1966 F100 Short/Fleet Full Stock Resto Build Thread

[theastronaut]

Some of today's progress. We a shooting to have the truck finished by June 14th for a local Father's Day show.


The armrest from Dennis Carpenter needed some finishing work before we dyed them to match the seat material.




After smoothing the edges with 500 grit.




Dad found a NOS seat bottom locally to use as a pattern.




Backrest vinyl from SMS with the correct heat stamped logo and pleats.




Fabric from SMS matches the imprinted pattern of the original material.

[theastronaut]

This time next Saturday we'll have it at it's first show... lots to do until then!!


Dad's been working on the seat bottom yesterday and today. It's mostly finished, he still has a little "fine tuning" to do.

For whatever reason SMS sent us pre-cut material for the seat face.... four inches too narrow!! Called them back and asked why they sent pre-cut sections and they said that that's all they had... and they cut the whole roll that way. Would be "awhile" before they made another run of the fabric in the correct width (60"). They didn't mention that when we ordered the material. So the boxing is a little taller than it should be on the sides, but what else do you do when you only have a week to finish it and no other known material source?






Backrest in place to mark the pattern so Dad can line up the back rest cover with the seat bottom.




Arm rests dyed to match the seat vinyl.




I have a matching pair of original paint '66 plates from my '66 C10 that I'm putting on temporarily for it's first show. I scuffed them and shot a few coats of clear to preserve the original paint.

[theastronaut]

Dad's nearly done with the backrest, these were some progress pics.






Heavier gauge steel rod for the adjusters. This won't ever stretch out of shape and become loose, and the cardboard wrap will keep it from rattling if the springs bottom out on it.






Rangoon Red and Whimbledon White sprayed. Letters are masked, I'll spray the Sahara Beige and a few coats of clear tonight.

[SamsAutoParts73-87]

Looking good!

-Sam

[Ol Blue K20]

Absolutely gorgeous. ...

[theastronaut]

Originally Posted by SamsAutoParts73-87

Looking good!

-Sam

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

Absolutely gorgeous. ...

Thanks!!!!


Truck is 99% finished now and we took it to it's first show today!! Had a great day at a local Father's Day show, took the F100 and the blue '65 C10 that I finished about three years ago. Can't wait to get the pair out again!

I'll go ahead and post the rest of the progress pics, then post pics from the show to keep things in order. Was a loonnnggg week getting it ready!!


Zinc plated tailgate handle bucket was hazy so I tried Mother's polish... helped but still didn't look good enough.




Used 0000 steel wool and Mother's to really shine it up.




Wetsanded and buffed the bedsides.




Also sanded and buffed the tail light lenses.




Bed and side trim back in place. Looking like a truck at this point!!




Interior mostly finished up.








Last piece of the puzzle. I finished wetsanding and buffing the tailgate late Friday night, then got it installed by about 9 pm. We bolted the bumper up after that and waited til this morning to adjust it level and tighten it down.

[theastronaut]

And pics from the show! We had a prime corner parking spot reserved right on the square downtown. The city closes main street all day for the show and they're are atleast 4-500 cars every year.

[dantimdad]

Incredible!

Steven

[Palf70Step]

Beautiful!!

[Ol Blue K20]

Awesome! !! Looks great

[theastronaut]

Originally Posted by dantimdad

Incredible!

Steven

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Beautiful!!

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

Awesome! !! Looks great

Thanks!! We delivered the truck to the owner today. Took better pics before we left out.

[trixter99]

It's not my style and I think it would look better modified, but you did an outstanding job on that truck very well done congrats.

[Ol Blue K20]

You can bet that it is nicer now than when it was new....just awesome

[plainred65]

Beautiful job, bet you can't believe it's over.

[tune_1]

Thanks for posting this build. Really like all the information that you have provided. It will help on any project not just pickups. I like what you have accomplished.

Dwight

[Low Elco]

Absolutely Beautiful. You all should be rightly proud.

[MP&C]

Drop dead gorgeous! That must have been like a magnet at the car show. Ok, what's next?

[theastronaut]

Originally Posted by trixter99

It's not my style and I think it would look better modified, but you did an outstanding job on that truck very well done congrats.

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

You can bet that it is nicer now than when it was new....just awesome

Originally Posted by plainred65

Beautiful job, bet you can't believe it's over.

Originally Posted by tune_1

Thanks for posting this build. Really like all the information that you have provided. It will help on any project not just pickups. I like what you have accomplished.

Dwight

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Absolutely Beautiful. You all should be rightly proud.

Originally Posted by MP&C

Drop dead gorgeous! That must have been like a magnet at the car show. Ok, what's next?

Thanks dudes!! Robert, we're starting a '40 Packard Convertible next week. Haven't seen it in person yet, but from pics it looks like it'll need plenty of metal work.

[Russell Ashley]

Please be sure to start a build thread on that Packard. I'm already looking forward to that one.

[theastronaut]

Originally Posted by Russell Ashley

Please be sure to start a build thread on that Packard. I'm already looking forward to that one.

Will do, I'll post the link once I've started a topic for it. I took "before" pics this morning... It's way rougher than we thought it would be from just looking at pictures. Filler, fiberglass, and rust everywhere!!

[theastronaut]

Build thread for the Packard is here:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...64#post6798064

[AUS64c10]

Dam its not just the level of detail that impresses me it's the shear determination needed to see the job through. It must be so hard handing the keys back to the owner!

[theastronaut]

Originally Posted by AUS64c10

Dam its not just the level of detail that impresses me it's the shear determination needed to see the job through. It must be so hard handing the keys back to the owner!

Yeah it's a strange feeling to walk into the shop and have an empty stall after all the work that's gone into it. We only had it around for about two weeks after we took it to it's first show. The owner is local though so we'll see it around. We're planning on taking it to GoodGuys Charlotte in October.

[Low Elco]

I just did that last night. Kind of unnerving!

[theastronaut]

The truck will be featured in our local newspaper this Friday in the automotive section. I snapped a few pics from the photoshoot. They've been driving it a little, it's up to 82 miles. The lady sitting in the truck is the owner's mother, and the building it's parked in front of is the dealership it was bought new at.