'Handy Man Jack' The service Truck

[69chevy lwb]

I figured I would start a thread on my current project. It's a 68 c10 that started life as a gmc. I swapped it to right hand drive, lowered it with a porter built dropmember. The frame has been shortened and the rear suspension built by me. I decided to build a bagged truck that was useful. Well as useful as slammed truck can be. I'm planning to run a ls in this one. Still undecided on a turbo though. Anyone have any advice on how to keep the pictures in the thread? My builds always lose the pictures. Thanks, hope you enjoy!

[69chevy lwb]

Here's some progress shots

[69chevy lwb]

And more

[69chevy lwb]

Here's the air management I stuffed in there.

[69chevy lwb]

Here's how it sat for quite some time.

[69chevy lwb]

Here's where it began to take shape.

[69chevy lwb]

And this should bring it up to its current state. I'm torn between sea foam/ mint green and staying bare metal with a clear plastidip finish. N2billet has been a major influence on this truck but I wanted to be a little lower than wally.

[cooperhw]

Check this baby out with a little slice out of the middle. Sorry about the terrible pic scanned in.

[69chevy lwb]

That's pretty cool but I do like the taller box personally. Here's a couple trucks that are similar.

[cooperhw]

Here's a little better pic of the shorter box. I never would have even considered a utility box on a cruiser, but I think they have possibilities. I like it shorter myself best, but taller looks good too. Lot less work 4 sure.

[69chevy lwb]

I have plenty of work cut out on that service bed! I got it home and the doors were all full of body filler so I have to reskin all the doors and move the wheel wells back as they don't line up. All of this was the result of hornets inside so I didn't take a chance on opening everything up.
I got the steering put together tonight. I shortened the column, moved the turn signals to the right side of the column, and built the steering linkage.

[69chevy lwb]

Built new door skins for the bed to replace someone's hack job. There was about a half inch of body filler covering the bottom of each door.

[69chevy lwb]

Got a lot done today. Cut the cross member flat, built 2" drop blocks, removed trans cross member, got a ton of dents pulled with my new stud gun.

[69chevy lwb]

Got the cab off and the watts link tacked in. It works pretty well other than at max lift it's awfully close to contact.

[69chevy lwb]

Got a bit more done. Flattened the trailing arm cross member and cut the trailing arms mounts to fit. I got the watts link welded up and smoothed out pretty nice. Bags rub on the inside of the frame so I need to give that a tune up.

[69chevy lwb]

Here's some shots from today nearly done with the frame so onto inner fenders next

[69chevy lwb]

Played with some cardboard today and finally found an inner fender setup I like. Biggest problem is my tires stick over the tops of the fenders about 2" so I had to get creative. Also got the c-notch pretty well finished up other than shock mounts. I need to build tubular rear cross members as well then I can get the frame painted.

[69chevy lwb]

Finally got a chance to use my shrinking disk and I must say it's a life saver! It fixed the top of the cab extremely well and took care of quite a few other issues as well

[tommys72]

I'll follow along, I dig it

[69chevy lwb]

I started shaving the cowl today and turned it into a genuine nightmare. I got out of hand with the grinder and shrunk it big time. It was almost perfect when I was done welding though. Here's some pictures after a hour of beating it back into shape. I also got rid of the factory rear crossmembers and made some tubular ones.

[69chevy lwb]

Well I got the cowl fitting a bit better but still have a ways to go. I successfully ruined my windshield too but oh well.

[litew8]

I see surface rust forming, but when I had bare panels I was amazed on how long they'd go without forming any (inside garage). Good steel.

[69chevy lwb]

Yeah it's getting some rust from the shrinking process I have to spray water on the heated steel to form it and it gets everywhere. I figured I'd leave it be until all the metal work is done then I'll fix all of that. It is some good steel but it's no where near as good as my 54 that stuff is incredible!

[litew8]

I bet it is. The further back in history the better. Looking real nice. I'm sure you know you just don't want any pitting to start with that rust but light surface just wipes off easy.

[69chevy lwb]

By the time I'm done with 80 grit and epoxy primer no one would ever know it was in such a sorry state but that's the price of making metal that straight