Couch Potato

[Mike Bradbury]

OK, much to my wifes chagrin, I am starting a new project. This will be sort of a different project since it will not be of a complete truck, but rather just the back half.

When I was doing Project Barn Raising, I swapped the original seat for an F350 seat. The old seat was in remarkable shape and I wanted to do something with it but I did not know what. I decided to make it into a couch, but I did not have the time or money to start this project so the seat has been kicking around my garage for the last year.

Today I found a set of fleet sides at the local swap meet for $100 and the will work nicely.

Here is the idea; I will cut the back 20 inches of the bed off then the front 2 inches. I will weld the two together basically making a bed that is 22" long with no wheel well. I will then add the original C20 bumper and a era specific California black and yellow license plate. All the tail lights and side markers will work and the C20 bumper will have cup holders welded into it.

Not sure if it will make it into my house ever or be a show piece at a local art studio, but I have been wanting to do this project for a while now.

Here are the bed sides. I have seen these sides at this swap for three years now, so I am pretty confident that I am not going to be ruining anyones future project.



This is the original C20 bumper I will use.

[Racer2172]

Neat idea, wanting to do the same thing with a stepside bed I have on a parts truck.

[67cheby]

too cool, that sounds like a fun project !

[Rusbuilt]

I'm in on this!

[Mike Bradbury]

Also at the swap, I had purchased an old plate for $5. I brought it home, hammered out the wrinkles somewhat and blasted and powder coasted it. I will next paint the letters and apply the stickers. For some reason I have extra stickers lying around. I guess I should have taken a pic before I blasted and coated it but suffice to say it was in rough condition, not as bad as my "license to restore" project http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=436109 but it was in need of messaging. It came out pretty good and I am ready to paint it tonight.
I am not looking for mint condition, just good representation of era specific. Total cost so far $105

[Mike Bradbury]

So I spent some time painting the plates last night. It went quicker than the last one because I had the paint from the first one and it did not need to be reformed.
I had some old stickers around so I used them to finish off the look. It should be a nice touch on the front of the couch when done.

[Low Elco]

Love me some art projects! Been wanting to do one of these myself.

[Mike Bradbury]

Yeah it has been buzzing around in my hear for a year now. I asked my daughter last night what color we should paint it and she suggested a midnight blue so that my wife might not mind it in the house. LOL.
Midnight blue is her favorite car color.

[Rusbuilt]

That plate turned out great!

[shawno72]

In for this. Should be cool
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[Mike Bradbury]

Originally Posted by shawno72

In for this. Should be cool
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One more and your at 7000!

[widewhite70]

Great idea I love it! Can't wait to see how it turns out

[shawno72]

Originally Posted by Mike Bradbury

One more and your at 7000!

I'm there

Edit. Looks like I passed it
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[Mike Bradbury]

I got some work done on the couch today, It turned out to be more of a puzzle piece than I thought it was going to be.

In the end it all worked out but it was a bit more welding and cutting than I planed for.

Just got the one side tacked up so I hope the next side goes quicker.
I would have gotten this side mostly welded up but I ran out of welding gas.
I also plan on putting in a spray on bed liner which will help when you spill your beer.

[Rusbuilt]

Looking good! I want to do something like this one day.

[vexvader]

Mike,

This is a great idea! I can't wait to see it.

MM
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