Since everyone has been asking for more picture and updates on the construction of n2billet's latest project I thought I would post a few pics (with his permission).

Here's what he started with a clean low mileage truck. that was almost rust free. It does need a freash set of cab supports but the corners and rockers are as solid as they come on a 68.


Here's the good-

It's has 68k original miles. It's got a 250 six with a 2 speed powerglide.

More of the good-

Now for the ugly stuff. Fortunately this is all easy to fix after you pull the cab. That will come a little later....:cool:

The bad-

It sat in storage for a while as he gathered new parts and finished off other projects. A plan was laid out that included air suspension and big billet wheels. Since the truck is so solid the bed would not be cut. That means a small C-notch to get it as low as it will go with out cutting sheetmetal.

The frame was partially covered with undercoating, caked with grunge, and somewhat rusty. This wasn't going to be a "frame off" project but it couldn't go back together nasty either. The decision was made to clean it up and paint it.

He installed an Air Ride Technologies (http://www.ridetech.com/) "Big Red" system that includes 8 Big Red 3/8" valves, two 3 gallon tanks, and two Thompson 317 compressors.

He also installed 2" blocks, an adjustable panhard rod and a pair of Firestaone bags. What you can't see in the pics are the 5 lug axles that were installed.

With the rear done, and the bed back on it was time to move to the front. He installed a crossmember from an 73-87 truck (82 Blazer to be exact) that was completely rebuilt with Performance Suspension Tecnology (http://www.p-s-t.com/) components, and brakes from Stainless Steel Brakes (http://www.stainlesssteelbrakes.com/) that were cryogenic treated by Applied Rotor Technology (http://www.appliedrotortechnology.com/)

It was time to get it back on the ground to see how she looked. Even with a borrowed set of mud and snow tires it was starting to take shape.

What it really needed right now was a set of big inch billet rollers to get the look he was after. Fortunately he had some close by he could borrow for a test fit.

Front-

Another set that wasn't mounted yet would give him an idea of what was needed for the rear. Now he could measure for correct backspace and get a set ordered.

Rear-

While he is waiting on the wheels it was time to clean up the front suspension. Unfortunately there was a motor in the way of his progress, so the decision was made to remove it.

Out with the old-

Even though the truck only had 68k miles, he figures it started leaking oil right off the showroom floor. Everything under the hood was well lubricated.

It's amazing what a few hundred psi of water will do. Of course there was lots of scraping and wire brushing involved too.

The firewall was repainted along with the inside of the fenders.

In the meantime, the motor was getting the first stages of "Extreme Makeover" hot rod style.

I'll add more pics as he sends them to me. Wait till you see what he got for the motor...

:c2: Truck, very nice makeover, if you are going to do it you may as well do it right the first time......

Looks good. Are the 'bags acting as the bumpstop? Is the adjustable panhard bar from CPP? Can't wait to see what he has in store for the inline 6.

did he use drop spindles in the front?
thats looking really good

did he use drop spindles in the front? Yes, 3" DJM's...:cool:

Ken what is the process used to paint a engine?? Clear/base on that one??

I'm watching this one! It's gonna be SWEET,...

Is the side trim staying? I would be interested in it if it is getting shaved...

phantom dually- Ken what is the process used to paint a engine?? Clear/base on that one??

N2TRUX- Keith will be along soon. I will let me tell you the steps and material that he uses.

67Fleet- Is the side trim staying?

N2TRUX- Yes the trim is staying. He has a complete set of replacement trim that will be installed after the paint is buffed out. PM n2billet and he can tell you the condition of the trim that is being removed.

lolife99- I'm watching this one! It's gonna be SWEET

N2TRUX- Me too.....:metal:

Ken what is the process used to paint a engine?? Clear/base on that one?? I basically cleaned it free from all grease and grime and then cleaned the motor with Sila Scrub with a scotch brite pad and then washed it down with final clean. I then shot one coat of exopy followed by 2 coats of Standox paint and 2 coats of clear. We have done all our motor this way with great results. Now that I made this statement all the paint will fall off this motor :)

Just curious but why not get a different motor? Are you trying to keep it somewhat factory?

