THE CHEVY PROJECT

1-30-1999 - This is the 1966 Chevy 1-ton dually that I picked up a couple of years ago for $350. It needs some things but is really a solid old truck. I have used it mostly on the farm but have hauled some pretty good loads on the road and have used it to pull 350 bushel of grain on wagons (at 56 lbs. per bu. wagons). It is only a 250 cu.in. six but is geared low and handles big loads well on the road, just spins a bit fast. It is a standard 4 speed with first gear being a granny gear. - - - Now about the project, I will be removing the bed and chopping the frame off just behind the rear shackles. I will be building a bed on it that will be somewhat like the wrecker bed pictured below, as low as possible with wheel wells. It will have a short fold down tailgate and a very solid rear drop apron. I have one of those unlatch and swing out hitches for easy hitching. It will be equipped with a gooseneck hitch, a winch and a removable 3 point hitch. I have a 2 way 4500 lb. electric winch that I may start out with but plan to replace it with a regular wrecker hoist (about 8000 lbs.) Also it will have an "A" frame removeable boom hoist. I have a fan belt driven air compressor and an air tank to put on it. I also want to put very good mud tires on the rear. - - - One factor I want to keep in mind as I build this is to build everything so that if need be, everything can be transferred to another 1 ton dually with minimal modifications.

This is a 4 wheel drive wrecker I used to own and now really miss for towing and lifting jobs around the farm. This is the general shape of the bed I want to build on the "Chevy Project" , of course it will be longer in front of the rear wheels as I intend to leave the wheel base as long as it is now.

1-31-1999 - Actual progress today. My son came down today looking for something to do so in a little under 2 hours we removed the old flat bed, cut 18" off of the back end of the frame, cleaned up the frame, ground off the rough edges and replaced a rusted brake line. - Kind of inspires me to go ahead with the next step.

I will try to keep this page updated as I go along on this project. page created 1-30-1999

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