I'm back online after a few months away and anxious to get back to work on the truck. I've been lurking but nothing truck related was going on in my life so I didn't post anything. I didn't figure you guys wanted to hear about fixing drainage problems in the yard or rewiring the house...

We moved from TX to CA and I just got our new garage emptied out to the point where I can work with it. It's on the small side, 17' wide by 20' deep with an odd sized 13.5' wide door. There's an old garden shed out back that I plan to store parts in, which will help as the truck comes apart again.

I was able to fit my compressor into a small closet off the garage and was pondering how to keep it cool when my daughter discovered a trap door on the back wall that opened to the crawl space under the house. Problem solved! We removed the trap door, stapled a bunch of hardware cloth over the opening to keep the critters out and we're good to go. An exhaust fan is planned at the top of the doorway to pull hot air out.

The truck has been up at my dad's since last summer and we'll be hauling it down to our place this spring. I've still got to plumb the air lines for my compressor and install overhead lights. Thankfully I dismantled and kept all the 3/4" copper piping from the last garage...that stuff has gotten pretty expensive lately.

Before we moved I'd finished restoring the truck's chassis and running gear from the cab back. The plan from here is to strip the truck down to the chassis again and finish restoring the front end, then move on to the cab/front clip, and finally the bed. Still going for a stock look with a few hidden upgrades here and there.

I think the link in my signature still works if newer guys around here want to check out the truck and the story behind it.

 

Welcome back, get hot on that truck!

 

Glad to to see your back Rob

 

Welcome back. Long time no speakee.

 

Rob,

Sounds like the move went fairly smooth. Glad to have you back

Bobby

 

Alright Rob, sounds like you're back and ready to go. This place is just too fun to stay away for long. Jag

 

Rob, What a great family history to go with your truck. I like the idea of keeping it on the road. To many of us have ours apart.

 

Welcome back good to hear your ready to get back on the truck

 

Welcome back Rob, Good to have an old timer back from hiatus!

 

Welcome back, Rob. You're still further along than me, lol.

 

Rob, glad that the "break" you have had from the truck didnt change your direction!

Kevin Bigwin

 

O'Boy someone else to pick on. Missed ya.

 

Great story behind the truck Rob, I bet it really takes you back when you see your daughter playing in it (pricless huh). My 53 was the same color when I found it at a salvage yard six years ago.

 

truck is still too cool and its history is great .

 

The connection to my family is my favorite aspect of the truck....along with the rumble of the y-block!

I can't wait to hear it with dual exhaust at the end of the project.