Just curious but why not get a different motor? Are you trying to keep it somewhat factory?
Because, everyone runs a V8 small block and I'm just a little different in the head! :crazy:

I basically cleaned it free from all grease and grime and then cleaned the motor with Sila Scrub with a scotch brite pad and then washed it down with final clean. I then shot one coat of exopy followed by 2 coats of Standox paint and 2 coats of clear. We have done all our motor this way with great results. Now that I made this statement all the paint will fall off this motor :)
Thanks for the info. I will be painting My 496 soon and need to find the BEST way to do this. Any additional info you have will be great as far as some product part #s etc etc. Thanks

I'll add more pics as he sends them to me. Wait till you see what he got for the motor...
Turbo?

Did you c notch the rear frame? Did you cut into the bed at all? I am interested in bagging my truck bit do not want to cut up the bed. Looks great.

Turbo?

i hope so...

Turbo?
Nope. Nothing like that.

KISS is the theme, but he has a hard time w/the exact definition of 'simple' :lol: .
Did you c notch the rear frame? Did you cut into the bed at all? I am interested in bagging my truck bit do not want to cut up the bed. Looks great.
Last I heard, there were no plans to cut the floor up. You can bag your truck & not cut the floor but w/o cutting the floor (or modifying it in some other fashion) you can't get it 'extremely' low like planting the frame rails.

hotrodhomi- Turbo?

N2TRUX- No nothing wild. Just a cool "Old School" treatment.

bskylerj- Did you c notch the rear frame? Did you cut into the bed at all?

N2TRUX- Yes the frame is C-notched. Look at the first page in this thread for pics. No, the bed will not be cut.

Cool truck. Nice progress pics too.

n2billet,

I'm glad you left the 6 banger in there, more power to you. No pun intended. I've always wanted to build a cruiser like that. Can't wait to see more pics. Keep us posted.

Keep the pics coming~~AWESOME build!!!

Glad to see another 6. What are your plans for the inline?

Didn't get a lot done today for some reason, I guess it's the thought of going back to work tomorrow that did me in :o

I painted the inner fenders, frame and core support, not what I would call super nice but good enough for what I'm trying to do. I started putting all the wires and hoses back on the firewall so I can get the motor back in the hole.

I also started bolting on the engine stuff. I don't like the way the HEI looks so I'm going to paint the cap red and add a billet cover on the vacuum and go from there. During all this I decided to start trial fitting the P/S stuff. It's a good thing, I now need to replace the Harmonic balancer because of the spacing on the p/s pulley but luck would have it that I now have a spare motor with the correct balancer so I can still move ahead. With any luck I will get my growing box of stuff that needs to be blasted and painted done before the end of the week.

Enjoy and let me know what you think....

Man! I feel somewhat inadequate to say the least! I've had my truck tore apart for years and haven't done that much work to it. Good work! It's a tried and true formula: 68 SWB + Air Ride + Big Wheels = Cool Nothing else really matters, it will only add to or take away from the cool factor.

Yeah that HEI cap does look rather large on there. Paint it red and it will blend in better. The finned side covers look cool. I can't wait to see it back together...:metal:

what kind of wheels are those? looks bad ass

what kind of wheels are those? looks bad ass

Billet Specialties Vintec's

Too bad someone doesn't make a finned plastic chromed distributor cap to match the side covers. Are you putting a finned valve cover on it also? Looks great so far though!

Great looking project!!

What is in store for the exterior? The nice stock look it already has?

Too bad someone doesn't make a finned plastic chromed distributor cap to match the side covers. Are you putting a finned valve cover on it also? Looks great so far though!

Yep, the Offy valve cover should be here today. I also have a finned oil filter cover that I'm going to modify to fit. I just hope that painting the HEI cap will help it "blend in".

Great looking project!!

What is in store for the exterior? The nice stock look it already has?

Going to leave it stock..... I like the resto look.......

those 6cyls are pretty cool. We have a 53 Belair in the shop now that has a 250 with a clifford manifold, holley 4 barrel carb, and headers with dual exhaust. Its really neat, but it kinda sounds like an airplane.:lol:

those 6cyls are pretty cool. We have a 53 Belair in the shop now that has a 250 with a clifford manifold, holley 4 barrel carb, and headers with dual exhaust. Its really neat, but it kinda sounds like an airplane.:lol:

I ran mine straight without a muffler and it sounded wicked but not sure what I'm going to do with this go around.

Going to leave it stock..... I like the resto look.......
Excellent idea :cool:

excellent post... in fact, one of the best I have seen since my short jaunt on this site.... keep it going!!!!

Man that is pretty sweet looking and a really clean truck. I cant wait till I can start working on my 67.

