Project: Ginger

[lolife99]

I don't really know where to start.
"Ginger" actually started out as a "Circus Wagon" tribute.
I was going to throw all my spare truck parts together and build a cool old truck like the world famous "Circus Wagon".
I had a really nice rust free white '68 cab,... an "original paint" fleetside short bed,... and a misc. pile of front sheetmetal.
I started buying "all things '68",... that I thought I needed.
I have an original '68 cloth seat that is really nice.
NOS this, super nice that,... the list goes on.
All parts were purchased from members here on this board!
(well worth the $25/year)

Then it happened.
Member n2billet was buying up all the sweet original paint trucks in the U.S.,... so I asked him to help me find one.
I was just kidding,... but he really did find me one.

1970, original paint, 1-owner, stepside.
250 6-cylinder/3-speed, radio delete, bare bones truck.
The options on the SPID are the interior and exterior colors.
So I sold the '68 cab and my fleetside bed and started working on Ginger.

Here's the original thread from May of 2010 when my buddy hot trux delivered it to my house after making a 10 hour round trip to go get it, while I was working.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...light=hot+trux

The first 2 pics are from the Craigslist ad.
The other 3 are after I got it home.

[lolife99]

Here's a few misc. pics after I got it home.

[lolife99]

Original rockers, cab corners, and cab mounts.
(and misc. bed pics)

[lolife99]

My original plan was to build a Dropmember chassis, for the '68 Circus Wagon truck build.
I had purchased a front Dropmember from Nathan Porter,... but n2billet got me thinking a different direction again.
After a few phone calls I ended up making a road trip from Missouri to Texas to buy this chassis.
I'm sure you all remember Keith's "Tootsie Roll" project.
I should have bought the entire truck,... but I just bought the rolling chassis.
(I actually had this chassis, before I had purchased Ginger).
I made a super fast trip to TX.
I didn't even hang around and look at all of Keith's projects,... as much as I wanted to,...
we just loaded up and head home.
I regret that now.
I see another trip to TX in my future.

[lolife99]

So,... the "quick and dirty" was to swap Ginger's sheetmetal on to the former "Tootsie Roll" chassis,... add a fresh engine/trans. combo,... and drive it.
Piece of Cake,... right?
That was May of 2010.
Disassembly of Ginger starts,...
The interior of the cab was really nice.
I have a dent in the LF fender I'm going to have to deal with.

[lolife99]

I pulled the front sheetmetal.
The original 250 was rebuilt approximately 42,000 mile before I got the truck.
When I got it home,... it would turn over,... but wouldn't start.
The previous owner thought it was carb issues.
(I didn't care,... I would mess with it on another day)

The doors appeared to be really nice,... not perfect, but nice.
Someone had glued a rubber mat to the tailgate,... so it had to go and the bed got pulled off with a cut-off wheel to the bed bolts.
The original wood was still in the bed even though someone had brush painted it black years ago.
Maybe that helped save it.

Again,... I used the board to sell extra parts off my truck.
The bumpers, seat, vent shades and many other parts were sold right here to help fund my project.

[lolife99]

The cab needed to come off next.
While I had the front clip off I tried to save the paint on the firewall.
I cleaned and polished it the best I could,... but it had to much surface rust.
So I decided the firewall would have to be painted.
My '68 white cab came on a lwb chassis,... so I decided to swap Ginger's cab to the lwb frame, so I could get the firewall painted.
I had just seen an article in one of the truck magazines about an a-frame that Harbor Freight sells.
This would be the answer to all my heavy, one-man lifting, problems.
(plus I like buying tools,... and this was a good excuse)

I forgot to mention,... all the bolts came off this truck super easy.
I guess it's because the PO took really good care of this truck for the last 40 years.

[72k5zl1]

if ginger needs a new home ever, i will keep her warm up north. nice score!

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by 72k5zl1

if ginger needs a new home ever, i will keep her warm up north. nice score!

Thanks. See why I wanted your sweet dash pad.
I'm still crying over that.
I hope you got your refund.
You were great thoughout that messed up UPS deal.
I hope I can help you out some time.

[VA72C10]

Really looking forward to this one!!!

[72BlckButy]

Glad to see this on the board finally; enjoyed seeing it first hand, now I will be able to stay updated daily.

[lolife99]

Here's the '68 white cab I pulled off the lwb frame.
(Member hot trux has it now. He's using it in his '68 stepside build thread:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=428501)

The a-frame worked perfect!

