Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

This is my second 67-72 SWB Fleetside. First pic is of my 72 that i sold, bagged, 20's & 454/TH400 combo. Still scratch my head as to why i sold it lol.

I picked up the Dark Blue 68 CST SWB for $500 with no motor. It is going to take me a couple of years to restore it, but it is a family project. My dad and brother are helping me do it. So in some ways I guess i'm glad I sold my 72. Now I get a chance to work on this one with my family. My dad just got done restoring his 1940 Chevy Pickup and my brother has a 1957 Chevy pickup the he is going to restore. Well back to mine, it is going to be a complete frame up restoration with a 5/7 drop and a 350/350 drivetrain. I'm undecided on wheels and paint. Hope you guys enjoy my build.

02/15/2013 Update Time, truck is now getting front/rear dropmembers, 20x8.5/20x10 Intro Retro wheels and already has a 454/TH400 installed :metal:

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

Both cab corners and rockers were completely rotted so thats where we started.

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

Moved onto the passenger side

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

I have changed my mind a thousand times on what direction to take with this truck. I do know that its going to have a 5/7 drop and because of my penny-pinching budget prob 15" wheel vintique corvette rallys with 245/60 & 275/60 BFG's. Picked up a GM 350 crate off a buddy for $400.00, so it will have a small block/ TH350 combo. I'm very undecided on paint.

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

Heres a couple of pictures of my dads 1940 Chevy Pickup he built. Complete Frame-off, suicide doors and he painted it himself. Truck is really really nice. Sorry for the crappy cell phone pics.

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

You sure dont see those 40's chevys very often very nice.. Cannot wait to see what direction you head with your new build.

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

Haven't updated in a while but i got my motor all cleaned up and painted also took the cab off the frame so i can blast the frame and start working on the suspension. Here is some pics of the motor.

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

Motor is a stock GM 260hp crate motor with Edelbrock performer RPM intake, Edelbrock 600 carb, skip white dizzy and Hedman 68608 mid-length headers. Went with mid-lengths since i'm going to be running a 5"/7" drop and didn't want any ground clearance issues. Later on after i get the truck on the road i will put something in with a little more thump.

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

I finished sand blasting the frame what a PITA that was, next time i want a frame blasted i will take it to a blaster. It took 6 100lb bags of sand, yikes. Primered the frame after blasting it. Then painted it with rustoleum professional series gloss black. Still have to do a second coat but going to strip all the suspension off it first. I think it turned out pretty good.

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

coming along nicely, I like the engine it looks clean.

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

Thanks the worst part about building this truck is I change my mind 50 different times about everything :lol:

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

Finally got some updated pictures of the frame. Took a while to get it to this point. Blasting the frame and cleaning 40 years worth of grease and road grime off of the control arms and rear was a real pita. Put a second coat of paint on the frame and bolted the rear suspension back together. It has 5" drop coils and 2" blocks along with an ece super track bar to locate it. Don't mind the nasty trailing arms, I just bolted them in place until I get my new ones from ece. Still have to do my c-notch and convert the rear to 5 lug. Next weekend i'm going to bolt the front suspension back together. Can't wait to see how my McGaughy's 13" big brake kit looks :metal:

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

1 more picture of the rear

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

nice progress :metal:

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

how exactly are those car dollies working for you?????:haha:

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

They work great i'm able push the truck around the garage with them. Got them from harbor frieght for around $50.

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

how r we coming along,keep pictures coming & u looking good :metal: :cool:

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

oh well thats just great i have a set they can even hold and move a fileing cabenet!

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

Took some pic's of the front end together. Love the McGaughey's Big Brake Kit, it looks great.

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

Got my Hotchkis front sway bar installed too, very big very meaty bar should make this truck handle pretty good. Trucks finally starting to come together. Should be painting the cab in the spring.

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

wow looks ready for the road

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

Thanks now i just need to finish everything else lol, probably have another year left in this build.

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

tell me about it my mom said my project needs to drive by the time i can drive........... i dont think im gonna make that deadline :lol:

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

LOL i have been already working on mine for a year and it seems like nothing is done but the frame.

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

thats kinda the way it was with me

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

Got my brake lines done this past weekend

Front:

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

Rear:

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

making progress ,nice keep the pictures coming :metal: :cool:

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LOOKS GOOD!~did your truck come with buckets??????

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

Nice looking project, I'll be following this one. I'm sure it will be as nice as your red one or nicer.

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

Yeah but not the original buckets, i wish it had though. It came with some ratty old buckets i think out of a camaro or something.

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

Thanks guys, i finally feel like i'm having some progress with this build. It is slow going but i will get there someday :lol:

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

oh ok to bad are you gonna get some? people dog them but they are so comfy that i actually fell asleep in mine! long story......

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

Yeah i scored these power leather buckets for $40 at a local swap meet last fall. Guy i bought them from said they were out of an Infiniti. I'll run these for now then maybe someday put in some period correct buddy buckets.

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

ya if you dont need them then cover all the inner bolts because the buckets only use the two outer bolt holes on both sides i would have done it tio mine but i got the buckets after the floor was painted..

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Love the build. Motor is PRETTY! Brakes are bad a$$, and that Hotchkis sway bar is in fact a beefy one!

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

Great project thread! It's great to see you saving another piece of American Iron. Nice metalwork and suspension install. It looks like your Dad built a nice truck and you learned well.

Feel free to share you build progress of our Facebook page (LINK)

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

Thanks for the compliments your front sway bar is def a nice piece. I would like to run one of your rear away bars as well but I have the ECE Super Track bar. Which one of your rear sway bars would you suggest would be better suited to work with my ECE track bar, your regular sway bar or the blade style. Thank you.

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

Got my Coys C-5's in. Well just the fronts that is. They are 18x8 with 4.5bs Flat Black with Yokohama S-Drive 245/45/18. Will be ordering my 20x10 for the rears in a couple of weeks, still need to get my axle conversion for the rear. I love the way these wheels look. Special thanks to Big Al, i spent countless ours drooling over his beautiful truck. Sorry for the dark camera phone pics.

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

That 40 is really sweet. Saw size of tires you said you are going to use. Will those size meats fit under there with no mods and no rubbing if lowered cause thats the size i plan to use also. the corvette rallys and 60 series i mean.
76er