I'm diggin it! Looks like my truck has a bigger, badder brother! Keep up the good work. You may be lower, but I'm still faster. hehehe.

Love the stance that truck is gonna be one sweet ride. I feel the sickness coming back. My wife is gonna die when I drag home a new project. Thanks for inspiring me to get into more trouble.

I'm diggin it! Looks like my truck has a bigger, badder brother! Keep up the good work. You may be lower, but I'm still faster. hehehe.

I'm sure a VW could smoke my butt :lol:

Very nice,is that a stude-wagon in the background.

I believe its a Rambler

I believe its a Rambler

That's right, 1955 Nash Rambler.

Whats the wheel width and back spacing gonna be on the wheels you ordered? Any lip on the back?

Whats the wheel width and back spacing gonna be on the wheels you ordered? Any lip on the back?n2billet-The wheels that are going on the 68 are 20x8.5 with 5.75 BS for the front
and 20x10 with 4.75 BS for the rear. I'm getting Vintec's Deep Dish Soft Lips.

n2billet-The wheels that are going on the 68 are 20x8.5 with 5.75 BS for the front
and 20x10 with 4.75 BS for the rear. I'm getting Vintec's Deep Dish Soft Lips.


That thing is gonna be so sexy!:metal:

Great pics and a great truck - gonna be sweet when it's done.

Just for the fun of it, you should get that truck a 4 barrel intake, and a set of split exhaust manifolds to run duals :) Maybe even toss a TBI adapter on top? I hear that I6s respond very well to a 305 TBI setup!

i got the wheel sizes....what size tires you planninng on? that is the suspension set up i'm going for on my 68', i do not want to remove the inner fenders.

i got the wheel sizes....what size tires you planninng on? that is the suspension set up i'm going for on my 68', i do not want to remove the inner fenders.
You don't have to remove the wheelwells unless you're trying to plant the frame-rails.

i got the wheel sizes....what size tires you planninng on? that is the suspension set up i'm going for on my 68', i do not want to remove the inner fenders.

I'm running 255/40x20 on the front and 295/40x20 on the rear. Most people run 245/40x20 on the front but I wanted just a little more tire. The picture with the billet wheel and tire on the front is a 245/40 and the tire is against the inner fender.

First I'm not the air-bag kind!!!! But '' WOW '' thats awsome!!!!!! And is that 68prost's ride from Mo? He had one close to a couple years ago. A+ and keep it up!!

N2billet, keep us posted. Also I wanted to know how much of a drop did the air ride give you over all. Do you know. I have purchased all of the parts for my 2wd Blazer 3" spindle and 2" coil for the front. In the rear I have CPP's rear coil over kit. I hope it is low enough. I want to slightly tuck rim but I am not interested in laying frame. I am wondering if I should just start over and air bag but I had airbags on my 96 chevy extd. cab almost 10 yrs ago and did not like it. Of course I know it has come a long way now.

N2billet, keep us posted. Also I wanted to know how much of a drop did the air ride give you over all. Do you know. I have purchased all of the parts for my 2wd Blazer 3" spindle and 2" coil for the front. In the rear I have CPP's rear coil over kit. I hope it is low enough. I want to slightly tuck rim but I am not interested in laying frame. I am wondering if I should just start over and air bag but I had airbags on my 96 chevy extd. cab almost 10 yrs ago and did not like it. Of course I know it has come a long way now.

With that static drop your not going to be able to tuck the rim. I didn't measure before I started but after it's all together again I will get a final number for you and you can compare. I've had bags on all my cars in some form or fashion and they have evolved greatly in the last few years. I'm also not interested in laying frame but I'm really interested in the ride of the truck. I've had several friends with this type of setup and they swear by it.

Sweet Biuld Up Bro, Good Job........

I gotta keep my eye on this one! It looks wicked so far.

Mike

Jumped out of work a little early today so I could blast and paint some of the loose parts under the hood. This is just a start, I had to get the motor mounts shot so I could at least make an effort to get the motor back in. With any luck I will make some progress this weekend.

Man you have a GREAT place to work on your stuff! I hope to see it someday when you sell me your truck. Ha! Seriously,... I want your truck when you are tired of it. Let me know. I can't wait to see the final results of all your hard work.

Any progess on the air intake & HEI?

Any progess on the air intake & HEI?

The "intake" has gotten out of hand. I was talked into grinding it smooth before I paint it. I now have a couple hours in it and it's still not done, oh well I do love the taste of iron after a hard day of grinding :lol: