Hey all,

Time for an update. I guess I should put this all together as one thread instead of starting a new one each time.

Anyway, here are some pics from Monday night. Firewall and dash are supposed to get paint today. I am gonna go get pics tomorrow.

Notice the shaved drip rail, smoothed a pillars, dash, and firewall. Plan is to add a billet oval a/c center vent, billet a/c controls, and a radio. Hope to have cab on frame by end of January.

Enjoy!

234301

234302

234303

234304

234305

Here's a few more

Also smoothed out the door window frames, and took out the indention where the vent window goes. We are installing the Brother's one peice kit.

234315

234316

234317

234318

234319

I've seen radio deletes but an entire dash!!! nice work...

Look Ma, no holes!!!!!!


Nice job.

Very Nice!! The more I see it the more I like the all smooth center dash.

Looking nice... I'm interested in how your 1-piece side window install goes - I'm waiting for my set from Brothers right now (backordered.) Looks like you're using original door shells which are supposed to be easier than repops, so my install may be more troublesome.

I am planning on taking the indentation out also, did you weld a filler piece in?

That's some fine work there, how did the drip rail shave go? You do that yourself? I've heard on here it can be a real tricky deal to shave the drip rail.I'm considering doing that on my next truck-if it's not too difficut.

I am planning on taking the indentation out also, did you weld a filler piece in?


My body man cut and welded the outer indention (outer skin side) and put the fiberglass filler on the inner one.

That's some fine work there, how did the drip rail shave go? You do that yourself? I've heard on here it can be a real tricky deal to shave the drip rail.I'm considering doing that on my next truck-if it's not too difficut.

My body man (Bobbie) is a friend of my father-in-law. He came up with the plan, and I helped. It went really well. I have a Classic Truck or Custom Classic Truck article where the did it, but it was very complex and extensive.

We took a more straight forward approach, and it paid off big time. First I took a cut off wheel and slowly worked my way around both door opening rails, then along the front windshield rail. I cut just along the body seam, that way the multiple panels that come together behind the drip rail did not come loose. As I cut off the rails, Bobbie spot welded it back together. He spaced the welds far enough apart to avoid warp. He then worked his way back and forth untill it was completly welded back together. A little metal work just a touch of filler cleaned up the upper door openings. A little (kitty hair) fiberglass filler smoothed out the front. This isn't some cheap filler, it is some kind of heavy duty stuff that sets up extremely solid.

Let me see if I can dig up a few pics of the process.

Here are a few pics of the shaved drip rail process.

Now I wish I had taken a few more pics.

But I hope these help.


234356

234357

234358

234359

234360

A few more

234361

234362

234363

234364

234365

One more set

234366

234367

234368

234369

Gonna look trick when your all done with her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is looking real nice. One question, where is the key bezel going?

That is looking real nice. One question, where is the key bezel going?

I am not using the original key cylinder and bezel.
Still trying to make a final decision, but I am prob gonna put along the bottom edge of the dash where you won't really notice it.

I have a EZ wire harness, and it came with a universal type ign switch with a small button head.

I also considered a hidden key switch to turn it on, and then maybe use a push button start.

That's what I've been thinking about doing. I'm going to leave the original bezel with some dummy wires hooked up to it just incase someone tries to hotwire it. They will keep messing with those wires and eventually get tired and leave.

My body man (Bobbie) is a friend of my father-in-law. He came up with the plan, and I helped. It went really well. I have a Classic Truck or Custom Classic Truck article where the did it, but it was very complex and extensive.

We took a more straight forward approach, and it paid off big time. First I took a cut off wheel and slowly worked my way around both door opening rails, then along the front windshield rail. I cut just along the body seam, that way the multiple panels that come together behind the drip rail did not come loose. As I cut off the rails, Bobbie spot welded it back together. He spaced the welds far enough apart to avoid warp. He then worked his way back and forth untill it was completly welded back together. A little metal work just a touch of filler cleaned up the upper door openings. A little (kitty hair) fiberglass filler smoothed out the front. This isn't some cheap filler, it is some kind of heavy duty stuff that sets up extremely solid.

Let me see if I can dig up a few pics of the process.

I'd love to be able to do that to my truck since it's now apart, I just don't think I have the skills to do it.

I filled the center of the dash on my 68 and used one of the vintage air polished billet retro looking ac control panels in the space along with phipps billet ac vents, a double in the middle and a single on each end of the dash.all three oval styles. wish I had pics
Turned out pretty good.

