Steve's 64 Short-bed Project

[SteveCanup]

Let's see if pics can be posted...here's the pipes I have welded for my exhaust...please overlook my sloppy welding.


I need to grind the welds a little smoother...

[SteveCanup]

Didn't get as much done today as I wished. Oil and filter changed and valves adjusted on one bank of the engine. It's cold and windy...I need to get started on my new garage!
You can't see the stakes very well in the pic, but I have 24x24 marked out where the garage will be built...




Stay tuned....

[SteveCanup]

...and yes there is a small dogwood tree between the vehicles. I plan to dig it up and relocate it somewhere else on the property.

[SteveCanup]

Well the truck has made 2 trips "into town" which is a 20 mile trip one way. Ran great and the gas mileage is much better. The carburetor still stumbles slightly on acceleration. The instructions said that the carb might do that for the first 24 hours of driving because of the accelerator pump needing to loosen up. Hauling lumber and supplies for the garage which is beginning....happiness ensues!

Stay tuned....I still need to weld some exhaust pipes and a few "other things" to do to the truck...

[My wife's nightmare]

Glad to hear the truck is feeling better!! I know it does the same for the driver as well
Congratulations on the new building! Sounds like you are moving pretty quickly.
My wife is originally from Coeburn, VA and we pass through Wytheville on trips back up there. Haven't been in several years but that is a beautiful part of the country.

[SteveCanup]

Glad to hear the truck is feeling better!! I know it does the same for the driver as well
Congratulations on the new building! Sounds like you are moving pretty quickly.
My wife is originally from Coeburn, VA and we pass through Wytheville on trips back up there. Haven't been in several years but that is a beautiful part of the country.

Yes...I was as much 'out of sorts' as the truck was when it wasn't running. If the weather will cooperate I hope to have the garage 'framing' done within the next week...or two. It's going to be a 'pole barn' style garage. Plant 4x4's, tie them together, side it with T1-11, metal roofing, and pour a concrete floor...
This is looking out our back door toward my 'in-laws' home...

[SteveCanup]

This morning it is 5 degrees with wind chills putting it well below zero. I'm wanting to go dig post holes...we will see.

[My wife's nightmare]

You are really getting along on the new garage! I admire your ambition to dig post holes in weather like we've had the past couple days. I told my wife all outdoor projects are on hold until spring. Well, I didn't say it out loud, afraid she would hear me

[Blanger]

This morning it is 5 degrees with wind chills putting it well below zero. I'm wanting to go dig post holes...we will see.

Steve,

Glad to see your building a garage, I know it's been a struggle working outside in all the weather, hope it all goes as planned.

Jon

[SteveCanup]

Thanks guys. The weather is making this effort....an effort. lol. This morning we got up to 40-50 mph winds. The temps are higher, 42 degrees, but the wind is gusting so badly that I probably will not get anything done today. My plan has been "a little bit every day." Here's where I got to yesterday. I have the lumber to completely frame it and was hoping to complete that part by end of week...including rafters.

[SteveCanup]

A little more today...both vehicles fit.



Maybe rafters tomorrow....

Stay tuned.

[04sd]

Are you going to dig it out then and level the floor?

[SteveCanup]

Are you going to dig it out then and level the floor?

That's the plan...at some point. Unfortunately, this is the flattest spot on my property. I'm throwing some gravel in for the time being.

[SteveCanup]

33 degrees and at least 20 mph wind today...but "ever stalwart" as Matt Damon said in the movie "True Grit." I have to go and get more lumber on Monday.




Stay tuned...

[04sd]

You're making good progress given the conditions. Are you working alone?

[SteveCanup]

You're making good progress given the conditions. Are you working alone?

My father-in-law, who lives behind us, is my second hand man on this job. He's been a great help.

[SteveCanup]

Who says a shortbed cannot haul 14 feet long lumber?



The '64 hauled like a champ. 20 miles one way from Lowes. Ran the interstate at 65 mph...no issues.
Today is sunny and in the mid-40's so after I run some errands I am going to built the rest of the rafters. Bad weather tomorrow, so I don't know when I will get them set.

[SteveCanup]

In the last pic, the white garage in the distance is my neighbors "pole garage" we built last year for him. He had some white metal siding from some old building that we used on it. He had a large picture window from the front of his house (that he had replaced) he used on the back wall for light. He has a '57 Dodge pickup and '53 Dodge pickup in the garage...Building his was practice for building mine.

[04sd]

Back to your truck for a minute
Is your bed floor higher than your tailgate?

[SteveCanup]

Back to your truck for a minute
Is your bed floor higher than your tailgate?

Yes, the metal is rusted out in many areas. I have installed 5/4" decking over the metal in the bed, so the bed floor is slightly higher than the tailgate. I had to lay a 4x4 across the tailgate to incline the 2x6's. I also installed eye-bolts at all four inside corners of my bed for 'strapping' purposes. I had the lumber so tightly fastened down that when I shook the lumber it shook the entire truck...lol.
Pic of my bed in 2014 with fresh wood...



Here's part of the reason why...moved the gas tank...I just need to always make sure that I have enough gas in the tank before filling up the bed...lol...