Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

I had to register for the site when I stumbled upon this build via google trying to research my own truck just to say awesome build!

I just wish I had seen it before you got all your interior parts. We could have done some serious trading. I have a 66 C20 with an automatic and want to convert to manual.

http://i1076.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0cilcqoy.jpg

Finding all the parts to convert isn't easy so congrats on getting so lucky with your finds.

If you haven't figured out the size for your front tires yet I can help. You said they were 205/60x15s or possibly 215/60x15's. Both of those sizes give you about a 4" sidewall and increasing the first number will increase the width of the tire more than the sidewall. A 215/65x15 will give you a 5.5" sidewall with an overall width of 8.5" and a 205/65x15 will give you a 5.25" sidewall with an overall width of 8". Measure your rear tire and just match it up. I would recommend the 215/65x15.

About the 83... I feel your pain. The electronical stuff is hard to figure out especially if it is all melted down and you have no references to go off of. I recently resurrected an 82 K5 that had been sitting for 5 years. It was all mechanical vacuum and the thermal vacuum port in the air cleaner was missing. After searching in the scrap yards for two weeks I finally went to Orilley and just matched a picture of the hole in the air cleaner up with something on the screen. Passed smog the first time. Give it a shot. you would be surprised at what replacement parts you can get through your local parts retailers.

Oh, and your slab leaks. My house was built in 64 and still has the original copper in the attic so that is what I would recommend. Just stub up in to the wall where your water line comes in and go up the wall in to the attic. No more leaks.

Thanks for all the ideas and how to and good luck with the rest of your build. It is really getting me motivated to get started on mine. I will definitely keep following. I can't wait to see the first fire video. You are going to post it right?

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Hey, you're kinda local to me! My son used to travel over to your area when his football team played Burroughs.

Thanks for the kind words on my build thread. It's been a really fun build, but I'm at the point of doing the really tedious stuff like wring and plumbing, and I'm getting tried of it. I have to keep my head down and continue to knock stuff off the list. I'm getting there, but I am really particular about the way stuff looks, so it takes me a little longer to get things done to a point where I'm satisfied.

The '83 went to a new owner in December. I just had too many projects, and I really needed to thin out the herd. It was a great project truck for the new owner, 100% rust and dent free, a shortbed fleetside, and a lot of added upgrades. I would have loved to have built it myself, but it was the right thing to do, and I actually feel pretty good that I let it go.

I think I'm OK for now on the slab leaks. We both know that the high alkaline soil and the small seismic activity we have in the desert is hell on slab leaks. Every few weeks, I go out to my meter and check to see if the meter is spinning, which will indicate a leak if everything in the house is turned off. So far, so good. If it happens again, I'm going to Pex the entire house.

Are you still considering swapping over to a manual trans? If so, I have a good buddy who is looking for an automatic column if you ever decide to sell. He's building a really nice '65, doing it all himself. He's had some medical issues lately, but he still continues to work on it. I try to help him whenever I can because he's a good guy.

Yes, I plan on doing a first fire video. I can't wait until this truck comes alive!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

You and 100 others are waiting for the first fire video.....Keep on keeping dude. We all can't wait to see the truck some more.!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

I am the same way. Looks like you are really good at it though.

Exactly what I would do. My mom managed apartments in San Diego and had to deal with them all the time. Not fun at all.


I am definitely going to swap it out. I have the 420 but I need the bell, trans tunnel, shifter and well... everything else. Won't be easy but my 64 was way too much fun to drive in that config. I am willing to sell but am having trouble finding a good manual column.

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Digging both of your builds man. Fricken sweet work.

