Surprising my 11 year old stepson with his 64 Chevy Longbed for Christmas

[Loenuf74]

My 11 year old stepson isn't like a lot of kids out there. He's all about cars, trucks, motorcycles, hotrods, ratrods, lowriders, etc. He's not much into video games or sports like a lot of kids. He fell in love with the 64 Chevy Longbed out at my friend's step-dad's junkyard. I wanted to buy it for him, but Dick said a guy stopped in earlier in the week to buy it. Come to find out, the other guy didn't buy it, so I did. We told Bryce (my stepson) that Dick sold the truck....he just didn't know it was sold to me and his mom. We have been working on it the past month and a half. Pulled the motor and tranny and tore the motor down. Took the bed off. C-notched it and just started bagging it. Nothing too fancy. We're keeping it ratrod style. We were doing this all in a polebarn, running electricity from an extenstion cord from inside the vacant house...no heat either other than a little blast here and there. Here are couple of pics when Bryce first saw his truck. His mom will get to drive it for a few years before he is old enough, but he'll get to work on it starting NOW. I'll add more pics later.

[Blue666]

Cool Project.

[hyatt]

good for you All my stepdad ever gave me was a hard time

[mark 66]

that's a lucky young man.

[niterider65]

That 's cool will be watching this build good luck kid have fun building the
truck

[markeb01]

What a great investment in father/son bonding. Good luck on the build. Just remember to take lots of pictures. Before you know he'll be old enough to drive and those before pictures will be priceless.

[C@rnut001]

What an awesome story! Thanks for sharing and I think this is so great to see a young man who loves trucks and cars. Good luck with the build and keep the updates coming.

[flashed]

Lucky young man there ,Im in for this one too.

[TJ's Chevy]

That is one lucky guy there! Have fun with the project!

[Sillyoldman]

Good job dad! Congrats little man!

[bj383ss]

This is fantastic. Way to nurture his love for cars. Its a rare thing these days. Most kids just care about the radio and MPG.

Bret

[McMurphy]

This is awesome....I wish I had had a stepdad as cool and as engaged as you seem to be.
Kudos sir, nicely done !!

[Ta2Don]

Originally Posted by markeb01

What a great investment in father/son bonding. Good luck on the build. Just remember to take lots of pictures. Before you know he'll be old enough to drive and those before pictures will be priceless.

Gotta agree with Mark, Awesome investment in bonding!
Clemdaddy has an awesome get-together in Fayetteville AR in October…
Here's a link of pics from this year's shindig… http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...30#post6324330
Maybe we will get to see the boy and his 64 longed in October...

[Loenuf74]

Thanks for the kind words. I took tons of pictures and videos from the time the truck was on the rollback leaving the junkyard, all the way thru us tearing it a part. I wanted Bryce to be able to help with actually bagging the truck, so he will be in the pics from now on. Once I figure out how to get all of the pics and videos off of my phone, I will upload more.

We had Bryce and his brother racing go-karts at a young age, but we got out of that. I've been into motorcycles for years, so Bryce always goes to the shows and bike rides with me. His mom has missed out on a lot over the past few years, but she said to let him go on the rides now while it's still "cool" to ride with his step-dad.

Kind of what started the truck project was his mom, him and his brother (who is older and is totally into sports, which I coached him in baseball, basketball and football until he got into school ball) wanted something to roll to the shows in, so the truck will be it.

Bryce is a very talented kid. He's been learning to paint and pinstripe. I have no artistic ability what so ever, so a friend of mine that I met thru car/motorcycle shows took him under his wing and is teaching him.

Bryce builds stuff out of cardboard, ductape and whatever else he can find, so I figured it was time to get him the garage and get started putting his talent to work.

After we bought the truck, I came to the forum, but I stayed low key because I didn't want him to see anything. I actually ordered the bag kit and some parts from a couple different vendors on the board. Everybody has been great to deal with.

I'll add some pics this weekend for sure.

[flashed]

Is Bryce a member here ,it would be great to have yours and his ideas flowing together ,cant wait too see more .

[Jonboy]

That is super cool, and hits home a bit. I, too, was car obsessed as a kid. I could tell the makes and a lot of the years of cars as they passed by on the roads when I was about 4. I didn't care about sports (or much else, really) except cars, trucks, or anything else motorized. I got a '58 Rambler for Christmas when I was about his age. I was also lucky enough to have a few older guys teach me a few things, but when I started prepping cars for paint, I found my calling. I was 12, and have been working in the car business ever since. I will be 40 next year, and it has been very good to me.

It is also cool that you are sharing your hobbies with him and being a dad. It takes a pretty big man to do that.

[chevyrestoguy]

What a great story and what a cool Dad you are. Notice that I didn't say Stepdad, and that's because you're giving Bryce and his brother the care and attention that a true Dad gives to his children. To often, I have seen relations strained because the kids and the stepmom/stepdad do not have a blood relation, and they just can't can't get over that reality. You are a good man to put all of that aside and be the Dad that those boys really need. I have always said that kids only grow up once, and a little hard work at the beginning will pay off big-time later on when they become older. I can always spot an adult that wasn't raised right as a kid!

Bryce will never forget his Christmas gift, and I look forward to seeing him post up and let us know how his truck is coming along!

[Low Elco]

Great Story! I feel ya with the kids. Truck progress is on hold due to our 11 year old going motorcross racing this spring. You're doing a good thing.

We have a strong group of guys here in KC. I'm in far East Indep, work at the Lake. Holler if you need anything, and good luck! If you need a goal, the Midwest All-Truck Nats in in Sept in Riverside and we always meet up and have a good time.

PS- The Mr Heater knockoffs from HF work great and take the edge off the cold real well. and not too expensive.

[Loenuf74]

Few more pics of the truck.

[j.walters]

Good looking truck and one excited young guy. If you guys need anything im not too far

[RANDY COX]

Kool I bet that young man was happy as a lark, I know I would've been. Can't wait to see
the progress on this build. as said before he'll never forget it.. My hats off to ya...

[Jeff La]

Congrats on the truck and the memories your building

[Loenuf74]

I haven't added much to this thread in awhile. Between the weather (working in a shop with no heat and running extension cords from the house) and a few indoor bike shows the last 2 months, we haven't done much to the truck. We have managed to order more parts and get the front suspension torn apart though. I'll post a few pics. Thanks again for all of the kind words from everybody. We're having a lot of fun working on the truck.

[Loenuf74]

More front end tear down and we removed the gas tank. I don't like the idea of leaving it in the cab, especially when a kid is going to be driving it. Plan on running an old fuel cell out of a racecar under the bed.

[Loenuf74]

Bolt in C-notch and track bar for now. It's going to be a daily driver for him. If he decides he wants to do a bigger drop later on, then we can redo it.....whith his money.