"Old Bill" 1968 Chevy 4wd resto/build

[ncgamedog]

A little background info:
This is a resto build of my Grandpa's 1968 Chevy LWB. He bought the truck about 5 years ago from his best friend and high school classmate, Bill, who has owned the truck since new. The truck is in really great shape for its age and just needs a little love. My grandpa and Bill have been friends and played bluegrass music together for years. Bill just recently suddenly passed so we have decided to restore the truck in Bill's honer. The truck has been affectionately referred to as "the ole' Bill truck" among my family to distinguish it from the rest of the fleet, hence the name of the build lol.

Specs on the truck as it sits:
68 Chevy LWB 2wd coil spring rear
327 ci small block
TH400
non AC
Large back window
Ugly sea-green :shaking:

Build Plans:

Engine:
Going with a later 5.7 (350 ci) TBI roller bottom end, bored 0.030 over with new flattop pistons and full rebuild.
Heads are yet to be determined, looking for some early castings with around 70-76 cc chambers and smaller intake valves to create more torque. Performer intake, w/ rebuilt Rochester carb, long tube headers, HEI, ect. Pretty standard stuff. The original 327 runs amazing! It just needs all new seals, this route was just more cost effective for now.

Chassis and drivetrain:
The truck will be remarried to a 1972 4wd frame and axles.
Dana 44 front/12b rear 3.73 posi, both axles are getting completely rebuilt. The frame has been completely stripped, blasted, and repainted along with all the springs and accessories. The original TH400 will be retained and converted to 4wd using a 32 spline 205. I've got all 32 spline outputs for the case as well.

Body/Paint and Interior:
The body is getting media blasted and a few rust spots repaired. It needs rocker panels, a small bed patch, and a new tailgate, otherwise the body is very straight and in good shape. The paint is still undecided but its looking like most all of the CST trim will be deleted and we'll be going with a solid blue color. Something like a Viper blue or Shelby blue. It will get all new "as original" interior as well.

Other:
In general there will be few hardcore mods to the truck. We are using the original leaves with new polys everywhere. We have a set of original solid wheels that will get blasted and painted/powder coated. I'm shopping around for some old school tall skinny mud terrain tires to mount on them as well.

On to the Pics:

Old Bill


Roller Before


Chassis stripped ready for blasting


Chassis and springs blasted ready for paint


Close up of blasted frame


Engine crossmember in ready for paint


Frame after paint


Frame and springs painted


Small Parts ready for paint


Springs painted


Dana 44 before


Stay tuned for updates, working on the axles now....

[onebadbowtie]

Looks like a good start and that you have it all planned out. Keep up the good work!

[ncgamedog]

Todays progress...

rear springs hung


front shackles and new bumpstops all around


T-case x-member reassembled w new bushings


Frame front from Driver side


Continued cleaning on the dana 44

[msgross]

nice... reminds me of my teardown on the 68 K-10.... of course it's still not back together but i'll get there someday...

good luck

[silver7]

Looks like this is going to be a great build ncgamedog. I like your attention to detail and the story behind the build. Plan to follow this one closely.

Shawn

[ncgamedog]

PROGRESS!!! Finally!







Chris hard at it!

[ncgamedog]

Both axles have been completely stripped down, cleaned, and all new bearings, seals, ball joints, u-joints, wheel studs, brakes, ect. have been installed.

The paint being used is SEM Rust Shield chassis paint which uses its own hardener. Its supposed to be super tough stuff, and lays down much nicer than POR 15 IMO.

Many thanks to Chris at MarsFab for his hard work and attention to detail on the completion of the rolling chassis!! His customer service has been second to none!!

[Dieselwrencher]

Very nice build! "Ole Bill" is coming along nicely!

[67chevy1series]

very cool build i like!


NO keep the trim!!!!!
you will regret it later! ask member oldblue1968chevy he really is disapointed in himself for takin off the trim from his 68!

[1985-GMC]

Good looking build you've got going here!

[ncgamedog]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Very nice build! "Ole Bill" is coming along nicely!

Originally Posted by 67chevy1series

very cool build i like!


NO keep the trim!!!!!
you will regret it later! ask member oldblue1968chevy he really is disapointed in himself for takin off the trim from his 68!

Originally Posted by 1985-GMC

Good looking build you've got going here!

Thanks guys! I hope the body turns out just as nice.

[ncgamedog]

The rolling chassis all finished up...gotta hurry and finish the wheels up and find a set of tires so these horrible roll-a-rounds can go!

[heeroyue2002]

that looks cool.

[67chevy1series]

very nice very few 4wd suspensions look this nice!

[Chris Guthro]

I love that roller! How much money is tied up in total on redoing the running gear? if you dont mind me asking, just trying to ballpark what its gonna cost me

[msgross]

I'd keep the roll arounds until after the bodywork and paint is complete...

shocks look nice,

[chevroletc10@msn.com]

I am doing the same swap to my 67 c10 keep up the good work.

[thirdstreettito]

Nice to see another NC guy one here!

[vk_chevy]

doing an awesome job so far, can't wait to see the rest of the build...

[ncgamedog]

^ Thanks guys!! I wish I had some updates....
I've gone back to school after being laid off a few years ago, and am now a senior mechanical engineering tech student at UNCC. I'm trying to stay focused on school so I can get the heck back to work! It's been a real challenge depending on financial aid, I'm used to working. Working on the resto project just has to fit in around the rest of my busy schedule so the progress comes in short bursts, lol.

I think I have decided on few things for the plan going forward.

1) I talked to my friend who is a super sharp guy and manages a NAPA. He is excellent on Q-jets so he is going to rebuild the carb for me. He also offered to teach me how to assemble the 355ci short block, so I am going to def take him up on that! I'm super excited to finally learn how to properly assemble an engine. Now I just need to find some heads! If anybody has a line on some decent or worked vortec heads, let me know!

2) I have also made up my mind on the color choice for the truck. I am going to borrow and idea from another member on here, and go with the Toyota Voodoo Blue. It's the color on the newer FJ Cruiser. I want to go back with the white top and grill. I also would like to stay with the FJ Cruiser theme and have the grill trim, headlight bezels, door handles, wiper arms, wheels and mirrors powder coated a semi-metallic grayish color, similar to the grill on the FJ. I think this will give the truck a clean modern twist without altering the stock overall appearance of the truck. I do NOT like chrome on a truck or 4x4. I know its personal preference. Cars, its a somewhat different story.

On that note...I have a couple questions for you guys.

Would it be acceptable to have the grill and top painted white without reusing the trim around the back of the cab and the grill "eye brow" trim??

I was also wondering if anyone knows if re-pop painted or paint-able trim and mirrors are available? Most places I have looked only offer chrome.

[ncgamedog]

Here is an example of the FJ...Note the trim and mirrors, I may even consider putting some expanded metal or honeycomb mesh behind the grill openings at the back so its subtle.