1969 Short Wide

[brn agn]

Nice work (especially the welding and shock mount modifications). Where did you learn these skills?

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by 72shymedblue

Great pics and a great project for your son. Not only will he have a safe, COOL vehicle to drive, but working with you to build it will make him appreciate it that much more, and also lets him get the satisfaction and bragging rights of helping build it himself.
Let us know when/where the garage sale will be- I wouldn't miss it.

Thanks for the kind words. Unfortunately, he's out on this project now. He decided the 86 is what he wants to drive. Now this one is all on me. He did help a bunch with the tear down. He was all hands on with the 86, definetly got a learning experience.

Originally Posted by brn agn

Nice work (especially the welding and shock mount modifications). Where did you learn these skills?

Thanks, man!
I actually went to vo-tech in high school for welding. I started welding part time right out of high school. Mostly mig. Then, I tought myself tig welding when I got a job in a machine shop in 88. Didn't take very long to figure out my eyes couldn't take it. I started training on machines and have been in the machine shop trade since. I have access a lot of cool stuff for truck building

[nuke1]

that is gonna be a great learning experience for the two of you, great bonding experience and everything, just remember his opinions matter also, and btw if you do not want that camaro let me know, i will drive down there and take it off your hands. Ant the answerr to your question is NO, i have not started my engine yet, another week or so.

[mcbassin]

Nuke,
Your right about the learning experience! For both of us! Anyway, this project is kinda on hold for the weekend......I am starting a new project with him. LINK HERE Not hyjacking but, Check it out:
1986 SWB Purchased for $600 on Craig's list (needs Motor)

[7dguy]

Your son will always remember that truck and the bonding experience. Lucky kid whether he knows it or not yet.

The JB weld, it reminds me of a story. I had a 1991 Honda CR250 Dirtbike that took a 2" stone to the aluminum crankcase; putting a 3/8 inch hole in it. Rode a buddy's bike back to the truck and grabbed whatever we could find to fix it. Ended up tipping it on it's back, cleaned it with electrical contact cleaner, carefully put a wad of JB weld on a piece of duct tape and placed it over the hole. Re-filled it with one quart of automotive 10W30 and removed the tape 20 minutes later. Rode it out (15 miles) thinking I'd replace the case. Got it home and realized it had sealed perfectly and I really didn't feel like re-casing it. So I changed the gear oil, Dremelled the repair smooth and rode the darn thing for 3 years before selling it. Never leaked again...LOVE that stuff! But I don't know that I'd try fixing a chevy auto block with it...

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by 7dguy

Your son will always remember that truck and the bonding experience. Lucky kid whether he knows it or not yet.

The JB weld, it reminds me of a story. I had a 1991 Honda CR250 Dirtbike that took a 2" stone to the aluminum crankcase; putting a 3/8 inch hole in it. Rode a buddy's bike back to the truck and grabbed whatever we could find to fix it. Ended up tipping it on it's back, cleaned it with electrical contact cleaner, carefully put a wad of JB weld on a piece of duct tape and placed it over the hole. Re-filled it with one quart of automotive 10W30 and removed the tape 20 minutes later. Rode it out (15 miles) thinking I'd replace the case. Got it home and realized it had sealed perfectly and I really didn't feel like re-casing it. So I changed the gear oil, Dremelled the repair smooth and rode the darn thing for 3 years before selling it. Never leaked again...LOVE that stuff! But I don't know that I'd try fixing a chevy auto block with it...

Your right this will be a memorable buid for my son...just hope it's not for the wrong reasons. LOL....I have blown my cool a few times on this mechanic work. I guess I'm just too out of shape for this kind of work. I purchased my first brand new truck in the fall of 1995 and haven't done any real wrenching since then. It has been a learning experience for both of us.

If I hadn't found it on the engine removal we probably would have just drove it that way and maybe never noticed it. More than likely it would have developed a major leak at the worst time.

Your story about the bike reminds me of one of my old toolmaker buddies....he acquired a mid 90s ford ranger for $400 knowing it had a hole in the manual tranny housing. He cleaned it up with a die grinder and plugged the hole with JB weld. As far as I know he is still driving with the patch job...not leaking. I guess it really depends on what and where the patch job is done.

[7dguy]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Your right this will be a memorable buid for my son...just hope it's not for the wrong reasons. LOL....I have blown my cool a few times on this mechanic work. I guess I'm just too out of shape for this kind of work. I purchased my first brand new truck in the fall of 1995 and haven't done any real wrenching since then. It has been a learning experience for both of us.