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

We can't wait to watch it!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Subscribed!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

diggin those tucked lines!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

I don't understand how it even applies to a pre smog vehicles. Stupid CARB!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

awesome work and great ideas, thanks for sharing.
12:30 am here in the hotel and a meeting in the morning. I dont think everyone will understand "I was up late reading about a guy restoring an old chevy truck in CA"
LOL well worth it in my book!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

No, it belongs at the Hot Rod Reunion as a pusher! Get on the stick, Alex! :thumbs::exit:

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

I am on it! I have been doing a bunch of work on it each night after work, but I have not been keeping up with progress shots. I have been finishing up the last of the AC lines and the heater hoses. I have been working on whatever I can. The weather has been really crappy the last couple of weekends, but I have been doing work on the smaller items that I can do inside the garage where it's a whole lot warmer. The "To-Do" list is getting smaller!

Still need to route the taillight wiring, finish up the underdash wiring, finish the mods on the radiator shroud, make positive and negative battery cables, make the spark plug wires, install u-joints in the rear driveshaft, ........ok, I'll stop there. Still a lot to do, but it's a culmination of a lot of small jobs. Unfortunately, they are the ones that cost the most money and aren't fun.

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

We'll be ready and waiting on you.!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

wow! just went through this whole thread, read/skimmed about a 1/4 of it, gonna have to check back a few times, lots of great tricks!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

One of the best for sure...!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Subscribed! Can't wait to see some progress pictures!:chevy:

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Alex.... are you out there?

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

I am! I've been working some insane hours for the past 3 months, but I'm working on the '64 as much as I can. I've got a LOT of stuff done, and I'll post up pictures soon.

I need an upper radiator bracket for a V8 radiator. Anybody got one they want to sell? It doesn't need to be pristine, I need to use it for parts.

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Glad to see you are still gettin at it. Can't wait on pics.

I bet Clem on here or Bomp does
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Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Good to hear from ya!
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Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Been doing a lot of little jobs on the truck when I have the free time, and this weekend, I pulled the entire front suspension back apart for final installation and detailing. Everything on the front suspension is either new or rebuilt. I also built new brackets and mounted the trans cooler. It's big, kind of overkill, but it was an extra that I had laying around and I put it to use. It's mounted under the core support and tucked behind the bumper, so it's in the airstream but still protected. Also mounted the swaybar (1.25"). All the bushings are polyurethane throughout the suspension. It was a very productive weekend.
http://rs222.pbsrc.com/albums/dd159/...qt.jpg~320x480
http://rs222.pbsrc.com/albums/dd159/...qc.jpg~320x480
http://rs222.pbsrc.com/albums/dd159/...bs.jpg~320x480
http://rs222.pbsrc.com/albums/dd159/...n6.jpg~320x480

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Looks great, Alex!
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Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Good to see some new progress pics!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Oooooooh an update. Thank you sir.

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

This weekend's progress
The new aluminum radiator did not work with the upper bracket that I had previously modified for the original copper radiator, so I bought a used bracket from a member, Jonzcustomshop. I needed to gain an additional 3/8" in height, so the best way was to splice my original bracket and the one I got from Jon.
http://rs222.pbsrc.com/albums/dd159/...bu.jpg~320x480
http://rs222.pbsrc.com/albums/dd159/...yz.jpg~320x480
http://rs222.pbsrc.com/albums/dd159/...dx.jpg~320x480
I will sandblast the part and do a little body filler on it, and it'll look like a factory piece when it's finished. I have spent a lot of time modifying every part on my truck to look like it came that way from the factory. .....and nothing has been left untouched.

I also cut and trimmed the radiator upper radiator rubber seal. It turned out really nice.
http://rs222.pbsrc.com/albums/dd159/...uv.jpg~320x480

Still lots of little stuff to do!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Thank you for the update. No matter how big or small!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

:agree:

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Oooh, pretty stuff! Thanks for the update. Aiming for October? (cough, cough)

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Between my work schedule and what I have left to do, October will be "sporty", to say the least. Gonna keep leaning forward and knocking stuff off the list!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

