind me, and clamped his hand across my nose and mouth so I could not breathe.

Then he asked me, "What do you need now?"

It really drove home to me the meaning.
heh, just one of those life lessons you never forget I guess.

I totally hear you Dennis.... it isnt that I dont want to work, or draw some additional income on top of my retirement pay.... I just dont want to ever ask someone else for a job, or make them money ever again.

[daverod]

500 and then one million in property taxes.

[Strodder]

I could just let them repo everything but the house. I'd be sitting really good then, but crappy with credit.

[Strodder]

Man is this time consuming.

[daverod]

You got nothing but time anyways. It's going to look good.

[Strodder]

Change of plans. I wasn't happy how they looked. Looked like they were in too far on top, and didn't fit the lines of the truck bed. Sooooo I turned them upside down, and it looks like it will work out okay that way. Pictures soon.

[Strodder]

Just a quick look. It will be mounted higher. I already cut it all out and will have to start all over.

[daverod]

Much better. Why did'nt you do that the first time?

[Strodder]

Because I like to do things the hard way.

[likaroc13]

@ Dave....looking good Dennis, & I agree that they look better flipped upside down

[198plus]

Much better, lookin good.

[Strodder]

Been working on it a lot last week, and this weekend.









This latch was a good idea from the last guy, but it's not adjustable, and just looked UGLY.



Now I used the same principle but with some nicer belt latch and are now adjustable.

[Strodder]

One thing leads to another. Once I leveled out the end of the bed and shaved the bed holes, the tail gate looked like crap and didn't lined up with the rest of the bed. It also didn't match the curved shape I made to box in the rail ends. So I cut and bent a cover that made everything work together, and will be a tighter fit. This is not the finished product, and I ran out of welding gas and couldn't finish it welding it.

[daverod]

Nice fix for a warped tailgate. I tried to bend mine back. Still looked kinda bent. I saw the first latch I thought you had been hitting the captian and coke.

[Strodder]

Originally Posted by daverod

Nice fix for a warped tailgate. I tried to bend mine back. Still looked kinda bent. I saw the first latch I thought you had been hitting the captian and coke.

One thing leads to another. I had to fix the tail gate. Next some kind of roll pan, and a rum & coke.
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[Strodder]

I figured out what to do with the bolt that holds the hinge barrel for the tail gate. With the tail light installed there was no way to unbolt the tail gate to remove it. So I made it like the new trucks where it slips out of a slot.
I made flat spots on the pivot and slotted the tail gate to fit over it. Now it comes off like the new trucks.

I still have to finish welding and clean up all this.

[Strodder]

The tail gate was so ugly with all the gaps, and holes, I had to figure out how to shave it easer.


This is one of the rear bed supports I cut out to install the tail lights.


So I cut the support to fit inside of the tail gate covering all the uglyness.

[Strodder]

Now fit in place I have to tach weld it.





Looks a lot cleaner now.

[Palf70Step]

That looks much better. Looks like it might make it more solid and less prone to bending also.

[Strodder]

Thanks Bill. It does look beefy.

[allaboutchevelles]

Nice work Strodder on the tail lights. I was looking through the new classic trucks mag and they have an article in it on a silver 68 c10 stepside with custom lights very similar to what your doing. keep at it. looking good.

[Alan's Classic]

Nice to see some progress!! Ronnie and I were talking a couple months ago of doing that late model mod to a tailgate. Looks nice and definately easier to remove and install the TG now.

[Strodder]

Thanks guys. Before I did this I had to straighten the tail gate. It was twisted. When closed one side would be too tight, the other had a gap. I used a ratchet tie down, and a block to tweak it straight. To my surprise it worked.

[Strodder]

Next, behind the rear fenders on the bed is open too much. I was thinking of adding a panel to fill the lower rear of the bed and make a roll pan to tie it in. You can see the shackles. Or install small running boards between the back of the rear fenders into the roll pan that would fill in with the rear bumpers. It would kinda match the front running boards in front of the rear fenders. What do you guys think? I'll take a picture tomorrow so you can see what I'm talking about. Too late now, and getting cold. Besides, I'm having a nice comfortable Rum & Coke.

[Strodder]

Finishing up on the details. Bondo fixes all the mistakes.







I still have to make the other side for the tail light. Them make a roll pan to tie it all together.