What do ya' think........ (Photos inside)

[HoupPhotography]

I took these photos a few weeks ago, I really like the truck (from the front) but the late model bed is really killing me.

Is my taste way off base thinking this looks terrible, what do you guys think? Be honest and post up, you won't hurt my feelings, it's not mine


EDIT: Why does the motor look so low, is that a typical mounting location for that year?

[El Jay]

Hate the bed.

Do you ever sleep?

[HoupPhotography]

Originally Posted by El Jay

Hate the bed.

Do you ever sleep?

Sometimes I do, What I don't get now I'll get when I'm down for good I should be tired, I was out working on the wife's new hot rod all day in the 150 f'n degree heat.

Hey, what about you, do you sleep?

[El Jay]

Originally Posted by HoupPhotography

Sometimes I do, What I don't get now I'll get when I'm down for good I should be tired, I was out working on the wife's new hot rod all day in the 150 f'n degree heat.

Hey, what about you, do you sleep?

Ahhhhhh. Messin' with the 'vette.

I used to live there, so I know about the heat.
It was dang near unbearable up here today. It got into the 90's.

I'm not sure how to describe it.
Work has been virtually nonexistent for me since Apr. I drive double bottom dumps.
I worked 3 days at the beginning of Apr., and 3 days at the end of Apr., plus one day in May. Nothing so far this month.
Fortunately, I collect a small retirement from Chevron; so even though I'm not working, I still have a small income.
All I have to do is follow Ben Franklin's advice, "Watch the pennies and the dollars will take care of them selves."

Having said all that, what it boils down to is, when I'm not working, the alarm clock goes out the window.
I go to bed when I'm tired, wake up when I'm rested, and eat when I'm hungry.
And it really ain't bad.
I'm dreading my dispatcher calling me.

El Jay

[HoupPhotography]

Originally Posted by El Jay

Ahhhhhh. Messin' with the 'vette.

I used to live there, so I know about the heat.
It was dang near unbearable up here today. It got into the 90's.

I'm not sure how to describe it.
Work has been virtually nonexistent for me since Apr. I drive double bottom dumps.
I worked 3 days at the beginning of Apr., and 3 days at the end of Apr., plus one day in May. Nothing so far this month.
Fortunately, I collect a small retirement from Chevron; so even though I'm not working, I still have a small income.
All I have to do is follow Ben Franklin's advice, "Watch the pennies and the dollars will take care of them selves."

Having said all that, what it boils down to is, when I'm not working, the alarm clock goes out the window.
I go to bed when I'm tired, wake up when I'm rested, and eat when I'm hungry.
And it really ain't bad.
I'm dreading my dispatcher calling me.

El Jay

Yeah, It's amazing what new plugs and wires will do! The #5 & #7 plugs were left in after the last tune up (Iguess they couldn't get to 'em) and the wires were cut, ripped, frayed, torn and one was even taped
I also had to fix the ps resevoir, it has a metal strap that wraps around the plastic resevoir, but hte way the strap is shaped it wears a hole in the plastic. So I fixed that too and of course had to go see how it ran


That's a bummer about work, my borther hauls rice in TX and has the same problems when rice is out of season, but if he leaves to haul something else he could have different issue's with loads. It took me some getting use to not having an alarm clock and not going into the office 6 days a week. I brokered for 18 years and seemed to always work, I even took my laptop and worked on our honeymoon, the wife didn't like it but it was worth it in the long run and I was able to retire at 36 then started the photography business. It took some getting use to, but now that I am I love working on my time and making my own schedule to do what I want and when I want, the biggest thing is beaing able to raise\stay home with our little guy. He loves being outside with me when I'm working on my junk or the wife's car, if only I could gethim to use the tools for their purpose instead of digging with them, that would be cool.

The funny thing is, I use to tell my wife all the time that sleep was unproductive and now I get to take naps..