Ok everyone, here she is with some color!!!!!!!!!!

Finally!!

Let me know what you think.

234555

234556

234557

234558

234559

A few more.

234560

234561

234562

I am just curious, if you had to do anything special with the pitting around the windshield frame to insure the rust not re-accuring ??? I had about the same situation and I wire brushed the he** out of it and used the Phosphouric acid treatment to kill the rust that I couldn't brush out, then sealed with Rust Bullet.
I was jst wondering how you handled yours.
I have a 2 inch long section of the back window frame that rusted gone at the passenger lower corner that I need to weld in new metal, but for the most part the rest is in good shape.

I am just curious, if you had to do anything special with the pitting around the windshield frame to insure the rust not re-accuring ??? I had about the same situation and I wire brushed the he** out of it and used the Phosphouric acid treatment to kill the rust that I couldn't brush out, then sealed with Rust Bullet.
I was jst wondering how you handled yours.
I have a 2 inch long section of the back window frame that rusted gone at the passenger lower corner that I need to weld in new metal, but for the most part the rest is in good shape.

I would have to ask my body man the name of the stuff we used.
We used a acid wash on the bare metal to remove oxidation and neutralize and tiny rust particles, then he sprayed on a black sealer/primer.

That color rocks. Nice job on the dash too.

That is a nice color. What is it? Looks like the color on my '68 which is a newer Chrysler color.

I beleive it is GM Arrival Blue.

I will find out the code.

It is GM Arrival Blue I believe.

Ok, here are the latest progress pics from today.

Plan is to get the rolling chassis to body man's house this Sat.

Hope to have cab and front clip (new fenders,and 2" cowl hood) on in the next couple of weeks.


237011

237012

237013

237014

237015

Here's the rest.

237016

237017

237018

237019

237025

Note the shaved cowl, shaved drip rail, shaved handles, also the smoothed door jambs.

Lookin' REAL sharp!!!!

Finallllllllllllllllllly got to take the rolling chassis to meet the cab.

We are gonna paint the trans, finish installing the trans linkage, and brake hoses, and then put the cab on.

New front fenders, 2" cowl hood, and inner fenders on the way!

Also got the factory 72 tilt column rebuilt and ready for paint.

Hope to have cab and front clip on the frame within the next 3 weeks!!



238498

238499

how did you shave the dash center. i assume just cut out and weld in new peice. I would like to do that to mine...

Dude! that's gonna be one sharp truck. Love that paint color.

Why the shaved cowl? Is this a show trucks...no need for leaves and crap clogging your kick panel vents?

If my truck is sitting under construction for a while I occasionally have a leaf shoot out at me while going down the road...lol

how did you shave the dash center. i assume just cut out and weld in new peice. I would like to do that to mine...

Yes, my bodyman cut out the center section and welded in a filler

Here is a pic of the cut out part.

238527

Why the shaved cowl? Is this a show trucks...no need for leaves and crap clogging your kick panel vents?

Just about every part of the outside is gonna be slick, smooth, or shaved.
Therefore the cowl vents had to go. I kept the wiper arm mounts just incase I ever get caught in the rain.

Ok,

After seeing how nice the rest of the truck is turning out, the "ok" paint on the frame wasn't up to par. So off came everything but the motor and trans. Plan is to get fresh coat of Gloss Black on frame Saturday, hope to have 4/6 drop kit, panhard bar, all new ball joints, and all new brakes (except rotors) installed by Sunday.

I will post more pics this weekend. Hope to install stainless Maganaflow exhaust kit by end of next weekend. Also included a couple pics of the new Cowl hood from LMC.

242584

242585

242586

242587

242588

Fresh coat of Chassis Saver in gloss black went on today. Turned out pretty nice. Funny thing is spraying it on just didn't work well, so we ended up painting it on with brushes, and it leveled out surprisingly well. New brakes, ball joints, and ECE 4/6 drop should be on by next weekend. Also should have full stainless magnaflow exhaust on the way very soon. First pic is before, kinda hard to see, but the finish is ok but dull. Also still had some surface rust in the nooks and crannys.

242940

242941

242942

242943

242944

The long, long awaited sheet metal fitting. I finally have something that looks like a truck.

246340

246341

246342

246343

246344

Is that a dent on the front of your new hood? the truck is looking good! Can't wait until I am at that stage.

I like you body guy has good attention to detail. Keep us posted.

Is that a dent on the front of your new hood? the truck is looking good! Can't wait until I am at that stage.

