Thread: update on Buford

Tweet

My latest project is to build a streetrod for under $10k for my son.
It's a 48 Chevy pick-up that has a Buick Regal IFS,Ford 9" w/leaf springs, SBC & a 700r4.

Some of the mods are:
1 94 bed narrowed 13"
2 top choped 3 1/2"
3 doors lengthened 3"
4 caddy fins/tail lights
5 original fenders narrowed

Coming right along, Don. Where you at on the budget???? What wheels are they??? Look great.

Dave, the wheels look like Torq Thrust II's, we'll know for shure when Don comes back though.

Holy Smokes you're creative! That's gonna be one cool lookin truck! Can't wait to see it finished...what time frame are ya lookin at for finishing it up? What color is it gonna be? Be sure to post more pics please!!!!!

Lookin' good Don. And since you were able to post we'll assume you survived Frances reasonably well. That's good to know too!

Looking good is right, Don.........but be sure to have back up bells and lights..........I'd sure wanna know when those caddy fins are in area of my body.........hehe

Thanks for all the replies.....it makes all the work worth while.

The wheels are Torque thrust II. Do not know when I'll finish it. I was hoping we would be able to go the the SRN in Tampa next month,but got hit w/2 hurricans......lots of damage.......no power,water.a/c for 8 days, lost 9 - 100 year old oak trees, 2 landed on the roof. Used buckets of water from the pool to shower. Looks like we are going to get hit w/a 3rd one. I finally found a generator to buy - there almost impossible to find.

As far as color I was thinking black w/flames. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

As far as budget I'm at $8,000.

Thanks again to Bob for the suggestion to lengthen the doors.
Don

Great lookin' truck Don. How does your Son like it so far? Is he workin' on it too?

Not sure how the saying went, something like this "Anyone can build a hotrod, ....it takes a man to cut one up". I really like what your doin! Kel My 1968 Firebird

Hey Don, guess we both owe thanks to Bob on the door stretching. I thought if 3" was good, then 7" must be better !!

Hey Dave, Looks like you have put a lot of work into the doors. Did you stretch the body the same amount?( We have a lot of talent on this site which, makes it interesting. I especially enjoy seeing pictures of unusual /difficult body work)
Don

I didn't stretch the body, just lengthened the rear opening on the doors, and leaned the jam back a few degrees at the top. Just wanted to try something different. When these trucks are done, would be great to park them side by side at a show sometime!!!!

BTW, it used to be a panel truck that someone else had started on, I'm just trying to save it. Top is chopped 3, then I took a bunch out of the crown in the roof, almost a flat roof now. Having a great time building it. Thought it was an insane plan at first, but I'm starting to like it now.

Looks like a good design. What color choices have you comsidered? Can you post a rear side view.?

What are you using for supension........Don

Hey Don, the front suspension will be MII type with coilovers, the rear will be a triangulated 4-bar with coilovers. The frame will be 2X4 rectangular tubing (11ga), with 1 1/2X3 outriggers for the body attach points and a bit of side impact protection. The frame will be quite similar to the one I used on the '49 Merc in my gallery, with some adjustments made to front kickup height and wheelbase. I will get some side and rear view shots of the truck as work progresses and rear fender placement and other plans become finalized.

I'm having a great time building the truck, the owner has allowed me a lot of latitude in design and construction. Not knocking the chebbie guys, but he also insists the power train will be anything but a 350/350 set up. Discussion has gone everywhere from a 3.8 with a supercharger, to a 4.6 Ford modular DOHC, to a crate motor hemi...... Whatever his final decision is, I am sure the combination will be "interesting"

Body color will be a 2 tone subtle combination, with the color break line similar to the trim lines of a 55-56 Ford Crown Vic. The dash and gauge configuration will be similar to a early '60's Vette with a full length center console and possibly an overhead console.

Anyway, having a ball building without the restrictions of limited interior and underhood space that I usually have to deal with on the 30's and 40's vintage cars. Then, I also have friends who insist the whole concept is due to bad drugs in the 60's !!! Tee Hee Hee------- Also lurking in the shadows is a '67 Ford Galaxie 500 Fastback with a chop, section, and channel job on the skin, and a stretched '28 Roadster with an aluminum body........ So many projects, so little time.

But, your pickup with the caddy fins on the box is gonna be way kewl.!!! What a concept!!! Isn't it great to be able to play with some of these classic old designs. Buford is going to be a totally unique ride, congrats to you and your son.

And someday I will get back on my Ranchero.................