Hello all! I found this web site a few day's ago and thought it was pretty cool, lots of intresting stories. Thought I'd share mine.
I have a 1963 short wide, which I have been working on for 30 some years. As all you know, one's project usually takes the back seat to lifes goings on's. Helped raise eight children, moved five times and divorced twice.Thus the lengthy rebuild time.
My first truck was a 1949 3100 five window. Almost had it to the point of putting paint on when needed to sell to buy the first house.
Purchased the '63 in Southern Cal. from a gentleman in North Hollywood. I am the third owner. It has 48,000 miles on the odometer. Had a 283 three speed on the column with over drive.
Being the young and dumb kid I was back then, pulled the engine and put in a 350. Had it bored, balanced and blue printed. Put in 9 to 1's Edelbrock Tourquer manifold, 650 double pump Holly, headers, 11" flywheel and Shaffer clutch with a Muncie four speed with Hurst floor shifter.
Went through first divorce after having first child. Then after a number of years, married again and moved to Kansas. Helped raise seven more children and divorced again. That's when I was able to do the rest of the work to the '63.
I took out the front cross member and epoxyied it and all the front end pieces, Installed a sway bar; put air bags on the front and rear and started to do the body work.
I did all the metal work like replacing the left front half of the bed, both rear panels behind the rear wheels, the lower inner bed panels in front of and behind the wheel wells, replaced the front bed panel, put on a roll pan, and widened the wheel wells 7-3/4".
I worked for a company that had a glass beader, so was able to bead all the parts of the truck that I could get into it.
Had the bed sand blasted and did all the body work with the instruction of a few good friends that knew the business. Applied all the primer, filler and did all the sanding, wet sanding and blocking and most of the buffing. Had friends apply the base clear. Thanks to them with a lot of gratitude.
Had the interior covered with a beige leather, seat, kick panels (with speakers), panel inserts on the door panels, sun visors, and an apron I made that mounts under the dash which houses the air bag gauge and switches.
Bought all stainless bolts (unpolished) from Totally Stainless and polished them. Purchased a white oak floor from Chevy Duty in K.C. and put a no gloss finish on it (wood preservative). Painted the metal strips same color as truck, with stainless bolts.
I also have installed a '69 Camero gas tank under the rear of the truck with a flip down license plate.
I got a new set of chrome side trim from Chevy Duty as well.
I am now married again and living in Prineville, Oregon and am putting on and in all the final touches, like the floor and the interior and electrical harness.
Hope to have it running in the next year. My dream is to drive it to Ottowa, Kansas to the "Old Maris River Run" next September.
That is my story such as it is. Hope to continue to find exciting information here and will post a link to photos soon.
Edited August 2023 by Peggy M: The image link didn't work and I tried to find images in his other posts. Same issue: link to photos was a dead end.
What a story though. A whole lot of work. Maybe he'll come back with images. 
