Getting started on the choptop truck...

[SmokeyBear]

Yeah, I've been giving that some thought. I know for a fact I'll be doing a roll pan in the back at least, 'cause I don't want any chrome on this truck and the only rear bumper I have is chrome. So I'll be using a bedside top to fabricate a roll pan. As for the front, I've been trying to come up with some idea like that too. I've got an extra bedside to use so I'm sure I could whip something up that would look cool...I'll have to keep running this around in my mind.

That should look good Keith, I had pondered the same thing with my truck and actually test fitted the roll pan to the fenders and it works well. The only reason I didn't do this on mine is where I'm using the CV rad support, it interfered at the bottom.

[FORDification]

Well, since my wife works all weekend meaning I'll be tending to the munchkins, I wasn't going to get in any shop time this weekend. So since today was a slow day at work, I took the afternoon off and headed to the shop..so I got about 4 hours there.

I got the chassis dug out of the snowbank and sitting in the driveway, and then got the engine/transmission pulled and set into the choptop. I ran out of time before I could actually start getting anything bolted down, so it's just sitting there for now...but I was happy with the amount of work I was able to get done in a short amount of time today.

The next shop day will be spent getting the engine and tranny bolted down, and then getting the front-end sheetmetal bolted back into place.

[FORDification]

Got off work today a little after 4PM, and since it was a gorgeous day outside, I decided to get in a little shop time. Ended up working till about 9PM tonight. I got the engine and transmission bolted in, and then got the radiator support and inner fenders bolted in. Then got to looking at the fenders that came with the choptop, and they're full of body filler, so I tossed 'em and grabbed the spare pair I'd saved. Got them both completely stripped down to bare metal. Each has a couple very small door dings that'll need a spot of filler, which is what I'll do next, and then get them painted and installed. I also got started stripping the '68 steel grille. A few of the crossbars are not 100% straight, but I'm not really worried about making them perfect for this project...just presentable. After I get it stripped down to bare metal I'll get out the hammer and dolly and do a little work to it.

Didn't have my camera with me, but maybe tomorrow night after work I'll swing by the shop after work and snap a few pics.

[FORDification]

Well, I took a vacation day today to spend the day in the shop. Got a bunch of stuff done, but not as much as I'd have liked.

First of all, here's a picture of what I was able to get done last Tuesday evening after work:



I decided that the steel '68 grille that I was originally planning on using wasn't going to cut it, so I decided to use my perfect '67 steel grille. Spent the morning getting it stripped to bare metal, and then primed/painted it. (I guess my '67 is gonna get the aluminum grille instead...oh well.)



I decided to replace the rearend with a different one I have, so I spent some time dropping them out of the choptop and the donor truck. Since the previous owner of the choptop moved the forward rear spring perch up several inches on the frame and then welded it, the pinion angle has changed. I was just going to install a couple angled shims to correct that, but now I'm thinking I might just take the plunge and cut the spring perches off the rearend housing and re-weld them in the correct position.

This was the condensed version of the day's activities. I'm going to put together another project update page, but probably not tonight...I'm beat! I'll try to do that tomorrow.

[RebelRider]

Looking good Keith!

I assume the grills that came from the factory painted would be steel? Made from the same mold as the aluminum ones?

[FORDification]

Yes, in '67-'69 you could get either a painted steel grille or a polished aluminum version. I've got one of each from '67 and '68. I doubt the factory actually used the exact same mold though, as the aluminum grille is obviously of much thinner stock than the steel grille...but otherwise they're identical.

[Big D's 69]

Looks like progress going in the right direction. Lookin good Keith.

[71 LONG BED]

Nice job, Keith. You'll be driving it soon at this rate. I guess you changed your mind on the "rat rod" grille. I remember you were looking for a less then perfect one to use.

[FORDification]

Yeah, after reading and considering Comet's reply to my Photoshop renderings, I got to thinking about it and decided that maybe I the angle I was initially going wasn't the best...as far as the red wheels and less-than-perfect sheetmetal. I'm thinking now to just make a cool-looking street truck. It'll still be flat black with the nose-down rake, but heck...I've got good parts (like the '67 grille), so why not use 'em? This can still be a low-buck street rod without trying to make this look like a old-school rat-rod. The two styles are still related, but just from different eras.

[Big D's 69]

Yeah no sense in using shotty parts when you ahve good ones laying around. Looks mean a lot. No need to put forth the effort in fixing it if your not doing it right. Makes all the other hard work seem useless. That is gonna be one sweet truck when it is done. Can't wait to see it all in one piece and color.

[FORDification]

OK, I've finally got a project update page posted:

http://www.fordification.com/mychoptop-p08.htm

[GT-Racer]

Looking damn good keith. Keep up the good work.

[layedout72]

sorry if i missed it, but are you flipping the shackles AND removing some leafs?

[FORDification]

I'm flipping the front spring bracket on each side and removing leaves from the F250 spring pack. I am also considering using drop shackles, but I'll wait until all the suspension work is completed to see the finished stance before deciding that.

[ratfink]

Not to sound like a broken record, but it sure do look purty!!!
Ratfink