66 SB Step Side- Ex Air Force Base Truck

[aerotruk63]

Well isn't that a bit of luck!

[Grizz1963]

Nice one Neatbeard.

[McMurphy]

Welcome Neatbeard!
I hope you keep us posted, I always wondered about this truck, and the fellow who started this thread on it, we had some things in common in our rigs both being ex-military equipment.

Good luck, and let us know when it arrives, I really dig these threads from overseas !!

Funny you mention finding this thread, I totally plan on putting all the photos on a CD, and then taping it to the roof of the glovebox for someone to find later in this trucks life.
Good stuff !!

[Neatbeard]

Well here it is on my little driveway here in damp ol blighty...

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Neatbeard

Well here it is on my little driveway here in damp ol blighty...

Nice one mate.

I am jealous..... just want to sell our two cars now and buy a truck.

Now you need to start your own build tread for the trucks life from here onward.

Maybe copy some of these pics into your own Photobucket account and post up as a Pre-amble to this phase of the trucks life.

Good luck, and hope this gives you a buzzzz every day you jump into it.

[McMurphy]

That is so incredibly cool !!
I bet you are the only kid on your block with one of those to play with !!!

Congrats !!
I hope you keep it alive on this site for us (hint: we like a lot of pictures around here)

[Neatbeard]

Cheers guys, i'm stoked. I haven't had a chance o properly play with it yet due to work and the fact I still need to get it registered over here...

Funnily enough i'm not the only kid on the block with one! A guy I know f 5 mins up the road has an earlier wraparound screen (knee knocker?), big rear window, long bed fleetside in patina'd orange with a white cab, lowered on large whitewalls and standard rims. He's fitted a diesel transit van engine in to it and matching gearbox/tranny.

I also know another guy with a 50's Chevy 3100 stepside too.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Neatbeard

Cheers guys, i'm stoked. I haven't had a chance o properly play with it yet due to work and the fact I still need to get it registered over here...

Funnily enough i'm not the only kid on the block with one! A guy I know f 5 mins up the road has an earlier wraparound screen (knee knocker?), big rear window, long bed fleetside in patina'd orange with a white cab, lowered on large whitewalls and standard rims. He's fitted a diesel transit van engine in to it and matching gearbox/tranny.

I also know another guy with a 50's Chevy 3100 stepside too.

I have to ask Neatbeard, where in the UK are you ?

Its always good to know where to look out for toys on the road.

I take it you will not have too much hassle registering it here.

When I brought my Transit in, it was fairly easy, the biggest pain was having to hire a recovery truck to take it to the DVLA for 3 minute inspection in Maidstone.

[Neatbeard]

I have Pm'd you fella.

I'm hoping it will be easy to get it registered, just making sure you have the relevant paperwork so i've been assured... fingers crossed it is...

[UK62LW]

My registration was a breeze but thankfully the DVLA didn't want to inspect as, given the mods on mine it could have led to a '77 or Q plate

Went to the DVLA in Ipswich on Tue and had V5 an tax disc back by the end of the week!

Good luck with the MoT - keep us informed..

[Ta2Don]

Being retired Air Force, I've wrenched on a bunch of those Strata Blue painted vehicles... Have fun with it!!!

[Neatbeard]

Cheers guys. I had a chance to get outside and have a proper look and poke around. 'Im really happy, its really solid, got a couple of small holes in the usual areas that I can weld up myself. really solid underneath/chassis. Bit of an oil leak from around the oil filter area so i'm gona clean the engine all up, fill up with fresh oil and see how bad it is as it could of accumulated over time.....

One of my neighbours who lives over the road popped over while I was under the bonnet tinkering. To set the scene, I live in a residential road where pretty much all the residents are retired couples and we're the youngest family by far, me and my better half are both tattooed (she's a tattoo artist), and to alot of the folk we're.... shall we say.... alternative looking...... but we go out of our way to be polite, give them fresh eggs from our chickens etc. in the hope that they 'tolerate' us and me n my vehicle hobby/obsession.....anyway I'd already said to 'er indoors' i wonder what the neighbours will think of this 'beast' on the drive... well today I found out.....

I banged my head as he made me jump as I was deep in the engine bay at the time and didn't hear him until he said:

"Hi there I hope you don't mind me popping over....."

Me: "Hi there, no not all (wiping oil from my hands), how are you, everything OK?"

Him: "Yes, yes i'm good thanks, I just wanted to pop over as I saw 'this' arrive yesterday while I was looking out of the window....."

Me: "Ah OK...."

Him: "Its fantastic! I said to the wife wow look at what he's got now. I love it, are you going to do anything to it? I think it would look even better all done up and one colour....etc etc"

So thats made me feel good. We were chatting for over an hour in the cold and rain about the truck and possible plans for it etc. I love our little neighbourhood, they seem to love our 'alternative' ways.

Sorry for the ramble, it just restored my faith in humanity.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Neatbeard

Cheers guys. I had a chance to get outside and have a proper look and poke around. 'Im really happy, its really solid, got a couple of small holes in the usual areas that I can weld up myself. really solid underneath/chassis. Bit of an oil leak from around the oil filter area so i'm gona clean the engine all up, fill up with fresh oil and see how bad it is as it could of accumulated over time.....