Yeah, little ding from shipping

Been a few weeks since I got to work on the 68.

Today I blacked out under the dash with a rattle can, just to even it out. I hate to look under the dash of a nice ride and see splotches of different colors.

Also got the sound deadener/heat insulation put in today. It is call Fat Mat. (Fatmat.com) My bodyman has used it in the past and was very happy with it. I works like Dynamat but costs less.

Here are a few pics.

253016

253017

253018

Thats coming along nice. It will looked good parked beside that 06 chevy, but then then wifes car might have to sit outside :lol:

Looking great, i love the shaved looks and the arival blue.:metal:


any updates?

yea, anymore progress??

this is gonna be one sweet ride !!!!!!!!

Say Bp,..
Wonderful documentation of the build up... from the recent posts to the weekly waits,...
But for the not so enlightened- good buddy bodyman/friend, would you mind hinting at a rough $$ amount ( the shaving costs). it's real easy to get caught up in the many stories of different builds going on this forum at any one time.. but man ;let us feel your pain....
if not that's ok too.
-41-

That truck has the best fitting doors I've seen. The drip rails are something GM should have gotten rid of a long time ago. There would be a bunch of rust free cabs today. Really nice lookin' truck.

Say Bp,..
Wonderful documentation of the build up... from the recent posts to the weekly waits,...
But for the not so enlightened- good buddy bodyman/friend, would you mind hinting at a rough $$ amount ( the shaving costs). it's real easy to get caught up in the many stories of different builds going on this forum at any one time.. but man ;let us feel your pain....
if not that's ok too.
-41-

I will try to post a few new pics tomorrow. The weekly waits are hard for me also. The main reasons for the delays between posts is working my day job one Sat a month and Bobby (my bodyman) is a few weeks away from finishing a 55 Chevy truck that was also a frame off. I will get some pics of it posted as well. Once it is done, mine is on the top of the list. Now if money doesn't run out, we should really see some nice progress. Last weekend we got the fuse block mounted under the dash, and the wiring separated and taped up. Next is connecting all the ends, getting a final alignment of the front sheet metal, and saving up for the 800.00 No Limit guage cluster with Autometer carbon fiber guages.

I will have to ask Bobby what he would charge the average person to do the shaved rail. I am getting kinda of a inside deal, he has known my father in law for a long time, I have helped with the grunt work like cutting out rust and doing a lot of grinding and cleaning, and he actually had me cut the rail off. He just showed me where to cut. But the cab body work including front floors, rockers, cab corners, two floor supports, shaved drip rail, shaved dash, shaved firewall, and intial priming along with the materials ran me around 1,700.00 plus the cost of the patch panels.

I have done little steps at a time over 5 years, and now I should have enough to finish her up. Most of the money has been spent over the last year, but I figure I have around 12,000.00 invested so far. That includes the first truck and all parts, labor, and materials. I hope to be finished at around 15,000, but wheels and tires, and stuff like the a/c may push me closer to 20,000.

Funny thing is, 5 years ago I said, I'll find a decent truck, fix it up a little, paint it and be cruising for around 5,000. hahahaha
2 trucks, a doner frame, a growing list of body mods, and hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars later and here I am. But I am still sure it will all be worth it in the end.

Keep the faith and don't give up guys and gals! ><>

Ok, the 55 my body man was working on is all but done. One other quick project, and my truck is on the top of the list. He says we should have a nearly finished project come November.

I will be posting updated pics. In the mean time, here are some pics of the 55.

287617

287618

287619

287620

287621

And a few more

287622

287623

287624

287625

287626

man your truck looks great. did you cut the drip rail off all at one time, or in sections.?

man your truck looks great. did you cut the drip rail off all at one time, or in sections.?

The side rails came off first (one piece each) then each side got tacked back together. Then the front rail came off in pretty much one long section also tacked as we went. Final fill welds on ever seam, spaced out to minimize warpage. Went a lot smoother than expected.

What ever happened with this truck???

:agree:

Sorry all. I am still waiting on the bodyman to finish up the front clip alignment and final paint.

I know one thing. I really need to learn more skills. I hate having to wait on someone else to do stuff. I am not scared to try, but right now I don't really have room. I hope to get a bigger house and lot in the next couple years. I really want to work on welding and minor body work.

Anyway. See my signature line for a link to my offical build thread. I a new thread in the Project and Builds sub forum. All future updates will be there. Keep the comments comming. We all love input.