lots of pics and questions

[dhughins]

here are some pics this is my first big project. whats fixable and what ain't? i'll listen to all advice whether i follow it or not. is the crack on the driver side cab by the rear window fixable?






it looks like the driver front sits higher than the passengers. culprit?
i think the bed is completely shot do ya'll see anything usable?

[dhughins]

the engine runs real strong has dual exhuast. the drivers rocker and floor needs replacing. the passenger rocker seems ok but the floor needs replacing.
does any of the bed look usable?
does the frame look crooked there at that back brace?
i'll have to try and see if its square later.

[dhughins]

the passenger rocker seems ok the wheels will be replace ASAP


tell me what ya'll think

[munchieu]

The whole truck is fixable. It just depends on what tools you have and i can use them.

[dhughins]

the dash looks ok. none of the stock gauges are working not sure why? but all the after market gauges work fine. what should the oil pressure be for a 283? the toggle switches are the headlight the wipers inside lights and ?

[ChopperDr]

Looks like it can all be fixed. It will take some time, but looks like it can be done. As you pull it apart and strip it down you can see how far that cancer has spread. It seems like they are always worse than they look at first.

Chopster

[protrash64]

The rear X-member that you mentioned is not square from the factory....it does not need to be messed w/ at all.

[dhughins]

Originally Posted by protrash64

The rear X-member that you mentioned is not square from the factory....it does not need to be messed w/ at all.

why? it looks strange doesn't it? i want to coat all this with rust bullet.

[protrash64]

Not sure why they did it this way.....I thought the same of mine when I saw it.

[Revoh]

The box is obviously from a different truck, but the body sits funny to me, i.e., the wheels aren't in the same place on each side. The non-functioning gauges, plus the automatic shifter poking through the floor, make me wonder if the frame and the body even came with each other. Hopefully it's safe if you're driving it.

It looks pretty cobbled together, but you can make anything into anything if you want to. I'd say just don't get in a big hurry. Make it mechanically sound first, then pick up parts and pieces from the swap meet or the junkyard or Craigslist or eBay or WHATEVER as you go. At least these trucks don't have to be perfect to be kind of neat. It just depends on how big of a project you want to tackle, and how persnickity you are.

[jonzcustomshop]

since you said the vin checks out as a 3/4 ton, and the frame is obviously a 1/2 I would check out all the body mounts/braces , likr revoh said the left and right wheels are definatly in different spots.
Is that crack by the back window bondo that is cracked? or is it metal that is cracked all the way through?
Any of that bondo/paint that is bubbled through with rust , you need to sand off, down to shiny bare metal, even if you don't fix the problems right away get them down to what metal is left , and protect that with paint, until you can get to it.

[ed2552]

Originally Posted by jonzcustomshop

...and protect that with paint, until you can get to it.

Or a good primer.

[dhughins]

the vin matches the production number on the frame near the engine so i'm pretty sure they came together

[dhughins]

i think something on the front suspension is broke like a spring or something.it seems the driver side front sits higher than the passenger. maybe body mounts? i will get to look at it this weekend, hopefully the rain will get out of here. i don't have a garage, so the weather controls alot.