My 66' Rescue ambulance build..

[giftshopduane]

I started tearing into this today. Removed the plywood that made up the middle compartment, steel floor, rear headliner, cubbies and diamond plate floor. 2 contractor bags full of insulation and mice nests, half a shop vac of mouse crap, 12ft of knob and tube wiring, ants and a real live mouse, I called it a day (have a date with my wife tonight!). The Gerstlager conversion is mostly plywood, hardwood and the side doors are fiberglass, lots of rot, and deterioration.

I picked up a 64 truck cab (floors and rockers are junk, but the dash roof A-B pillars are all good, dash and the front seat frame. I plan on grafting in 2 side doors, jams, rockers and floor to convert it into a 4 door. I am thinking I'll keep the back the way it was, I liked the utilitarian design of the ambulance back. It will make a nice kid, dirtbike hauler camping family type of thing.

I have to start somewhere.













http://i702.photobucket.com/albums/w...psk2hzq99m.jpg

[RANDY COX]

I'm glad your starting a build thread, those side doors are pretty KOOL... I'll be awatching.

[giftshopduane]

Originally Posted by RANDY COX

I'm glad your starting a build thread, those side doors are pretty KOOL... I'll be awatching.

Thanks, me too. As much as I like those little doors and the compartment, it probably won't make its way back in the build. I say "probably" I am working out the details for the 2nd set of doors, the latches are rudimentary and I can't see them being ideal for passenger doors. Romantically I'd like to restore it as is, but then it would be an impractical truck for me (like it's practical to begin with).

More to come.

[Palf70Step]

Nice ride. I'll be looking forward to watching your build!

[Bomp]

So, (please correct me if I'm wrong) your plans are to make a crew cab (4 door)?
I've been collecting parts for a crew build.

Sub'd

[giftshopduane]

Originally Posted by Bomp

So, (please correct me if I'm wrong) your plans are to make a crew cab (4 door)?
I've been collecting parts for a crew build.

Sub'd

For now that's the plan. Plans might change the further I go, at minimum I delete the small doors but still make it a crew, maybe a small sliding window for passengers. Or I thought to keep it a 2 door, but graft in window tops and roll down mechanism and make it a 2 door crew with roll down rear windows, split burb front seat. 3 door? I haven't decided about the way back yet either. Could go full cargo with bike tie downs, a 3rd bench (9pass) or jump seats.. it's a blank canvas right now.

Chris

[giftshopduane]

I little bit more today.. removed the bench seat in back, front seat and more cleaning and mouse nests. Every cavity had a huge nest in it, the truck stinks of pee. Next up,pressure wash the interior.

[RANDY COX]

what's that lever next to the radio do is that some sort of E-brake....

[giftshopduane]

Originally Posted by RANDY COX

what's that lever next to the radio do is that some sort of E-brake....

Mico brake lock.. it's a line lock. My guess it's because of the 12,000lb Ramsey winch up front. The truck has a transmission brake and the line lock would take the load off the axles and such.

[kchampagne]

Nice start! It is going to be one sweet ride!

[TJ's Chevy]

Just noticed it's a GMC, Does it have the original v6?

[giftshopduane]

Yes. 305e,

[TJ's Chevy]

Originally Posted by giftshopduane

Yes. 305e,

Cool! Good motor there.

[RANDY COX]

Man from the inside that thing looks like it's a mile long....

[giftshopduane]

1.2! It's 133" WB. 18' grill to barn doors, 23' bumper to bumper.. It's going to get interesting once it's in the garage!

[giftshopduane]

Moving along.. I have the sandblaster coming in tomorrow to strip. Removed the front and rear bumpers, glass, trim etc,...







Oh, I picked this up today.

[62stepside longbox]

That's an awesome 64 panel! What's with the rear wheel wells?

[Palf70Step]

Very nice. And, yeah I have not seen one with that shaped rear wheel openings.

[spacedebris]

Here is another with that same wheel well. (or at least very close) I THINK what someone did was take front fenders and graft the wheel well into the rear. I base that by the similar shape on the front nothing more. LOL I think since there was a lack of of patch panels for the rear and the fleetside bed panels only recently became available that when the rear wheel well was damaged/rusted the only wheel wells available were front so they made do with what they had. at least that is my theory anyway.

[giftshopduane]

That's another conversion for fire services.. I'll have it next week and report back.

[giftshopduane]

Moving along... had it stripped today.. hell of a mess but it's done. There was about 5 layers of paint, many repairs, none of them good, some pinworm. Lot's of sheetmetal coming from a few sources. Back at it on Monday. I will keep updating as it goes.

[TJ's Chevy]

I wish I had that sand blaster!

[giftshopduane]

More progress... front sheet metal on, quarter patches in. Waiting for the new side panels to fill on the small doors. Been picking away at it. Moving along nicely though.

[DPowers]

Interesting- I like it.

[Mathew21]

Very cool project.