Lucy - My 1968 SWB

[tdave00]

I recently bought a 1969 SWB off of ebay by accident (that's another story). It had been sitting for about 3 months waiting for me to start work on it when I ran across a 1968 SWB on Craigslist. I had already started accumulating parts to swap the front clip on the 69 to a 68, so after considering the work the 69 would need just to get it to the point that the 68 was in I decided to go ahead and buy the 68. I have got the 69 up for sale on Craigslist now.

It turned out the guy who had the 68 was a board member here so that was cool.

Here's a few pictures the guy sent me before I went to take a look at it.

[tdave00]

Getting ready to haul her home.




They towbar worked great - 75-80 mph all the way home.

The proud new owner at the wheel.

[tdave00]

Well, I am always referring to the truck as "she", or the "old girl" so I thought I would give her a name. My grandmother passed in 1999, and she was, and still is, a major influence in my life. So, I figured that "Lucy" would fit her, and that's what I'll call her from here on out. However, I don't think this truck is gonna "cook" as good as she did!

The truck is a Custom 1968 short wheel base. It supposedly has the original motor and tranny (verified). The motor is a 307. The tranny is a 2 speed powerglide and I am gonna leave that in there for the time being as I don't have any road trips planned.

Here's a couple of pictures since I have pulled it in the garage.




I had a few minutes after work tonight so I pulled the hood off. We're gonna clean the garage tomorrow and get rolling taking the body off.

The plan right now is to take it down to the frame. I want to clean up the frame and get it painted. She'll be getting drop spindles, front disks, c-notch, power steering, bags, and a relocated fuel tank. I might have missed something but you get the idea.

We are gonna repair the rust and dents, put in a new wood bed, spray a little primer in a few places, put on new lower trim, get her some new shoes and hit the road. I want to get her back on the road this fall so I can enjoy driving her a little this year. This winter we might get more in depth, but that's the plan for now. I am gonna try and stick to it - SIMPLE.

AND, OH YEAH, SHE'LL BE GETTING THE SHOP TRUCK TREATMENT ON BOTH DOORS .

[tdave00]

I finally got to work on the truck a little today. I got the front clip off the truck. The only real rust was in the core support under the battery, and I think that can be fixed. The inner fenders were in good shape. The drivers side inner fender has a few dents in it, but I think those will pop out. I guess I am gonna start taking the bed off next. I have decided to leave the cab on for this go round. I should be able to get under there and clean up the frame and paint it, plus do any rust repair to the cab.

Hopefully I'll get a battery for my camera soon so I won't have to keep posting these crappy cell pics, but I guess it's better than nothing.

[tdave00]

I stopped by the garage tonight and got a little work done.

Keep in mind from the beginning of this thread to this point is over a 3 week period. I am not that fast .

None of the wood, bed strips or bolts holding them in are worth saving so I got out the trusty sawzall and starting cutting the bolts off. It went pretty quick. Maybe tomorrow I can get the bed off the frame if I get enough help.

[68 short step]

nice, gotta love that style

[Riveted1]

Man your kid looks like he's lovin it! Big ol' SEG on his face! LOL

Keep us posted!

[thirdstreettito]

Nice starting project! Good luck!

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Looking good keep up the good work..

[tdave00]

Thanks for the "Thumbs up" guys.

Originally Posted by Riveted1

Man your kid looks like he's lovin it! Big ol' SEG on his face! LOL

Keep us posted!

Yeah, he does love it. I think it's gonna break his heart when I sell the 69 SWB. He want's to keep both of them.

[72BlckButy]

Great looking project, good luck and keep us posted!!!

[tdave00]

Gonna be ordering some drop spindles, c-notch, and a couple more airbags this week. A guy from our local board gave me spindles, rotors and calipers a few months ago. Hopefully by this weekend I will get started cleaning up the frame and ready for paint.

I'll post some pics of the parts as they come in. I am just about 30 minutes from Southern Kentucky Classics, so that's nice.

