Here we go! Picked up Brutus after much hesitation to part with the money for him even though I felt he was well worth the money I paid. He has a 302 engine that ran, even though I never heard it run when I bought it, with an auto transmission and a rear end out of a 74 torino and gear and pinion out of who knows what. An old fella, 87 years old to be exact, that had bought the truck after retirement age and clocked at 125mph in it, YIKES!! that almost cried I think when we tired him off down the road. Soooo, Mr. Brutus didn't like being woken up after sleeping for over 10 years. We did know about him not having brakes but circumstances unloading and not quite being prepared send me and Brutus for our first joy ride together down my back yard where we parked him through my 4x6 trellis and the kids swingset...yes...through. Soooo, we will start the project here at this point I do believe. Meet Mr. Brutus....

 

Brutus resting before I got him.. April 25th, 2013



a '65 or '66 bed on him I was told



Solid metal or wooden slats?...hmmmm

 

Brutus comes home and we take our first joy ride into the back yard and park through the trellis and the kids swingset

 

Brutus gets straightened up and the swing pulled out from under the front end



Brutus inspires...the next day after coming home, his cousin "Studee" comes out of the barn next door after sleeping quite a while and gets a bath



Brutus draws first blood...I'm sure you can all relate...the first of many times I'm sure

 

June 1st, 2013...guess the first place to start is what everyone else probably does too...start with the bed

 

Bedless!!



Had to park the bed upside down beside the building for the moment...didn't realize the sides and front pieces were welded together...cutting wheel in the future maybe?

 

Brutus speaks

 

Brutus post carb kit...purrs a little more and don't have to keep the gas on to keep him at idle...oh, and I made a point to leave some room near the exhaust...didn't see any smoking....YAY!

 

think we've got most everything off from the cab back...



time for some sanding or wire brushing or blasting....what should i cover it up with?...rust inhibitor?...primer?...undercoating?

 

Cool project! Looks like you've got a great truck there. Sounds like you've had some fun with Brutus so far! Do the kids get a new swing set?

Your 302 sounds good! That carb kit worked it's magic.

Keep up the good work and keep posting your progress.

 

kids have outgrown the swingset weightwise so might make them one...not sure yet....tried out the POR-15 product this weekend...goes on and dries hard as a brick....and they weren't lying about it not coming off your hands....i was able to get it off/most of it with some scotchbrite pad though...ouch!

 

It's looking good.

When working with POR-15, gloves are your friend!!

 

a little primer and black paint sprayed over the por-15 and leaves wire brushed a little then sprayed and put back on....new bushings and pins and hangers...left off the bottom three leaves on each side....not sure that it will drop it much other than the thickness of the leaves themselves but every little bit counts ...time to clean on the rear end next i guess

 

very little progress going on here...am thinking a bit of hugger orange for Mr. Brutus eventually