[El Jay]

Originally Posted by HoupPhotography

Yeah, It's amazing what new plugs and wires will do! The #5 & #7 plugs were left in after the last tune up (Iguess they couldn't get to 'em) and the wires were cut, ripped, frayed, torn and one was even taped
I also had to fix the ps resevoir, it has a metal strap that wraps around the plastic resevoir, but hte way the strap is shaped it wears a hole in the plastic. So I fixed that too and of course had to go see how it ran


That's a bummer about work, my borther hauls rice in TX and has the same problems when rice is out of season, but if he leaves to haul something else he could have different issue's with loads. It took me some getting use to not having an alarm clock and not going into the office 6 days a week. I brokered for 18 years and seemed to always work, I even took my laptop and worked on our honeymoon, the wife didn't like it but it was worth it in the long run and I was able to retire at 36 then started the photography business. It took some getting use to, but now that I am I love working on my time and making my own schedule to do what I want and when I want, the biggest thing is beaing able to raisestay home with our little guy. He loves being outside with me when I'm working on my junk or the wife's car, if only I could gethim to use the tools for their purpose instead of digging with them, that would be cool.

The funny thing is, I use to tell my wife all the time that sleep was unproductive and now I get to take naps..

I don't worry about work.

I finally learned, after many years, "If ya cain't control it, don't worry about it."
So I don't. I just make adjustments to my lifestyle.
As long as I got food in my belly, beer in the fridge, and a halfway decent bottle of bourbon on the counter, I'm in good shape.

I understand the kid thing. Waaaaaaaaaaaaay back when I was working on my old V-8 Vega, my son was just prowling around the front yard, digging up sh..........ahhh, stuff, and all of a sudden he said, "Hey, I struck ants!"
He may have been 3 yrs. old at the time. He's now on the "bad" side of 30.

Through this site, I've seen some of your work.
I'm not trying to kiss your @$$, but I've been impressed.

So, may I ask a question, or two?

I'm not a photographer. I take snapshots.
For example, I've blown through 2, or more, rolls of film trying to get decent pictures of my son and my cousin knee boarding behind my old '63 Hallet flat bottom.
Two of them the were "poster" quality, and they both loved them, when I got the posters made.

My old, used, Canon, of 30, or so years, has finally taken the big dump.

Everybody I know seems to say to get away from 35mm film SLR and go digital.

So, I've been leaning towards the Nikon D 40 dSLR kit.

Any opinions?

If you are uncomfortable answering, I understand & really won't worry about it.

Thanks.

Larry

[Longhorn Man]

those beds only look good on the trucks they came with. This actually looks worse than when they are on our trucks.

[HoupPhotography]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

those beds only look good on the trucks they came with. This actually looks worse than when they are on our trucks.

This one remided me of the red one someone saw and took a photo of it, your right though, it does look worse!

[Number98]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

those beds only look good on the trucks they came with. This actually looks worse than when they are on our trucks.

Hate it!

[GKsport67]

Yeah,the bed is horrible!! ....nice color though!

[72BlckButy]

In my opinion, if you're going to build a truck right, then build it right. I hate the newer style beds on early classic Chevy's/GMC's.

As said before, just because you can, doesn't mean you should...

[special-K]

GM has built the best looking trucks since day 1 (until recently).I like`em the way they were made.If I did,I`d be into something else.That is,if there was something as well built,reliable,easy to work on,get parts for,cheap to run.Guess I`d take an old Studebaker. (seriously)

To me,these bed swaps scream "easy" or "cheap" way out.It`s no different to me than when guys were doing wood flatbeds before replacement bed parts were available.I`d rather see a nice oak flatbed than a`90s bed ob a`50s truck.

[caminokid]

Originally Posted by special-K

GM has built the best looking trucks since day 1 (until recently).I like`em the way they were made.If I did,I`d be into something else.That is,if there was something as well built,reliable,easy to work on,get parts for,cheap to run.Guess I`d take an old Studebaker. (seriously)

To me,these bed swaps scream "easy" or "cheap" way out.It`s no different to me than when guys were doing wood flatbeds before replacement bed parts were available.I`d rather see a nice oak flatbed than a`90s bed ob a`50s truck.

