Just wanted to say hello and warn you that I'll be looking for lots of help. Hopefully this group is as helpful as my Grand Prix car club. My dad just gave me his 61 Chevy Fleetside 1/2 ton. The truck has had a decent amount of modifications in the past, but they aren't documented very well. My dad had a car accident a few years back that left him with dizzy spells and memory problems, so now, at the young age of 69, his driving days are over. The truck had been sitting for two years, but a new battery and a few gallons of fresh gas had it running just fine. It has a small block Chevy in it, I'm fairly sure that it's a 350. I'll be yanking it out, along with the tranny, in the near future and verifying what I actually have. Disk brakes are on the front. Power Steering and air conditioning have been added. A seat from a newer truck has been placed in the cab. I'm at work, so no pictures to post at the moment, but my wife, my neighbor and I have already started tearing things apart to get the restoration started. Anyway, just wanted to say hello! Ok.. at home now, so I'll add a couple of pics. Is this hood from a '65?
Welcome......sounds like dad had a good start on your truck, he'll probably enjoy a ride in the passenger seat in the near future I hope. My opinion......just mine guys, is don't get so far into it that it takes years to put it back on the road. Life's too short to not enjoy it soon...........
I'll have most of the work done within 6 months. The paint job will be the long run. I say most because I know, with me at least, it's a never ending journey. In one week, I've already pulled off the bed, refinished the wood. stabilized the surface rust on the frame and repainted the frame. The bed is back on but the wood is not going back in until after the body is painted. And yes, I'd love to drive it back up to Sand Mountain Alabama and take my dad for a ride. 1) Brakes- inspect and fix what needs fixin'. 2) Pull engine and tranny, clean and reseal. 3) Detail the engine compartment. 4) Reinstall engine and tranny with new exhaust. 5) New chrome all around. Do they even sell chrome grills (centered letters) for '61s? I haven't found one yet. 6) New paint. 7) New wheels and tires. 8) Find an original style bench seat to go back inside. That'll get the truck in real good shape. After that, I'll just tinker with it for years and years.
try classic chevy or lmc are the best places for a lot of new parts then there is brothers or jim carters just searc and hunt find all kinds of good stuff in the mags also
Nice truck HookedUpGPT our host here has lots of good stuff in in online store www.classicparts.com Your story is kind of story like mine with my 1966 c-10 shortbed fleetside use to be my Dads 18 years ago now every time he comes over to visit he smiles at me makes my day.If any thing every happens to me my 66 goes to my Son Matthew.Good Luck on your truck.
Nice truck but to answer your question yes it is the wrong hood. That year would of had the cat eye hood. That style is hard to find and the one you have is just fine (looks better too).
