Minor Freshening of 76 C20

[monkeyspunk79]

I've spent some time this summer getting our old 76 C20 farm truck back to running strong after sitting off & on for many years. First came some mechanicals (tune, carb replacement, gaskets & trans service) and then I installed a hitch so we could put her to work towing a 1947 Chevy home for my old man.


Then came time to ditch the 16.5 rims and bias plys for some 16 inchers, radials, & NOS hubcaps. Next, a couple cans of Rustoleum to freshen up the bumpers...



And this past week I buffed out the original oxidized finish with some imperial glaze and a buffer. It actually shined back up again.
So this weekend the wife & I took it on a road trip to and old car & truck show just for grins.


On the way home, we couldn't resist the photo op near this grain elevator.



She'll get paint and a full reso at some point, but for now its been fun just getting things working and looking better. Plus we've used this old girl to haul lumber, construction trash, and other things. I love this thing, and I love this site. Its already helped me learn so much. Cheers!

[VileZambonie]

Your bumper is crooked. Is that teal green?

[monkeyspunk79]

Yeah, the rear bumper is 'tweaked' on the driver's side from some mishap long before I got it. I think it was slid into a ditch in the snow way back when. I bought a new one but it was a universal Westin that was actually for an 88-00 truck and it didn't fit. I just left the original one on there and sprayed it. Some day I'll bend it back. I need some hydraulic assistance because I'm a weakling and a hammer and dolly didn't do the trick.

The color is supposedly called "Hawaiian Blue" and its a solid non-metallic laquer. Reminds me of the teal "Marina Blue" GM color from the early 70's. My Dad's 71 Nova was this color and I am a sucker for anything blue.

[Altec]

It seems like the bottom is bent in. Just take a tow strap, wrap it around a tree and hook it to the bumper. The creep the truck forward until you get it back into shape. Then to straighten out the top deck take a pry bar in between the the bumper, and the bed and push towards the front of the truck. I doubt you'll get perfection, but you can get the basic shape back.

Nothing that can't be done on a Sunday with some cold ones, and a couple people to help out.


Lol, the 5th picture honestly looks like a old Chevy ad. Nice truck! Looks solid!

[78 Chevyrado]

I straightened my step bumper with a giant pipe wrench, just use a piece of wood between the jaws and the bumper itself.  It Works easier if you have 2 people and like a 3 or 4 foot wrench.  I had a 48" wrench.

Mine was bent about like yours when I got my truck.



after about 20 minutes of tweaking with a big pipe wrench:

[monkeyspunk79]

Thanks so much for the suggestions. I was trying to think of a good way to get the shape back without breaking something...and those ideas are helpful. I like the pipe wrench idea.

Altec- That's what my Dad said. It looked like something taken back when it was new. C20's like to work!!

[ctl_dog]

very cool pics!

[Canadian 4X4]

Sweet pics!