About a week or so before I found this truck I was at pull-a-part and pulled a drivers side fender and hood off a 68 for $35 a piece. Who would have known that fender would have come in handy so quick. With both of them having no rust I just couldn't resist.

[big_al_71]

That's cool having the little one there with you!!!!
The one I am building is for my little one and he is not even born yet wife is due on sept 13 08)

Good luck!!!!!

[tdave00]

Originally Posted by big_al_71

That's cool having the little one there with you!!!!
The one I am building is for my little one and he is not even born yet wife is due on sept 13 08)

Good luck!!!!!

Congrats on the upcoming baby. My boy just loves these trucks. I didn't have to try and get him interested in them. It just comes natural. I think alot of it is they see us doing things and wanna be like us. So a little word of warning: WATCH WHAT YOU DO AND SAY IN FRONT OF THEM because they don't miss a thing.

[thelonerife]

Good start Trai. i like the wood beds too.

[Hart_Rod]

Cool truck! Glad you got the little one involved, . What towbar did you use and how did you hook it up? Thanks,

[tdave00]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

Cool truck! Glad you got the little one involved, . What towbar did you use and how did you hook it up? Thanks,

PM 5150 I borrowed his. I took the front bumper off and bolted it to the frame rails. Really simple. I slightly bent the front of one of my frame rails (no biggie) backing it up though. Make sure someone is in the truck turning the wheel if you have to turn sharp backing it up . I may have bent a tie rod too. Not sure if it was already that way or if I did it.

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by tdave00

PM 5150 I borrowed his. I took the front bumper off and bolted it to the frame rails. Really simple. I slightly bent the front of one of my frame rails (no biggie) backing it up though. Make sure someone is in the truck turning the wheel if you have to turn sharp backing it up . I may have bent a tie rod too. Not sure if it was already that way or if I did it.

Thanks, I thought it looked familiar, . I'm trying to build one so I don't have to keep renting tow dolleys.

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by tdave00

PM 5150 I borrowed his. I took the front bumper off and bolted it to the frame rails. Really simple. I slightly bent the front of one of my frame rails (no biggie) backing it up though. Make sure someone is in the truck turning the wheel if you have to turn sharp backing it up . I may have bent a tie rod too. Not sure if it was already that way or if I did it.

Thanks, I thought it looked familiar, . I'm trying to build one so I don't have to keep renting tow dolleys.

[tdave00]

I got some time to head over to the garage tonight and do some work. I had planned on just getting a few bolts cut out that were holding the bed on and cutting some exhaust hangers off, but we got a little further than that. My 18 year old cousin and his buddy got a little gung ho and picked the bed up and moved it off the truck. That was fine with me because I thought I was gonna have to bring like 3 of the guys that worked for us over tomorrow to take it off.

[LuckyHenriksen]

Looks sweet man

[tdave00]

Originally Posted by LuckyHenriksen

Looks sweet man

Thanks.

I am gonna try to pull it out of the garage this week and get the frame pressure washed. How do most of you guys go about cleaning the frame? I planned on buying some degreaser, oven cleaner and pressure washing it a couple of times then taking a wire wheel to it.

[chevy_mike]

Originally Posted by tdave00

Thanks.

I am gonna try to pull it out of the garage this week and get the frame pressure washed. How do most of you guys go about cleaning the frame? I planned on buying some degreaser, oven cleaner and pressure washing it a couple of times then taking a wire wheel to it.

Yep, you're on the right track. Unless you take it somewhere to be blasted, it's basically a PITA Let the oven cleaner sit a while. If you can get the frame in the sun, heat helps the oven cleaner work better. Make sure you use eye protection when you pressure wash it all off. Don't want any splash back into your eyes.

[Hart_Rod]

Concrete cleaner works pretty well also.....

[tdave00]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

Concrete cleaner works pretty well also.....

Thanks for the heads up on that. I "might" be able to find some since I am in the concrete business . Do you know any specifics about what type of cleaner? You are not talking about hydrochloric acid mixed with water are you?