67 SWB Small Window Build

[67basketcase]

After years of wanting to build my own project truck I finally jumped in. I looked for quite a while trying to find a salvageable candidate here in Michigan. I located a heap in Detroit that had enough good parts to at least get started. After driving 3 1/2 hours I got my first good look at it. Isn't it amazing how good things look in pictures? At least it came with a really nice front clip. Make no mistake, this thing is a piece.... I made the deal for $800 over paying but not wanting to waste the drive. I did discover one thing that I was unaware of. After 36 years of living in Michigan I had never heard of the Woodward Cruise. So with a pile of rusty, bent, ugly, mismatched, parts, and a real nice clip on my trailer. My 8 year old son, my buddy that always helps me jump in way over my head on projects, and I found ourselves smack dab in the middle of thousands of the finest classic cars, trucks, rods, and exotics cruising Woodward. Eight lanes, miles long, bumper to bumper beauty and us with this load of S***. Now who's getting the looks so my project begins. I'll try to keep up with pictures and look forward to all of the help I'm gonna need to resurrect this truck to the gem I've always wanted.

[67basketcase]

Just realized I posted this in the wrong section. If a moderator could move it I'd appreciated it.

[67basketcase]

Here are some pics of the truck as it was when it arrived home. Complete with smashed front clip, wrong year bed, Chrysler taillights, and a pile of spare parts. I don't have a pic of the only good part that came with it, (the good front clip) it's tucked away in my barn for now. I promptly started stripping this to a bare frame to assess my impending doom. After getting it all apart the frame was only bent back to about 4 inches in front of the cross member.

[67basketcase]

I found a donor 72 swb truck at my local scrap yard and promptly bought the frame and suspension from under it, I only had to give $350 for it with all of the disk brake parts and a good five lug rear axle. That frame was pretty well rotted, however all I needed was the first 1 1/2' of the frame, axle, and spindles.

[67basketcase]

Next order of business was to finish stripping the frame and get it blasted. Good thing about living in the country.... Sandblasting in your back yard for 5 hours straight with a dust and rust cloud that could block out the sun, and nobody cares. After that I had a shiny new nickle. I think my frame repair came out quite well for my first real attempt. After lots or measuring and a fair amount of grinding it's only visible from the inside of the frame where it was reinforced. It shouldn't be very noticeable once the engine is in.

[67basketcase]

After quite a bit of searching I decided to go with Chassis Saver paint on the frame. I've never been a fan of totally blacked out frames. I went with the aluminum colored version. I put 4 coats on the frame, cross member, and control arms. This stuff is incredible and almost impossible to remove from anything. As you can see my shop floor now has a nice silver sealer on it. (oops) I can get a little impatient at times. I covered everything in there except the floor.

[67basketcase]

I've gotten managed to get the front suspension all assembled with all new wear parts. The plan now is to get the truck back together to near stock condition. The front springs are stock with a coil cut off for now. I want to see how it sits and handles then I'll make my adjustments and go to the aftermarket to get how I expect it to be. Eventually I would like to put all the high dollar suspension parts under it but for now it's a driver not a road course carver and wife, kids, and life are in control of the budget.

[67basketcase]

Next on the list was the rear axle. Just exactly what I expected after 45 years of use and neglect (rust and cobwebs). The parking brake parts were missing but I was able to locate all of the pieces that were missing from the 2 six bolt axles that came with the truck. After a good blasting and cleaning, It too got several coats of the Silver Chassis Saver, but I didn't like the look. Too much silver. So that got scuffed and painted with several coats of gloss black. I replaced all of the bearings and seals and put all new break parts in. It came with an open 3.73 diff. Eventually I plan to put a locker in it. I think i'm just going to put a mini spool in it for now. Really can't look cool doing a one wheel peal.

[67basketcase]

Well the axle is all mounted now with just the stock springs on it for now to hold things together. I'm going to put 3" drops on the rear before I go much further, I just haven't ordered them yet. I like the look of these with a little drop. Not a big fan of burying the wheels in the fenders. That's about as far as I've made it since August. The master plan is to finish the engine and trans, mount gas tank and plumb the whole frame so it's ready to set the body on. Then I'll start on the body.

[LDO]

You Sir, are doing some fine work!

[Pop's C-10]

that frame is is looking good

[67basketcase]

Thanks, guys. I wish I was farther along, but when I sold the idea to my wife it was suppose to be an "extended restoration". She keeps reminding me of that. The engine and trans are in the works now so hopefully I'll have some new stuff up soon.

[northern 85]

Nice job slow and steady wins the race!

[67basketcase]

Here are a couple of pictures as it sits now. Had to throw the wheels on and dollies under it so i could move it around a bit easier. Went and listened to my motor for the first time last night. Holy cow this is gonna be fun! One piece rear roller block with zz4 rotating assembly, vortec heads with screw in studs, lt4 cam kit (lifters, rods, springs, roller rockers), edelbrock rpm intake, and a 750 holley vacuum carb. Should make for a stout driver that shouldn't have to be messed with after it's set up.

[67cheby]

great looking start, nice detail work on the frame !

[RWB-713]

Love the frame! You've definitely cause second thoughts in my head about mine...

[RCbowtie69]

Looking good,hope to see more soon & keep on truckin''

[67basketcase]

So I scored an original blazer fuel tank to put under the bed for $20 off of CL. Clean inside still holding stale gas and dry on the outside just a little surface rust on the outside. Perfect right? Wrong. After blasting it I created several pin holes in it. After weighing my options, I've elected to try my hand at tig welding. My brother in law left his at my place and moved to Georgia. It's been in my shop for years but I've never learned to use it. No time like the present. I know it would have been a lot easier and faster to just buy a replacement tank, but i have more time than money so why not learn a new skill.

[67basketcase]

I managed to fix all of the pin holes that I could find. Dress them and prime. Just a little body work to make it pretty and a couple coats of paint and it should be ready to go. The inside looks great and I'm sure I got all of the holes, but I went ahead and ordered tank sealer from Eastwood for a little piece of mind. I'm not a big fan of doing things twice especially when the second time would be when I'm finally ready to play.

[67basketcase]

Yeah Christmas Got to love big boxes of parts on the door step.

[67basketcase]

So begins the process of picking up 10 million foam peanuts from the floor of my shop Ever notice how these little things show up months later stuck in the most out of the way places?

[67basketcase]

My motor made it home last weekend. I got started with a little detail work. I put a few coats of paint on the block. Painted the intake with dull aluminum engine paint it's the closest thing to cast I've found. I'm not a big on painted intakes but, I dislike dull stained cast aluminum more.

[67cheby]

looking good !

[67basketcase]

Yeah Shiny new valve covers for Christmas. Thanks mom and dad.

[67cheby]

sweet !