Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

Anytime man. Judging by the middle belt install, I would be scared on the shoulder belts too, but would want to take them off for safety's sake. I recommend using the backing plates with the nut so you don't have to weld anything. I was able to tape a screwdriver to the wrench so I didn't have to move the gas tank

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

Finally got around to clear coating my air cleaner today. I am going to have a few things under the hood the original color of the truck for nostalgic reasons. Still wet, so in the next day or two, I will wetsand and polish to get any orange peel out.

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

Andy..That looks great!!!

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

Thanks John! I appreciate it.

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

Hope this helps someone down the line. Starting to think about installing my engine and trans. I have a Tremec T56 Magnum 6 speed ready to go with my GM crate motor. I was always semi worried about the gear shift location, but knew it could be moved.

I did research yesterday and saw a DIY kit to move it to the forward position,but had to take trans apart to do it. Great thread here on this DIY Not what I was really wanting to do, but if I had to I had no choice. Then I did more research and determined the DIY kit was for an OEM Tremec T56 (a used one out of a GM Camaro or similar) not the Aftermarket Tremec T56 Magnum I bought.

I found out that there are 3 locations that are plug and play on my trans. The factory spec, right in front of it and the front location (which is what I want to use). To use the shifter location in front of factory spec, you just need to swap the plate with the shifter to the other side. In essence reverse the plate so it is facing the other way. Then I determined that Tremec (and others) make a 4 bolt plate with new shifter for the forward position with a 6 bolt cover plate for the rear. So you just need to take off the factory shifter and cover the opening with the plate provided. Don't forget to put RTV on the plate before bolting it down. Remove the forward plate and put in the new shifter again putting RTV for a no leak fit.

When I actually do it, I will take photos and do a DIY for the trans if anyone is interested.

Here is a pic of my transmission in the box and 2 shifters for the move to the front location. Found the Tremec at SpeedwayMotors.com here and another at Coreshifters.com. I will most likely go with the Tremec even though a little more expensive.

Edit: Definitely buying the Tremec shifter. I contacted coreshifters today to ask a quick question. They answered quickly enough, but the answer didn't address my questions and I was told to read the page the shifter was on. Well I read the page many times before I contacted them and the answer was not there. If you don't have good customer service before a sale, what should we expect after they have our money? Buyer beware IMHO...Will not be purchasing anything from them...regardless of the $ savings.

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

Boy you in Big Dog world with that Tranny...LOL Im glad you can move the shifter to where is will be more comfortable and clear the seat.

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

I bought that when I thought I had money for an unlimited budget build!

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

Thought this was a cool picture. Was wet sanding and polishing the air cleaner yesterday and took a mid polish picture...big difference between the 2 sides.

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

Polished up is looking real nice!

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

That is gonna look sharp on your truck. I am thinking about buying a gun and attempting to do the body work on my truck...I looked at Eastwood at some stuff...a Contour gun set was 300.00 on sale....but I have never done paint and body so just kicking around options

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

I was told once...if you want to learn how to paint body panels...go to the junkyard and buy a cheaper fender...and paint it. I am not great at painting, but I am pretty good wet sanding and polishing. Most flaws can be wet sanded out. I've got a good gun, but rarely use it. Everything I have painted so far is either rattle can or I powder coated. I am too heavy handed with a gun. I also need a better air compressor....which will come soon. I currently am only using a 30 gallon 3.5 HP from Home Depot. I want a 5-7.5 HP 60-80 gallon Champion or Saylor Beall. Something made in the USA!

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

Looking good!

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

Thanks Straight6chevyguy. I appreciate it.

Removed the kick panel carpet and door sill on the drivers side yesterday. I wanted to start removing the wiring harness. Found a little bit of rust in the trough and a whole lot of dirt under the carpet and some ants. Got all that vacuumed out and wire wheeled the trough and surrounding area. Going to lay down some KBS coating rust seal this week (weather permitting). So after I cleaned that up I started removing the harness and got most of it out...will finish today. Tidy up under the dash. Going to paint the interior cab and firewall. Then start the rewire with AAW update kit.

