Lakeroadsters' Build Thread: '65 SWB Step

Looks good.
Have you thought about doing the same thing with the raised rectangle surrounding the script?

 

Thanks and welcome to the site! Sure is great to see you over here!

Markeb01 asked me the same question about the raised rectangular surround. Great minds think a like

I don't think I would like it. Remember back in the 70's when GM was painting the tailgates that way... too much IMO.

 

Yikes! Well I guess that means you're committed! So how wide are you thinking? Like the one on the other truck, or the width of the open area, or something different? Can't wait to see what you come up with.

 

Plan is to tuck it in the open space, very similar to the inspiration truck. Only difference is wider and less of a gap between the grille surround and the bumper.

 

Great Intentions

I know you have great intentions for this truck and the work your doing is very professional. I had a 1961 GMC with the big v6 and the old pontoon hood, wish I had that now.

Did you consider relocating the hood turn singles and into the bumper smaller neon type units?

Great documentary of your project.

 

Thanks Steve.

I kind of like those big ole "in your face" stock turn signals. They add a lot of charaacter, IMO.

The smooth straight bumper is my homage to when they used to push dragsters to start them at the drags. Therefore I am avoiding any bolts or "hickups" in the bumper.

 

Rear Wiring Harness 01-29-2012

Hard wired the tail lights and license plates lights today. I hear a lot of people talking about going with LED's because stock tailights aren't bright enough. Maybe it's because I am using repro '64 Impala tailights with good reflectors, but from what I am seeing this should be "good enough".

Kudo's to my wife for heading out and operating the "whoa" peddle for the photo's.

Tail Lights, Night Time:


Brake Lights, Night Time:


Tail Lights, Day Time:


Brake Lights, Day Time:

 

Bright Tail & Brake Lights

I learned the secret many years ago when many vehicles were still 6 volts :

Clean and de rust the reflectors and mask them off , paint gloss white ~ many foolishly use silver paint but gloss white reflects better so the whole lens lights up very brightly , even with regular bulbs .

Your truck is looking very good indeed ! .

 

Mornin Lakeroadster,
Where did you get your West coast mirrors from? The only place I could find them was from JC Whitney. I put them on at the start of spring and 5 months later they were all rust. I need a good set.

 

The mirrors were an EBay score. They were a bit knarly when they arrived but being made from stainless I was able to polish 'em up.

I like the big 'ole truck mirror look. After all, it's a truck... not a car. And with the little back window you need all the mirror you can get!

​

 

West Coasters

Those are actually " Mini " West Coasters....

I'd think that Grote , Trucklite and other such suppliers still have the stainless or aluminum ones in their catalogs .

 

I'll check them out,

 

Mirrors

Love the build. I wouldn't change anything. Thanks a lot for the effort you put in to posting your progress.
When I was looking for my Mirrors I Googled "JR West Coast Mirrors" paid 90 bucks in theoriginall box.

 

Yeah, I joined here clear back in Oct, 2010 and have only made two posts.
I just settled in at the other forum.

 

Hmmm... They were referred to as "Junior West Coast Mirrors" back in the mid-west. Maybe just a location - vocabulary thing....

I haven't been able to make much progress on my truck lately. Too much work and no truckin' makes John a dull boy.

I was able to finally get the bumper brackets plasma torched and press braked. Test fitted them on the truck.







And again, here is what I am hoping the end result will look like.

 

I'm thinking of doing something similar for a rear bumper. The length would be about the same length as the tailgate - 4 foot or so. I just think the stock rear bumper for the stepside detracts from the cool view of the stepside rear.

 

I couldn't agree more.

 

Spring Is In The Air

Rolled on some Duplicolor Bed Liner and got a chance to take some photos in the sunshine. The only real reason I did the bedliner was to just get everything one color. Kind of like rolling on pudding.







And a photo showing the width of the rear fenders and front fenders are pretty much the same:

 

Truck is looking nice.

 

So wacha got under the hood?