Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB

[resto newbie]

Although I would give my future first born for this truck, only kidding dads, it isn't mine. Honest mistake.

[Bennett68C10]

Originally Posted by Low68

Your truck looks great! Those purple shutters on the neighbor's house, not so much.

Thanks you should see the rest of the street. Multiple houses have purple shutters and one house has purple garage doors it was pretty eye opening the first time we saw it

Originally Posted by Gipper01

Bennett, your ride looks awesome. I can only imagine what it will look like when the paint in on.

Originally Posted by resto newbie

Am I crazy? I love it with no paint. That red will look sick!

Originally Posted by Gipper01

I like it as it is as we'll. I hope that I will have reach the same point as Bennett has with my build approximately a year from now. The finished product with the red will certainly be cause for a

Thanks guys, I actually really like it with the satin black body panels. I have thought many times about just painting it satin black and not caring about shiney paint but something always draws me back to Red.

[superflysteiny]

I love the truck Keith it is awesome just keep plugging away on it

[Bennett68C10]

Originally Posted by superflysteiny

I love the truck Keith it is awesome just keep plugging away on it

Thanks Eric

[c10Dream'n]

it's been said before, but that RED is going to make this truck one HELLUVA-ride...

[mikeleeshields]

Keith, I am getting caught up after a week or so. The progress is looking great. I am thinking of getting the same bedsides really soon. Im onto some bodywork, sucks.

[Bennett68C10]

Originally Posted by c10Dream'n

it's been said before, but that RED is going to make this truck one HELLUVA-ride...

Thanks man that's what I'm hoping for.

Originally Posted by mikeleeshields

Keith, I am getting caught up after a week or so. The progress is looking great. I am thinking of getting the same bedsides really soon. Im onto some bodywork, sucks.

I hear you on the bodywork, I'll be on to that soon but I'm dreading it have to finish up some other things first. I think the bedsides are worth every dime spent, mine came in perfect.

[Bennett68C10]

Been working on cleaning up the inside of the cab and spraying some Boom Mat up under the dash and on the back wall. Had to scrape the factory insulation off from under the dash first. That was a royal pain in the a**, I had to use an old hairdryer to heat up the glue and scrape it off.

I also mocked up my radiator cover today, really like the look of it.

[trkfrk]

Keith, your truck is one of my favorites on the board! Your build is definitely inspirational for everyone. Keep on trucking man

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by trkfrk

Keith, your truck is one of my favorites on the board! Your build is definitely inspirational for everyone. Keep on trucking man

X2
Very nice work on the under hood touches Keith.

[Bennett68C10]

Originally Posted by trkfrk

Keith, your truck is one of my favorites on the board! Your build is definitely inspirational for everyone. Keep on trucking man

Originally Posted by mcbassin

X2
Very nice work on the under hood touches Keith.

Thanks guys, both of your builds are top notch and have inspired me as well. I just can't wait to get to the point where both of you are, polishing up that pretty RED paint and putting the truck together for the last time.

[808_67C10]

I love that radiator cover... Looks SICK bro!

[SeTx67]

What radiator cover is that? Looks great!

[Bennett68C10]

Originally Posted by 808_67C10

I love that radiator cover... Looks SICK bro!

Thanks, it's been collecting rust for about 2 years Figured it was time to get it installed.

Originally Posted by SeTx67

What radiator cover is that? Looks great!

Thanks, it's made by a company called Hot Rod Dynamics. The owner is/was a forum member. Not sure if he is still active.

Here is the link to purchase it:
http://www.hotroddynamics.com/shop/v...p?productid=30

[Rusbuilt]

Looking good Keith!!

[jlsanborn]

Looks sharp man!

[Bennett68C10]

Originally Posted by Rusbuilt

Looking good Keith!!

Originally Posted by jlsanborn

Looks sharp man!

