After Thanksgiving

Had a frost and freeze over night, should have taken the parts I cut from the bed in from outside so they would be dry to work on in the garage. Have to prep a space and get the new Ark welder set up for plugging in, that’s another project. I know I will do something this weekend and mark a few tasks off my list to make me feel like I am getting something done. However, I am also working on research, papers and assignments for school as well so I must prioritize. Not to mention I cannot forget to stop, live, and love life with my wife.
Until then.......

Cutting the bed and removing rust

 Well the obvious question you would have, why am I cutting the bed into pieces? Well my idea is to convert the long bed into a short bed in order to extend the cab.

 Here comes the Boss, I have to look busy! I don't think she likes what I am doing to her truck.

 Removing the rust and it would be nice to have some young person doing this for me while I supervise. Any suggestions on brand names for under coating?

Inside length of the bed will be six feet and a total of eight feet with the tail gait down. I am not a rich man so I will be watching every dollar going out and trying to reuse pieces cut out of the bed to extend the cab due to it already having the same shape. The top half of the cab, the underneath flooring and brace supporting system will all have to be fabricated with what I have available. I have looked on line and have found nothing to reference for what I am about to do. I do not have a blue print to follow, even if I did I do not think I would want someone elses idea on Jack. The cab will be cut at the back edge (1 to 1 1/2 ") and at an angel to the top cap, across cab and back down. The back support brace under the cab will be the dividing cutting line so it can be used for the new plate and bracing to attach to.

Is this going to happen before Christmas.... Ha Ha Maybe next Christmas

My Wife did ensure I got early gifts in the way of tools to start the project, I Love my wife! 

Oh, My Son sent me a msg on Facebook saying he got excited for a moment when he thought I was building a low rider. Sorry, I need the nice ride without feeling each pebble on the road.

Off came the bed and more

 My wife and dog were out with me when we were trying to do the right thing of using the air ratchets and hand tools to remove the 5/8" roting plywood someone had put in. But after 2 1/2 hours of fighting the rusted bolts, we gave up and I cam up with a plan for the next day. There I was the next day with a skill saw, crow bars and a nice size hammer that made short work of getting it out. 

I could have cut the plywood up and burned it in the fire pit outside, but who knows what was in the back of that truck. So, I got my monies worth out of the city who hauled it off on the regular trash day.

Jack and the family

As you can see the older lady (11-12 yrs old) in the photo, we are her Humans. Her name is Raz and a great specimen of a Jack Russell Terrier. This is the only vehicle she has ever willingly jumped into and claimed it for her own. So the name for the truck is after her heritage. 66 Chevy "Jack" Russell. Just Jack for short....

This is how it sits after the wife and I rolled it off the U-haul rental in the back yard early October 2010.

Yes, these are huge flood lights that the seller wanted to get rid of with the truck. Haven't plugged them in yet, have to change the plug type first just in case if I have to work in the dark... ha ha