After a lot of mock up, trial fitting, and crimping, the A/C and heater lines are finally done. I wanted the lines to have a nice flow, and to not have anything laying on top of the engine. I wound up using an A/C manifold from a 1989 Chevy truck and welding on new ends. This manifold drops both the suction and return lines perfectly between the passenger valve cover and the compressor. I also wanted to keep the high and low service ports near each other, so I built a bracket that bolts to the battery tray.
http://rs222.pbsrc.com/albums/dd159/...ps.jpg~320x480
http://rs222.pbsrc.com/albums/dd159/...fi.jpg~320x480
http://rs222.pbsrc.com/albums/dd159/...kb.jpg~320x480
In this shot, you can see both the heater and A/C lines as they route next to the engine. The A/C lines route next to the engine, and the heater lines route outboard of those. The hose seperators are from Squeeges (Mesa, AZ).
http://rs222.pbsrc.com/albums/dd159/...kw.jpg~320x480
I also wanted to have the capability of shutting the water off to the heater in the summer, so I used a water shutoff from Sharkbite. These parts can be bought at nearly any hardware store and are used for PEX plumbing. It has a 5/8 inlet and outlet, made of solid brass, and nice quality. I unscrewed the valve handle and will keep it in the the glovebox until I need to shut the water on or off. I also installed a Prestone flush manifold (5/8" in/out) to help get the air out when the radiator is filled. The heater box is at about the same height or lower as the radiator cap, so the chance of getting an air pocket in the system is common. On my truck, I plan to jack up the rear and fill the system from the manifold. The heater lines now route behind and below the heater box, so I had to get tricky with the hoses at the heater core. I found the custom molded hoses (made by Gates) at Summit.
http://rs222.pbsrc.com/albums/dd159/...ae.jpg~320x480

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

I like the quality of the façtory GM engine oil and transmission dipsticks, but in their stock form, they are way too long. I wound up getting an oil dipstick and tube from a 1995 Chevy truck and chopping it down about 12 inches. I also used my tubing bender and bent the tube to the angle I wanted. In this shot, you can barely see the yellow handle. It's easy to access, but it's out of sight.
http://rs222.pbsrc.com/albums/dd159/...k7.jpg~320x480
I really like the lockiñg transmission dipsticks, so I got one from the same '95 Chevy truck and chopped 11" inches out of it. I could have cut it down more, but I didn't want to make it hard to reach.
http://rs222.pbsrc.com/albums/dd159/...js.jpg~320x480

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

I almost forgot to show the heater hose fittings on the intake mañifold and water pump. They are from Pure Choice Motorsports, and are similar in style to an A/C fitting. I plan to use these on everything I build from now on.
http://rs222.pbsrc.com/albums/dd159/...qz.jpg~320x480

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

I got tired of seeing the truck on jackstands, so I bolted the wheels up and put it on the ground. I needed that! I will be putting it back on stands tomorrow morning because there's still a lot to do. In the meantime......
http://rs222.pbsrc.com/albums/dd159/...4w.jpg~320x480
http://rs222.pbsrc.com/albums/dd159/...hx.jpg~320x480

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Very nice job on the lines in the engine bay, nice work...Jim

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Vey clean!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

X2! Great work!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Thank you for the updates. Every thing looks great.

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

With a couple of days off in a row, I decided to check a few more items off of the To Do List.

I never liked the look of battery cables running over the top of everything, so I got couple of 72" positive and negative cables and routed them the way I wanted. I routed them tightly off of the battery and brought them toward the radiator. I reinforced the shroud with 1x1 inch steel squares and bonded on 3 ClickBond nutplates on the inside. I butterflied the positive and negative cables and ran them down towards the frame. About 10" down, I routed the negative cable to the A/C mount and continued the positive cable through the frame using a thick grommet. At that point, I routed the cable inside the passenger frame rail to the starter. It's clamped in two additional locations in the frame rail. I trimmed the excess length and crimped on a new lug for the starter stud.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...ps8bhmch3a.jpg
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...pswzaoj3xl.jpg

Please disregard the look of the fan shroud. It will be painted in the next few weeks!