Just bought this '67 lwb - sat on a farm most of it's life.

[Shelby0099]

Hi Everyone,

I am new to this board and just wanted to show this '67 lwb I just got today. It was a Lafferty Chevrolet pickup that apparently had been sitting on a farm in PA for most of its life with low mileage. It looks very rough but it runs very good, 283 automatic. I am planning on trying to make this a semi-low-budget daily driver.

[GTSideSwipe]

Welcome to the board! Looks like a great grab.

[kilrcady]

love it

[frenchy51]

Nice patina. Good find!

[Dustmaker65]

Welcome! You have found the best place on this planet for info on these trucks.

Good luck with your project, and don't forget to add LOTS of pics!

[midniteblues]

looks like a good start.
doesnt look like alot of pa. hacking on that one.

[joeydurango]

Nice truck! But I hope your definition of "semi-low-budget" is realistic... These things can be money pits!

[hugger6933]

Welcome to you and we await your question and will try our best to answer them for you. Jim

[68 CRACKERBOX]

welcome a board, nice find.

[Shelby0099]

Thank you guys! That's what I like about this board, seems to be a lot of friendly enthusiasm..

Yes, Semi-low-budget...let's try to define that. I'll just ramble off some thoughts and see if I'm in the ballpark. I was going to just get an SSBC etc disc brake conversion but I may simply try to use parts from other newer trucks to make the conversion. I was surprised at how well the 283 ran. Supposedly it only has 9,000 miles but who really knows? I'm thinking/hoping I wont have to do a rebuild on the motor, maybe just an intake and carb swap.
-- I might find intake and carb used for maybe the $400 range in total.

The transmission, I don't know yet. Hopefully that won't need much either. The fluid is bright red clean, doesn't seem to have had much usage.
-- best case, just fluids $30?

The rear-end could probably be the same, just change fluid and let it spin.
-- best case, just fluids $30?

The suspension, I would probably just re-build. I like the idea of a nice lift with big tires, but I can put that off for down the road and just keep the stock ride height. Or I might see about a flip kit and front A-arms and drop it lower.
-- going with a lift would be most expensive, probably costing significantly more than what I paid for the truck. Lowering it would be a less expensive maybe the $1500 mark. And just rebuilding everything stock would just be bushings, joints etc....I'd budget maybe $500 and then I might get a decent price on stock tires maybe $300-$400?

The frame looks pretty damn solid, I could employ some old school low cost tips in cleaning it up and painting it.

The cab is what needs the most work. Panels are cheap and I'm not a bad welder. I had been planning a plasma cutter and TIG welder purchase...I might take a closer look at the Eastwood package of MIG and Plasma and then get TIG later.

I'd put the gas tank in the rear, so I'd need that kit which is I think around $250. Need all new brake and gas lines, gotta check price on that.

Interior...new door handles, window cranks, dashpad. Not sure if I want to keep the bench seat or go with buckets. I'd have more flexibility if I went with buckets and could get any seat combination from a junk yard. I like the stock steering wheel, but if other classic wheels are at a swap meet someplace maybe that's not too expensive. The guy I bought it from threw in a power steering pump, so I'd need the bracketry and a new steering box.

I'd rewire the entire thing. I like American Autowire as I've used them before.

For the body, I do like the patina look but that bed is completely different blue color. I might experiment with cheaper paint alternatives and not worry so much about the dents or just do enough to fix them but not make it perfect. Dents kind of build character. My main focus on the body is fix the gaping holes and rust areas, lower portions of the doors, rockers etc... make it clean and try to preserve some patina or make some of my own.

The biggest problems with this truck right now are the brakes and the gaping holes in the rear part of the cab. But this is much easier to fix than a Mustang...I'm 82% sure of that.

Any and all comments are welcome...Thank you

[Shelby0099]

Here are more pics from when I first looked at it before purchase. I can take some more today since it looks like it might stop raining.

[Shelby0099]

Rain has stopped! More pics:

ATTENTION: I did NOT do the red spray bomb on the hood!

How do I keep the right mix of clean and patina? My thoughts are such: the front grill molding has a dent and what might be cool is to replace with new molding, straighten dent in sheetmetal supporting it yet keep the patina intact for the paint.

For the red paint on hood, if I just try to lightly sand that out can I eventually balance the patina look in that area again? Things like this make me want to just sand the whole thing down and do an aqua flat or semi-gloss. I'm liking the aqua paint and Red wheels with white walls. The wheels can make or break a truck.

[Shelby0099]

Originally Posted by midniteblues

looks like a good start.
doesnt look like alot of pa. hacking on that one.

Nope, definitely looks like it was just sittin. Except looks like maybe someone took the bed gate with lettering? Is that white panel the inner portion of the gate or the entire gate itself?

[70cst]

Hey Shelby0099 ....

to the forums and from Ohio

as you indeed have a ride

[midniteblues]

Originally Posted by Shelby0099

Nope, definitely looks like it was just sittin. Except looks like maybe someone took the bed gate with lettering? Is that white panel the inner portion of the gate or the entire gate itself?

the white piece looks like another front panel for the bed.
extra parts is allways nice.

the rust on the back bottom of the cab is a real bugger but defintely fixable.

the dealer emblem is cool. you should do some checkin and see if they are still around. most dealer emblems got trashed over the years.

share your old school low cost tips on cleanin the frame up.