If I hadn't found it on the engine removal we probably would have just drove it that way and maybe never noticed it. More than likely it would have developed a major leak at the worst time.

Your story about the bike reminds me of one of my old toolmaker buddies....he acquired a mid 90s ford ranger for $400 knowing it had a hole in the manual tranny housing. He cleaned it up with a die grinder and plugged the hole with JB weld. As far as I know he is still driving with the patch job...not leaking. I guess it really depends on what and where the patch job is done.

For the wrong reasons? Time with the kid is always good. Don't know why but I think JB weld likes aluminum better than iron for some reason. BTW, I forgot to mention I saw an older guy on that bike on a trail 2 months ago...still running.

[allen123]

Nice build me and my dad are building my truck too and we're from OK too

[*Dylan]

Good that you're doing this with your son. I'll let you know one thing that really ticks me off so you can try and avoid it with your son, and that's listen to what he has to say, even if it may sound stupid. I've found the solution to different problems many a time while my dad has basically ignored me and wasted 30 minutes trying to get me to do what he thinks is the solution to the problem.

It's been a huge learning experience, I had never worked on a vehicle until a year and a half ago when I started my project. Now I'm proud to say I know more about cars than 95% of my friends. Plus I've got to spend countless hours of quality time with my dad, which is a nice treat for me, and I'm sure for him as well.

The build is looking good so far!

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by *Dylan

Good that you're doing this with your son. I'll let you know one thing that really ticks me off so you can try and avoid it with your son, and that's listen to what he has to say, even if it may sound stupid. I've found the solution to different problems many a time while my dad has basically ignored me and wasted 30 minutes trying to get me to do what he thinks is the solution to the problem.

It's been a huge learning experience, I had never worked on a vehicle until a year and a half ago when I started my project. Now I'm proud to say I know more about cars than 95% of my friends. Plus I've got to spend countless hours of quality time with my dad, which is a nice treat for me, and I'm sure for him as well.

The build is looking good so far!

Thanks Dylan,
I will definetly keep that in mind about listening to him.

[my67chevytruck]

progress is progress....

[my67chevytruck]

Have you all started on the engine swap?

[mcbassin]

We pulled the engine out of the donor and I haven't had time to get back on the project. Hopefully, this weekend we will stab it back into the truck. I've got to buy gaskets and seals first.
Mike

[Mike Bradbury]

I will be watching this thread, I am in process of my 69 project and will be curious on the progress. From the pictures posted so far it looking good.

[72BlckButy]

Any progress, or updates?

[mcbassin]

Nate,
We made a little progress before we started working on the 86. I didn't get any pics, but we finished pulling the front end and rear end off the long bed truck. The plan is to clean up and re seal the rear end, and rebuild the front end parts. Then start the build up on the rolling chassis. After that we will address the cab not too sure about which one to use yet...I have several to choose from. (4 or 5 I think...I have been collecting parts since 1987)

As of now we have been focused on getting his 86 engine install done. Hopefully, I will finish all the mechanical this weekend and get going on the wiring.
The plan for the 69 power plant may have changed....depends on how this TBI install goes. So far so good but we have a long ways to go. One good thing, we should be able to move one of these projects to the shop since we have cleaned about half the junk out of there.


Mike

[0331grunt]

Its always good to get to work the kids.. no matter what it is!

[JohnC]

How are the projects coming?

[scotts62]

Man i dont know how i missed this thread but its a good one! Keep up the good work!

[VA72C10]

Any updates?

[mcbassin]

We are still focused hard on the 86. I have a few things to wrap up on it before we can back on this one. I am looking for a 5.3 engine for this one now.

[brian69longbed]

just checked out your page,.. holy crap j b weld! you've got a lot of work ahead!

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by brian69longbed

just checked out your page,.. holy crap j b weld! you've got a lot of work ahead!

No Doubt! I found a replacement engine (5.3) but it seemed a little too shady of a deal for me. Still looking for another motor/tranny combo. I am starting to gather parts to rebuild the front end and cab components. It is moving slow because we are working on the 86 when we have free time. JB is good stuff if you use for the right application.

[brian69longbed]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

No Doubt! I found a replacement engine (5.3) but it seemed a little too shady of a deal for me. Still looking for another motor/tranny combo. I am starting to gather parts to rebuild the front end and cab components. It is moving slow because we are working on the 86 when we have free time. JB is good stuff if you use for the right application.

im definately not shooting down jb weld but.. C'MON!!! on a block??? ha ha

[my67chevytruck]

Sounds like progress whether it's the 86 or 69