Custom 60's Chevy Truck

[customsrus]

Started this build back in 2011 and put it away. I have since pulled it out of quarantine in the hopes of finishing the build. I was unable to find the original post so i thought I would start a new one. Seen this in an issue of Model Cars Magazine thought I would try my luck at building it. Took a 64 chevy truck sectioned it two places, cut the top off, replaced with 59 elcamino top, cut out front and rear bumper areas (hopefully it looks like the concept).Parts box wheels. Tires are from the 64 chevy. 

[customsrus]

I modified the 59 elcamino chassis to make it shorter by about 1/4 inch to fit the wheelbase. I added plastic where needed. modified the 59 elcamino chassis.  Made a new interior tub using pieces from both models (59 elcamino and 64 chev truck),and added pieces of plastic sheet where needed.Made new fender wells and roughed in the bed. Modified front suspension.

[customsrus]

I started working on the front and rear grilles the one on the top in the picture is the rear. I also sectioned the radiator out of the chevy truck to fit. I also made a battery box in the fender well, And made my hood hinges out of brass. Added motor mounts to the frame and extended front frame horns.

[customsrus]

So I did a little work to the truck managed to do the tail lights and work on the grille.

[ybsluos]

This is seriously cool John!  It definitely has that mid to late60s custom vibe.  This would have been right at home on the table at the early Revell, Pactra, and MPC contests.-Mark

[customsrus]

1 minute ago, ybsluos said:

This is seriously cool John!  It definitely has that mid to late60s custom vibe.  This would have been right at home on the table at the early Revell, Pactra, and MPC contests.-Mark

Thanks, thats exactly what i am going for on this build. Hang on to your hats I have a lot more to come. 

[customsrus]

Had to make tail lights for this beast. I pulled out my trusted old dremel, chucked a piece of clear red sprue into it. Used a sanding stick to get basic shape, then used various grits of sand paper and then used some good old polish to shine them up. Also got some new tires from Modelhaus. Big and little wide whites. 

[customsrus]

 Used plastic tubing cut in half for the pleats.Did a little shaping to tubing. I outlined the door panel with small pieces of round plastic.  Also I cut out the center of the door panel on the 64 chevy truck and mocked it up in one of the pictures. If I use these I will embed them into the panel. Added pleats to bottom half of dash using round tubing cut in half (same as I did on the rest of the interior. Cut out speaker and covered it with plastic.Made a center console using a parts box part (good the I got extra parts).Modified console with plastic before covering it with pleats.Cut hole for shifter. Used some tubing for the clock opening on the console, Also made an armrest out of sheet plastic then covered it with pleats also.Wow too many pleats??.Still a little more needs to be done to complete the interior. 

[customsrus]

 I embedded the panels from the 64 chevy truck into the door panels. I also made a headliner out of sheet plastic then added pleats. I added the spotlights. Redid the seats. added some detail to the dash. 

[customsrus]

Made some brake drums out of parts found in my parts box. Also made front and rear springs out of wire coiled around some tubing for size. Had to make new trailing arms cause I lost one of the originals,they are not exact but they will do.I made a scratch built intake manifold out plastic tubing and filled in between tubes with pieces of thin plastic.  I used down draft carbs instead of side drafts (my bad), so I modified the down drafts to look a little like side drafts (hopefully). I still need to shape the flanges a bit and do some final sanding to complete it. Got the chassis painted and worked on the exhaust. Had to shorten the exhaust to fit the modified chassis.

 

[customsrus]

 I added some plastic rod to the fender lips and across the bottom sides of the truck. This should make the fender lip more pronounce. Next i added some bondo to areas that needed it.  After shaping and sanding they look much better.  I had to repair  the hood lines since I sanded them half off during the build process. I added plastic rod over original lines. Bondo and sanded smooth.

 

 

[customsrus]

I cut out a spot in the drivers side fenderwell for a master cylinder. I also made a master cylinder,cause I could not find one I liked. Made it from an assortment of parts. I took the master cylinder from an old build cut the fluid tank off, added a larger mounting flange to the back of it, drilled holes for studs and added plastic rod for the studs, then cut them to size,added some brass tubing for the brake lines, then made a cap out of plastic tubing. It will look better after I clean it up and paint it. Found some door handles in the parts box. Built some side mirrors and modified the exhaust manifolds

[customsrus]

 I did do some work to the interior door panels. I removed all the molded in window cranks and arm rest. Added parts box pieces to replace them. I also made some power window switches. Made some engine pullys out of parts of the el camino and some round stock. chucked them into my dremel to round them out and cut a groove for the belt. made alternator brackets. I also  modified radiator and cut the ends off and glued them into the engine bay. I then added some flanges and a new fill hole to the radiator.I also made a new fan shroud by cutting out a center of a wheel and some plastic stock. also added a steering shaft and steering box.

 

 

[customsrus]

Added some detail to the firewall, and made a bracket for the coil. I will have to decide where to put the coil since I made a hole in the fender well also. added some inner structure to the bed cover and made a strut for it. 

[customsrus]

Here is how the truck sits today. My dilemma now is what color to paint it. Last picture is the one out of the magazine. 

Edited October 16, 2024 by customsrus
added picture

[Zippi]

Great looking project you got going on there John.  

[espo]

Very impressive fabrication work here, and realistic looking finishes.  

[TarheelRick]

I must say you are taking this build to the upper levels. Very impressive work throughout. Especially like the way you did the hood hinge, it gives me some ideas on how to do one on a custom I have in progress.

[DJMar]

This is such a cool build! Awesome fab and body work, and great details! I love the interior.

Personally, I vote for the purple if you're building an replica of the Leisure sketch. Since it's a mid-60s custom, maybe some pearl or flake?

[TopherMcGinnis]

This is a seriously cool project! 

 

R E S P E C T

[Chuckyg1]

This is so cool. Love what you're doing here. Great vision and crazy skills.

[slusher]

Fantastic fabrication and craftsmanship on your custom build!

[NOBLNG]

Lookin’ FINE!?

[James2]

Superb!

[Steve H]

Awesome build John! There is some great stuff happening here. I’ll be watching, look forward to seeing what colour you choose.