Ok, way overdue for an update on the project and I've finally committed myself to posting up an update with a few pics.
I decided a while ago that although the bed on the truck was mostly solid I would really like to find one in better condition since my hope is to restore the truck and make it mostly a street machine. Mmmmm...... a completely rust free SHORTBED must be very easy to find ... right? Well long story short, after 2 months of emails with a random hit on CL I found exactly what I was looking for.
It isn't a sleigh and the guy was a long stretch from St. Nick but a few days after Christmas.... I had a delivery!
The bed came from Nevada and the condition is unbelievable! It doesn't have a spot of rust on it and is is almost freaky how it sat in the desert heat for 30 years and didn't rust a bit.
So with the new arrival the old bed came off and I got to work cleaning up the frame. The short bed looks pretty short with the bed off.
After powerwashing the frame it was time to break out the wire wheel and dust mask.
There was one area where the frame need a touch up due to the PO making a cut to accommodate the custom rear bumper. A little clean up and the welder took care of that. This corner was welded on the inside as well.
I removed the rear springs so I could clean and prep and paint the entire frame.
The frame is just about done and I have stripped and repainted/undercoated the factory tank as well (pic to come).
I post up some more photos when I get to work preping the bed but there isn't a whole lot to do since it is in such great shape. I can't wait to have it back on the road..... it has been too long already but at least it's winter
Oh.... and further down the road but after I get the bed on and possibly the truck painted, I'll have something new to put under the hood thanks to Miguel. It was actually one of the last things that the old bed actually hauled. Speaking of "hauling"...
K
