Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

I'm new to the site and wanted to share my 63 Panel build. I've been over on the c10forum for a while and this build has been slowly happening for the last couple of years (unfortunately), but I'm not knocking it out and trying to get it done in the next couple of weeks to enjoy the summer with it.
I'll start off with some history of it.

I saw it sitting in the back of someones yard in the little town I lived in. One day they rolled it to the front yard and put a for sale sign on it. I told my stepdad about it and he immediately went down and bought it for $1000. The plan was to use it for advertisement for the butcher shop business we were opening up.... then it sat. It sat for a good couple of years without being touched as I was in college and had no $ and my stepdad didn't have extra funds to get the panel going. He wanted to scrap it at one point but I talked him into letting me work off the cost in his butcher shop for the truck. It sat some more.....

A few more years later and I decided to get started on it. Problem was I had never put it in my name. Turns out the guy my stepdad bought it from jumped titles and it was completely wrong, signed in the wrong spot and not notarized. Last time the title was used was in 1979 (6 years before I was born). The guy who owned it prior was named Charles Day, so not even an unusual name and easy to find. After about a month searching I was able to track down a relative through Facebook who put my in touch with Charle's son. He then helped me get a new title and get the thing in my name. Turns out his dad was 90 years old and in a nursing home. He thought it was super cool that his old work truck was still around. His son told me all kinds of stories about riding in it as a teen and having to go around and work with his dad during the summer. When I got it, it still had his dads old leather boots in it, tools, and supplies from his siding business.

On to someone more fun, pictures

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

Took the body off and yanked the engine out.

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

Cleaned up the frame. I scrapped the front K member and the rear end which weighed over a ton. I got a front K member out of an 84. I then pocketed the LCA's, added 3" drop spindles, and bags. I added that to the frame.

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

New bagged K member in, began working on the notches. Since this is a 1 ton frame just under 7" tall I decided to use large box tubing to make it blend in.

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

I then had to move the body from my stepdads place so I had to rig the rear end under it so I could set the body back on.Here's how it looked with the body on.

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

I then took it back to a buddies where it sat again. The issue is this things is basically 20' long and it took up too much of his garage space. I needed enough space and time to try and set up the rear suspension. So it sat for a while..

Then came the snow

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

Cool build. Stance looks great and always glad to see more 63's !!!!

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

After some long waiting periods of trying to get it in my buddy's garage and trying to possibly pour concrete next to the garage I decided I needed to take it out of there and get some work done. I'm a teacher so I got a hold of a friend who owns Bonified Customs in Fairborn, OH who agreed we could knock out the rear suspension over my spring break. Here's what we came up with.

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

Thats about where its at right now. I have left out a ton of pics I have somewhere but I wanted to get the main points uploaded. So as I type this, its 5/5/14 and I am hoping to get this driving and to a show on 5/24/14. Time to get off here and get some stuff done. I keep the pictures coming.

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

That is a sweet ride! I have a 65 gmc c30 that I want to lay on the ground how far from the ground is the body when frame is laid out?

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

Well I'm waiting on my free candy! Lol. Thanks for sharing and I'm looking forward to seeing more.

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

Man! That thing is looooooonnng!
Gonna be sweet!
The suspension parts look pretty clean for Ohio!
Do you ever hand-out free kittens & puppies???

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

The frame has a section that dips down under the cab that hits and keeps the front from sitting down level. So we are adding 3X5 3/16 box tubing to the frame and cutting off the bottom. Basically stock flooring it. That should drop it another 1.5" or so and get it level. I'm debating on taking it to the doors since the body is so rotten away.
You can see how it lays out here

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

Full lift

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

Front up

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

Here's another shot of it layed out. The ground wasn't level which actually made the truck look level

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

Rear view

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

Free Candy lol SMH

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

Which parts? Some were sand blasted during. The whole front K member went to the blaster

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

Probably not the most appropriate since I'm a teacher but.........
I looked at getting custom plates that say that. Stupid Ohio will let me get FRECNDI but not FRECNDY

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

i only brought it up cuz last year i had a chevy white no window cargo work van an i was driving down town at 11 pm at nite heading home when a group of kid's an teen's yelled out to me an said hey can we have some free candy yes they said that too me the following day i put the van up for sale LOL

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

Hahahaha

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

So how did we come up with free candy????

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

Just because everyone says it's like a creepy van or a hearse and asked if I kept candy in it.

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

Are you trying to make it to Beatersville?

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

That's the goal yes. I don't know if it'll happen as I have a lot to do. Hopefully though. Plan is to have all the framework done by this weekend and start putting the drivetrain in. Still have to make new lines and redo floors, etc. I'm going to try my best to make it there though.

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

I think I talked to you last year, you showed me some pic's of your truck. I had the primer grey 66 with no hood on it!

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

When I saw the name of your thread it reminded me of a photo I took in Alaska a few years ago. Welcome and good luck on your panel. :metal:

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

Yup, I remember talking to you. Are you going to be there again this year?

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

That things awesomr

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

Well, I'm kinda in the same boat ur in I made some modifications to my truck and I'm still not done so.... I'll be there but not sure if the truck will be!

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

I really want to take it but I don't want to show up without it running and moving under its own power. Hopefully it'll make it even if I have to trailer it there and drive it into the show. I hate to do that but I really don't want to make its maiden voyage a few hours away.

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

I know what you mean, well hopefully we'll both make it!

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

I knew I had a pic of your panel somewhere from last year

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

Yep that's it, maybe one day I'll get it painted! What all u got left to do to urs?

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

All lines, some wiring, floors, wheels, tires, paint. Still hoping for beatersville. Between the guy that's helping and myself we (mainly all him, got a bunch done this week. Hopefully putting the drive train in it tomorrow. I've got some update pics. I'll try to load this later tonight or more likely tomorrow

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

[QUOTE=Free Candy Inside;6669443]All lines, some wiring, floors, wheels, tires, paint. Still hoping for beatersville. Between the guy that's helping and myself we (mainly all him, got a bunch done this week. Hopefully putting the drive train in it tomorrow. I've got some update pics. I'll try to load this later tonight or more likely tomorrow[/Q Good luck! I'm going either way with or without the truck! Yeah I'd like to see some more pic's!

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

Here was the frame issue with it not setting down level. At its highest point, the frame was 8"tall. I bought some 3x5 3/16ths to add to the frame.

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

Here is the 3x5 put in,the low spot cut out, strapping welded up. So took some of the rake out of it to make it sit even more level. Next plan is to cut the top of the frame off where the cab hits. That'll get me down another 2" total, another 3" lower than the previous pictures

Re: Free Candy Inside: 63 Long Panel Build
 

Dave pancaked the crossmember