My 63 farm truck build thread

[Tx Firefighter]

I have posted some pictures here and there but I figured I'd go ahead and make a single thread detailing all of the work.

It's a super solid truck. I gave 500 for it and it has been well worth it. This truck needs zero rust repair. Not a rocker or a cab corner or anything. It had sat 20 years in a field nearby. My buddy owns a towing and impound yard and he bought it for scrap metal price. He knew my weakness for kneeknocker trucks so he came by my shop on the way to the scrap metal yard. As soon as I saw it, I bought it. It took 45 days for me to get it though because he had to impound it and go through the channels to get a title for me. Once that was done, he delivered it to me and I got to work.


Here we start at day 1:



I found grandpa's old vintage porn under the seat.



I bought an 84 Suburban front clip off of Craigslist for 100.



Rebuilt the whole thing. Everything stripped and powdercoated and rebuilt with all new Moog hard parts and Energy Suspension bushings. KYB front lowered shocks and Summit (Ground Force) lowering springs. I also installed a front sway bar with ECE lowered truck brackets and Energy Suspension greasable bushings.






more in next post...

[Tx Firefighter]

In the rear, I installed a 5 lug rearend from a Suburban They have the bigger brakes and 3.08 gears for good mileage. While doing this, I rebuilt the rear trailing arms with new Energy Suspension urethane bushings. Finish off with ECE 5 inch drop springs, shock extender brackets, KYB shocks and ECE super track bar. I just cut the old stuff out, it's faster.



Suspension all done and lowered, 5 lug front and rear..

[Bazooka]

This is a neat old truck. Lots of patina..

[Tx Firefighter]

I bought a used engine and trans from Scoti for a great price. He even strapped it to a pallet and loaded it with his fork lift for me.




Scoti is like a ninja, you're not going to get a picture of him.

I took the engine and spent a few days freshening it up. I cleaned it top to bottom and painted it grey. All new gaskets, distributor cap (HEI), wires, plugs, belt, rebuilt carburetor, air cleaner off a 327. I powdercoated the little nicknack brackets on the engine, pulleys, etc..



I did the Summit aluminum radiator that Chief Rocka detailed in his thread. I mounted mine a bit differently than he did and I spent some time coming up with nice fitting molded radiator hoses.



New battery tray and hold down, new battery and cables.



more...

[Tx Firefighter]

The seat is some kind of 73-87 seat, I think Suburban middle seat. I lowered the brackets a bunch when I welded them together to set the seat as low as possible. I used an ebay saddle blanket cover.



In the interest of budget, I decided to restore the existing gas tank. So, I ordered a new sending units, insulating pads and gas cap. I spent some time cleaning the tank inside and out using my formula of acid to get the gunk dissolved.



I found some pin holes along the lower seam so I brazed them up.



Then powdercoated it...



I'm still waiting on my POR15 gas tank sealer. It will be here Monday. That will assure the tank is sealed inside and guard against little leaky areas. The stuff flat works !

I took an old heater and rebuilt it. New heater core, blower motor and resistor. I powdercoated everything in silver vein with clear.







more...

[Tx Firefighter]

This morning, I removed the rally wheels and busted the tires off of them by hand. I'm sure most will poo poo on my choice of wheels but I like the classic look from the 70s and 80s. They are 15x8 on all 4 corners with 235/60/15 front and 275/60/15 rear tires.




I have new bed wood and strips on order from Mar-K (holiday special 10 percent off and free shipping). They should be here Tuesday or Wedensday.

Right now I am finishing up on building new front brake lines for the disc brakes. Monday I will seal the gas tank and get it in. Currently I m running it with a hose stuck into a gas can. Then come powdercoated grille and bumpers and it will be done. All I wanted was a solid beater. No plans for painting it or any restoration, just drive it a lot.

So far, I have been working on it 1 month and 8 days.

[lolife99]

Subscribing.
My kind of truck build.
Took a while to load every picture with my dial-up,... but worth it.

[markeb01]

Like the wheels, they really fit the character of the truck.

[62gmc910]

sweet truck, awsome baby moons, happy we're not the only ones running the original look

[ratrod67]

PERFECT! Lots of work in a short time. Your a busy man.

[protrash64]

Nice work Tx. All of these threads keep pushing me to get one for a DD.

[jgh64pkup]

i didnt know there was a build for this
awesome truck

[LILRED66]

I really like to original look with the upgraded suspension. I also like the stance and wheel/tire combination.

Great work and keep us posted.

[Rich 5150 69]

Thats a lot of work for a month TX, great job for inspiring us, just one question, what oven you using for your powder coating, I havea friend that used a oven in his garage that someone had thrown to the trash from thier kitchen...?

[joe231]

Cool!!
Looks super sweet!
But I still think you should have kept the rallies..

[62 short step]

Very nice! Stance is perfect!

[MrBeast]

Man that is a cool truck, I really like it.

Friend of mine in highschool had one with a 327, man that truck was a screamer.

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by Rich 5150 69

Thats a lot of work for a month TX, great job for inspiring us, just one question, what oven you using for your powder coating, I havea friend that used a oven in his garage that someone had thrown to the trash from thier kitchen...?

I have a big custom made oven for my powdercoating. It's 6 feet long so I can do bumpers, grilles, core supports, and most importantly antique motorcycle frames.

Originally Posted by MrBeast

Man that is a cool truck, I really like it.

Friend of mine in highschool had one with a 327, man that truck was a screamer.

I've got a fresh 327 with Dart heads on my engine stand if I ever want to put it in. I doubt it though, I want fuel mileage for my daily drivers.

[Tx Firefighter]

I appreciate the compliments from everyone. I figured since I didn't choose twenty something inch wheels and air bag suspension that no one would notice. When I was young, I was very, very poor. We went years without gas in our house, never a phone or even a working TV, all of that. When I was a teenager, I watched the better off kids fix up these old trucks for their first vehicle and always wished I could do that too. Now that I'm grown and past my hardships somewhat, I choose to build my trucks like I drooled over back then. In my time, you ran 15 inch wheels and fat tires.

[lolife99]

Kevin,... everyone on here, (including myself) can learn from your build(s).
You Half-a$$ NOTHING.
Everything you touched on this truck was done with extreme detail and forethought. Not just a bunch of parts thrown together. And you use quality parts.
I am a fan of big wheels and air ride,... but your truck is what my '69 is modeled after. Cool stance. Dependable driver. Hot Rod truck.
The sheetmetal and patina on that truck is perfect.

COOL ride.
I'll be watching this one.

[MrBeast]

Yeah that 327 looks bad, bet it is gonna scream in what ever its in.

[northern 85]

Nice Job, Love the stance!

[spr85gmc]

subscribed lovin it I need the inspiration and info to get crackin on my 66

[jgh64pkup]

how much would it cost for me to get my heater powder coated like that

[SCOTI]

I've been waiting for this specific build thread. Any specific data on the engine paint? Looks similar to one of the OE colors available for V8's.

I also love the big wheels..... but I love 15's just as much when 'done right'. What I don't like is either choice w/non-optimal tire size and/or back-spacing. You did a nice job; the wheel tire combo compliment the stance well.

This is a 'farm truck' that the majority of people on this site wouldn't mind parking in their driveway.