New Project: 1974 2WD Shortbed

[C@rnut001]

I really like your truck. It will be nice when you get it all together. Keep working on it, it will be worth it when you get it done. Thanks for the update. Your sound system will be amazing when you get it together too.

[Shady Chevy]

Hey thanks. This board is really important with regards to keeping me motivated. Looking at other peoples projects that are similar in concept to what I want to do.....really helps me keep pushing on during the times when I loose interest. I have been working more than ever this summer on it. I just have been really bad at posting progress. I am going to try to get some more pics on a regular basis. Paint is on the horizon, and it is going to be fun. Fixing rusty metal is not the most exciting thing. But custom paint, gets peoples attention.

[Shady Chevy]

Another pic of my paint ideas............


These are the wheels I am going to get at the truck show at Carlisle this weekend..... 17x8's on front and 20x8.5's on back.....Ridler 695's

[Shady Chevy]

Back to welding sheet metal...........

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Shady Chevy

These are the wheels I am going to get at the truck show at Carlisle this weekend..... 17x8's on front and 20x8.5's on back.....Ridler 695's

That's a really BIG difference in diameter change for the wheels.... 18's & 20's are very noticeable...... I'm afraid the 17/20 combo will not look good @ all (especially w/them being basically the same width).

Why the different diameter choice?

[maxxxy]

+1 on the difference in wheel diameter. 20s all around really is not that much more expensive, plus, if you plan to drive a lot, you'd be able to rotate the tires which can mean longer life for the tires.

[Shady Chevy]

17's with 20's.........The idea was that I was trying to get a staggered look. You guys could be right, I am not sure until I get them on the truck. The only catch is that I haven't lowered the truck yet, so I won't know for sure what it will/would look like with the 17/20 combination. Does anyone have pictures of a truck with a 17/20 combination?????? I am planning on the basic 4 1/2 front, 6 rear drop with spindles/cut springs in front and flip axle in the rear. No bags. If you guys are right and I don't like it, I will use the 20 x 8 1/2's in the front and put 20 x 10's on the rear. It will be next summer before I am ready to bolt the wheels and tires on for good anyway.....LOL

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Shady Chevy

17's with 20's.........The idea was that I was trying to get a staggered look. You guys could be right, I am not sure until I get them on the truck. The only catch is that I haven't lowered the truck yet, so I won't know for sure what it will/would look like with the 17/20 combination. Does anyone have pictures of a truck with a 17/20 combination?????? I am planning on the basic 4 1/2 front, 6 rear drop with spindles/cut springs in front and flip axle in the rear. No bags. If you guys are right and I don't like it, I will use the 20 x 8 1/2's in the front and put 20 x 10's on the rear. It will be next summer before I am ready to bolt the wheels and tires on for good anyway.....LOL

I strongly suggest 20's all the way around. I had 18's/20's on my 74 & it looked better w/20's F/R. I chose the 18/20 combo because I could not fit tall enough (daily driver type) front rubber on a 20" wheel w/the amount of drop I had. Your mild front drop will be fine w/a 20" front.

If you're dead set on a staggered combo, I'd suggest 19's/20's (but 19's are limited & therefore pricy vs just 20's).

[Shady Chevy]

ok...I will think about this some more, as have not yet purchased the wheels. I do have the tires I was going to use. (not new, just used because I am still in the mock up stage)
I might try to pull the truck out this afternoon and set the tires I have in place and take a picture and post.....that will help me decide....

[Shady Chevy]

more welding.......................

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Shady Chevy

ok...I will think about this some more, as have not yet purchased the wheels. I do have the tires I was going to use. (not new, just used because I am still in the mock up stage)
I might try to pull the truck out this afternoon and set the tires I have in place and take a picture and post.....that will help me decide....

Tire sizes used for mock-up?

[Shady Chevy]

I went ahead and got the 17/20's on Saturday. I got the tires mounted up today. I am going out to the shop to put them on right now. I will get some pics soon.......

[Shady Chevy]

Here are the wheels I got with the tires I have..........

[Shady Chevy]

Starting the pass side rocker work..............

[Shady Chevy]

More work on the floors........

[C.W]

I just went through this from the beginning and you have given me so much more incentive to get my 86 shorty build going. I am lucky after seeing what you started with so i definitely cant complain anymore about the body work I need to do.
Keep up the good work, I will be following this build to see where it goes.

[Shady Chevy]

Thanks. Yes, this truck was rough when I started. But I just wanted something to play with. Now I want to get to paint to see what I can do.

[Shady Chevy]

Update pics. Working on mounting the fuel cell in the bed and making an access door. My favorite part is the push button latch I found from speedway motors. It works really nice. It is polished aluminum. It is going to be a nice touch when it is done and in paint. Springs pop the door up to open. I made the hinges from scratch.

[Shady Chevy]

[Shady Chevy]

[Jake Wade]

My hats off to you, I would have never started on a truck in that condition, you never batted an eye. Congrats on your work/progress

[Shady Chevy]

Thanks. It is starting to all come together now. I am going to fix the doors next. Should be starting them in about 1 more week. This week I am going to finish grinding all the welds on the bed cover and get some etching primer on that area.

[Bodhi]

Great Job Man! Truck is coming along great! Cant wait to see it finished!

[Shady Chevy]

Thanks. Almost done grinding the top of the bed welds this morning. A few days away from etching primer on top of the bed. This will only be the second time I have used etching primer before. So if I understand correctly, I should always be putting a coat of etching primer on my bare metal before using any plastic filler??? (Question for anyone out there with more experience than I) I am using the Eastwood etching primer.

[Shady Chevy]

I finished the fab work on top of the bed, and got it covered with etching primmer. Will work on the filler and primmer work later. Moving on to the doors this weekend.