My GRABBER BLUE 72!

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grabberblue72
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My GRABBER BLUE 72!

Post by grabberblue72 »

well i figure i might as well start up a build thread. maybe it will help me with my lack of motivation issue.
i will start it off with a pic of the 50 dollar truck i origonally started with in 2002.
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about a month after i originally purchased the truck, this is what it looked like after paint, which i did all my self.
idrove the truck as a daily driver for about the next 4 years through grade 11 and 12 and 2 years of college.
in that time it went through a couple engines and a few different sets of wheels, but the rest of the truck stayed basically the same.
below are a couple more pics of what it recently looked like up to about early august of this year. almost 9 years after i originally rebuilt it.
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as you can see in the picture, the paint and body has held up very well. the only really bad part is the fenders which are rusted through very badly.

as much as i love my truck, i have allways wished it was a short box. finally this year, my dream became reality. i found a 1970 ford shortbox for sale on the internet. i imidiatly called the owner and told him i was on my way to look at it. it ended up being the best 1500 dollars i have ever spent! not only did i get the truck, but i got a brand new complete grill with inserts and headlight doors, new wheel well trim, hood crome, new bbf headers, fiberglass front fenders, old crager rims that are in like new condition, and a whole bunch of other parts, including a complete running 72 f 250. the truck had started being redone. it all ready had the disc brake conversion, and a rebuilt 429
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as soon as i got the truck home i started working on it. i ended up tearing it right down to the frame.
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after i pulled the engine out of my ol blue, i placed it into the short box frame. then i set my cab over top.
finally! my ol blue is a shorty!
after the cab was bolted down, i installed the front clip and hooked up all the engine and tranny parts. i had to get a drive shaft made and i ended up getting the rad flushed and repaired at the same time.i also installed power brakes and power steering.
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after i got all the engine compartment together and engine running, i decided to mount the hood and the fiberglass fenders, and set the box on also.
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after hanging the fenders, i was not happy with how they lined up. so i decided to use some good steel fenders that i had kickn around.
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after hanging everything i then pulled the truck into the shop and spent a whole day measuring, shiming and aligning all the body panels perfectly

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it was a lot of work getting everthing aligned, but worth every minute.even with all the diferent colours, it is amazing how much beter it looked sitting straight.

that is about all ive accomplished sofar. once i get some free time again, i need to cut the drivers side of the box off and weld in the straight piece i cut off my long box.
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after that i am going to start on lowering the truck. i will update this as soon as i can.
Last edited by grabberblue72 on Thu Dec 30, 2010 2:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
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dbarker
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Re: My GRABBER BLUE 72!

Post by dbarker »

Great frankentruck jones! You've been hard at work.

I couldn't have cut up the long bed. but I do love the shorty.

looks like you're going to have an amazing build when its all done.

come do my truck next... :D


Oh and as always: :fr: :wel:
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BlueBleedingGreaseMonkey
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Re: My GRABBER BLUE 72!

Post by BlueBleedingGreaseMonkey »

Love both, I like the shorty more though. Almost makes me want cragar's and a 460. :lol: Keep up the good work!
Speed has never killed anyone, suddenly becoming stationary... That's what gets you.
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BobbyFord
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Re: My GRABBER BLUE 72!

Post by BobbyFord »

Great story, looking forward to more pics...
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grabberblue72
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Re: My GRABBER BLUE 72!

Post by grabberblue72 »

thanks for the comments! i will do my best to take lots of pics as i go! as for cutting up the long box, i would have never been able to do it either, but the piece i cut off was about the only rust free piece on it. so i dont feel to terrible about it, especially knowing its going to a great cause!
it definatly took a lot of convincing to start cutting though!
oh and i forgot to mention the old boylan root beer bottle i made into a overflow reservoir. that is probably my most favorite mod i have done to it sofar. haha!

one thing i am having an issue with is weather or not i should keep the hood scoop :? it was something the previous owner had done to the shorty. he told me its off a 1969 torino.
i want a clean more modern look to the truck, i think the scoop is cool, but i think it has to go!
Id love to hear some feed back on the scoop! :help:
Last edited by grabberblue72 on Thu Dec 30, 2010 2:10 am, edited 1 time in total.
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FormerMarine1981
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Re: My GRABBER BLUE 72!

Post by FormerMarine1981 »

Keep the scoop... Or take it off and Sell it to me!!
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Re: My GRABBER BLUE 72!

Post by Caseys71 »

Sharp looking truck! Can't wait to see more progress.
FormerMarine1981 wrote:Keep the scoop... Or take it off and Sell it to me!!
:yt:! I think the scoop looks right at home.
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grabberblue72
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Re: My GRABBER BLUE 72!

Post by grabberblue72 »

finally found some time to work on my truck again! got the long box panel welded on and seams welded up on driver side!
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tomarrow i will weld up the seams on the passenger side!
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Re: My GRABBER BLUE 72!

Post by BobbyFord »

Nice work! Seam welding is a tedious, major PITA. Congrats on your perseverance.
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Re: My GRABBER BLUE 72!

Post by fbomb100 »

WoW its looking good
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grabberblue72
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Re: My GRABBER BLUE 72!

Post by grabberblue72 »

BobbyFord wrote:Nice work! Seam welding is a tedious, major PITA. Congrats on your perseverance.
it sure was! but i went slow and managed to get it all welded with very minimal warping! :D grinding the welds sucked!
im lookn forward to getting the welds all filled and primed, should look awsome!
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71 side step crazy
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Re: My GRABBER BLUE 72!

Post by 71 side step crazy »

lookin great keep the hood how it is looks great what color u painting her like the rims 2
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Re: My GRABBER BLUE 72!

Post by Ranchero50 »

I like the scoop, it looks like a '81-84 Mustang or an '70-71 Cougar. Definately not a '69 Torino / Mustang scoop. I'm still thinking about a '70 Boos 429 scoop for mine, it's a bit taller than yours.

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grabberblue72
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Re: My GRABBER BLUE 72!

Post by grabberblue72 »

Ranchero50 wrote:I like the scoop, it looks like a '81-84 Mustang or an '70-71 Cougar. Definately not a '69 Torino / Mustang scoop. Jamie
i looked it up, it is definatly a cougar hood scoop, alll the other scoops look narrower. and the 80s mustangs dont have the point on the front. they are more staight across.
I wasnt sure about it at first, but it has grown on me, i am gunna keep it on or sure!
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grabberblue72
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Re: My GRABBER BLUE 72!

Post by grabberblue72 »

box seams and holes welded.
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