New truck practically fell into my arms!

[BK]

So my boss at work, had picked up a 65 short step 2wd on trade, and wanted to restore it. Well, hes not the best at running a welder, so called upon my help. Before we even got started, his wife said it was "ugly" and she wanted something she could drive, and its 3 on the tree, she cant drive manual. He wanted to keep the 3 on the tree. Long story short, i just bought this truck, running and driving, clean title.

Now im not sure which direction i want to go with it. I know its going to be low, its going on the old BADPANL frame i had, 4"z 3" spindles and bags up front, 10" step notch watts link bags out back. layed body on the panel. Im then going to build a new frame for a new panel. but what should i do with the truck? leave it stock rustic looking on the ground, with wide white? restored looking, yet slightly modern(AOD tranny, new stereo, ps)? Or should i go ahead and just go all out, chop it like 2", fully shaved, fully modded bed, on 20's? Any info would be greatly appreciated, also, i know the pics suck(camera phone), but if anyone wants to shoot ideas, PS ideas, or other trucks to look at, im game!

[62 short step]

Man, looks like a nice solid truck!!

[Chevy Fleetside]

I think if you already have a custom truck you should have a stock looking one also..

[zeitlerusmc]

ditch the stepside and fire on a nice fleetside...........and that would be a sweet little truck!!!!!!!

[slepysal]

Cool I got mine off of my boss too. His home owners association hated it
Nice SCORE.

[BK]

zeitlerusmc - how about making a subframe for the bed, getting some nice new bedsides, widening the bed a titch, and making a unibody swb fleet layin on the ground?

thanks guys! oh, and sorry, i dont do stock

[zeitlerusmc]

Remember this my friend EVERY THING IS BETTER SHAVED!. slammed tucked and chopped doesn't hurt anything either. Id say if it was a pre 64 big back window original auto/ac truck yeah put it back to stock, but it looks liike your run of the mill post 63 truck which is a great platform for a sick little street truck to be created from

[zeitlerusmc]

your going to have problems with it cracking if its too low or your suspension is too fast i.e bags or juice, I would just got rat with it, slammed shaved 700r4or 4l60e tbi or tpi 350 some comfortable seats wide whites and flatblack, and just drive it, drive the sh*t out of it!

[BK]

just a little teaser i did with microsoft paint!


im good enough at welding/body/frame work im not worried. check out www.cardomain.com/id/badpanl to see what im going to rebuild. this truck is alo going on the frame! and ive go a rebuilt 327/700r4 outta the panel for it already.

[62ChevyStep]

Droppedchopped,

I loved what you did to the panel you had, that was completely sick!

As for this truck, I would error to the static side, say a 4/6 with coils and spindles, find a good SWB fleetbed or leave step if that is your preference, mild SBC with a AOD of some sort, 20's, just a good clean driver - I say all this to get to here - this will provide you a good clean driver/shop truck to haul and pickup all the stuff your going to need and save you the money in the long run to put towards your ultimate love and dream a Chopped/Dropped Panel recreated better than before, as I look at your pictures and comments about your previous Panel, you were right on track with that one, alot like Porterbuilt on dinos 63 Panel, you just dont see that many Panels especially as sick as yours and Dinos.

Just my .02 worth

[zeitlerusmc]

with the daily driver/parts runner. I would just ditch the 20's for red steelies!

[Frizzle Fry]

Nice! Pressure wash and go. I'm going to weld my bed to the cab for the unibody flave like that roaster "Heavy Metal." Gotta reinforce it structurally first.

Since I know you are not afraid to throw sparks I'll share an idea I've had for these steppers. Take some spare front fenders and make the rear wheel arch lips match the front. Or use some off a fleet bed, but position it a bit higher than the stock rear arches. The stepside arches were designed to work with the 55-59 cabs and worked "well enough" not to change for 60-66, but don't really go with the 60-66 front fenders very well IMO.

Whatever you do, I'm sure it'll be unique

Here's a little mspaint version of the rear fender deal...

[62ChevyStep]

Originally Posted by zeitlerusmc

with the daily driver/parts runner. I would just ditch the 20's for red steelies!

I agree with you on that, Steelies would do the trick

I grew up in SD, Dad was a leatherneck (Korea) he was promoted to glory- passed- a year ago, buried at Ft Roscrans out on Point Loma, in The Wall! Going to visit in two weeks.

Thanks for your commitment to this country - I was there in the Storm and participated in a few other through the years (USAF)

"Fortitudine"
"Per Mare, Per Terram"
"To the Shores of Tripoli"
"Semper fidelis"

[zeitlerusmc]

No need to thank me Its what I signed the contract for
Thats really motivating to have your dad be part of something that dramatic in our country's history! like the country song says "thats something to be proud of" OOOOOOHHHH RRRAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!

[19GMC63]

Sweet truck.....

I say slam it, put some steelies w/ wide whites, and leave the paint alone.
If its gonna be a DD, I'd throw all the nice modern conveniences in it... tranny, stereo, ect, but leave that body alone, it has tons of character.

I'd also try and find a junky lookin white rear bumper to match the front.

Good luck, looks like its in great shape.