A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

Going to start a new project with my son. He has always had an interest in cars so I thought we would build one together. Found a truck that had been stuck in the ninetys but had already had lots of good stuff done. Our plan is to make it look a little more original but keep the lowered stance. So far we have been gathering lots of parts. This will not be a show truck but will look pretty cool for 16 year old to cruise around in this summer. I personally have passed on a lot of these trucks in the past but they have really grown on me lately especially the 73 to 80’s. The great part about these trucks is you can still find lots of reasonable priced parts so it should work with the teenage budget.

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

I went through Henry, Biscayne and Suburban builds...awesome work!! This one should not disappoint!! Mike

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

Thanks Mike! I’m sure it will turn out decent. I just love that my son has as much enthusiasm as me about the truck. Should be fun.

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

Dug into the Drivers side box side and found a nasty mess of pop rivets, body fill and some sort of glue that did not adhere at all. Any way we were able to save what was there and it is almost all welded back together. I believe this was the worst spot on the truck so that’s where we started.

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

This looks like fun! Nice save on the bed side....tagging along for the rest.

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

Spent most of the day finishing the rust repair on the box side. Still have a bit of grinding to do then time for some body work. We also found another set of wheels for the truck.

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

finished the body work on this box side and first coat of high build primer. Now time for some blocking and then another coat of primer.

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

We had to bolt the torque thrusts on and take it out for a little run.

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

Nice work! The torque thrust wheels look great!

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

Nice work on that bedside and the TT2s looks at home on that truck.

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

Thanks guys! we like the torque thrust wheels on it as well. Seems those wheels look great on so many different vehicles.

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

We stripped the paint off of the tailgate and passenger box side. A little bit of body work and then we should have the box in primer. Once we get the body work on he box done our plan is to take the box off of the truck so we can clean up the frame and underside of the box.

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

Spent a bit of time Block sanding. I think he is realizing how much work goes into a paint job.
We were able to take the 66 Biscayne out for a cruise as well on the weekend. I think he likes the big block.
Time well spent!

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

Found an original grille so we could get rid of the plastic bar grille. We think it looks much better.

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

Looking good!

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

That is a great way to pass the passion on. Love that Biscayne!
The grill looks good too.

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

Thanks guys! We did not get a whole bunch done this weekend but ended up at local swap meet and found most everything we need for the outside of the truck. Just have to keep smoothing it out now.

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

Body work is almost complete on the the passenger box side. Progress has been slow lately but still plugging along.

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

Looking good!! Do you plan on painting the whole truck at some point? Mike

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

Yeah we are going to paint the whole truck. The plan is orange and white two tone. Once the box is in primer we are going to pull it off so we can paint between the cab and box.

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

Shot the passenger side box side in primer today.

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

Any updates?

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

looking good so far!

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

I like it! What does it have for a drivetrain?

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

Sorry for the late response. We have not been able to work on it much lately. We have had a bit of a crazy summer but hope to get back on it soon.

Thank you!

It has a Gm crate motor 350 with a turbo 350 trans. pretty stock other than a few bolt on things like headers and intake.

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

Always cool to build something with your kid. Keep up the good work.

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

We basically finished the body work on the box so we pulled it off on the weekend. Now we start with bodywork on the cab and front clip.

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

Really nice truck. I’m a long for the ride

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

Just a quick update. Cut off the tailpipes that were on the truck because they were awful and installed another set that my brother kicking around from another truck. We are on a budget so that worked out pretty good. Removed the windshield and rear glass as well most of the interior so we could weld up 37 holes in the back of the cab from previous stereo installs... The next task is to weld a small patch in the floor and the holes on the roof from a visor that we removed. So far everything has gone pretty smooth and I'm enjoying that my son has been really excited to work on his truck.

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

Wow, someone had holes in the back of the cab from stereo install? Ouch...

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

Pretty happy to stumble on to a really nice factory dark gray seat and loose the bucket seats that were not very nice. Sometimes finding parts is lots of fun and a great part of the build process.

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

When we removed the carpet we found a small rusty spot so I figured this would be a good spot for my son get some practice with the welder. He is really getting the hang of things.

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

Once the windshield was out we realized that we had some rust to contend with so today we cut it all out and made a few pieces from scratch. They turned out pretty good.

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

The other side

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

You guys are doing good with the metal work.

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

Thanks! The bead roller works really good for making some of these curved pieces.

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

I love your build threads!!

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

Thank you!

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

The truck is coming along nicely.

Re: A teenage budget and Dads time (80 Chevy shorty)
 

Thank you!