'68 SWB - Hauler to Complete Resto

[jwbchevy502]

I have been a member for a short time and joined long after my project was well on it's way to completion so I didn't start a thread back then. I guess that’s the bad news. The good news is, after being a member of this site and reading many of these great threads, I have realized how many of you like pictures so that’s the good news. So I will start my thread from the beginning and walk it through in short order.

I bought this truck with the intention of turning it into a tow vehicle to haul my '67 Camaro to and from shows. That all changed when it showed up at the house. I bought this truck in Arizona from a gentleman I met at a Goodguy's show in Scottsdale a few years ago. He was using it as a shop truck and had it parked behind this car he just spent considerable time and $$ on restoring. All my buddies were checking out his car and I was crawling all over his truck. I had always loved the 67-72 lines and was crazy about this truck. I finally came to an agreement with him on price nearly 6 months later and had the truck shipped from Arizona to my home.



This is pretty much how it looked when I purchased it – a great looking truck in great shape. Needless to say when I bought it, other than some clean up and TLC, I was planning on a hitch install and some suspension and basic engine work to ensure it would be a good hauler.

[gcburdic]

Saweet...look forward to following along and catching up with what you have done

BTW... aboard from NC!

[jwbchevy502]

For starters once I got the truck delivered, I looked a little closer and decided to fix it up ever so little and maybe not use the truck as a hauler. So I started with a mild drop, some paint work, and some new wheels. Was pretty happy with these small changes and took the truck to a few shows drove it to Goodguys in Columbus and just had some fun enjoying the truck.

[jwbchevy502]

Well once winter came, I decided I need to find out what was really under the hood. The previous owner thought it was recently rebuilt but I wanted to now get the engine bay as clean as the outside and assure I knew exactly what was under the hood. Needless to say once I got it out and started the tear down. I decided on a “few” more changes.

[jwbchevy502]

Once we got the motor out, installed a CPP disc brake conversion & added power steering, overhauled the tranny, new lines, por15 the frame and engine bay and then started on the motor.

[jwbchevy502]

The motor was 100% gone over with all new gaskets and seals. Heads were in great shape found to be ported and polished, installed a comp cam mother thumper with solid lifters, new rods, heavy duty springs, and completely detailed and of course had to paint the block.

[butternut1972]

Nice truck. Looking foward to watching your changes.

[jwbchevy502]

Thanks for the compliments. I added a few Edelbrock goodies - performer rpm intake (that I had powder coated black), new water pump (painted emron black), fuel pump and 650 carb. New HEI ignition, headers, lines, belts and hoses, billet specialties AC and Alternator brackets, new rad and all other in between. Now I felt like I knew what was under my hood!

[jwbchevy502]

So I contemplated where to stop because by now I was well on my way to having my truck completed. I attended a bunch of shows and cruises over the following spring and summer and got some more ideas. I think the lines on the 67-72 are like no other and quickly found myself liking the trucks I saw without any side molding. Also, I got tired and a little leery of having gasoline sloshing around behind me. So I took my truck to a good buddy of mine for what started as some minor work. Take off the trim and fill the holes and touch up the paint for me. By now it was close to winter again and I was looking for a place to store the truck for the winter so one thing led to another and I ended up painting the entire truck. Stripped the bed, replaced the tailgate, moved the handle inside. Roll pan out back in place of the bumper, new doors, new fenders, and a cowl induction hood. Single piece glass on the doors and shaved the reflectors. I moved the gas tank out back and started the process of a full blown paint job.

[jwbchevy502]

Worked on the bed, didn’t plan on many changes it was in great shape. Had a spray on liner in that was in great shape. Underside of bed was stripped, sanded, por 15, and painted.

[67cheby]

WOW, this is looking great !

[68 c10 gold/ivory]

that is amazing and how do u like the mother thumpr cam?

[jwbchevy502]

I love the cam, good old muscle. Now the neighbors, that's a different story.

[jwbchevy502]

Here are a few shots of the gas tank relo. Blazer tank kit from LMC.

[sgaylord]

Man that thing is clean. Good work!

Steve

[cobra_4]

Awesome engine bay!! Love that black on orange look

[jwbchevy502]

Thanks, beleive it or not that's red on the engine. I think my camera may be the cause of some of this. In any event, thanks for the compliment.

[jwbchevy502]

Here are a few shots of the hood, doors and fenders in process and the completed truck. Now I am happy with the exterior and engine.

[77shortstep]

looks great, nice work

[67cheby]

looks great !!

[jwbchevy502]

OK, since I came this far. Why stop here. Complete disc brake upgrade (Drilled and slotted rotors, red powder coated calipers, por 15 the rest of the frame, spings, shocks, new fuel and brake lines, all new suspension, exhaust. Also converted the original 6 lug to a 5 lug all around.

[67cheby]

Nice !!

[70-Shorty]

wow! very nice! do you have any pics of the tailgate shave job? I want to do the handle flip on mine and wonder how it worked out. Thanks, and again NICE JOB!
Tim

[jwbchevy502]

Not many. I bought the kit from LMC and cut the hole on the inside and installed the kit. Worst part was cutting into the new tailgate! But the kit was a no brainer. Do recommend limiting the number of times you install and reinstall the inside cover plate as the screws strip petty easy in the thin sheet metal. Cut a cover for the outside to patch the stock hole, welded, grinded, and a thin coat of filler, primer, and paint.

[gearys 5600]

LOOKING GOOD !!! Keep the pics coming.