catfishrus
Twelve Pointer
I found this truck setting in a back yard last Nov. I have a young man that helps me from time to time. All he has talked about is a squarebody chevy truck. So long story short I traded for the truck and was going to give it to him at Christmas for a bonus. Well come to find out it was missing the transfer case. Somebody had taken it out turned the truck into a 2WD. Next time I look before I trade...LOL. I asked him if he was interested at that point and he said he rather have the money so I kept the truck.
I then decided to do a frame off restore on it for some reason. Heck I kind of like them too now. I never restored anything like this but I love a challenge to keep my mind busy. I found a fellow to build a new engine for it. Going with a 383. Picked up a 700R4 tranny and transfer case like came in the truck but later found a turbo 400 to rebuild from a fellow who was suppose to come up with a transfer case for it....never happened. I found a transfer case in SC and bought it. Come to find out my turbo 400 wouldn't work..tail shaft too short, so back to SC to buy the turbo 400 that was a factory match to the transfer case. My engine builder was suppose to take it off the frame for me but he just keeps taking on more and more work. Two weeks back I got up one Saturday morning and started tearing it down myself. Following Monday after work pulled the motor and tranny out and set the bed off. Tuesday the cab came off. By Wednesday we was down to a frame and headed to the powder coaters. Should have the frame back in 3 weeks. I'm getting the inner fenders and radiator support along with some other small pieces coated along with the original wheels.
I been stock piling parts since Dec. new interior kit, carpet, door panels, headliner, and dash. Putting a 3" lift on the truck. Every piece of trim on the outside and inside will be new from bumper to bumper. I even bought a new steering wheel because I keeping saying to myself if it don't feel restored it wont be restored. All new weatherstripping. Rotors, drums, brake lines, gas lines, and tanks. I picked up two doors because mine had dents in them..passenger side was caved in.
This morning I'm going to talk to a painter. He is a high end painter but he only does one at a time. Currently working on a 69 Camaro with a 30 thousand dollar engine. He said he was 6 months out on it then he could start my truck. Going back two tone same color.
I then decided to do a frame off restore on it for some reason. Heck I kind of like them too now. I never restored anything like this but I love a challenge to keep my mind busy. I found a fellow to build a new engine for it. Going with a 383. Picked up a 700R4 tranny and transfer case like came in the truck but later found a turbo 400 to rebuild from a fellow who was suppose to come up with a transfer case for it....never happened. I found a transfer case in SC and bought it. Come to find out my turbo 400 wouldn't work..tail shaft too short, so back to SC to buy the turbo 400 that was a factory match to the transfer case. My engine builder was suppose to take it off the frame for me but he just keeps taking on more and more work. Two weeks back I got up one Saturday morning and started tearing it down myself. Following Monday after work pulled the motor and tranny out and set the bed off. Tuesday the cab came off. By Wednesday we was down to a frame and headed to the powder coaters. Should have the frame back in 3 weeks. I'm getting the inner fenders and radiator support along with some other small pieces coated along with the original wheels.
I been stock piling parts since Dec. new interior kit, carpet, door panels, headliner, and dash. Putting a 3" lift on the truck. Every piece of trim on the outside and inside will be new from bumper to bumper. I even bought a new steering wheel because I keeping saying to myself if it don't feel restored it wont be restored. All new weatherstripping. Rotors, drums, brake lines, gas lines, and tanks. I picked up two doors because mine had dents in them..passenger side was caved in.
This morning I'm going to talk to a painter. He is a high end painter but he only does one at a time. Currently working on a 69 Camaro with a 30 thousand dollar engine. He said he was 6 months out on it then he could start my truck. Going back two tone same color.