3 weeks, 1300 bucks, and a whole lot of sweat
 

Some of you may know, I got injured bad at work and had to take off for 4 months. It really knocked the wind out of my sails, with surgery and rehab 3 times a week and all that.

Anyway, as therapy, I decided to build a little project truck. I've been without a shortbed truck for near a year now, and it's not fun. It was time to build another.

I got a chassis from Matt67350 for 300 bucks. I took it all the way down to the bare frame and detailed it as I reassembled it. I cleaned and painted everything. I rebuilt the suspension and steering and installed lowering components too. It's got 5.5 inch front drop and 6 inch rear drop.

I used an old 1 ton cab and doors I had. I just shaved off the cab lights. I left the neat old sign on the doors though.

I got a bed from Matt too. The bed was a basket case. It's about the worst bed I've ever seen, but the price was perfect. I wound up taking it all apart and replacing the floor. I spent considerable time repairing all the rusted sections too. I burnt a whole roll of wire in the welder on this.

I used an old 292 inline 6 engine that I got from Randy (teeitup) in Kansas. He gave it to me as a core, but it's actually a real solid engine. I figured it would be a good one when I found out it came out of a school district truck. They don't usually drive much, and are real good about maintenance. I had to put a fuel and water pumps on it though. I had an HEI distributor in my shed, so I used that too.

The transmission is a three speed, that I rebuilt by scavenging parts out of 2 other transmissions. I basically combined 3 transmissions into one. I made the shift lever out of an old SM465 4 speed lever, with Mr Gasket mechanism.

It has a used windshield that I traded some welding work for, I installed it myself to save money.

The grille is an old billet grille that was broken in several places. That took me a whole day just to fit it and repair it. It's still not perfect, but it's a decent 10 footer. The front bumper came out of my junk pile. I used a torch and rosebud tip to straighten it as best as possible, then painted it Rustoleum hammer silver color.

A fireman I work for gave me a late model set of rallys off his 88 model truck. I used the centers and rings on early model rallys for a neat look (thanks for the center cap tip Matt).

Anyway, I tally'ed up the reciepts and it came to a little over 1300 bucks cash, and a butt load of horse trading to get this thing to where it is now. I figured about 150 hours of labor over the course of 3 weeks.

I call it "The Plumbing Truck" do to the logos on the doors. I don't know when they were painted, but it was so long ago, that the phone number is "ILL 1692". For you youngsters, that's "Illinois 1692". Phone numbers used to be that way about 30 years ago.

It's still not totally done. I need to round up some turn signal lights, put in the tailiights, and build a new exhaust system. It just has a 3 foot piece of pipe under there now.

Re: 3 weeks, 1300 bucks, and a whole lot of sweat
 

Looks good. Glad to see you back on the road. Both health and truck wise.

Re: 3 weeks, 1300 bucks, and a whole lot of sweat
 

Good job man. That's a cool truck.
I didnt know you'd been hurt. Hope you're on the mend.

Re: 3 weeks, 1300 bucks, and a whole lot of sweat
 

Bro, I'm in debt to you on those u-joint retainers.

Not only did you give them to me, but you cleaned them up spotless and put them in a little baggie for me too.

Re: 3 weeks, 1300 bucks, and a whole lot of sweat
 

Sweet! Great looking truck! Now if workmans comp would pay for that kind of "Therapy"! :metal:

Re: 3 weeks, 1300 bucks, and a whole lot of sweat
 

NICE! Please dont paint it, it looks killer just the way it is. I love that look...corn

Re: 3 weeks, 1300 bucks, and a whole lot of sweat
 

I won't paint it.

I actually just walked back in from picking up a donor truck for a fuel injected V6 and 700R4 transmission for it. I'm thinking the fuelie 4.3 with overdrive and 3.73's will get good mileage.

Re: 3 weeks, 1300 bucks, and a whole lot of sweat
 

That's a sweet little fleet there TX. I love the cab and doors with the faded white look. Need to paint the bed flat white and patina it to match the cab....:metal:

Re: 3 weeks, 1300 bucks, and a whole lot of sweat
 

Looks great...I'd drive that thing anywhere. Hope you are getting back to your self. Take care.

Re: 3 weeks, 1300 bucks, and a whole lot of sweat
 

Very nice job. Looks great.

Re: 3 weeks, 1300 bucks, and a whole lot of sweat
 

N2TRUX, I have some flat white paint, I'm thinking what you're thinking. I'm going to try and match the bed to the truck somewhat. If that works out, I'm going to replace some rust panels and weld up some holes on the cab and front clip too, and spot in the paint.