One of my neighbours who lives over the road popped over while I was under the bonnet tinkering. To set the scene, I live in a residential road where pretty much all the residents are retired couples and we're the youngest family by far, me and my better half are both tattooed (she's a tattoo artist), and to alot of the folk we're.... shall we say.... alternative looking...... but we go out of our way to be polite, give them fresh eggs from our chickens etc. in the hope that they 'tolerate' us and me n my vehicle hobby/obsession.....anyway I'd already said to 'er indoors' i wonder what the neighbours will think of this 'beast' on the drive... well today I found out.....

I banged my head as he made me jump as I was deep in the engine bay at the time and didn't hear him until he said:

"Hi there I hope you don't mind me popping over....."

Me: "Hi there, no not all (wiping oil from my hands), how are you, everything OK?"

Him: "Yes, yes i'm good thanks, I just wanted to pop over as I saw 'this' arrive yesterday while I was looking out of the window....."

Me: "Ah OK...."

Him: "Its fantastic! I said to the wife wow look at what he's got now. I love it, are you going to do anything to it? I think it would look even better all done up and one colour....etc etc"

So thats made me feel good. We were chatting for over an hour in the cold and rain about the truck and possible plans for it etc. I love our little neighbourhood, they seem to love our 'alternative' ways.

Sorry for the ramble, it just restored my faith in humanity.

You just made smile broadly here, so chuffed that the neighbours have come over, it always helps.

I had a rubbish day, got "assaulted" by my wife, who is still sitting with red eyes an a face like a smacked arse because I sold her car, to part finance our (My) truck purchase.

http://retrorides.proboards.com/inde...y&thread=60718

Her ex-car thread ^^^^^

[McMurphy]

One thing never occured to me to ask is; are you going to have to convert the steering to the right side of the truck?

I realize it isnt impossible to do, but still.
I would imagine it to be a lot of work.

I have never driven on the left side of the road before, only ridden in taxis that way (in Japan) and frankly it is unnerving as it always seems that merging traffic is going to T-bone you.

If you do the steering swap, I suppose you will have to do brakes as well, I would certainly like to see how you get it done !!

[Neatbeard]

No I won't have to convert it to RHD so i'm leaving it as intended. I don't actually mind driving on the 'wrong' side. I used to have a '69 VW Squareback that was LHD and I had no problems with that at all.

The weather was a bit better today so I had a good poke around underneath and cleaned a load of mud off. Im really happy as everything is super solid under there, the chassis, floors, inner arches, outer arches, etc. are all in great condition. The wood in the bed needs replacing but that gives me the chance to clean and prep all the chassis and underneath ready for paint. Also means I could check out the compressor and air tank and fittings condition too and they're all great as well. Super happy so far!

[65chevysub]

Nice truck! I can just picture it running around an Air Force Base. I had a can of that blue I found when I was in the AF at Travis, in Fairfield in the 80's. Loved it. Keep up the good work

[Neatbeard]

My other half has just emailed me at work to say that I had a letter from the DVLA (our vehicle licensing office over here) and did I want her to open it for me....?

I said yes and crossed my fingers it was good news.....

I am now sitting here at work with a big grin as my truck is now registered and 100% legal to drive, well it is once i get the plates made up..... YES!!!!

[UK62LW]

Get out there and enjoy (assuming you're not neck-deep in snow, of course) !!

[Grizz1963]

Congratulations.

Its a great feeling.
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[jesseo]

Originally Posted by gofastnut

I was feeling "left out" til I spotted some of these guys & gals in my area. Feeling a little less Isolated now...

I grew up in Fort Bragg and live in S Oregon. Love Granzella's. We stop there for olives and lunch on our way through.

[jesseo]

Originally Posted by C4 Metal Werks

I've been driving my truck everyday and loving it. It took a week or so to get it running well. I have done a lot of work but I've had know time to take pictures.
• round outside mirrors
• chromies with baby moons
• Kick panels with speakers, dual dash speaker, amp and all hooked into my smart phone for tunes.
• cleaned up the interior and removed the seat covers to find the original cover
• dashboard Jesus
• tune up and oil change
• new windshield rubber
• new glove box insert
• hood lock
• gun rack

Love that Beemer in the background. I have an 88 K75 and always wanted to build one of the older R100 bikes. My brother in law and sister own Little River Inn on the coast. He has a 77 R100. If you are ever up for a ride. Sure you could get a discount to.

[MrBeast]

Cool project.

[66-PMD-GMC]

Time to start your own thread mate...
My family is from the Leeds area Yorkshire...
(Gramps called it ee-by gum land)
I can say I never saw an American vehicle while visiting but my Aunt Edna had a 3 wheel handicap vehicle that was interesting...
Looking forward to seeing your own personal build thread...
Maybe a very angry big block for motivation..

[McMurphy]

I have to disagree, I think it is cool for the thread to follow the truck, not necessarily the builder.
Just my 2 cents, of course!

[Jmorales3181]

Nice project. I am amazed at the locations these trucks end up.
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