'67 step-side replacement rear bumper

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by Richard8971

OK. A new dawn has approached with my truck. I have decided that I like my truck enough that IF I can find a nice, rust-free AZ '67 cab, I will redo the truck.

Here is the plan.

After I aquire a "new" cab, strip her down and have the top chopped a couple or so inches (3"-4"???). I love the way chopped '67's look with the step-sides and I have a good friend of mine who chops tops for a living and who is also VERY good at doing so. He can also cut the glass so I don't have to find someone else who can do that!

As I am working on the cab I will get all new sheet-metal for the rest of the truck, IE, fenders, doors, hood... I need to get rid of all the rusted, bent-up pieces from Oregon. I will get the pieces one at a time and when I have all the pieces I need, jamb everything in and then assemble the truck and paint all at once. I am sure it will take some time to get the other pieces, but at least a piece at a time will be more affordable. I have also decided that I will weld the tailgate into the bed. My gate now is bolted closed and I have never needed to lower the tailgate. I figure it will look cleaner that way.

I am looking for a cab now and I am sure with all of the '67's here in Tucson I can find a good cab. I am in no big hurry, so I won't just jump on a POS cab just to get one. I have one of those already!

Also, no way in heck I am changing the color. It will stay pearl orange. It's kinda become my calling card.

Wish me luck!

D

I'm confused Don. Are you talking about building a second truck... or redoing the one you have now...??? Where is this rusted, dented sheet metal?

Do you have an early 4L60 that's not computer controlled?

[Richard8971]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

I'm confused Don. Are you talking about building a second truck... or redoing the one you have now...??? Where is this rusted, dented sheet metal?

Do you have an early 4L60 that's not computer controlled?

Hey Jessie. I am talking about rebuilding the one I have now. All the areas on my truck that you see that are orange, they are the rusted and dented parts. There is WAY too much filler in my truck for my liking and rust is already creeping back through. The bottom of the doors and the front part of the hood and already bubbling with rust. Not to mention the inside door and cab jambs. It's getting pretty bad. It's hard to explain in pictures of just how rusted out this thing was when I got it. A quick look back at the build pics will show some of the rust issues and amount of filler I went through.

And yes I found an early 4L60 that is not computer controlled. I believe it came out of a 1990 GMC van. The only thing I had to do was get the tail-shaft swapped with one that has a manual gear for my speedo. The 4L60 had an eletronic one.

D

[67ChevyRedneck]

I'm really sorry to hear that! You did such a great job putting it all together. It's a shame! At least you can work on all of the parts and get them ready to go "back on the truck" before you ever touch the actual truck so you can enjoy it a lot longer. That's what I'm going to be doing to mine with all the parts I have stored up. My truck also is need of new inner and outer rockers, and maybe even a section of the cab supports in a couple areas.

[Richard8971]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

At least you can work on all of the parts and get them ready to go "back on the truck" before you ever touch the actual truck so you can enjoy it a lot longer.

That's the idea. I figure if I buy new sheetmetal, the reduced time needed to get them ready for paint will far outweigh the money saved by getting parts that need work. I'm in no big hurry, I want to enjoy my truck as much as possible before I tear into it again.

D

[Richard8971]

Picked up something cool today. I went to Don's Hot Rod Shop and got a set of advance curve springs for my HEI distributor. It's a kit that has stock springs, medium and light. I'm thinking about installing the light ones... heh heh heh

The springs and weights I have in there now are stock. I'm hoping this really helps light my motor up! I'll keep you posted.

D

[basketcase]

It's been a few years since I have been in Don's Speed Shop. There is a lot of stuff in that place. It isn't exactly around the corner for me though.

Tom

[Richard8971]

OK. Quick update. The light springs sucked, so I took them out and installed the medium springs and weights. The motor is a little quicker to respond when you mash the gas.

I'm doing a MPG test this week to see what kind of milage I am getting. I'll let cha know...

D

[Richard8971]

I figure I am getting almost 14 miles per gallon. I think if I install a K 'n N filter and install my electric fans I should get a couple more miles out of her.

Just FYI.

D

[67ChevyRedneck]

Sounds good! If I ever get some cash freed up I'm going to do the jeep electric fan swap. Might pick up a mpg or so and at a minimum, give my motor a little bit of HP back.

I put an electric fan in my 2.2L S-10, not only did it make the truck much quieter at idle, but I picked up 1-2mpg city (saw no highway improvement, which kinda makes sense) and I could definitely "feel" the HP that was "given back" to the motor. Probably not much to feel in a 305 or 350, but in a 2.2, it's noticable

I want to add one to my silverado, but it's given me 122K problem free "stock" miles and I'm afraid to change anything under the hood. I don't want to create bad ju ju and jinx it

[Richard8971]

Hello all! I'm BACK!!!

in a nutshell, I sold the '67 stepper about a year ago in hopes of finding an older truck.

Mission accomplished! I now own a 1954 Chevrolet 3800 long bed. Lots and lots of ideas for this one and the best of it? It's a rust free (mostly) AZ truck!

Follow my new build thread... http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=581108