1964 SWB Step Side Chop Top

[jimmythompson1964]

I bought this little beauty off of Craigslist last year and drove her on the trailer for $650. She has a old 350 with a 4-speed. Someone had wrecked the driver side in the door post, between the wreck damage and the rust I set out to find a good cab. I stopped off at Lowes Motor Speedway last fall and found a guys parting out his project and this 2" chop top was still for sale. We worked a deal and I bought the cab with modified glass ans several boxes of new and used parts, so here I am grinding welds and working mud, I hope to have the cab ready to bolt on this spring. I am looking for a newer frame my truck is a 62 and the cab and title is a 64, I hear that the newer cabs up to 72 will work with a few mods so I am looking. 1st) picture is the day I bought it 2nd) after some cleaning new carb brakes and terrorizing the neighbor hood 3rd & 4th) Tear down 5th) ready to weld and found my new cab

[jimmythompson1964]

Here is the 64 cab, I plan to fab a custom console late model bucket seats and smooth the dash

[Alan's Classic]

Welcome aboard, one pointer for ya and you might already know. Be sure to fit your door before welding the rocker especially since the cab is cut apart without bracing. Just trying to save you some pain and anger.

[LostMy65]

Welcome.
Pretty cool mods.

[Narxoleptic Customs]

I like the dash...
Posted via Mobile Device

[jimmythompson1964]

Originally Posted by Alan's Classic

Welcome aboard, one pointer for ya and you might already know. Be sure to fit your door before welding the rocker especially since the cab is cut apart without bracing. Just trying to save you some pain and anger.

That is not in the plans now, putting a new cab on it, sold all those parts with my 66 truck last month. Thanks for the heads up though

[jimmythompson1964]

Originally Posted by Narxoleptic Customs

I like the dash...
Posted via Mobile Device

Thanks, I am going to cut out the speaker grill and weld in a piece of metak so it will all be smooth. Im am trying to figur4e out how to continue this design in door panels and custom console. Looking at Black leather bucket seats out of a Volvo S90 SUV, they have the look I am after. Searching the pull -a-Part yards for a set. I need to get them mounted so I can lay out my plans for the4 console.

[jimmythompson1964]

I have been looking at everyone's projects here on the site, some really cool projects and great new Ideas for me to ponder. I live near Atlanta GA, but I am working in Lexington KY. I go home every 2 weeks for 2 days and as you can imagine I do not get much time to play with my toys. I have rented a house up here in KY with a garage, I am installing an electrical subpanel box this weekend so I can wire the shop for 220 and bring up my compressor and my welder. I hope to have my shop ready and my cab here by the end of the month and then...let the games begin!!

[jimmythompson1964]

Some back ground on why I decided to build one of these trucks. When I was growing up my dad had a 62 step side with a 327 4-speed. It was a project his best friend was building but did not get to finish, he was killed when a train ran over his little 63 Falcon. So my dad bought it and put her on the road. I used to ride in the back, when he would do a burn-out I could watch both back tire rolling the smoke due to no wood. Watching those tires burn that asphalt was for ever burned into my head. I would love to get that truck but it ended up back to his friends family. When I saw this truck it brought back lots of memories, When I get this one on the road I will go get dad and take hime for a ride and burn up some asphalt.....Good Times!

[jimmythompson1964]

Here is the 350 that is in it now

[jimmythompson1964]

This is the motor I am putting in her: 383 Stroker with Comp roller cam, balanced, AFR 195 Street Aliminator Heads. All built for low end, so it will be a tire fryer for sure. Fuel cell in the back and a few oth tricks to help with traction for sure.

[jimmythompson1964]

Had this engine in my 79 Z28 for a while it is very strong, it is on the engine stand ready for the truck I will get back to my Z after the truck build...(I hope)

[jimmythompson1964]

Got back to Atlanta this week end and made some time to work my truck here are a few pics, not much but it felt good to get something done. Hope to get it up here in KY soon and make some real progress

[Frizzle Fry]

The chop looks good and I like the rounded door corners. Have you considered shaving the drip rail? Would look good with the rounded door corners.

[jimmythompson1964]

I am going to remove the one coming down the door post, and would like to do something with the top but do not want to alter to much and loose the over al factory look just some sutle changes.

[flips72]

sweet build ,engine looks great and the cab swap looked like a good idea the other one looked scary. is the cam in your engine a solid roller or hyd and whats the lift? your dad must be a maniac letting you ride in the back of the truck with no bed wood, musta had a good life insurance policy on you

[jimmythompson1964]

Originally Posted by flips72

sweet build ,engine looks great and the cab swap looked like a good idea the other one looked scary. is the cam in your engine a solid roller or hyd and whats the lift? your dad must be a maniac letting you ride in the back of the truck with no bed wood, musta had a good life insurance policy on you

As you well know this project snow balled on me, I bought it with the intention of fixing the wreck damage to the door hinge post and rusted rockers. I was driving past Lowes motor speedway Sunday last fall and saw the signs for the auto fair and tought I would stop in and look around. Talked to the guy with this cab, gave him my cell# and told him to call me if he did not sell it...and here we are.

My Dad was a wild man back in the day for sure, I just thought it was more fun than a rollercoaster

The comp cam is a hyd roller a good street cam no to wild matched up with everything I put in for massive low end torque. I will look for my cam card next time I go home.

[jimmythompson1964]

I sat back and studied my cab this weekend and I am thinking I need to modify the drip rail and the rear of the cab. Right now it looks like the roof is to short. I think I need to change the angle of the curve from the side to the rear of the cab. It needs something for sure...when you modify one thing it seems to snow ball. Please give me some input on this

[Dinos63]

WOW LOVE IT!! Great JOB NICE WORK!!

[Strodder]

Nice ideas, and love that engine. Check out my shaved drip rails. A lot of work, but I think it will be worth it.

[jimmydean]

I think if you shav the drip rail, it will look awesome. Great work.

[jimmythompson1964]

Strodder, I like the way yours looks in front and the sides and will do mine the same, but in the rear it will need something more. I will more pictures of the rear profile next time I am home but looking at this picture the roof looks to short for the cab

[Captainfab]

Apparently some of the chop was taken out between the top of the rear window and the rear overhang of the roof. That is why it looks funny. I don't quite know how to fix it, other than possibly extending the rear of the roof.

[jimmythompson1964]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

Apparently some of the chop was taken out between the top of the rear window and the rear overhang of the roof. That is why it looks funny. I don't quite know how to fix it, other than possibly extending the rear of the roof.

You are correct...took out 2" I am thinking change the angle of the curve at the side and rear and extending the rear of cab 1/2" but rounding off the rear to side for sure. I may get in photo shop and make some marks to show my idea later today. Needs something for sure.

[jimmythompson1964]

I am thinking to round off the rear roof corner with the same radius as the rear of the door post shave the rear drip rail and extent the roof to about 1/2" past the back of the truck. then I can fold the front and side drip rail like Strodder's truck...sounds good on paper, we will see how it turns out. Boy oh boy you make one change and the ripple effect can cost lots of time and money