68 Gumby

[Evan68chevy]

I am a new member of the board and would like to share what I am currently working on in my garage. It is a 1968 C-10 Fleetside that I purchased when I turned 16. This was my daily driver in high school and now is my fun project.
I had a BB 396 linked to a th400 that was fun but picked up a 454 backed by a T56 that will be WAY more exciting once its in. Just wanted to post a couple picks of the truck and see what you guys think. I will be updating this every once and a while as progress continues. My goal as of right now is to shave the fire wall, repaint the engine compartment, get the new motor and trans in, do some small adjustments to the interior (bench to Bucket) and get it back on the road. Thanks

[lolife99]

Welcome to the board.
GREAT looking truck!

[Evan68chevy]

lowlife99: Thank you very much for the compliment...There are a lot of GREAT trucks on this site.......Just trying to catch up to them...

Just thought I would give a update on the progress that I have had over the last month or so. I started by taking the front end apart and uncovered a lot of old paint and a whole lot of road grime under the cab. So I decided to blast the underside of the cab and frame with walnut shell. So I built a booth in the garage around the front of the truck with PVC pipe, big plastic bags, a fan in the back side and a house filter in the front and a LOT of duct tape. Works wonders and now the underside of the cab/ frame is clean. after a couple days of blasting for 20 min, sweep up the media, filter it (worst part), then refill the tank. Now that the frame, under cab, and firewall are all clean, I decided to fill all the heater holes and anything else that was not going to be used with the new set up. After seeing a couple trucks on here I also filled in the wire rail at the top of the firewall. And its looking better and better everyday. Now its time to prep the frame, suspension, and firewall for paint/undercoating. Let me know what you guys think of my progress.
Thanks

[propanemudtruck]

Welcome to the board and nice truck. Looks like a fun project!

[Evan68chevy]

Got back out in the garage the last couple days and was able to put the rotors and wheels back on to roll it around. Brought it outside and washed everything down and etched the bare metal to get ready for paint. Before I painted everything I wanted to make sure I have clearance for the new T56. Found out that I will have to put in the high hump or just weld in a inch strip to the existing hump for clearance. Or im always open to others adding their .02 with ideas!

Also last pic thew a seat from my friends firebird to see what it would look like with racing style bucket seats. What do you guys think?

[67c10rustbuket]

looks great ! 454/T56 sounds like a lot of tire frying fun

[Evan68chevy]

Alright so its been a while since I posted anything but I have been working on it as I get the time. Since the last test fit was a little tight (low hump needs the High hump) I had to do a little cutting and picked up a high hump and the pedals I needed from a friendly build member, ortegamotor , thank you not only to him but everyone on here helping each other out.

So here are a couple pics of progress (if thats what you call it)
1 Tanny humpp cut out
2 Transmission in the truck
3 fire wall getting a layer of bondo
4 the shaved drip rail being smoothed out
(also sorry for the small cell phone pics only thing I have right now)

Work is going slow but moving along. Looking at this site keeps me motivated so any input/ opinions / or ideas are welcome from all.
Thank you

[lolife99]

Progress is progress.
Keep those pics coming.

[VA72C10]

Nice truck and progress!

[Evan68chevy]

Alright its been a while. Have had a lot of progress but just keep digging deeper into the restoration. Seems like every thing I get done I figure out another thing I have to buy/replace but thats how these things go.

So the first picture is of the interior after I installed the high hump to clear the T56 and painted the floor which will be covered in sound deadener later this week.

The next couple pics are of the firewall all primed and ready for paint. this was my first time doing this type of body work but Im very happy with the way everything turned out.

Then you will see the pictures of the frame painted with a semi gloss black.
And last you will see the two pics of the painted firewall. I used the duplicolor paintshop paint that you can pick up at any parts store. Very happy with how it turned out!

Currently I just finished wet sanding it and will be buffing it out within the next couple days........ then reassembly starting with a brand new painless wiring kit that arrived on the doorstep today!!!

[Evan68chevy]

pics

[Evan68chevy]

more pics

[Evan68chevy]

painted firewall

[67chevy1series]

the firewall looks very very nice!

[Evan68chevy]

Its been a while since my last update because of family time for the holidays and work i have not ha a lot of time with the truck but I have made some progress. Last time I was talking about polishing out the firewall, and that didnt go as planned. We burnt through the paint so had to respray, wetsand, and buff/polish it another time. I am very happy with the way it turned out for it being my first bigger job (bodywork/paint) that I have done. (With the help of some friends/family)

Next was to start putting some parts back on the truck finally. Started with new front shocks, motor mounts, and transmission mount went in. Followed by the whole reason for this project/overhaul, the new motor and transmission made its way into Gumby for the last time. With a couple accessories for the front of the motor bolted on Im starting to get an idea what it will all look like.

The last couple pics are of some goodies I have been throwing in the garage waiting for a little free time to put them in. (Painless wiring harness, Fuel line/fittings black-8an, and a phantom tach)

[Evan68chevy]

pics of the goodies

[shawno72]

Lookin good. We're practically neighbors.

[ortegamotor]

Evan, the truck is looking good. we need some new pictures. Tony

[67cheby]

hmmmm , i missed this somehow, nice truck ,good clean work !!

[Evan68chevy]

Hey guys thanks for the views and the comments. Keep them comming, helps me to get motivated about the truck!!!

Since my last update I havent done a whole lot for the time that I was gone but with the "Daily driver" giving me a headache not working on the truck as much as I would have liked. Also when this (tahoe) is so close its hard not to spend some time up there.

I recieved my brake booster and master cylinder (CPP-built in regulator) and have those mocked up and ready to go minus the brake lines (bending myself.....wish me luck).I also recieved the gas pedal from Lokar, looks and should work great, and have the throttle cable and bracket coming this week. I ended up cutting and fitting all the -8an fuel lines that I needed and mocking up the fuel system.

Next to arrive was my new radiator from champion with dual 14 inch fans to keep Gumby cool. As you can see from the pics it looks great but not a direct fit so I ground out the old welds cut them in half and rewelded them in the correct positions. After putting the radiator support back on the fenders now have come out from the back yard and are now back on the truck.

Now that all the fenders are back on I started running the "painless" wiring kit and have the wires going in the correct direction at least and that is where im sitting right now

[Evan68chevy]

here are more pics

[67cheby]

SWEET ! love the gas pedal !

[LOW69C20]

WOW! that is the smoooothest firewall i've seen yet, great job!

[1htbrrd]

WTF Loot???
Get that S.O.B. running already!!! I expect you to be at the May 19th autocross, you will probably be the only truck.

[Tinkermc]

lots of goodies laying around, watching for them 2 B installed, looks very nice so far