A tribute to "Nate"

[bbinaz59]

I was asked to start my own build thread, so here we go! On November 26, 2011 We purchased a 1969 Chevy C10 shortbed. The truck was an older restoration, so many things were either incorrect, missing, or poorly done. Our goal was to make the truck look as original as possible on the exterior, but give it a sort of pro touring stance. We got started tearing things apart right away. Gray was to be the color at first, then orange, then we had no clue. So we started buying parts and wound up on LMC's website and there it was! Nate's beautiful green and white 69. I hated to copy it, but it had to be done. After some searching for the color, and codes, I wound up here. I found that lucky man Nate. I asked him for some help with the color codes, and for his blessing to copy his truck. He has been very helpful to us, so we are calling this build "A tribute to Nate". The following are some pictures of the truck the day we bought it.

[bcutt]

Looks like a good start! Ill be watching to check out your progress.

[lolife99]

subscribing to this one,...

[67cheby]

All right !! we are in !

[butternut1972]

^^^x2

[YBNORML]

Me too!!

[bbinaz59]

Very cool...ok here we go.... since purchasing the truck in late November, my wife and I have worked nearly every night after work, and every weekend on the truck. It is a complete frame up, nut and bolt rebuild. We started with disassembling the truck complete. Needless to say, we ran in to a little surprise rust nicely hidden here and there, bondo smoothing every seam that needed removed, lots of grease and grime, shotty wiring, every nut and bolt on the engine and tranny loose causing leaks everywhere, and so on and so on. We removed all the suspension, rebuilt it all, blasted everything, repainted, and put it all back together with a few modifications. Power brakes were added to the 5 lug disc conversion that was previously done. The truck was dropped 4 1/2" in the front and 6" in the rear with CPP spindles and springs, KYB shocks and rear shock relocaters. The engine was taken apart, cleaned, painted Chevy orange, and reassembled with all new gaskets. We got lucky on the motor and trans because they were recently replaced and dressed up, but put together sloppy. The stock fuel tank had been removed and the hole filled in the cab, so that was undone and a stock tank went back in. Man this is hard because this thread was started after the the truck is 3/4's done. OK, so, every nut and bolt is being replaced, blasted, or just cleaned up. All seals and weather strips are being replaced, etc. The interior is going from black to white, and the seat is being replaced with a stock bench. The bed will get the steel floor removed and replaced with wood(this is in progress now.) The frame and cab are nearly complete so really we are down to finishing the paint work on the bed and assembly, exhaust, assembly on the cab and then finally the lower white two-tone and lower moldings. I have painted everthing apart for a very clean look, so in order for the lower two-tone to line up exactly at each panel, I have to wait unitl it is all assembled. I run a body shop in Avondale, AZ, so it's nice to have a paint booth to use for all the refinish work! It's been 17 years since I last worked as a painter, so it's been fun pulling the trigger in the booth again...here are some pictures so far...





















That's about it for now. I have tons of pictures if there is anything else you would like to see. We hope to have the cab pretty complete this weekend, and hopefully we'll get it fired up!

[scotts72heavyhalf]

Wow you move fast. Keep up the good work.

[bbinaz59]

Just wanted to let everyone know also that we just bought a 72 and will be starting a build on that one when this one is complete. We'll get some pictures posted then...

[Bentblazer]

Like it!

[Zoomin]

You picked a great one to copy - one of my favorites too.

[ChevyNewb]

beautiful paint job. So cool to see what I have to look forward too...

[fastcam1]

Subscribed!
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[bbinaz59]

Thanks all for taking a look and for the kind words. We got the driver's door hung last night and partially assembled. Here are a couple pictures...

[67cheby]

man, this thing is BEAUTIFUL !

[bbinaz59]

Thank you so much!

[ColoradoK5]

Great choice of truck to duplicate and great progress!

[CC69Rat]

Code 503, or 518 ? This is the color I will likely go with on my BB truck. absolutely incredible job man. I love it.

[bbinaz59]

It is 503.

[lolife99]

Are you going to run any side mouldings?
Or just keep it plain?
Duplicating the CST trim?
(lower woodgrain and tailgate trim?)

I'm a big fan of just running the lower mouldings.

[bbinaz59]

We have the lower woodgrain molding to install once the lower white two-tone is added. No tailgate moldings, just leaving that clean.

[CC69Rat]

I think I'd leave it just like that!

But the lower white / CST trim would look killer too. Stepper or keeping the Fleet?

[bbinaz59]

Yes, it looks pretty clean, but we already bought the mouldings, so we're going through with it. Keeping the fleetside, but replacing the steel floor with wood.

[67_ShortFleet]

Looks great! What did you coat the frame with? Are you going to dump the small block and put a inline 6 like Nates truck?

[bbinaz59]

thinkin about keeping the small block. The frame is semi-gloss rustoleum...but i wouldn't use it again. It looks ok but stays soft for a long time and you go through a ton of it. Eastwood sells some frame black kits that from what I've heard are pretty good and have that correct semi-gloss look.