Well,
Here I begin with the posting of My second Fontana styled project. What I have is David Murphy's old 6" chopped cab that I purchased after trying unsucessfully to chop a cab that I had setting around. I've always wanted a chopped truck and this photo is from an early issue of Truckin' magazine. Here it is 31 years later and My dream truck is finally happening. It will end up looking just like this photo, but for now with a few minor changes, like wheels. I am going to ride the Rat Rod craze for a few years with hotrod black primer paint, blood red wheels that have been powder coated and whitewall tires (if I can find any that wide), matching red pinstriped flames exactly as those on Funtana, with a red interior for now. In about 5 or 6 years, Choptana will get a full makeover with these same Permacast rims and a light green metallic paint job and forest green flames.
So where am I now??? I have it (David's ex cab) placed on a 1979 frame (disc brakes) with the motor from My old pea green 1973 that is an L20 with headers, a cam, Offenhauser intake running a 390 fourbarrel Holly carb and bolted to a 5 speed. Later I'll change out the head with one totally done over with larger valves and I'll step up to a 500 cfm fourbarrel. I have the bed finished with filled bed seams, shaved tiedown hooks and molded in Fontana flares. It is right now on a trailer frame in Las Vegas being blocked out by the same guy that did Funtana. It will be shot with Northstar 150 hotrod black non scratching flat black paint. When it is completed in 3 weeks, I should have the cab/frame ready and I will take it up and trade it out. This way I will have paint coverage on the front of the bed and the back of the cab. After the frontend is done, I'll bring it back home and bolt the already finished bed onto the frame. Then it's off to the upholstery shop, exhaust shop and add the dash and window glass. Today I spent 5 hours sandblasting the floor from extensive rust damage. I'll put in new floor sections out of one of the cabs that Our wonderful City made Me cut up (with the help from Sawzall Mark!) to add strength. This should be done by next week and all that is left is to hang the doors and add the solinoids (door handles are shaved) prior to its trip to L.V. I am taking construction photos that I'll post later.   

Post pics?!?!?!? Well, darned if I didnt post the Truckin' magazine photo!!!! So here it is. This truck ended up having a California Stepside bed put on in place of the stock one. It ended up bright orange and was named Chop Suey which was featured in the May 1976 issue on page 18. The article called "Putting The Saw To The Datsun Pickup" in the September 1975 issue is where this photo is from showing the difference between stock and chopped. I have always loved how the truck looked like this and actually was bummed to see it 8 months later with the stepside bed. It was very nice, but this classic look with molded in Fontana flares looked very, very cool to Me. By the way, these are the rare Permacast rims (I've mentioned before) and look great on this truck. Later, after the Ratrod craze dies down some, I will repaint Choptana and these same rims will be traded out, thus making this same truck 31 years later as I always imagined that I would own a reality!!

I've thought how cool it would be to have a very tiny and low 620...

chop top standard cab short bed, body drop it to the doors (cut out the rockers) bag it. The rear part of the bed that turns up would almost be on the ground, as well as the stock front valance.

I wouldn't fit in there very well, but it would be a fun little bullet truck.

That is awesome bleach. That is exactly what i want to build. just maybe not the chop top?? not sure yet.

I like that grill also. looks black with the chrome rings and they kept the emblem.

jason

Of course I have an uncut copy of that photo.

Heres a few pics of Mike's Chop top truck when I was there last year.

i love how squatty the rear window looks!

I still have the bed and front fenders... aka bre620

Well, after three days, 150 pounds of sand, four "floppy" discs, one wire wheel and various sore muscles that I didn't even know that I had, the floors are finally done!!! Tomorrow I'll hang the side doors, remove the sunroof, sand the underside of the cab and mount (finally) the cab to the frame. Man, what an adventure cleaning up those floors!! Another day, another day closer to the dream truck that I've wanted since 1976.

those are 18's