Boppa's old yeller truck

[Low Elco]

So, after years as a semi-involved lurker, I learned to post pics, and seeing as we're going to start building in earnest, I decided to start a build thread. The truck is my dad (Boppa)'s '70 chevy. It was restored (ahem) in the late 80's/early 90's. We bought it off of a kid in Eagleville, MO in Spring 1999. We cleaned it up and fixed the interior up and it went on Power Tour in 1999. Since then, it's sat in his driveway, and he hauls his bass boat with it. The initial resto was not done well, and it has advanced rot.
In the meantime, we have been gathering parts and improving the powertrain. It has a fresh 355, the same turbo 350, and a different rearend.
We have a 68 cab from Ron Manes that we've done all the metalwork on (all 4 cab supports and inner/outer rockers and cab corners) and is in a coat of Slick sand. Doors are all fixed up, and we have 2 new bedsides and a new tailgate. The front clip is good, just needs stripped. The interior is still good, just needs a bath. Here's some pics of the truck, these were 2.5 yrs. ago-

[Low Elco]

Some pics of the metalwork. This was 2.5 years ago, when I was laid off. I got a job and spent the next 2 years on 10-12 hr. graveyard. Now I'm on days, and after the first of the year we're gonna get going. We pulled it out this weekend and powerwashed the bottom of the cab. More pics-

[Low Elco]

More pics of how it came out-

[Low Elco]

Aaannnnnd, where we are now.










We're hoping to get rolling in the next couple of weeks. Thanks for looking, and Steiny and Drewski, I blame you for the kick in the ass to get this moving again. I hope I can come anywhere close to your levels of dedication.

Thanks, Chip

[72BlckButy]

Nice work Chip!

Can't wait to see this project come together.

[Low Elco]

There is progress to report, although at the usual snail's pace. Ordered Al's liner, cup brushes and seam sealers over the weekend, then mocked up the 95 cab light/ 3rd brake assy. Should be cool. Getting ready to start smackin on this thing! Anyone knnow where to get a cheap Jeep wrangler tank?

[Low Elco]

Well, Woody Harrelson said "nut up or shut up" on the radio this morning, so I came home and did some work. I-
Got the cab drug up to my garage.
Nipped all the rivets for the trim off.
Cut the holes for the 95 third brake light.
Blocked the previous repairs on the smushed cab back and did some further metalwork.
Blocked the 2 year old Slick Sand on the roof (hard as a rock!).
Pics to follow-

[Low Elco]

Gah, hit wrong button! Here ya go-








In case you're wondering, that blue bottle is the new Bud Light Platinum. 6.0 %! Not bad tasting, but NOT cheap @ 6.99 a sixer. Had to try it, though.

[Low Elco]

Ok, so I broke the welder out today intending to weld the rockers to the corners. I just happened to look down and found this







So I broke out the super Hi-Tech fab equipment





And got to whackin'!

[Low Elco]

I got some old metal and made a patch (note no-tack fit!).





And welded 'er in and finished it off!





That's it for today!

[Low Elco]

So, it's time for an update. Let's see, we've been looking at colors, welded up some more on the floors, took care of some small stuff, and spent 2 weeks sick. Finally got better and got some good weather, so I ground down where we welded the rockers to the corners, and skimmed and finished that. Finish blocked the back of the cab, re-blocked the roof, and primed the whole dang thang again. General consensus is that it looks pretty good, though. Here's some pics-









Now, on to seam seal, Al's liner the bottom,and back wall, cut in and interior paint, and get this sucker on the frame!

