The Stovebolt Site Forums Welcome! Welcome Centre Do It Yourself (DITY) Gallery 1968 Chevrolet Step Side - Gallery updates

The cast:

Here's the truck

What the people on the right side of the road waving see

The music

One step of the rebuild on the newer engine

The rebuit interior...

Transmission swap

Changing from the column shift to the floor.

The new engine assembled

My road dogs

Valve job

The Story

By Packhorse32

Pack’s 1968 Chevrolet Truck

On the last day of January 1968 North Vietnam launched it’s Tet offensive. In March Senator Robert Kennedy announced his decision to enter the 1968 Presidential race. It was in April of 1968 when the great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis. In July Arlo Guthrie sang “Alice’s Restaurant” and in December Apollo 8 was launched, it’s mission was to orbit the moon. All of those events marked serious milestones in our Nation’s history, and in some cases the events would sadden some of our citizens as well as make some others happy. A lesser event also took place, hardly noticed by many but certainly noticed by enough to manufacture and sell a well made Chevrolet Step Side pickup truck. It was a historic time when Americans had their focus on the greater things that took place in our country, certainly things more important than the making of a two wheel drive truck with just the basic necessities to get it on the road and working. Never the less, the truck was produced, with no amenities to its name, yet it still sold from a Chevrolet lot to an oil company in North Carolina intending to use it for work. So off she went, the truck, in its boring color of worker orange, no radio, no air conditioning, just a 250 engine that was commanded by a three speed column shift. The people that drove her were employees, not owners, and they valued the truck as a miner would value a mule. If the mule were to die they would simply replace it. In this case the truck did not die though and it continued to be one of the service trucks that made it’s rounds in North Carolina, serving as a maintenance rig for the larger oil trucks carrying petroleum for the company. If the big rigs broke down the maintenance crews threw some tools in the back and went on out there to get the trucks back on the road.

Petroleum was at a great height in 1968. The jobs it created certainly contributed to the 3.3 percent unemployment rate that our Nation had, the lowest our Nation had seen in 15 years. People were working, our economy was working, and this 1968 Chevy truck was also working. Of course, nothing stays the same. Change is constant. Change can be depended on. The orange Chevrolet truck began to get old, and the owners of the company that the truck supported also saw their years expanding. The Company peaked at some point in the early 70’s but eventually peaks on business graphs started to smooth out more and more until the Company itself mothballed and the old truck was parked, and its service forgotten. The only thing protecting the aging truck was a thin overhead cover, and the fine North Carolina weather. It was there the truck sat, facing rain or even the occasional snow that would bless North Carolina in some of the years. Mice saw the old truck as a home, and they moved in just as soon as it was safe, modifying the seats and matts to their liking while creating massive and sophisticated tunnels throughout the trucks heater system and dash board. The floor matts cracked and the heater core gave in to boredom, rupturing in some small areas causing corrosion to eat through the dashboard. In solidarity the battery also decided to leak and make way for a new hole in one of the fender’s front area. But not to worry. These happenings would prove to be a small insignificant change in the old truck, as the rest of the body did not show much wear or holes or even a care that she was left behind. So there she stayed until the paint found a nice worn down orange hue, unmatched in character or richness across the whole United States of America. It was 39 years later when the old truck was noticed again and sold by some really fast talking man holding a gavel. He talked fast and pointed and when his gavel made a hard thug ‘swack’ on his makeshift podium a very happy paying customer made a new claim to the old truck and he vowed to make her live again. A friendship quickly formed. The new owner took it home and gave the truck a good going over. The head had a more than one crack in it. The water pump and heater core leaked as well as the radiator. The front breaks didn't work and the back brakes were missing a part. The exhaust system had holes in it and the starter complained when the truck was started. Despite all of those character flaws she did run, but there were many needed things that would have to be applied in order for this truck to be worthy of road travel.

Pack liked the inline 6 but he hated the 3 speed transmission, and that contradicted his plans because the Inline 6 was in bad shape, while the transmission was strong and while he like the Inline 6 and it’s representation of American History, he didn't like the point system the truck relied on to run. That contradiction had him looking for an engine that still ran on 6 in a row, but more modern, and he did find one. An inexpensive Inline 6 that had an electronic distributor. So armed with a little money and limited time he had the newer engine installed, he changed the heater core, the radiator and the carburetor and he put the old truck back in traffic. She was mobile, but simple. The old transmission worked fine as it sang along with the engine and the truck proved to be a good choice. The brakes were fixed in a short time and Pack knew he had plenty to do on the old nag to keep her headed in the right direction, but being mobile felt good and time was needed in order to purchase the truck’s future. The faded paint proved to be a strong point in the truck’s character. It represents her age well and says to everyone that sees it “I’ve been there and done that”. The bed boards are strong and original and they match the seasoned body. No rust, no holes and no metal corrosion exist on her, even the old cross members that support the short bed are original and intact. Pack named her “Orange Crush”, a reference to her avoided fate which should have been the crusher years ago, the fact that she was Orange and well also the fact that he had a crush on the old truck. She was on the road, but she had quite a bit of mending left to do.

Part of the healing process was when she left North Carolina on a shake down run. Local trips around North Carolina proved successful, but the bigger challenge would present itself when it came time for a move to another state. With all of Pack’s Household goods sent ahead of him he had 3 friends left to move. Two dogs and Orange Crush (Which he affectionally shortened to OC). It was in June that Pack, OC and his two dogs pulled out of Fayetteville, NC gassed up the old rig and headed West. Lucy the Beagle rode shotgun and Blacky the Boxer chose to ride center for the adventure. A 1000 mile shake down run taught Pack and his two canine friends quite a bit. OC Ran fine, she shifted fine and she didnt lack power, however, she was slow in modern traffic and was restricted to an average 60 MPH. Her cab was noisy and hot. OC doesn't have air conditioning and the old 3 speed transmission in its performance sent loud humming sounds into the cab. There wasn't much to hear in the cab anyway with no radio and the windows down for air and Lucy occupied her trip with occasional looks outside the truck window while Blacky sat next to the driver panting contently. All four of these elements were enjoying the trip, noisy and hot as it might be, and after stopping for fuel and some well earned cheeseburgers they made it about halfway before they saw a storm headed right at them. All three were tired. They found a roadside rest and parked. They tried to sleep. A large and powerful thunderstorm attacked them and rocked the truck for about 4 hours. Call it bonding, or call it survival, but what Pack chose to call it at the time was insanity, for he had never been locked in a small truck cab in a thunderstorm with two nervous dogs ever before. Every lightning strike that took place sent the dogs into nervous shakes and whines. He had them positioned on the floor boards with blankets to lay on, one on the passenger side and one on the driver side while he laid across the old truck bench seat. That quickly changed when thunder sounded off and both Blacky and Lucy decided to join him on the truck seat. Pack never realized just how big them dogs were until they both clung to him in trembling fear. Not too much sleep was found that night. But soon enough the storm ended and they headed West again. They made it home and found their driveway.

OC showed her appreciation for the new home by having her starter die as soon as she was parked. It was a great gesture because she got them all home first and Pack knew the truck needed changes. After fixing the starter he blew up the transmission on a hunting trip, leading to a new modern 700R4 to mate up with the new engine. New door seals, installing a new floor matt with sound deadening paint, a modern radio that looks old, and a really cool Mexican blanket that he used to make a seat cover. The new transmission and engine keeps up with new traffic just fine at speeds in excess of 70 MPH and the cab is now quiet, quiet enough to hear the music. OC’s future will see a better stereo, new tires and window felt, better seat belts and a possible gas tank relocation. The old paint will remain and the old rims with Baby Moons will stay as well. As Alabama would sing “She’s close enough to perfect for me”.

That’s the story up till now, or at least how I tell it. I have had many trucks of various years and makes in my life none of which I ended up keeping. This particular truck has proven to be my favorite. It took me a long time to find her, but I do believe it was all meant to be and if it’s up to me and my two dogs it will stay that way. As a Veteran I doubt that my soldiering capabilities will ever reach the greatness of our Vietnam Veterans. As a human being I doubt that I can ever contribute to society as much as Dr Martin Luther King Jr. did for our great country. OC and I may not put put an Apollo in space or run for President, and I doubt very much that I can sing “Alice’s Restaurant” like Arlo Gunthie did, but it is a quiet history that OC and I are making and I appreciate Chevrolet for producing a fine, no frills, functional, well made, step side pickup truck painted worker orange in 1968. Thanks for reading fellow Bolters, and I hope to see you on the highway. Chevy Rocks!

1968 Chevy C/10
1977 250 Engine
700R4 Transmission

Well Packy! What a tale! We'll have to put this in the Gallery for safe-keeping.

Peggy

ever link I click on I get an error

I think the site was down. Works now for me. Let me know if yall cant get the pics now...

works now......guess what..
In 1968 Carolyn and I bought a brand new AMC Ambassador,
drove it 10 yrs till I totaled it by getting hit broad side
after dropping her off to work less the five blocks from our house............nice truck, you think that truck will ever
make the trip to Tx

let me add, this post is a good example of why we dont want just an image and no link, by the time ever one looked at it and use the quote deal it would be hard to look up...a page full of the same pix..

Good job pack

Yes...I would like to come see you again in that truck...

Thanks for the endorsement Joker!

Did you like the new pix for the Image Posting Policy?

Okay Packy ... are you going to bring the truck to KC, too?

Peg

Great story and pictures!!
Love the truck!

Grizzly and Joker- Thanks.

Peg- My intentions are to be with you in September, work permitting. With that event so close to here its a shame if I miss it. I dont know how much longer we will be stationed here in Mizoo

Pack that's one great story and a great truck.

Any idea what the logo on the door was?

Thanks.

On the logo - unfortunately I don't know.

Okay Packy, there she is. Thanks for doing a good job with the story.

Peg

Peg - you're awesome...and thanks for adding it to my signature line!

Oh yea. That's my SOP, so I can KNOW if the truck is in the Gallery. I have only been doing that for a year or so. Hope to catch up some time.

I just spent about an hour getting rid of files on my computer that were on the server; done in 2012! But I had to check them to be sure they were there.

Your story was good. John helped with the edit, too. You did a great job. Love the highlights from history. Something I have wanted to include in the Gallery pages ... but never got to it ... yet.

Peg

Packy, good on you man. Great story. See ya soon??

Alvin - eventually we will live in NC again. I most definitely will be out your way again.

nice truck, I grew up in Anaheim California and one of my friends had one just like it. but slammed, polished slotted wheels and metallic pea green. it was a great truck.

Great tale , I keep looking for a faded 65 that I can remember.

Great story and the truck looks really good.