[lolife99]

Before the cab was removed I added a set of Porterbuilt hood hinges.
I now have the new version with the gas struts, to hold the hood up while its open.
This was my attempt to polish out the passenger side firewall.
The master cylinder area was just too bad.

[lolife99]

After I had my buddy hot trux paint the firewall,... I had a very "not so special day".
I sent my Iphone 4 thru the washer with my clothes.
I lost a couple hundred pics that I had stored on my phone.
(all the firewall paint pics).
So this is all I have,...

Last year I picked a a very rare "heater delete" from member TCB-1.
Doug was kind enough to let it go,...
(it adds to the no optioned truck theme and helps with tire clearance from the Dropmember).
Plus he had the original firewall pad and dash panel delete also.
(these items just don't exist)
Super score for me,... so I really owe Doug!

The blower motor delete plate was ordered from one of the muscle car reproduction online stores.
(hot trux painted them to match at the same time).
I'm using stainless button head sheetmetal screws and bolts from Totally Stainless,... under the hood.

Here'a a pic of the cab after a few hours with the buffer.
The original 40+ year old paint doesn't look too bad.

I also reshot the top of the dash with a color very close to the original "gold" interior color.
I still need to dye a dash pad and install a new windshield.

[lolife99]

Here's where I am on the chassis.
I purchased a new GM 290 hp crate 350 and coated it with POR-15 engine enamel.
I'm not sure if I like this stuff or not.
Kinda thin going on.

The trans in a TH400 I had laying around.
I had it rebuilt and painted it with high heat "cast" paint.

I'm going to use Edelbrocks black "vintage looking" valve covers, air cleaner, and 650 carb.
I did splurge on the accessory drive.
I got the Tru-Trac from Billet Specialties (in the black powdercoat finish)
Also using ARP's stainless bolts on the engine.

I'm using zinc plated rotors from SSBC and Wilwoods new D52 calipers.
When I bought mine the "black" color option wasn't available yet, or that's what I would have.

The headers are the ones that Porterbuilt recommends for his Dropmember.
They are Hooker part# 2466,... the coated version.

[lolife99]

Here's a few random frame pics,... and the brake lines I bent up.
I'm using SSBC's adjustable proportioning valve mounted on the frame.
The RideTech a-arms were on it when I got it from n2billet.

[lolife99]

The bed was on and off many times.
My Harbor Freight a-frame came in handy again,... even though it's time consuming by yourself.

As you can see,... the notch takes up alot of room.
My frame is the old 4-link frame,... not the new trailing arm Dropmember set-up.
As you can see the Firestone sleeve bags just clear the bedsides.
The trailing arm rear Dropmember has more room.
I think it will be worth it.

The second to last picture is ride height.
(I think the bottom of the stepside bed step,... is 4-1/2" off the ground)
The last picture is with it dumped.

Rear tire room in these small stepside fenders is at a premium.
The 8" ralleys with 275/60's wouldn't fit.
The last picture has a narrower tire that is 29" tall.
I think that height tire will be too tall at full drop.
I'm not sure what I'm going to run for wheels.
I also have the "narrower" 67-69 rearend housing.

[late68]

Looking good! Keep up the good work!

[68chevyLQ4]

Sweet project!

[m6z]

Nice. It's about time we get to see all your progress. Looks great.

[VA72C10]

Man, that frame and drivetrain look awesome! Really love the subtle, clean look of the engine in chevy orange with the black accents and accessories!!!

[72k5zl1]

i use to be a mary-ann guy, but now i have a crush on ginger. i cant belive how clean it is.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

Man, that frame and drivetrain look awesome! Really love the subtle, clean look of the engine in chevy orange with the black accents and accessories!!!

Thanks.
I know it looks like I copied the "Old Aux" build, engine colors,... but I had mine done along time ago. Ha.
I wish I had the welding and fab skills of n2billet and others on here, but I don't.
Plus working in a 1 bay garage has alot to be desired,
My shop is built,... but not finished on the inside.
(plus it's crammed full of stuff)
I also have a bad habit of buying trucks and parts, for other trucks.
I should have finished my '69 NO-LIFE project first,... but you have to jump when you see a good deal.
(I jump too much)

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by 72k5zl1

i use to be a mary-ann guy, but now i have a crush on ginger. i cant belive how clean it is.

Everyone says they like Mary Ann better,...
but Ginger was a red head!

[northern 85]

Very nice! Everything looks great! Do you have a part # for the accs drive set up?