[Low Elco]

Ok, update time- got sick again midweek (really getting tired of that). Felt better Friday, so I blocked the whole cab with 180 and reprimed. Looks good, only a couple spots to deal with that'll prime up good. Wanted to get the bottom of the cab cleaned up before putting on the Al's Liner, but couldn't get an answer out of any sandblast companies. So, I noticed that I have a big mother of a compressor, so the heck with it, we spent the same $150 and bought a 40-pound sandblast setup from Harbor Freight. If you have the means, get one. It worked awesome. The Aluminum oxide worked great, but we went through it quick. Then I remembered I had actual blasting sand in the shed, so we filled 'er up and used the combo. Worked great and didn't go through it near as fast. Cleaned up and dragged it in and etch primed. It has a bunch of runs, but I had the air cut way down so as not to gas the 'hood, and it's all getting covered anyway. Here's the pics-

The overall setup- use the tarps, makes cleanup and reuse a LOT easier.


The Owner getting some work done-


Our loyal assistant and our new Rig-


Wire brushing the easy to get at areas to save on sand-


Etch Primed!


Hope to get the bottomed seam sealed and the Al's put on this week. Lovin the awesome March weather!

[litew8]

nice

[Hotrob72]

Looks great, kid that kid workin!

[72BlckButy]

Nice work!

Gotta love this MO weather.

[Low Elco]

Short update- Flipped cab over, scuffed in Etch primer and seam sealed last night. 2 more product reviews-Eastwood brushable seam sealer is the BOM-BEE! Also, the folks at Al's Liner are as nice as reported. Picked up first ring and very helpful. If all goes my way (BAHAhahahah!) Gonna try to get the liner on tonight. Then this SOB will finally be upright for good, and I can start on Firewall and cut-ins. Maybe, it'll start lookin' like progress!

[67cheby]

nice work, i am along for the build!

[Low Elco]

Got the Al's on tonight, learned a lot. One more step down. Here's the pics-

[Low Elco]

Came home and tried a test shot of the color. Truck is currently supposedly 73 Corvette Yellow, but there are issues getting the BC formula. Therefore the search is on for a modern replacement color. This is an 03 Avalanche color. Two rounds Nason base, three Nason Clear. We'll see what the owner thinks. Opinions?

[Low Elco]

OK, yellow it is! Sorry to be posting all the minutiae, but it's keeping me motivated, and sometimes I've been needing that. Update: Had a bumpy week and a half, but got down to bidness this weekend. Boppa came out and demanded to be worked, so he and The Kid got the old drivers door out of the shed and stripped the guts out of it. Then he took the wire wheel and stripped all the paint off everything but the door skin. I cleaned the shop (desperately needed, sometimes the best thing you can do!) and scuffed in the ceiling of the cab, to be painted while the cab is on its nose. Then I converted the 70 door to a 72 door by welding in a screw pocket. I had previously welded the inner tabs back together. I then decided that the door top/case relationship looked sketchy, so I welded it up as well, and blended it. Then I etch primed the door, and that was Saturday. Sunday, got up and got rollin'! Got the new pass. door from the neighbor, found some stuff I didn't like, so I skimmed the dents, welded the top to the case, and slick sand primed the inner of both doors, and reprimed some spots I found in the ceiling. Work, work, work. Here's some pics-

MMmmmm...Green.



It's a 72 door now!



Both Gray!



Happy Owner! (Note highly motivated work posture! And beer can.)

[litew8]

"The Kid" nickname, "highly motivate posture" description - love it

[Tinkermc]

looks good so far I will have to follow this 1

[Low Elco]

Ok, a short update. First, DO NOT shoot Slick Sand / featherfill G2 over etch primer. It makes it gooey. Pulled most of it back off the door in the foreground tonight and did some skim work (hey, it's 40 years old and I AIN'T Ron Fournier.) and recoated with a HOT load of SS. Hopefully, it'll help. Another round of 80/150 oughta git 'er. One more thing in the corner, waitin' to be yellow. Have a good night, Y'all!

[Low Elco]

Gotta get this done so I can on the !

[Low Elco]

Quickie update: after the primer hiccup, I skimmed and blocked and reprimed the door inners. Almost good to go! Now, to paint that ceiling. Hopin for good progress this weekend. Later!
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