Project '66...

[Patina66]

Hey guys I'm pretty new on here - been browsing for a while. I picked up this '66 short stepside on ebay a couple months back and it arrived into the UK a couple weeks ago. I have always been a VW guy and own my own shop doing VW suspension modification, but have always admired these 60's trucks. I always wanted a short fleetside, but when I saw this with the original paint and the tire mount I fell for it. I have a real thing for faded original paint and lowered suspension.



Plans are to buff out the paint, do the metalwork, then blend with a color match and swap the badly dented rear fender for the better one that came with it. Then drop spindles and disc brakes, maybe some 2" blocks for the rear and a c notch. I guess I got lucky, as the suspension is already lowered on coils, but I don't know how much. It has an adjustable rear track bar and shock relocator kit installed. I plan to do some logos for my shop on the doors when it is done and use it to tow VW buses from Europe and the docks on a trailer. I also need to find a nice stepside rear bumper, as I can only find suppliers for chrome ones. Maybe I'll turn up a good used one..? These are the pics of the day I collected it from the shipper.

The bed had been repainted at some point in a similar color to the original, fortunately this sands off easily with wet 400 or 600 wet and dry. Here I have exposed the original paint underneath

I have been removing the flames and door logos, but they must have used house paint or something, it won't come off unless you sand it and takes the original paint off underneath. I painted the Chevrolet on the grille in black as original and have been wet sanding with 2000 grit and buffing the paint. It is turning out awesome. All this is until I can let my wallet recover and order some parts and panels. It needs 1 outer rocker, both front fender rear sections, 1 outrigger/floor support and some door repairs. Apart from this it is rust free.
I plan to powder coat the stock rims black and fit thin band whitewall radial tires. Anyone know a supplier for these?

[Stepside65]

Looks like a good start. Good luck.

[slepysal]

Cheers from this side of the pond ! The tyres should be fairly easy to find. Keep us posted

[gulfcoast66]

Good original find, good luck on your project.

[L0WRIDE]

looks like you got a good find good luck

[63 & 64 Bowties]

not sure if they'd have what you're looking for, but have you tried Coker Tire? www.coker.com

[BIG CTY]

Looks like a great truck, and you have all your plans laid out! Welcome and good luck with it!

[hewlett2002000]

nice truck, looks like a good place to start from... good luck
John

[Patina66]

Wow, thanks for a great welcome!

I checked coker's website before, but couldn't find what I am looking for. I know I have seen them on other trucks, so I'm sure they are out there. I thought about using portawalls, but they never seem to sit right and I would have to buy 2 sets to include the spare tire.

I started knocking the dents out of the spare drivers rear fender tonight with a hammer and dolly. I'm far from a professional at panel beating but it is coming out pretty well. I have roughed out most of the large dents for now. I think I will bare metal it to finish getting it straight, as I don't want to use ANY bondo on it. I figure if it has a couple small imperfections it will go with the truck. Bit of a ****ty before pic, as it is the ebay one. It had dents all along the upper curve including the ones you can see at the upper rear corner. It also has a crease on the lower rear side and the arch lip has been tweaked a little and split. There is a little rust at the front edge which I will repair, but it is very saveable, especially with the prices of rear fenders being so high. It is also MUCH better then the one that is on there, which is pretty badly dented and has a load of cracked bondo

[Chops_by_Chase]

the truck is looking great, good luck to you,

[fercho71]

nice truck good start from San Diego

[Patina66]

Thanks for the replies. I worked a little on the spare rear fender today. There was some rust in the lower front corner, so I bare metalled it, then cut out 2 pieces and butt welded in 2 small patches.
Before:

During:

After:

The pic is not great, but it looks good. With a little bit more grinding and maybe a little lead or a tiny skim of filler it will be perfect.
I then bare metalled the upper rear corner, as this had a stubborn deep dent about the size of a fist and lots of other small dents. It took a little while, but the big dent is gone and perfectly smooth and the smaller ones are almost there.

I am pleased with the progress so far, hoping to have it bare metalled and straight in the next couple of weeks. Unfortunately I have a hell of a lot of work on at the moment and I have to do a weeks training for the programme my little boy is on, so I am working the weekends to try and catch up.
Last but not least, I added a couple of vintage decals I got to the rear window..

[Preacher]

Great truck to start out with. Looks like you have things well underway. Funny you should mention your a VW guy, I just got a 73 Karmann Ghia a couple of weeks ago. Maybe we can trade info on each others projects.

[Tomsriv]

Wow, that truck is my twin, its even the same color. What motor does yours have? Mine has been replaced with a 350 and a 200-4R tranny.

IMHO if you are going to replace that fender, why not get one without the spare tire, er, tyre cutout. I think it looks better with round fenders and usable step sides. They use the same rear fenders from 55-66. The only disadvantage is if you add a rear fuel tank then you have to throw your spare tyre on top of the load like below.

Here are a couple parts links for you
http://www.classicparts.com/
http://www.lmctruck.com/index.htm

[Patina66]

Originally Posted by Preacher

Great truck to start out with. Looks like you have things well underway. Funny you should mention your a VW guy, I just got a 73 Karmann Ghia a couple of weeks ago. Maybe we can trade info on each others projects.

Sounds cool. Check out my shop website www.thebusstation.com there is a blog on there with all the stuff I am doing.

[Patina66]

Originally Posted by Tomsriv

Wow, that truck is my twin, its even the same color. What motor does yours have? Mine has been replaced with a 350 and a 200-4R tranny.

IMHO if you are going to replace that fender, why not get one without the spare tire, er, tyre cutout. I think it looks better with round fenders and usable step sides. They use the same rear fenders from 55-66. The only disadvantage is if you add a rear fuel tank then you have to throw your spare tyre on top of the load like below.

You know, one of the things I really like is the spare tire mount above the fender and I think it looks great when the wheel/tire matches the rest. Nice truck though, makes me realise what mine would look like with more paint.. Mine has the 283 with a 4 speed trans and positraction rear axle. It has the specs still behind the seat and in the glovebox.