1968 Step Side Pickup
Well it all started when my son turned 16 years old and he
decided it was time for him to have his own car. He says my sister had one when she was
16. So in oct of 2002 we found a 1968 chevy short step. It had a 350 / 5 speed in it and
it was only $ 1500 at the time I thought not a bad deal. So I asked him are you sure this
is what you want. Now what do you think he said. So I paid the man the $ 1500. And he
drove it home. When we got home he told me dad I don’t think I like a standard shift
and the truck pulls really bad when I hit the brakes. And it sure is hard to turn when
you’re not moving.
Well 6 month later and about $18000.00 spent this is what we get.
We did all the work our selves except for the paint job. This is what we did, we started
by changing from a 6 lug to a 5 lug adding power disc brakes and power steering. Then we
built a 3.08 rear end to replace the 3.73 for gas mileage. Then we built a 350 eng bored
it 30 over added a mild cam, flat top pistons, elderbrock rpm performer intake and a 750
edelbrock carb. By this time money was running short so aluminum heads were out of the
pic. But I did run across some 2.02 double humped heads. We had problems with the belts
stretching so I put a serpentine belt system on it. I had a 350 transmission built also.
Then the real fun started. We bought several 67\72 trucks
thinking we would save some money on body parts. But wouldn’t you know it the same
parts that I needed for his truck were bad on all the trucks I bought. (cab corners,
fenders rockers ect). So momma said she would get a second job to help buy new parts. We
decided to replace every thing rockers, floorboards cab corners fenders inner and outer
radiator support.ect. We took pics from start to finish. We decided to shave the gas tank
out and replace it with a blazer conversion kit. My son said that he didn’t want the
wood replaced in the bed he wanted aluminum put in it. Oh lets not forget that he just had
to have it lowered. We lower it with 2 1\2 “ drop spindle in front and 4 “ coils
on the rear. I was really surprised at how well the truck rode.
Then it came time to pick the paint color. He didn’t want
what everyone else had (black, blue, green, yellow). I think we did a good job on these
colors what do you think. I think I wished I were 16 years old again. I know you’re
thinking boy that’s a lot of money and trouble for a 16 year old boy. But when you
stop and think about a 16 year old boy who stays out of trouble works weekend to help pay
for the parts and respects his parent what else can you ask for in this day and time. And
he might be just a little spoiled to.
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