Re: pdx-sanity66
 

I got my 1 1/4" sway bar and Moog poly bushings installed today. One thing more off of the check list.

Re: pdx-sanity66
 

Man! that is looking good.
You mention checking things off your list.
Do you have a set goal as to timeframe to start putting the body back together?

A frame up restore is some time out for me.
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Re: pdx-sanity66
 

Thanks. I'm hoping to get the cab floor patching done this summer so I can get the underside of the cab prepped and painted and set back on the frame rails. That will give me more room in the garage for when the rains return and I'm forced inside. I plan to get the brake and fuel lines in before the cab goes on and ideally I would like to get the engine and trans in before the cab also, but I don't know if financially that can happen. At least I will be able to start fitting body panels etc. and then pull the cab back off if necessary to deal with the trans mounting, etc.
I don't have any heat in the garage at this point so I'm hoping I can get quite a bit of priming and/or painting done this summer on things such as the inner fenders, core support, and other odds and ends and save other projects for the winter months.

Re: pdx-sanity66
 

I tried finding that Grand Slam kit you said you got from CPP, but couldn't find the same kit that it looks like you have. Do you have a link for the kit? I'm sure I overlooked it somehow. Thanks! The truck is looking really good also!

Re: pdx-sanity66
 

I looked online, also, and it looks as though they aren't offering the grand slam kit anymore. I'm sure you could still piece together the same stuff, though. Good luck on your build.

Re: pdx-sanity66
 

really nice progress dude, i too have a 66 LWB fleet, and I am just about to start the restoration, in fact if you see a red/orange chevy around Ptown it may be me!!
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Re: pdx-sanity66
 

I am subscribed, and look forward to following your progress. Nice work!

Re: pdx-sanity66
 

I'll keep an eye out for you. Good luck on your restoration.

Thanks! My progress is sort of slow but thanks for the interest. I'll try to keep things moving forward.

Re: pdx-sanity66
 

I haven't got too much done the last week or so. I've been busy finishing up our bathroom remodel. I'm gonna try to get back at it this weekend.
I've got a question to throw out to whoever happens on to my thread. Does anybody know or know of anybody that has attempted to cut down a bench seat in to a bucket seat? I think it would be a really cool period look. You know, kind of like what Chevy could have put in these trucks rather than the buddy buckets or similar to the suburban split seat. It seems that I saw this on a thread at one time but I could be mistaken. I tore my old bench seat down to the frame the other day and it looked like something that could be done fairly easy, so I might give it a try.

Re: pdx-sanity66
 

PDX
I have been looking at my seat back and thinking about the same thing. I have another seat that I can use for the frame parts to make the bucket but have not come up with how to make it pivot foward. I would like to have a flip down arm rest my DD a Dodge Ram has a real nice one but it's to thick. If you find a thread about this let me know.

Re: pdx-sanity66
 

Hey farmer, I am hoping somebody comes forward that knows more about this or can lead me in the right direction. I think I'll post something in the other section to see if I get a response over there. What I am thinking, though, is taking the bench seat and cutting the middle out and welding the 2 ends back together to make 1 bucket seat. Of course I'll have to get another bench for 2nd seat but if it works I think it would be worth it.

Re: pdx-sanity66
 

I finally got a little work done on the truck this weekend. I got my new to me passengers side vent cover welded on and started the task of drilling out the spot welds on the passenger rocker. The rocker itself is good and I will be reusing it but I need to patch a small section of the outer front of the floor and I also want to inspect the inner rocker. I will also be patching the kick panel while I'm at it.
I had to get ready for work and didn't have time to post any pics, but I'll try to get some up soon. Just thought I'd better post something. I had to go to page 3 to find my thread.

Re: pdx-sanity66
 

Here are the pics of my vent cover replacement and the passenger side outer rocker panel removal. It looks like I'll have to replace the bottom of the door pillar, a section of the outer floor, and the lower kick panel. The inner and outer rocker panels are good so I won't have to mess around with an ill fitting aftermarket outer rocker. As much as I've read about problems with these, I'm happy.:thumbs:

Re: pdx-sanity66
 

Here are a couple more after I hit them with the wire wheel for closer inspection.

Re: pdx-sanity66
 

You're digging into it now!
Good job on the Vent cover. (cowl)

Re: pdx-sanity66
 

Curiosity finally got the best of me. I had to get it started to see what I'm up against. If the other side is in as good a shape, I might be able to get the floors done and the bottom of the cab cleaned and painted but the end of summer. Then I can get cab back on the chassis before the rainy season.

Re: pdx-sanity66
 

I ordered up some patch panels for the right side of the cab today. Floor panel, front lower door pillar and the inner kick panel (cowl panel). It's time to cut out the cancer and heal this thing.:metal:

Re: pdx-sanity66
 

Just read through this whole thread, good job so far.. It was a really clean truck to start with and it's getting better everyday!!

