The Brown Turd
 

My dad and I picked up this truck about 3 1/2 years ago from a guy he used to work with. He used it as a daily driver. He inherited it from he dad after he passed away in Washington. The rust is not bad for being in such a wet place. So, I'm not sure but, I think it has had at least 1-3 previous owners. For the most part is pretty original, other than the (turd colored) paint over the original paint and that the engine and tranny are out of an 85 or 86. The original plan was to get it running and be driving it once I got my license.

1970 custom/20
- 350 Chevy small block
- th350
- np205
- Eaton Ho52 (4.10)
- Dana 44 5-f
- stock height
- factory cab lights
- power steering
- power breaks

Re: The Brown Turd
 

Plan of Attack
- breaks
- change all oils/lubricants
- get the engine running smoothly
- electrical
- body work
- primer
- paint
- interior

Re: The Brown Turd
 

The first thing we did was to replace all break pads, calipers, fluids, ect. We went with braided steel lines on the front breaks. Before you could push the pedal all the way in and it wouldn't stop. Scary to think it was this guys DD. Next, we replaced all plugs and wires after putting in a new HEI. We had to put in a new water pump and replaced the hoses after it blew up. My grandpa helped install a new Holley 600 cfm carb. Once tuned up a little it was running very well. A compression test showed about 150 psi in each cylinder, pretty good for an old engine with unknown miles.

Re: The Brown Turd
 

I went and cleaned up some of the wiring in the engine bay and painted the inner wheel wells while I had them out. A lot of the wires were eaten up or twisted together. There was a rats nest of wires where they shaved some coating off and twisted on wires to go to an old camper that used to be on there. I just cut it and used some shrink tube wire crimps to reconnect them. Now my break lights and turn signals work. Some fresh wires and tubing to put it in makes a big difference in looks. I'll have to save up for a new battery next.

Re: The Brown Turd
 

Once I finally got it up to the shop at my grandparents I stared tear down. I took the grill home for some polish and paint.

Before

Re: The Brown Turd
 

After

Re: The Brown Turd
 

Looks good. Nice truck to start with. Nothing like polishing up a good old turd.

Re: The Brown Turd
 

I sure hope it will polish up nice. I would like to paint it back to the original color, dark bronze. I believe it was only available in 70 on these trucks. Here is a picture of the inside of the cab with the dark bronze. It is lighter when it gets in the sun.

Re: The Brown Turd
 

Currently the truck is apart and I am working on the bed. I started by filling the holes for the old camper hold downs.

Re: The Brown Turd
 

After sanding off the turd paint I found out that lower front portion of the passenger side of the bed had about 3/16 thick bondo. It was pretty stretched and dented metal

Re: The Brown Turd
 

on the bright side the hood had only one small dent. I filled if with body filler because the hood brace is under the dent and I cant get my dolly in there.

Re: The Brown Turd
 

Here is a picture of the dark bronze in the light

Re: The Brown Turd
 

Just kidding here it is

Re: The Brown Turd
 

Nice color the bronze, a lot better than a turd brown or as my wife would say mocha! :lol:

Re: The Brown Turd
 

:agree:

Re: The Brown Turd
 

my favorite color from this vintage! pair that and a white cab and youll have a sweet ride

Re: The Brown Turd
 

^^^what he said, white roof and paint it the original bronze. My great uncle had one in that color back in the 70s, I wish we still had it. Keep up on the build and don't go to fast, you will be burned out fast

Re: The Brown Turd
 

That is an excellent color.

Re: The Brown Turd
 

Thanks guys. I really like the bronze color, but I have never seen another dark bronze truck. It seems like they are all medium bronze and white. That is one good thing about the Reno area, there are a lot of these trucks still on the road, or parked somewhere. It makes it easy to picture my finished product.

Re: The Brown Turd
 

Nice looking truck! :metal:

Re: The Brown Turd
 

Now that I think about it my friend Russ had a 1972 Longhorn dark bronze color

Re: The Brown Turd
 

Any updates?

Re: The Brown Turd
 

I'm kinda partial to bronze. Good choice.

Chris

Re: The Brown Turd
 

A while back I took apart the seat, sanded and painted the frame, and repaired a broken spring. I used some thin string to secure some canvas over the springs. In the second pic I cut out a bad spot on the drivers side and put in a new section. We'll see how it works. I'll need to do some shaping. The foam is a little stiff, but should soften up after a while. All I need is a seat cover to complete the seat.

Re: The Brown Turd
 

Recently I have changed all of the oils and lubes while tracking down leaks at the same time. I found the tranny is leaking from the accumulator cover and the dip stick. New tranny seal and rear seal on the differential seemed to stop most of the leaks.

I ran it through all of the gears and the 4x4 works well. It sure sounds good with the new exhaust.

Re: The Brown Turd
 

Cool project!

Re: The Brown Turd
 

A few weeks ago I began to assemble my seats right after the upholstery came in the mail.

Re: The Brown Turd
 

finished

Re: The Brown Turd
 

Looks great, I'd plant my butt on that cushy bench seat! :lol:

Re: The Brown Turd
 

Ya did good!

Re: The Brown Turd
 

Sweet seat! Nice work.

Chris

Re: The Brown Turd
 

Hopefully this hasn't been answered already, but where did you get the new cover for the seat?

Re: The Brown Turd
 

They were ordered from CarandTruckUpoulstery.com I asked for a different color than offered for 67-72 and they sent it but, there is a no return policy for "custom colors" as they called it. They fit well, a little batting helped fill out the cover since the old foam was a little saggy.

Re: The Brown Turd
 

Nice truck! Looks like you are doing a great job on the projects you've tackled so far.

Re: The Brown Turd
 

Over the weekend I finished putting up my paint booth and installed some fans for intake and exhaust. Getting closer to paint!

Re: The Brown Turd
 

I have found in the past making spray booth out of visqueen works well you just want to pull air out of it and install filter fabric or screen at the bottom about 1' off the floor for air to come in at opposite sides. make sure the floor is clean or dust will get in the paint.

Re: The Brown Turd
 

here are the belts I got from seatbealtpalnet.com

Re: The Brown Turd
 

I finished up the body work and got it in some primer. Blocked with 400 and wet sanded with 600.

Re: The Brown Turd
 

This afternoon I finished painting the 3rd coat of clear. Not perfectly smooth but I think a cut and buff will make it real purdy.

Re: The Brown Turd
 

Not too bad for my first paint job ever. There are only a few imperfections in the base, but it is good enough for me. I was pretty difficult at first till I figured out how to correctly adjust the gun.
Anyway, I'll be proud that I can tell every one I did it all myself.
I am glad it turned out pretty decent, thanks to everyone's help in the paint and body section and everywhere else.