Squarebody resurrection.

[raidmagic]

I just can't get away from them. I bought this truck a few years ago and daily drove it for awhile. It cracked a valve then the trans lost reverse. I had another trans rebuilt and threw the engine that is now in the T Bucket in it with a single carb. Here is a link to that. Also shows you how fast I work.

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After daily driving it for about a year I sold it to a guy that works for me. He bought it with the agreement he'd make payments. Time went on he didn't maintain it and it started breaking down. Lots of stupid things that a normal car guy would just handle. Anyway he still owed me money on it when the trans went out. We made an agreement that I'd just take it back. At this point it was thrashed, no ignition switch, wiring a fire Hazzard cab trashed. When we made the deal I gave him all the parts too so I got the extra cab out of "storage" (read sitting under a tree) and build a dolly to work on it. I'm gonna strip it bare, fix the metal work add a new wiring harness and swap it onto the frame. We'll see. Just a side project for when I'm not in the mood to work on the T Bucket.

 

[raidmagic]

Hard to tell but a ton of leaves and all the wiring is out. A few things left to remove then off to the blaster.


Before



After






Before


After

 

[raidmagic]

Cut up that square body lol

 

[raidmagic]

Current condition of the truck

The old cab is just so bad rust wise. I cut the back so I can hang it up with my other one.




I've had a lot going on in my personal life and am not able to focus and think so I am using this truck as a time filler. I can't screw up too much stuff cutting it up.

 

[raidmagic]

Was in the mood to make some sparks today. Drilling out spot welds is fun...also someone was good with the bondo lol

 

[raidmagic]

Where I'll leave it for the day

 

[raidmagic]

Waiting on weld through primer and I'll weld this side up and onto the next side.

 

[raidmagic]

OK back on the square body now that the 65 and the Vette are both in good shape.


The short bed frame I have is tweaked. It was tweaked when I got it so I had my eye out for a good frame at least I could steal the front off of but this popped up and it was just too good a deal I bought it so now I just have to shorten it 14" Here it is going into the shop


on the lift and ready for surgery



Cut here....I hope. They make big expensive kits for this but I just don't see the reason to spend the money. There is a nice flat spot to cut the 14" out and if I'm lucky the bed holes will line up. It looks like it. I'm beat so I'll start cutting tomorrow. Wish me luck. lol

 

[raidmagic]

One side done and plated. Gotta do the other side and I'll add gussets on the inside frame rail.

 

[raidmagic]

Sorry some stuff got lost pics wise. I'll try to find them

 

[raidmagic]

Frame shortened, bed coming off bad frame and going on new frame.
Included some pics of the bad frame

 

[raidmagic]

So all that happened back in 2023. I was in a bad place at the time and couldn't focus on anything so I mothballed the whole thing, made a 1/2 hearted attempt to sell it then left it sit in the trees for almost 2 years.

Come late 2025 I wanted a squarebody so I figured I'd have to work for one.


Well I decided to revive this thread as it's the flavor of the week. Sadly the pics are lost maybe I'll dig them up and repost them Anyway I have some posts in the What did you do today thread I'll copy over here then add todays work.

Drug this out. All the running gear from the 07 chassis next to it is going in it. Anyone ever have the center of a valve stem come out? It was leaking so I put my valve stem tool on it to tighten it and the whole center spun and came out lol.

 

[raidmagic]

Swiss cheese anyone? Lol I'll patch the small area on the driver side but I think I'll get a pass. side pan and just replace the whole thing

 

[raidmagic]

Just some pre lunch cutting, grinding and spot weld drilling. Fun stuff...

 

[raidmagic]

Well I botched the cut up at the firewall and had to add a patch but whatever. I'm not picky.

 

[raidmagic]

That brings us to today. Drivers rocker, inner and outer, and cab corner replacement.

 

[raidmagic]

Floors, rockers, cab corners all done, some small things to button up but they need to be done underneath so I'll do them later. Then sealed it with a metal encapsulater that will help prevent future rust. When that dries I'll seamseal everything and it will get dynamat type product on it.

 

[raidmagic]

Cab off to paint frame and back of cab, front of bed.

 

[raidmagic]

Frame is painted.

 

[raidmagic]

I'll be putting the cab back on tomorrow. Painted the front of the bed and back of the cab and finished up some cab repairs.