Re: pdx-sanity66
 

Thanks Moto, I was pretty lucky to find such an unmolested truck and the rust repair is minimal compared to a lot of builds I've seen. I was just looking at your finished truck. Congrats on a great looking ride.

Re: pdx-sanity66
 

Waiting for my patch panels so I cleaned up the garage a little and worked on a couple of small projects. I cut out a little more of the rusted area to get a look underneath the lower door pillar. Here's a couple of more pics of what I'm dealing with.

Re: pdx-sanity66
 

I got a visit from the brown truck today and got my patch panels for the passenger side of the cab that I ordered from Classic Parts. I hope to get some time this weekend to get started cutting and fitting the panels.

Re: pdx-sanity66
 

Another little side project I've been working on. Cutting down a bench seat into a bucket seat. I'm trying to get the look of bucket seats that could have been an option if GM had decided to offer a bucket seat option, somewhat like the passenger seat in the subs but a little wider. I think I've got it. Keep in mind that this is just a first try with a seat that has some broken springs on the driver side and I just tacked it together. The third pic is set in the cab to show the fit. What do you think?
What I really need now is another standard full bench seat frame and a seat frame bottom or the drivers side of a bottom that have good springs so I can build a passenger seat and repair the springs on this seat. If anyone locally has these they can part with cheap, please let me know.

Re: pdx-sanity66
 

clever!

Re: pdx-sanity66
 

I love it! I need to swing by and check this thing out in person, you are making great progress.

Re: pdx-sanity66
 

Thanks and your'e welcome to stop by anytime. I've also followed along with your build and you have some great stuff going on.

Re: pdx-sanity66
 

Go to bed!

Re: pdx-sanity66
 

PDX
The seat looks great. I have not had the time to start mine yet. I'm going to do the same thing but I'm going to use the non deluxe seat because it doesn't use the heavy perimeter wire. The guy that is going to do the upholstery work said the non deluxe seat base will make a better seat you just add as much high densty foam as you need.

Re: pdx-sanity66
 

Farmer, I'm confused. I thought I had the standard seat and the one you've got is the deluxe seat from the descriptions I've read. I thought the deluxe seat had thick foam and the standard seat had the springs like mine with a jute and thin foam pad. If I'm wrong, I would much prefer to get a couple like yours to cut and if they are the standard, would be much easier to come by.

Re: pdx-sanity66
 

I'm a graveyarder so this is how I role, even on my days (nights) off.:metal:

Re: pdx-sanity66
 

PDX

I might be wrong I thought the seat base that had the parimeter wire is the deluxe. The picture I posted is from a 64 plain Jane. For your info the two seats are different widths the backs are not interchangable.

Re: pdx-sanity66
 

The seat I did is the original seat from my 66 and was definitely a no frills basic truck. I'll have to investigate more.

Re: pdx-sanity66
 

Here is a link showing the deluxe seat option for a 65.


http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=471374

Re: pdx-sanity66
 

Great work, I am really interested in the rear shock relocation, is that the factory shock brackets just swapped sides and turned around?
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Re: pdx-sanity66
 

Nice you were able to remove the outer rocker safely and reuse it.

Re: pdx-sanity66
 

Thanks for checking out my thread.
Yes, but you have to grind a little bit of material off and drill a new hole to attach the bracket.

I was really happy that it was okay to reuse. Thanks for looking.

Re: pdx-sanity66
 

Thanks for the info, any new updates?

Re: pdx-sanity66
 

Well, between all the summer stuff I did, being back to work, and the heat, I have gotten very little done on my truck this summer but now that things are settling down I managed to get out in the garage again and got a little bit done. It's not much, but it's given me a some motivation to get going again. I cut the rust out of the passenger side kick panel and the corner of the floor and started to fit up the patch panels and made a couple of my own and actually got a small amount of welding done today. I'm hoping I can get most of the panels welded in tomorrow but here's the latest. This is the first patch panel I have ever made and welded on to anything. I'm pretty happy with it for a rookie.:metal:

Re: pdx-sanity66
 

Nice patching. :)
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Re: pdx-sanity66
 

Thanks. It's just a small start but I sat and looked at it off and on for a week before I built up the nerve to cut in to it and get started, but once I did there was no turninig back and I'm excited to continue.

Re: pdx-sanity66
 

looking good. we spent a good part of our day yesterday doing almost the same thing. I wish our truck looked that clean to start with.these trucks are kinda like a huge erector set.cant get in a hurry. we found a patch panel that goes 7 inches in from sill and drops all the way down to bottom of rocker.length wise it goes from seam of toe board to rear cab corner.did you get the inner kick to? or are you going to make your own?