'81 Chevy Project Goes Away

[udallcustombikes]

I picked this '81 Chevy Short-N-Wide off a friend for a killer deal. It has sat for a couple years since he hasn't had time to mess with it and get it up and running. He thinks it is the head gaskets, but I will tear it down and see. It has a 350-TH400 set up and should make for a good bike hauler once I get her back on the road.

 

[rico]

Re: New Project Truck

love the stance :wink:

 

[udallcustombikes]

Re: New Project Truck

Got a new battery and a few inches of fuel line and for the first time in two years the beast roared to life.

 

[SCHWINNRAY69]

Re: New Project Truck

Love those trucks! Give it a nice classic gloss black paint job when your done 8)

 

[outskirtscustoms]

Re: New Project Truck

Great stance, also a great truck, I've never had a problem out of an old Chevy and they are easy to find parts for. Check out LMC Truck, they've got a free catalog that will have every little piece for it. Reasonable prices too.

 

[Buck Masterson]

Re: New Project Truck

AWESOME! For some reason I can picture that Flat White, with red wheels, and the chrome trim rings. That would be my dream truck anyway. lol

 

[udallcustombikes]

Re: New Project Truck

Right now I am envisioning flat black with Dupilcolor MetalSpecks Burnt Copper wheels. I used this color on my "Flatliner" build and loved the combo. I have long since sold the bike but here is how the colors look together.

I have a lot of rust repair to tackle before I will be ready to paint. I've never done any serious body work before, but I am looking forward to learning a new skill.

 

[rico]

Re: New Project Truck

that color combo is going to look great !

 

[pick]

Re: New Project Truck

SWEET! Great thing about those trucks is parts are real easy to come by & fairly reasonable as well!

 

[Buck Masterson]

Re: New Project Truck

Yeah, I agree, those colors will look sweet! With the body work, just remember there is no fast way of getting it done, just take your time with it.

 

[outskirtscustoms]

Re: New Project Truck

With the price of new sheet metal and patch panels I'd just weld in new metal, Most junkyard doors that you can get are just as bad as what you got. The large door skins are only $30 a piece, $10 for the fender patch panel, Rocker patch panels are $30 a piece. Couple hundred and you can get the body straightened out no problem.

http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/cc/full.aspx?Page=26

Also they are based out of Lenexa, KS so shipping should be really reasonable or you could go and pick it up.

 

[udallcustombikes]

Re: New Project Truck

I already have the lower quarter and the cab corner. I can pick up a complete door on CL for $25. My LMC catalog is on the way for the rocker and any other bits I need.

 

[outskirtscustoms]

Re: New Project Truck

Nice. There's one that runs around Kokomo here that has about the same stance but has a 3" chop top. Looks awesome!

 

[udallcustombikes]

Re: New Project Truck

I hit ratfink1962 up last week for some advice on installing rust repair panels since he is an old auto body guy. With his suggestions I tackled my first big repair on the truck.

Here is the right quarter wheel well rust cut out.

New panel in place and welding started. I ran out of day light so I had to pack it in for the night.

 

[udallcustombikes]

Re: New Project Truck

The heat and lack of funds has made for slow progress on the truck. I did manage to sell a couple bikes this past week and my first call was to a supervisor at my work. He is restoring his '86 Chevy and had ordered a pair of doors for it. When he got them the passenger door had been damaged in shipment and his body shop couldn't get the drivers door to mount correctly so he bought another set of doors. He also had a chrome Krate clone with a bunch of vintage parts so I made a bundle deal and got both doors and the bike for less than $150.

The "Khrome Krate Klone"

The passenger door was the only one I really needed so I had to try my hand at a little more body work.

I am new to this whole body work thing so I don't have all the fancy tools. I did my work with a pair of ball peens, a dead blow, and a 4" chunk of track rail for a dolly.

I forgot to take a pic before I started slinging Bondo.

Sanded down and smooth enough for my needs.

All mounted up and all the parts swapped over.

I may go ahead and swap the drivers door out as well if it doesn't sell on Craigslist.

I still need to replace a cab corner and passenger rocker panel before I will be ready for paint.

 

[udallcustombikes]

Re: New Project Truck

The heat and lack of funds has made for slow progress on the truck. I did manage to sell a couple bikes this past week and my first call was to a supervisor at my work. He is restoring his '86 Chevy and had ordered a pair of doors for it. When he got them the passenger door had been damaged in shipment and his body shop couldn't get the drivers door to mount correctly so he bought another set of doors. He also had a chrome Krate clone with a bunch of vintage parts so I made a bundle deal and got both doors and the bike for less than $150.

The "Khrome Krate Klone"

The passenger door was the only one I really needed so I had to try my hand at a little more body work.

I am new to this whole body work thing so I don't have all the fancy tools. I did my work with a pair of ball peens, a dead blow, and a 4" chunk of track rail for a dolly.

I forgot to take a pic before I started slinging Bondo.

Sanded down and smooth enough for my needs.

All mounted up and all the parts swapped over.

I may go ahead and swap the drivers door out as well if it doesn't sell on Craigslist.

I still need to replace a cab corner and passenger rocker panel before I will be ready for paint.

 

[udallcustombikes]

Re: New Project Truck

Decided it was time to tackle the cab corner.

Bed yanked off

Cancer removed and back panel cleaned and primed

The remains

New panel in and primed

Found the cause of an annoying rattle. Need to fix this before the bed goes back on as well.

 

[udallcustombikes]

Re: New Project Truck

Looks like I will be closing the book on this project. I went to get the replacement rocker panel today to finish up the body work and get the truck ready for paint. On the way home I was rear ended. I will be surprised if they don't total it out. My head went through the back window, the driver window won't roll up, the tailgate is smashed and jammed, and the bed came up and tweeked the back of the cab. I managed to only get a scrape on my arm, a small bump on the head, and my neck and shoulders will be sore in the morning.

 

[aka_locojoe]

Re: New Project Truck

Sorry to hear that. Glad you're ok.

 

[udallcustombikes]

Re: New Project Truck- End of the Dream?

Here are some pics of the damage I was left with. This is my first accident in almost 20 years that I have been driving. What do you all think? Repairable or will they total me out?
Tailgate

Cab back

Rear glass was opened with my melon.

Window won't roll up