Thanks guys, haven't worked on it to much this weekend. Only a few hours here and there, went to large swapmeet and car show yesterday looking for a tailgate but came home with nothing today I have spent the day doing yard work around the house that I have been putting off. With it being 75 and sunny out I figured I better get it done

[Bennett68C10]

Finally got a tailgate, couldn't find one locally, posted a wtb on the forum but didn't have any success. Thankfully a member here notified me that if you order a tailgate through Summit Racing there is free shipping with only a $9.50 oversize fee. Summit carries Auto Metal Direct so I placed my order on Monday and had it at my house today. It is a Tri-Plus gate and matches the rest of the sheet metal on the truck. I would have loved to have a nice original gate but could never bring myself to pay those prices. I did come in with a couple minor dings but nothing that can't be easily fixed.

[BigMike]

Just be careful not to put too much weight on the aftermarket tailgates through, they are not even close to the same thickness steel as the original. I bought 2 of them and both bent way too easily so I finally went back to an original. First one I put my knee on it to reach inside the bed and it bent in the middle. Second one I sat on it after installing it and it bent in the middle. The one I have now I can sit on with 2 other people with no issues.

Mike

[Bennett68C10]

Originally Posted by BigMike

Just be careful not to put too much weight on the aftermarket tailgates through, they are not even close to the same thickness steel as the original. I bought 2 of them and both bent way too easily so I finally went back to an original. First one I put my knee on it to reach inside the bed and it bent in the middle. Second one I sat on it after installing it and it bent in the middle. The one I have now I can sit on with 2 other people with no issues.

Mike

Thanks for the heads up but I don't plan on putting or carrying anything on the tailgate ever. I have my 2013 for that this truck is just a weekend cruiser/show truck. With my suspension mods and a bed floor raised close to 10" or so my bed will be pretty much useless anyway.

[mcbassin]

Congrats on the gate score. Sounds like a good deal. I have looked for a "deal" on a gate for almost 5 years. I finally gave and fixed one I had. It turned out okay but I spent what seemed like 100 hours on it...I can remember when you could pick nice ones up for $50 back in the late 80s.

[Rusbuilt]

Nice gate bro!

[Bennett68C10]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Congrats on the gate score. Sounds like a good deal. I have looked for a "deal" on a gate for almost 5 years. I finally gave and fixed one I had. It turned out okay but I spent what seemed like 100 hours on it...I can remember when you could pick nice ones up for $50 back in the late 80s.

Originally Posted by Rusbuilt

Nice gate bro!

Thanks guys I just couldn't afford $800-$1000 for an NOS gate and if I'm spending $300 on a tailgate I don't want anything that has rust lurking. I felt this was the best option. I can't compare the weight of it to a factory gate but this gate is heavy.

[VA72C10]

Good deal! They probably had that drop shipped from the Lynchburg, VA Keyparts warehouse....
Like I said in your thread about gates, I have had two NOS gates, and weighed a triplus/keyparts gate and it was slightly heavier than the NOS gates...Also, the welds on the end seams are better and metal thickness is the same so I am a fan of their gates...I know earlier reproductions (and some cheaper brands) were junk and have seen my share of bent aftermarket gates but you shouldn't have any issue here.....

[fastbagged68]

Originally Posted by Bennett68C10

Finally got a tailgate, couldn't find one locally, posted a wtb on the forum but didn't have any success. Thankfully a member here notified me that if you order a tailgate through Summit Racing there is free shipping with only a $9.50 oversize fee. Summit carries Auto Metal Direct so I placed my order on Monday and had it at my house today. It is a Tri-Plus gate and matches the rest of the sheet metal on the truck. I would have loved to have a nice original gate but could never bring myself to pay those prices. I did come in with a couple minor dings but nothing that can't be easily fixed.

Do you have the tailgate part number? I looked on summit and only saw a blank tailgate. I'm in the same boat as you. Clist had a mint original tailgate for only $1,200.... Too much for me.