Bubblegum & Bailing Wire Project

[RebStew]

Last year I found this old truck. A true barn find with 55343 original miles on it. It had been locked away and used as a storage bend.




From front to back, in it and on top of it is junk. The pics were taken after most of it was removed.

[RebStew]

We tossed a battery in it and some gas and she fired up.

[RebStew]

Even before I got a good look at the truck I knew I was going to buy it. The truck ended up being a truck that a friend of mine had 25 years before. It had not changed a bit. Even the tacky stickers where still on the back window. First time in over 20 years the truck seen blacktop under her tires. I won't say it was a great first run. We broke down 2 times trying to get home.


And away we go!


For a mile or so anyway.


We are gone again. well for a couple more miles.


Try it again. ?? well we made it about 400 feet that time.

[RebStew]

It's dark but a little while after I got home I opened the garage and cleaned out the extra parts I got with the truck. The guy bought another truck for parts and stripped everything off of it that was any count. After I got all the stuff out of the bed the back end wasn't dragging it's tail.

[RebStew]

After I rebuilt the carb and cleaned up all the nasty gas that was in it I scrubbed it down with some Comet, ripped off the decals and west coast mirrors and took a ride to show my friend who use to own it. I pulled into his work and walked in and told him needed his help to figure out something on my truck. He said if you can't figure it out I can't either. Just come on out! He's grouching as he walks out the door then I here a scream. That's my truck! He was floored. He sit in it like a kid and played around. He looked at the speedo and told me that's almost the miles on it when I sold it. I explained it had been put up and forgotten.

[RebStew]

The truck was used for a truck for a while.

Brush from the tree line.


Leaves from the back yard.


One of many trips to Lowe's.


Hedges that were in front of the house. I hate box hedges.

[RebStew]

The truck started to become a work horse 9 to 5 for the property and a hot rod parts hauler on the weekend.

[RebStew]

[RebStew]

I seen it the second day after I got it home but if you see that small kink in the front fender? End up being a bad hit. What looked like nothing bent the frame. In order to fix the fender it would have had to be put on a rack and the frame fixed. It pushed everything down and back. I felt the truck did it's duty as a work horse. it's time to have some fun.

[RebStew]

To see how low it gets my son, Aryan and myself dug out the tape measure.

FRONT 30 3/4



BACK 31 1/4

[RebStew]

While the 6 banger runs good it just doesn't have any power for towing or getting down the road at anything over 75 MPH.
She's coming out!




Those two spots on the top and bottom are suppose to be straight. While it was in front of the suspension and didn't make it walk dog legged it pushed back the radiator support and the front sheet metal.

[RebStew]

Frame is cut away from the Ford.


The pup was trying to help but we don't let anyone help without eye protection!



Donor car is a 1979 Z28. The Z28 frame is getting into mock up stage here.


The frame is just tack welded together. I still have to run some outer plates, braces and cap the inside of the frame but I'll have to pull the engine out to get to all that. At least I can roll it around. Even with the 28" tall tire flat it still has a rake. It's lower in the front for sure. Hard to say how it will sit .

[RebStew]

It will be a couple weeks before anymore pictures are up. The fun is going to start then.

[RebStew]

We are doing a class in a couple weeks. We been looking for a 50's car or truck to do but everything fell through. I guess it's going to be the 68 getting some crazy stuff done to it.

[sargentrs]

Great story and great project! Can't wait to see more.