Tim I with you on the fact the newer truck look bad. Chevy has always built a nice looking truck. But since 88...I think they have went down hill.

[Shyguy]

I sure don't like the looks of the newer beds on the older trucks. Now, I think a well built flatbed looks ok.

Since the only bed I have for the '67 project I am going to start later this summer is a bed off of a '96 I am thinking about building a flatbed, but I would like to find a short stepper for it.

Talking about work, I told the wife today I can't even think about going back to work until the price of gasoline goes down. Good thing I have a small retirement and my wife works. Since I live on a small farm I have plenty to keep me busy.

I saw this truck at the Oran car show last weekend. It is not a Chevy or GMC, but it looks pretty good. My brother who has had nothing but Chevy trucks wants to find one of these to restore.

Danny

[murdoc]

ah the old studebakers.......i love them, they are actually the trucks that started me liking old trucks to begin with, i would have kept with them, but they are so hard to find anymore.

i hate new beds on old trucks by the way, never look right cause they were never ment to

[Sinisterspeed]

Well this is exactly why everyone trucks look different. I probably wouldn't like this hobby if my final result was going to look like everyone else's. This be would have had a much better look if he would have taken the time to fix the bottom of the bed where it meets the cab. I have seen this done and actually debated doing it to my 57 since I am more of a fleetside guy anyway I thought this would be a good compromise. Since actually obtaining a 55-57 truck and looking through what seems like 1000's of them on the internet cataloging ideas for when the longhorn is done, I have decided I don't like it much myself but I have seen ones done that look like they were born on that truck and thus look great. As for the engine location yes thats where they sit. You can make them sit alittle higher if your building the motor mount stands just have to watch the tranny clearance since these trucks have no tranny hump they will always sit lower in the body then a truck that does.

[PipsC10]

newer beds on older trucks are ugly, IMO. Just destroyed what would have been a nice truck.

[Bugsy_malonn]

If someone takes the time to work on the bed to make it look right I think they could be ok but as is they dont work

[original_balzer]

Hmmmm its kinda like running out of milk and putting water in your fruit loops.

[caminokid]

Thats horrible! Where do these guys come up with the idea that it looks good? The bodys lines dont even match up at all!

[Kim57]

EDIT: Why does the motor look so low, is that a typical mounting location for that year?

Honestly the bed doesn't bother me that much. In the pics that are photoshopped it looks much better when it lines up with the cab bottom.
As far as the engine setting setting low it probably has a clip from a car in it.
Kim

[GRIMSS]

Poor choice in beds. The chopped one is better but still not good.

Some guys run large blowers and still have plenty of room under those hoods.

[MrSinister]

Never liked the look of the newer beds on older trucks. Even when they go thru the trouble changing the step to line up with the cab and filling the upper bodyline it still looks tacked on.

[weldvair@embarqmail.]

Well some pretty blunt replies. I think your bed looks good.....at least as good as stock.

I also have used a late model bed on mine. As fas as being easy I spend 5 months on the bed to get the proportions right. The bed was narrowed thru the center, then the 2 halfs welded back together. The fenders were cut down to fit the bed .
The contours of the bed were made to fit the contours of the cab, then Caddy fins were welded on to the bed(26' of welding).

[Bugsy_malonn]

Originally Posted by weldvair@embarqmail.

Well some pretty blunt replies. I think your bed looks good.....at least as good as stock.

I also have used a late model bed on mine. As fas as being easy I spend 5 months on the bed to get the proportions right. The bed was narrowed thru the center, then the 2 halfs welded back together. The fenders were cut down to fit the bed .
The contours of the bed were made to fit the contours of the cab, then Caddy fins were welded on to the bed(26' of welding).

I'm sorry you went to all that trouble when you could have left it with a stock bed "even if you moded the stock bed" and it would have looked cool