Projects Watson inspired '62 chevy pickup

There's been a lot of changing around in my garage lately... The fleetline is gone to a new home, and so has the suzuki chopper. But I did pick up a '74 ironhead and I just knew I was going to have to have a truck to haul it around when it's broken haha. So I searched the CL and came up with a good project listed as a '63 chevy c10:

VIN number and torsion front end told me it was actually a '62

235 straight six runs good, 3 on the tree shifts good


whoa, he said it needed a rocker panel... maybe he last checked that 10 years ago? haha well I ordered an inner and outer rocker panel and a passenger floor pan


While I wait on the sheetmetal I decided to address the seat: broken springs and a hole in the foam on the driver's side of the bench seat... there was a mexican blanket covering the mexican blanket they shoved in the hole


Stripped it down...


Driver's side was a mess


so I went to work heating/bending/modifying/welding springs with the torch so that they would work again



shop dog is not impressed


Rather than sit on the repaired springs everyday, I chose to move unbroken springs from the center out to the driver's seat and put the repaired springs in the center. One more long spring to fix, and a few side springs and it'll be ready for new padding and upholstery.

 

Haven't decided completely on a paint scheme yet, but I'm leaning towards an outline and/or scallop paint job with colors similar to these:


Work is killing me right now... But I've managed to get a little done

Looks worse every time I look at it:


And here are the panels I bought laid over:


Pulled the gas tank (leaking), did some more cleaning and trimming...

The body support, lower pillar, and fender support are all completely gone so I am going to order those to save time...


The drivers side wasn't quite as good as I thought, here's what it looked like after I knocked out all the bondo someone "patched" with years and years ago:


Got these on egay for cheap


Here's what I'm thinking... Ditch the double taillight, and put one about here:

 

I like where this is going.. those lights look good! keep it up

 

I can't wait to watch the progress

 

I think you are on the right track with that scallop theme and also the colors. Watson had an eye, for sure.

 

Looks like a nice project. I'll be watching.

 

OK, you got me with the tail lights.
I'll be watching your progress.

 

x2...


There are not enough late 50s to early 60s pickups being done this way.

Think "Local Autorama" show truck build.

 

Very quick bit of inspiration for you. I´ll work on some scallops if I have time.

 

looking like you got a good start on it

 

Wow, thanks guys! And thanks James D for that excellent photoshop! I'd love to see what you come up with for scallops too.

 

i dig the old step side parts haulers they make a cool useful ride , i like the build

 

SUBSCRIBED!!!! I am a huge Larry Watson fan. I will definetly be following this one!! Keep us posted . Todd

 

Kool, can't wait for progress pics.

 

Looking good man, can't to see the progress, maybe it'll motivate me to work on mine a bit.

 

I like the tail lights.

 

2c

 

Wow again James D! That looks great!

 

Those tail lights look like they were made for those fenders. Nice vision on those. (well, the whole truck, too).

That floor is more than I'd want to tackle... I was fine with the whole floor gone on the passenger side, and even the rocker gone (still... YIKES!). I'd have balked at it going up into the trans tunnel that far.

-Brad

 

I like the way this is shaping up. Keep it up, can't wait to see more progress



Fryguy

 

Well I haven't gotten much done since work is so busy, but I did do some more disassembly

Here's what's left of the lower A-pillar:


body mount:


new body mount:


little by little, I'll get it back together

 

kick ass photoshop James,great lines!

 

If this truck turnes out like the photo shop this thing is gonna be kick ass

 

that scallop idea looks great, maybe a few panels with some lace and fogging inside would look great on the hood and roof.

 

I will not complain about the floors in my olds anymore. like where your going

 

Dude keep it up I like it!!!!!

 

Good to see you involved in another project. Any progress lately?

 

I'm subscribing to.

 

Not really, been trying to get my ironhead back on the road... Should be on the road in a few weeks though, and then I'll get back on the truck.

 

As usual I've been distracted working on other projects...

Got my Ironhead on the road, still needs some work though:


Also got my lathe wired up and the motor and gearbox seem to work fine. Need to get a leather belt and start greasing everything.

But now what I really need is some inspiration in the form of a couple awesome stepside 60-66 chevy truck pictures... maybe something that's not in the 60-66 pic thread?