so here goes a continuation of a build that Ctrow (Chris) started. The original thread can be seen here:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=366351
I have kept up with Ctrow’s work, and used his build for some ideas for mine. I have a 69 C10 SWB that I have owned for the past 18 years. I am retired Army, working as a contractor for the Army, and while I was stationed in Afghanistan, I saw that Chris was selling his project. I contacted him via email and telephone, discussing the pending sell, and decided to pull the trigger on it for myself.
Well, long story short, a buddy of mine, who is a contractor, stationed with me in Afghanistan, decided he had more money than me, and wanted the truck. He is not very automotive project inclined, so asked me to pick up the truck, build it for him, and have it ready for him when he returns. I only had about 2 months left on my tour, and he signed up for another year tour, so I decided to tackle the project for him.
One of my biggest pet peeves at car shows is people picking apart my truck. I have a 1966 El Camino, that is very wicked. LS2, 6 speed, vintage air, air ride tubular suspension with shock waves, ride pro e2 system, banging stereo, leather interior and paint to die for. The purist guys hate that we modified the one owner truck, and the hot rod guys hate that we built an El Camino. I have Long Hauled the Power Tour, been to Texas Heat Wave in Austin, and participated in many car shows with the El Camino.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1543717201
I am an ordained minister, and try an look at the positive on everything, and have taken to telling everyone “enjoy the car show”. So, with that said, that is where the title for this build came from.
Upon arriving back home to Fort Hood, Texas area, I contacted Chris again, and scheduled a date that I could come look at the truck to Ada Oklahoma. With a plan made up, my daughter and I traveled from Central Texas to Ada to look at the truck. Upon arriving in Ada, we found out that one of the local restaurants in town was sponsoring a cruise in night, and my daughter and I enjoyed that. Wonderful cars, trucks and people dressed in 40’s and 50’s clothing, really neat cars and trucks. Unfortunately, my camera battery was dead, so no pics there.
Got up early Saturday morning, met Chris and his Dad at the bank, paid him the asking price, no questions asked, sight unseen on the truck. Took a big leap of faith on that one. But, in all fairness, he did keep the truck from selling for over two months, holding it for me to return from overseas. Went by the U Haul place, got a car hauler trailer, and went to Chris’s dad’s house.
As I said, I had been following the build on the forum, so I was not too surprised by the condition of the project. Chris’s Dad’s shop is amazing, has a post style lift, separate clean and dirty working area, decorated with all manner of vintage cool signs. After inventorying all the stuff that Chris has that went with the project, we got all the stuff loaded up, secured, and headed out on the road back to the great state of Texas.
Very uneventful return trip. Has to stop twice for gas, food, and check all the straps holding everything down. Not too bad, my 2000 Z71 got 18 mpg on the way there, and 12 to 13 on the return trip. Considering the weight of the Z71, trailer, the 68 and all the parts that went with it, I count my blessings for that kind of mileage. The only bad part of the trip was the traffic from Ft Worth to Hillsboro Texas. Bumper to bumper traffic for over 2 hours, going only about 50 miles. But what do you expect for a Saturday afternoon?
After we got back to my home shop, I realized that I was going to need a shop like Chris’s Dad. We can all dream right? My shop is a lot bigger than most, being 24 by 36 with 16 foot ceilings, but it still has a dirt floor covered by expanded metal grating with canvas tarps over that. Someday, I’ll get the concrete put in……
After Church on Sunday, I invited my friend Jason over, he owns a body and paint shop in town. We did a thorough inspection of the body, only finding a few areas that we going to be addressed in this build.
Brad, the guy that I am building the truck for is a member of the forum also, so this is to document that work that I am doing for him, as well as everyone.
Brad’s plans are pretty ambitious, but obtainable, I think. I am completely disassembling the truck, changing from leaf spring rear to trailing arms, using a 67/68 rear diff, 13” front brakes, 12” rear brakes, LS3 eROD crate engine, 4L80e trans, gear vendor over drive unit, vintage air, shaved and smoothed body, forward tilt hood, one piece windows, modern interior, stereo, big wheels and tires, a paint that will look stock-ish.
So, I got started on the teardown and build up. removed front sheetmetal, bed, and cab, left with only a frame.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1543717613
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1543717613
Around this time in the build, Brad lost his job as a Contractor for the Army, and asked me if I wanted to buy the truck from him. Resoundingly YES I said. So now this is my truck to build in the way I always wanted.