69 Manburban Build "Old Yeller"
 

I bought this 69 Burb as my daily driver. I purchased it from a man that bought it brand new in 1968. He used it to haul and push off his top fuel altered drag car. The push bumper is pictured. He drove the truck frequently until his eye sight started going bad last year. The truck is originally from California. I soon found out that the left side freeze plug was rusted out and water poured out the bottom faster than I could pour it in the top. I then decided that I was going to have to get a new motor. The search began. I work as a full time firefighter here locally. I have 3 kids age 4, 2, and 1. Money is tight. VERY TIGHT!!! I found a good small block to purchase. I started to disassemble the front clip of the truck only to find out that it was basically falling off to begin with. His eye sight had apparently been going bad for some time as he had wrecked the truck NUMEROUS times. But it is mine now and I am in love. This is my build thread. It will be slow going, low budget, but fun. I hope you enjoy it.

Re: 69 Manburban Build "Old Yeller"
 

This is the push bumper. I will post pictures of the drag car when I get them scanned in.

Re: 69 Manburban Build "Old Yeller"
 

I ran the numbers on the engine in the truck and found out that it was not the original. It was out of a 74 Camaro. So here it is being pulled. With the TH350 attached.

Re: 69 Manburban Build "Old Yeller"
 

That is my Dad in the picture. My best friend and partner in crime on this project.

Re: 69 Manburban Build "Old Yeller"
 

your very lucky to have a dad like that cherish every moment,take my word for it

Re: 69 Manburban Build "Old Yeller"
 

I agree completely. I almost lost him 3 years ago to cancer but all is well now. And we are doing better than ever.

Re: 69 Manburban Build "Old Yeller"
 

This is the core support. It is actually atleast 3 pieces, if not five.

Re: 69 Manburban Build "Old Yeller"
 

So what are your plans for it?

Re: 69 Manburban Build "Old Yeller"
 

I would like to build it into a good everyday driver that I can have some fun with. I will just do a little bit at a time on my days off and drive it in the mean time. I had the intentions of starting with rockers and the floor. But needless to say the engine set back caused me to start there. So I am going from front to rear now. My ideal plan is to be able to take my entire family including the old man to cruise-ins and rod runs in this region. While riding in comfort and style.

Re: 69 Manburban Build "Old Yeller"
 

Sounds like a good plan! Thanks for letting us follow along!

Re: 69 Manburban Build "Old Yeller"
 

I will be happy if it looks half as good as yours!!

Re: 69 Manburban Build "Old Yeller"
 

Looks like a clean start. Not cool about core suport. What shape is the rest of the front clip?

Re: 69 Manburban Build "Old Yeller"
 

The rest of the front clip is not much better than the core support. Like I said before....I think his eye sight was going bad for a while before he wanted to admit it. He had pretty much bent up every panel on the front end. And then just poured them full of bondo. I am probably going to go back with a 67-68 front clip since most everything has to be purchased already.

Re: 69 Manburban Build "Old Yeller"
 

Here is the front cowl. He cut both sides to make room for speakers and you can see the usual rotten spot in the bottom of the cowl. Very poor design by GM!!!

Re: 69 Manburban Build "Old Yeller"
 

..

Re: 69 Manburban Build "Old Yeller"
 

Looks like a good burb to start with. Cool project
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: 69 Manburban Build "Old Yeller"
 

Thank you.

Re: 69 Manburban Build "Old Yeller"
 

Nice burn. Looks like he also updated the brakes. 5 lug wasn't factory until 71. Disc brakes are a good upgrade.
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: 69 Manburban Build "Old Yeller"
 

Yeah I am thankful for that upgrade. It saves me from having to do it down the road.

Re: 69 Manburban Build "Old Yeller"
 

I meant nice burb. Stupid auto correct.
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: 69 Manburban Build "Old Yeller"
 

I figured that was what you meant. I wasn't going to burn you on it to bad. lol

Re: 69 Manburban Build "Old Yeller"
 

I'll be following this one as you go! My '67 is in need of alot of the same help. But since mine is a Daily Driver, it will be a seriously slow project. I have a very tired 292 I6 in mine. I alredy have the 350 I plan to put in it, but that is filling the engine bay of my fiance's '69 Nova Daily Driver right now. The plan is to rebuild the #'s matching 307 for her car and get my 350 back to warm up a bit before I drop it in the Burb. And Summit Racing has a nice selection of manual trannies to replace the SM420 in there now. (I like rowing gears!)

Good job, so far!

Re: 69 Manburban Build "Old Yeller"
 

Thanks for the compliment. Sounds like you have a pretty good plan for yours as well. You should make a build thread so we can compare notes.