[67 chevelle]

Nice truck dude , panels are readily available , should be fairly easy fixes , keep us updated , I saw some cowls in the used parts section on this board , the grill should just be trim , but those two chrome trim pieces are a pain to get to up front , Id rather do the floor welding

[Shelby0099]

Originally Posted by midniteblues

the white piece looks like another front panel for the bed.
extra parts is allways nice.

the rust on the back bottom of the cab is a real bugger but defintely fixable.

the dealer emblem is cool. you should do some checkin and see if they are still around. most dealer emblems got trashed over the years.

share your old school low cost tips on cleanin the frame up.

All I know is I don't have the tailgate with the 'Chevrolet' letters...sucks...I think that white panel is a stepside gate with no letters. I can get one with letters $250 repro...I saw orig on CL for $1200.00...lol.

Yes, when I first saw the back bottom I was quite dismayed...but yes fixable and will be fun. I'm looking at about $500-$700 in sheetmetal from LMC.

The Lafferty emblem, I do believe they are still in business in PA. I think Warminster... The guy I bought it from mentioned that they do look for these emblems. I may not use them. It would be fun to bring it back to them and share a story.

These aren't my tips, but from OldTimeGarage instead of using sand blasting first use engine gunk and pressure washer on frame then dry it well and then use oven cleaner and a pressure washer again, takes it right down to metal. Finish with Rustoleum semi gloss black with lacquer thinner for paint.

[Shelby0099]

Originally Posted by 67 chevelle

Nice truck dude , panels are readily available , should be fairly easy fixes , keep us updated , I saw some cowls in the used parts section on this board , the grill should just be trim , but those two chrome trim pieces are a pain to get to up front , Id rather do the floor welding

Thank you. I haven't looked close enough on the chrome trim but i'm assuming they have those twisted wire connections that just snap in? Yeah that would be a PIA. I wouldn't want to get new ones for those, I'd like to straighten them out a bit and paint them white.

I'll check the classifieds for the cowl panel...thank you.

I'll keep you posted.

[midniteblues]

sounds like a good plan you have for the frame. just look it over real good there seems to be a common rust area right above the rear springs where there is a peice of steel frame stiffner in the frame rust likes to be there i've seen him there on a few trucks.

the white piece is the front wall for your bed its way to wide for a stepside. also there is a gas tank and a aftermarket drive shaft safety loop under everything.

lol i bet that tailgate you saw on cl. has my location. tailgates are not a easy find for a good one. your best bet it too hit up swap meets or a local deal.

a big back window,chrome trim 67 makes one h@ll of a classy looking truck.

now that i recap i think lafferty is a f*rd dealer.

[Shelby0099]

Originally Posted by midniteblues

sounds like a good plan you have for the frame. just look it over real good there seems to be a common rust area right above the rear springs where there is a peice of steel frame stiffner in the frame rust likes to be there i've seen him there on a few trucks.

the white piece is the front wall for your bed its way to wide for a stepside. also there is a gas tank and a aftermarket drive shaft safety loop under everything.

lol i bet that tailgate you saw on cl. has my location. tailgates are not a easy find for a good one. your best bet it too hit up swap meets or a local deal.

a big back window,chrome trim 67 makes one h@ll of a classy looking truck.

now that i recap i think lafferty is a f*rd dealer.

I think I did notice the spring perch on the passenger side is not exactly there 100%...so yeah that's probably the common rust area you're talking about.

I think there is a lafferty F*rd but I did find a Lafferty Chevrolet in Warminster PA, the truck was from Quakertown area I think. So, that would make sense.

Did you do a disc brake conversion on yours?

[midniteblues]

Did you do a disc brake conversion on yours?[/QUOTE]

yeah both the kids 67 and mine. it makes a big differance in brakeing.

they do have a 6 lug disc converstion out there then you wouldnt have to worry about a 5 lug rear not a bad deal if you ask me.

but i still think its best to find a 5 lug square body and get all the parts at once. most corner stores still have square parts on the shelf instead of ordering parts.

the spring perch is a easy fix once ya get the rivits out of the brace.

[Mrturner1]

Cool truck and welcome! Looks like a fun project

[Shelby0099]

Initial teardown started last month whenever I had free time on a warm day. There is quite a bit of work to do, but it will be a fun challenge. Most of the firewall is ok, and most of the floor is ok except for some of the cab support braces and the connection to the rockers. There are quite a few patch panels I've figured out but I'm still figuring out my larger cuts. I'm not sure if it will be easier to go with full floor replacement or go with many cut out sections.

The rear corners are bad, or non-existent...lol....I knew that I can replace those..but the rear area connecting them I can't find replacement sheetmetal for. Looks like most places just have the rear corners. Does anyone know where I might find an entire lower rear panel?

[mooseknuckles]

that's a nice find!

[Benny-]

Nice find! I look forward to seeing how it turns out.