Bkndsdls' 64 Build - 9+ years strong

[Bkndsdl]

Hello all, My name is Mike and like the title says, I've been restoring my '64 swb step since '01. It was my Uncle's truck as long as I can remember. He restored it first in the late 80's. The cab was bad then, but he couldn't find a replacement so did the best he could. When he got a job as a tugboat captain, my step Grandpa took care of it. He put a few dings and dents in it, but kept it running like the proverbial sewing machine. When he passed away, my Uncle hadn't messed with it in so long, he didn't really know what to do with it; it needed some work. I talked to him about it, and he agreed to sell it to me. I drove it for a little while, and when my first son was born I decided that it would be neat to drive him to his first day of school in it. Boy was I off by a few years, he's 8 now and in the 3rd grade!!

Here are some pictures taken a few years after my Uncle first restored it.





Those chains on the bed sides (white) were on every truck I ever saw my Grandpa own. They aid in keeping the rears down on the pavement; they are massive!

Up to now, it's been totally dismantled, and the frame has been blasted & painted, the front end's been upgraded to discs and 5 lugs, the rearend has been replaced with a match to the front end, and the frame is back on its wheels. I have located a replacement cab, and hope to have it at the blasters' house this weekend. More to come, I've got a lot of build pics to upload!

[Bkndsdl]

Here's a pic of the frame before it was rolling again; you can see the parts truck in the background, and the bed filled with all the body parts in the center.

[DPowers]

Welcome Mike, great history on the truck.

[Bkndsdl]

Thanks. I have kept a website since I started - http://home.mchsi.com/~bkndsdl1/ -, but it has gotten quite full and I haven't been able to update it because of that. Bulletin boards were in the infant stages at that time.....I have been meaning to do this for a while, but you know how life seems to get in the way....

[Bkndsdl]

Well, here's where I am at now with the truck. It's totally dissasembled, and the frame has been blasted, painted and was put back on wheels in '08. I have gotten the cab stripped and off to get blasted and primed so I can begin the body work.

Here's my first new parts order; frame parts!



Here's the frame back on its wheels.



Here's the rearend going back together...........



Here's the frontend back together. All the bushings and wear parts are new.

[Bkndsdl]

Today was a big day. I am finally able to get the replacement cab off to get blasted and primed. As you can see, I have a lot of work ahead of me.......

[Bkndsdl]

More........

[Bkndsdl]

The po did a good job of covering up everything with some tar-like strips that are very, very hard to remove............lots of work. But, gotta start with something.

[Bkndsdl]

duh.......blaster informed me that I forgot to include the glove box and ash tray. I didn't even think about those. He said if I get them to him, he'll blast those at no extra charge.

[Woogeroo]

Hey, he's back at it!

woo hoo!

-W

[Bkndsdl]

lol, hey woog......yep, back to it! I've still got a ton of progress pics to post, just gotta locate 'em all with all the computer swaps and cd's burned over the years........gonna kinda do the 'post as you find pics' thing until I get caught up, kinda goin in reverse right now with how I posted stuff, but I'll get 'em up soon.

[Bkndsdl]

Here's a few pics of the replacement cab before I sent it to the blaster. I bought it for $200. It was in much better shape than my original cab, although it had some rust. The po decided to patch things up........if you were to drive this truck as it was, it would probably last quite a while, but what they did is create a whole lot of work for someone who is trying to restore it as you'll see.

The po put tar down, drilled and pop-riveted sheetmetal down, then covered that with more tar and paint..........a big, nasty mess. They weren't stingy with the tar nor rivets...........





Many layers at times.........



Many many layers. This is everywhere. I had to find the rivets under the tar, drill them out with my drill, then pull the sheetmetal away from the tar underneath.



I had help. Ever thought your kids couldn't do much with a rubber hammer? Guess again........I got a dent along the back of the cab from the oldest.......



Lots and lots of elbow grease.

[Bkndsdl]

I know most of us have alternate hobbies.........just wanted to post a pic of mine.

[Bkndsdl]

Now for a bit of back-tracking. I apologize for the jumping around; like I said, there have been a ton of pics taken since '01.....

Here's where I started.

[Bkndsdl]

Think my new cab is bad? This is why I am happy I got the new cab......







Yes, I can put my hand in there. No fixing this........

[Bkndsdl]

And a few miscellaneous shots of work to do.....

[Bkndsdl]

Here's a few shots of the engine bay. I have chunked the 230; it had a bad knock when I got it. Ran strong, but I came across a deal on a 250 motor that was rebuilt in '01 and trans with new clutch, pressure plate, and throwout bearing for $100 that I couldn't pass up.





Notice the stainless steel exhaust hanger wire? My grandpa was no cheap shadetree mechanic.....only the best!

[Bkndsdl]

The color my Uncle painted the truck is a 1985 Volkswagen color, AquaPearl Blue. It will be repainted the same color, but I am thinking a white top would look good.......

[Bkndsdl]

Moving forward............the frame. Many years of gunk..........

[Bkndsdl]

Cool deal, just found out that LMC is now offering replacement hood front panels, upper and lower; the lower section was the only bad spot on my replacement hood! Now I don't have to go searching for another hood and paying out the nose for it...more $ to spend somewhere else.

[ruffrida2005]

I've been thinking about the same thing, But it's still not cheap by any means.

[burbguy]

are those OSHA approved flip flops..? I was kinda tryin to find a set of those...LOL

nice progress pics...keep em comin.

[Alan's Classic]

Nice progress, keep it up. BTW welcome aboard.

[Bkndsdl]

Originally Posted by ruffrida2005

I've been thinking about the same thing, But it's still not cheap by any means.

Yeah, but at least I know I won't have to go hunting for another one. Not to mention, paying for it......I don't think I could find another hood for the price of the replacement panel that I wouldn't have to work on some more....

Originally Posted by burbguy

are those OSHA approved flip flops..? I was kinda tryin to find a set of those...LOL

nice progress pics...keep em comin.

lol......I was just happy I was able to wear 'em. Good for welding too, they are rubber-soled!

Originally Posted by Alan's Classic

Nice progress, keep it up. BTW welcome aboard.

Thanks, Alan! I've spent the last month reading your thread, absolutely awesome and very much a motivator. I have many questions that will be coming your way as soon as I start the bodywork, hope you don't mind.........My real Grandpa was a body man in lower Louisiana. My Mom knows a bit about it too, because he had all the kids helping out, especially the sanding! He passed away before I was born, but my Uncles kinda took up the trade; I wish I lived in Louisiana still so I had someone to teach me hands-on.

[Bkndsdl]

Bought me a new toy in preparation of sheet metal work last weekend; I got a sheetmetal nibbler from Harbor Freight. I tried it on a piece of scrap; works good, but boy does it use a lot of air.

Next thing I'll be buying is an angle grinder (thanks Alan, Heath, Dennis). Man, the cab better get here soon or I'll not be able to buy patch panels with all the new toys!