This project would not be possible with out the generosity and skills of Bryan Parish.  So I don't leave any one out I will not attempt to list all of the other guys that have helped me with this project.  Some of you guys are members of the Middle Georgia Cruisers, and some are not.  I truly appreciate all of the helpful advice and the many hours of labor many of you have put into my old truck.

Somewhere around 1993-1995 these pictures where taken before I drove the truck to my brother-in-laws to install a V-8 we were building.  (Actually he built it and I watched and turned a few wrenches.)  The original straight six was a good old engine, it just wasn't what I wanted.  Shortly after we started the engine swap project both of our work schedules changed and we simply did not have time to continue the project.  My brother-in-law finished building the engine, we just never got to the installation part.  The truck stayed at his farm until June of 2004.  

In June of 2004 this is the condition the truck was in when Bryan and I brought it to his shop to start the restoration/customization of old blue.  My daughter Savannah has also put several hours of labor into the restoration of old blue.  Although in both of these pictures she is just sitting around.  

Disassembly, cleaning, fabrication, recoating these are a few of the pictures.  

Removing the paint takes time and patients, but removing undercoating takes lots of elbow grease and scraping.  I found that most power tools  just spread the undercoating around.  I had the most luck with a 3/4 " scraper, just flaking it off.

Cab is installed on frame and taken to painter.

Cab returns from painter and engine is installed. Randy Beasley painted with PPG Viper GTS Blue Pearl Coat.  Randy is an awesome painter, as you can see his work speaks for itself.

The engine is a stock 350 from the 1987 GMC donor truck.  I first attempted to paint engine with rattle can paint.  It just didn't look right.  Don Matthews painted the engine red and also painted valve covers, brackets, and pulleys in glossy black.  I'm really proud of the way the engine turned out.  

More of Bryans fabrication work.  This is a custom fabricated console that will house the A/C vents, A/C controls, stereo, various switches, and a couple of cup holders.

Bed sides and wood are installed to check for form fit and function before stain and varnish is applied to wood.

Bed Wood is removed.  Sanded, stained,  and re-sanded between each of the 7 coats of Spar Varnish.

Picture of original dash and new VDO gauges in customized cluster I made from sheet metal, and the original bezel painted with platinum gray.

Installing hood, front fenders, and front end.

More pictures of assembly.

  First trip outside with new wheels and tires.  Still not under its on power.  Once drive shaft is installed I will be able to drive in and out of shop and hopefully load on Brian's trailer and take to have exhaust system installed soon.

Back inside again.  Drivers door is now installed, and front grill temporarily installed until budget will allow for the purchase of parking light assemblies.  Soon we will finish installing glass and work on installation of power windows.  

Had machine shop cut drive shaft and install new rear yoke to match ford rear end.  The rear end came out of a 2001 ford explore.  It is a 373 gear with posi-trac and disc brake.

Once exhaust system is installed the truck will be at actual ride height, and pinion angle can be set accurately.  The perches can be welded in place and rear end can be coated with POR 15 like the rest of the underside of truck.  

Custom exhaust with Flow Master 40 series.  Dexter at Performance Exhaust and Muffler built the exhaust system.

First time around the block March 3, 2006.  

These are Pictures I took on March 4, 2006 after I washed the truck for the first time.  I still have not started on the interior, but other than installing the parking light assemblies on the front grill and a little tweaking on the doors, hood, and front fenders for fit the exterior is almost ready.  

Pictures taken in front yard 5/2006. Parking lights installed.  Exterior is done for now.  

Pictures taken at Old K-Mart Lot and at Kohl's

To be continued..............