Getting started on the choptop truck...

[RebelRider]

Can't wait to see those pics! That'll be very interesting!

[Buckinthebowtie]

Sounds like you having some fun there Keith! I can't belive that with as many heavy-duty trucks there are out there that still have beams in them that there aren't more shops that know how to work on them. I know a place in the Pheonix area that fixed the camber on a few old Model A dropped axles for me, Industrial Chassis, i'd have to dig for the #.

[marz68]

Hey keith that would make for a very cool tech article on dropped I beams.

[FORDification]

Spent another day in the shop...as usual, I didn't get as much done as I was hoping. It seems that it's always 'two steps forward, one step back' with me.

Since I'm taking all next week off work to finish up the body and get it painted (knock on wood!), I decided not to do any bodywork today. I decided I'd get the truck wired up. I decided to use a '67 Camper Special harness, so there will be some minor harness mods needed to hook it up to some of the '68-up accessories (like the heater switch and brake-light switch). Got the engine compartment wiring installed after doing a few minor repairs and rewrapping it, and then got started with the underdash harness. Got it about half done before it dawned on me that I had to get the firewall cover installed first. However, before I could install that I had to get the cab floor and firewall painted, so I spent some time finishing up the prep on the floor. Got some brush-on seam sealer over the top of the floorpan's patch panels. Then I got started cutting out the butchered tranmission tunnel, so that I could install a removable cover. Here's the before and after pictures:


You can see in this shot how a previous owner butchered this, apparently with a chainsaw. I marked the tabs that needed to be saved to bolt in the removable cover, and then dug out the angle grinder with a cut-off wheel. Here's a shot taken after getting the tunnel cut out and the floor shifter partially installed:



I found out that the used Hurst Indy floor shifter I have doesn't have all the hardware, and the shifter bushings are missing completely, so I'll be contacting Hurst to get those parts.

I then painted the remaining hood hinge and stripped/painted the battery tray.

It's too late to get started on a project update page right now, so I'll try to get that done tomorrow evening. I probably won't get in any more shop time until next week, but since I'll be there every day next week (May 6-12) I'm sure I'll probably have some regular updates on the bodywork/paint progress.

[RebelRider]

It's coming right along Keith!
I'll tell Coddington to watch out for some competition!

[FORDification]

I'm gettin' excited! My order of POR-15 came in today, so I've got everything I'll need to finish the body. I've got probably another day or two worth of bodywork to finish up, but the truck SHOULD be painted by the end of next week.

[wolfpack]

I'm so jealous I got somethings done last weekend but thats not where i want to be on my project but patience is a virtue and one day i'll think about it and it will get done when things calm.....

[FORDification]

Spent another day in the shop today. Since I'm off work all this week, which I plan to spend getting the bodywork finished up and (hopefully) getting the truck painted, I decided today to go ahead and start pulling the 302/3-spd and getting the 390/C6 cleaned up. (If you don't know the story behind the engine swap, read this thread.)

Anyway, here's a 'before' and 'after' comparison. I've still got a ways to go, but it's as far I got today before having to quit.





And since I don't have access to a power washer, that was done by hand! I also got the PS box cleaned up and painted and installed.

Over the past few updates to this thread, I promised to do a project update page each time, but never got around to it. However, I just posted an update page which shows all the work I've been doing over the past six weeks, with additional pictures than what I've posted to this thread. So here you go:

6 weeks worth of updates

I should have choptop project updates every evening this week as I get bodywork done, although when doing bodywork there's really a lot of time involved without a lot of visual progress being made. However, I'll keep the thread updated as I go if I have something to show.

[rjewkes]

wonder how that would look with a lwb flair side? I know i know no new ideas right. but maybe later on or maybe someone wil build one now that would be uniqe. Congrats on the progress.

If i could get a week alone with some cash and the truck and the catologs...

[71 LONG BED]

Looking good in the neighborhood!

[jzjames]

...enjoying the updates on the Choptop.

[layedout72]

What all did you use to clean that tranny?!?

[MadMaxetc]

Looking Good!! Can't wait to see it done.

[FORDification]

What all did you use to clean that tranny?!?

Good old-fashioned elbow grease! I started out with a wide putty knife, then a narrow one....got the bulk of the grease scraped off. Then I dug out the angle grinder with a wire wheel attachment and went to town....man, there was grease and oil gettin' flung all over! (But at least it's not on the tranny any more!) Then I use some solvent and rags to wipe it down again.

That's basically the same procedure I'll do with the engine too. Man, it sure would be nice to have a power washer...or to at LEAST get the engine hoist outside in the driveway. Unfortunately, there's a 2" drop at the shop door, and while I could probably manhandle the hoist outside, I'd never get it back in.

[flyboy2610]

wonder how that would look with a lwb flair side?

Good luck finding one!