Bill, this should be my last outdoor project. I did this all in the gravel under my car port with an extension cord to the house for power. We start the dirt work for the shop this week and should have it done by Thanksgiving. Then, I'll be able to work indoors where I can actually jack it up without the jack sinking into the dirt.

The injury is done and healed. I had a knee reconstructed out of some exotic stuff. There's plenty of hardware inside of my leg now. No metal detectors for me anymore for sure.

Re: 3 weeks, 1300 bucks, and a whole lot of sweat
 

Glad the shop is finally getting started. Lying on gravel is not a therapudic as it was when we were yunguns :D.

Re: 3 weeks, 1300 bucks, and a whole lot of sweat
 

How did you get the 5.5 drop in front?

Re: 3 weeks, 1300 bucks, and a whole lot of sweat
 

Looks good especially for what you have in it.

Re: 3 weeks, 1300 bucks, and a whole lot of sweat
 

Now that's hustling man, 3 weeks...holy crap! Nice daily driver and it looks pretty good to boot! I didn't know you were laid up either anyway glad to see you're back on your feet, literally.

Re: 3 weeks, 1300 bucks, and a whole lot of sweat
 

2.5 inch spindle and a stock spring with 1 coil cut (3 inches for that).

I'll be busy on the shop for a few weeks, but after that, I'm definitely doing the fuel injected V6 and auto overdrive swap in it. I'd say it will probably be fuel injected and on the road by Christmas. I'll get the donor engine and trans pulled out and readied in the mean time to save time.

Re: 3 weeks, 1300 bucks, and a whole lot of sweat
 

I like the stance. Is that your tail pipe under the truck? My openion - paint the truck one color. It is a good driver the way it is but I just think it would look better one color. MO

Re: 3 weeks, 1300 bucks, and a whole lot of sweat
 

That's just a piece of junk exhaust I put under there just to get it running. I'm swapping another engine in it though, so I won't bother messing with it for now. When I'm done. the pipes will be tucked up real tight underneath. I don't roll with the low hanging exhaust look.

I'll be making a midnight run to the junk pile at my local exhaust shop. They cut brand new exhaust systems off trucks and cars and replace them with cat backs and stuff. I like to scrounge the take offs and build my own. Heck, it's all top quality stuff off new vehicles. Cutting, expanding, and welding, you can make a killer system for free that way.

Re: 3 weeks, 1300 bucks, and a whole lot of sweat
 

Leave it just as is!!! I love it! Especial.y that shorty header pipe. Why ruin a good thing?? Stick with the six and maybe split the manifold??? Definetly do not paint!
This truck is a perfect example of what it is realy all about!!!
Take notice Foose!!! 1300 bucks and in my book this one takes the trophy over your custom chop/graphicized/channeled/veloured/tinted/crated/TVed/ "overhauled"/tall chick with long legs who hangs around and goofs around for the guys/custom multi layered paints /cleare coated/ tucked and rolled/filled/glassed/blasted/overkilled creation from a story/fantasy bookland/ polished for show/ one of kind signed and autographed/designer car/truck that needs garaged and definetly not driven/ trailer queen/ show stopper!!!

Give me the RAT!!!!!!!!!

Re: 3 weeks, 1300 bucks, and a whole lot of sweat
 

very cool truck! :metal:

Re: 3 weeks, 1300 bucks, and a whole lot of sweat
 

How's the ride in front with that much drop?

Re: 3 weeks, 1300 bucks, and a whole lot of sweat
 

Cool ride! I know the 6-banger is cool, but you'll love the fuel injection. Glad to hear you're back on feet.

Rob

Re: 3 weeks, 1300 bucks, and a whole lot of sweat
 

Uncle, the ride is fine. I've lowered several this exact same way. The cut coil is fine riding and aligns fine too.

Re: 3 weeks, 1300 bucks, and a whole lot of sweat
 

Tx.... I didn't even know you had been hurt. On the job is my guess? Anyway, nice rehab effort :) . I agree on painting the bed patina white & leave the doors/front clip as is or just touch up the worst spots (keep it low buck). Definitely do the 4.3/OD trans combo when time permits.

Best of luck on the remainder of your rehab.

Re: 3 weeks, 1300 bucks, and a whole lot of sweat
 

nice truck all those hours put into it, definately something to be proud of :metal: