Re: Lost My 65
 

The new drive shaft that you purchased wasn't balanced correctly?

Re: Lost My 65
 

I determined the length I needed by using a 6" yoke I had.
I'm new to some of this, so I didn't know there was different yoke lengths.
The driveline they sent me came with a 4" yoke, so I had to swap the 4" one out for the 6" one I had. I'm thinking the driveline would have been fine with the yoke it came with.

Re: Lost My 65
 

Glad you got it sorted out!

Re: Lost My 65
 

Small update...
.
I've been using the truck for spring time yard chores.
http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/...pshvw7kkeg.jpg.
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Driving here and there - picking up this and that - pulling my trailer around - has got me really loving putting in an automatic transmission. We live in semi-rurals. Curvy back roads. Stop and go. Up and down hills. Having the Auto Transmission and Power Steering has totally improved the pleasure. I'm really wanting Power Disc Brakes.
So, as for future upgrades to my 65, I've been debating something for some time now. As I mentioned, my 65 is on a 62 frame. (This I did back in the early 80's.) And although I like the Torsion bar front suspension, and I know the parts are available for the 60-62 chassis to do any future upgrades, what upgrades I've done so far would have been easier with the 63-66 chassis. I like the idea of just using all 73+ parts on a 63-66 frame. As I get older, it'll make working on it much easier. Besides, the whole body is 64-66, so might as well put my 65 on the correct 64-66 frame.
So I bit the bullet. Picked up a 64-66 frame.
Already blasted and painted. I'm going to do all the upgrades to it first, and then just move my body parts over to it. That way I can continue to drive my truck like it is. Minimal downtime. :-)

Re: Lost My 65
 

Here's a couple pics of the new frame.

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0l5putml.jpg
http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/...psbxf24yfs.jpg

Re: Lost My 65
 

Good plan

Re: Lost My 65
 

I would try and change out the e-brake system to the 66-68 style and get rid of that pain in the butt ebrake cross-member. Nice looking frame!

Re: Lost My 65
 

Thanks
Yep.
I plan to go with the newer e-brake cable system.
Also going to use the 73-87 motor mounts.
And Rear mount tank.
The thing I really like about this plan is I can get all the undercarriage the way I want it. All with easy access.
I'm rather happy with this decision.

Re: Lost My 65
 

That's a great way of doing the frame change over. The truck won't be off the road for long and you won't loose interest in the project.Nice to see that you use your truck.

Re: Lost My 65
 

By far, the easier way to run brake lines, fuel line, etc...
I put together a new motor for mine that way too..
The truck was already on the road, I basically just set the old body on a brand new chassis/drivetrain. .

Re: Lost My 65
 

I agree that, that is a good and wise plan.

That frame has a strange looking trans crossmember. It isn't like anything I have seen in a truck before.

Re: Lost My 65
 

Glad you're getting to enjoy the truck. Like the others have said, the frame swap sounds like a nice idea as well.

Re: Lost My 65
 

Really enjoyed reading through this thread! I am "recreating" my dad's 62 c10 from high school. He sold it to a junker when he was younger in his first marriage. He regrets it all the time. I would love to find it....but he thinks it is long gone.

Also, dig the blue/black patina.

Re: Lost My 65
 

Thanks guys.

Yes, Captain. I was going to ask you about that Trans member. I used the Google search this site has and searched images but didn't find one that looked like this one. If it gives me any issues, I have one from a 67-72 I can use.

Re: Lost My 65
 

This time of the year is the most beautiful.
Everything is lush and green.
Although the blackberries just love it too. :-(
I guess I need to get out there with a machete.
http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/...psi5jvqjkv.jpg

Re: Lost My 65
 

Relocated my new frame.
Putting it under a covered area where I can start working on it.
http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/...psrvdykxny.jpg

Re: Lost My 65
 

Before I went to power steering, I had a lot of play in my old manual steering box. So I chalked up my steering instability to the old worn steering box. For my upgrade to power steering, I went with redhead because wanted to have nice tight steering with no play. After I upgraded to power steering, I noticed a huge improvement in steering stability, but it still didn't have what I was wanting. So I went through all the linkage and arm connections again to make sure there weren't any warn components.
Well, I went to searching and reading the forums for some more learnin. I learned about caster, camber and toe - enough to give me the confidence to do my own alignment.
Camber and Toe weren't the issue. It was caster.
My truck had almost zero caster. I've learned that more positive caster will give more straight driving stability.
So, I started with taking two shims off the back posts on the upper arms. A definite improvement.
Going to give a it little more caster

Re: Lost My 65
 

You can move your lower a-arms forward up to 3/4" of an inch for better caster, and highway stability. There are several threads on here detailing how. Enjoy watching your continuing saga.

Re: Lost My 65
 

Thanks,
Rocknrod posted a link to that thread in another thread.

Re: Lost My 65
 

Because the ol' fella who had my 65, bought the rims for the truck as part of his vision, I pretty much decided to keep them since getting her back. That way as I send him progress pics, he can see I still have them. It doesn't hurt that I also happen to like them.
They are 10" wide with 295/50-R15 all the way around.
When I mocked up the Drop Spindles with Discs, I noticed it was going to move my wheels out almost 1/2 per side. So I've been keeping my eyes out for the same wheel at 8" wide. I'll do the 8"s in the front and the 10"s in the rear.
Set them up so I can keep this look.
http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4gshubon.jpg
.
After watching the ads for over a year, I finally found the same wheels in 8".
They came with 31x10.5-R15's so I thought I'd mount them up just for kicks. Not my taste.
http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/...psz1ohuixc.jpg


.

Re: Lost My 65
 

I was browsing my thread and noticed that I may have never answered your question here. I think your Automatic Crossmember you built me is correct, it's probably just a combination of the tail rubber mount being thicker than what may have been on stock and my using the 65 V8 motor mount perches on the shallower 62 Frame that my 65 is on. If I raised the perches and dropped the tail, the angle to the pinion would probably be right on. For now I tilted the pinion down to match the yoke. Between that and my backyard driveshaft balancing using hose clamps, I have gotten rid of the vibration.

Re: Lost My 65
 

This was a Excellent read Great Story from beginning to end, I spent all Day Reading it.. When you Posted the last set of Google Earth pics from the different angles, I know it was your truck I could see a dot on the Passenger rear side (65 fleetside tail light) Anyways You Got Running and Looking Good... Congrats on Finding Your 65... Chris....

Re: Lost My 65
 

Thank you.

Re: Lost My 65
 

I bought my 65 when she was around 18.
It's hard to believe she's around 55 years old now.

Re: Lost My 65
 

One of my fitech injectors quit working.
I was struggling to figure out which new ones I needed to order. I found out watching this video:
https://youtu.be/TDx7MPVDzAY

Re: Lost My 65
 

I remember before you found her.

Re: Lost My 65
 

Yep, and it was ones like you that motivated me to keep looking.

Re: Lost My 65
 

If any of you have been following this thread and my 66 thread, you'll know that I change directions a lot.
I found my 65 I had when I was a teenager and bought her back about 10 years ago now and I still haven't got all the upgrades I wanted to do to her done. So, my latest direction is to move my 65 cab and front clip over to the 66 frame with the long fleetside bed. The 66 already has power steering, power disc brakes, a 14 bolt, and a low mileage 350.
The whole downside to the 66 was how bad of shape the cab was in.
That is my goal for this weekend.
.
So far I've made it to setting my 65 cab onto the 66 frame.
Going to bolt it down and start hooking things back up tomorrow.

Re: Lost My 65
 

This will be close to the look I'll be shooting for.

Re: Lost My 65
 

Really liked your short stepside version, but since I am a long bed owner now, I can definitely see the goodness coming from you going this way.

Re: Lost My 65
 

Thanks, and;
Oh yes, the stepside is definately a great look - even my wife would have preferred me to keep the lowered hotrod wide wheels stepside, and I can always go back to it - I'm not getting rid of it. But I want to go long fleet for a time.

Re: Lost My 65
 

All I got left to do is hook up the brakes and I can take it for a spin.
Again, I'm doing this because the 66 has all the upgrades.
Now I'll use the frame I posted here a few pages up and do all the upgrades to it while I keep my 65 rolling on the 66 frame.
I'm going to sell my 62 Shortbed frame or make a trailer out of it.

Re: Lost My 65
 

Yes, it's not as cool looking, but it'll do for awhile.

Re: Lost My 65
 

I think it looks great! You're still going to be able to keep it on the road, and those upgrades already on that frame is a big plus. Long live long beds :metal:

Re: Lost My 65
 

Thanks for the encouragement, that helps.

Re: Lost My 65
 

She was so beautiful when I bought her in 82.
Then, the teenager I was, treated her badly and totaled her.
When I rebuilt her, I rebuilt her as a shortbed stepside on the 62 frame.
Here is the only picture I have of her - after I wrecked her. We used to go mudding a lot.
Anyway, she was originally a longbed fleetside.

Re: Lost My 65
 

You only learn to appreciate things when you're older, they'll have a lot of fun with the truck again, but they won't do the really wild things anymore.

Re: Lost My 65
 

Been working on the alignment.
Took her for another spin today.
Shimmys at about 45 mph but goes away at around 55.
Going to keep working on the alignment using this thread:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=399479
.
Also going to try a different set of wheels and replace the idler arm.
I want to get her driving safely before reinstalling the body panels.
.

Re: Lost My 65
 

The weight from the panels will affect your alignment numbers just a smidge. Might not be enough to notice, but I would want all the usual weight on the truck before getting that final alignment dialed in. I bet people give you some funky looks for driving around like that :lol:

Re: Lost My 65
 

Maybe I'll put a couple sacks of concrete on the inner fenders - one on each side. ;) Just kidding..
.
I do like the easy access like I have it. :)