I need to do the passenger side kick panel and door sill also. I expect to find the same rust over there.

The more I get into this truck the more I see how the "upgrades" weren't done correctly. I want to replace/rebuild my power steering box. The box has only 3 bolts holding it on and isn't located in the correct holes. They drilled new holes and moved it back I guess to fit the steering shaft they had? So I need to get that taken care of and correct. Probably hit CaptainFab up for his power steering box bracket to be on the safe side.

Slow and Steady right?

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

Slow and steady my brother......I bought the PS bracket from Capt Fab as well....Just waiting on the unit to be removed from another truck so I can get it installed in mine.

Its funny how when you look at a truck to buy that you don't see all the little things that have been covered up...Lord knows I didn't know my rockers and part of my floor was a bondo pit....But its all good...Its being done right now.

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

That looks amazing. crazy what some wet sanding and polish can do for paint..... Coming along very nicely.

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

You're not kidding! This has been a learning experience for sure on what to look at when they say, "I upgraded (fill in the blank).

Just went and looked again because it didn't look right, then it hit me. To get the power steering box in, they removed and discarded the drivers side front bumper bracket! UGH...now I need to get a new bracket.

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

Thanks Kdad...your truck is coming along great!

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

Slow progress is still progress though!

I'm already wishing that this week was over so I can go home and hopefully drive my truck again

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

I agree Christian...slow is better than none. I wish mine was driveable! Can't wait for that again.

Got the wiring harness out today along with the heater under the dash. Also pulled the Sony cd player.

since my dash is butchered for the stereo, I am debating whether to get a delete plate or have someone weld a stereo panel in for me so I can go back to a new stock looking stereo.

So if anyone has a delete plate...hit me up. :)

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

I have this one out of a 60-63, but I think the 64-66 are different

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

Thanks Christian...I think they are slightly different...but I will double check.

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

Finally got the passenger side kick panel carpet out today along with the remaining grommets out of the firewall and the cab firewall insulation. The insulation was damp...it rained this morning. I also knew that the front window leaked some...it's on my list to redo the window gasket. Anyway, pulled all that out and found a decent amount of surface rust. It isn't soft, so that is good. I will get it wire wheeled and get some Por 15 or the like on it and go from there. All in all, I have been pleased with taking the truck apart and the lack of major rust.

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

Glad its not soft like mine was....

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

No problem man. My floor looks to be about the middle between solid and swiss cheese. Not pulling anything completely apart because ignorance is bliss :lol:

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

Doesn't look bad at all.. wire wheel and Por15... Good as new..

As I get back to my swiss cheese tomorrow../.LOL

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

Thanks guys...your swiss cheese makes me feel better. :)

Got the passenger door sill out last night...truck is now bare inside minus steering column. Going to get my wire wheel out and do some work if it warms up...cold out there for this southern boy (30 degrees).

Ordering interior paint today... I will be using a 1965 corvette exterior color...silver pearl metallic. Will be interior and wheel color. I may paint the floor board too and just use a rubber mat like it came originally. Depends how "nice" I can get the floors to look. My original interior color looks like it was the silver fawn color.

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

Bad news for this week... found my swiss cheese in the floor...both sides of the truck near the kick panel. In their infinite wisdom, the PO patched it with a license plate riveted to the bottom of the truck (covered in undercoating) and poured silicone on the cab floor to fill in the holes/cracks. I got all the silicone out and wire wheeled the metal.

I don't think I can afford to have a patch panel welded in right now...so I have to figure something else out. Maybe a temporary fiberglass fix along with the POR-15. I have seen some videos. I also have experience in fiberglass work. It will all be under the carpet anyway...I am putting feelers out for a welder among my friends.

I also got everything off the firewall today and sanded off the undercoating that was on the firewall. Will get the steering column out tomorrow. Should be ready to paint the firewall later this week.

Here are some of the pictures from this week's work.

Picture 1 is the rust, #2 is the silicone I pulled out on the passenger side!

The best picture to me is the steering wheel. I took off my old non OEM wheel and had to try this one out for looks. Got it from Johns 66. Thanks again John...It is going to look even more awesome after I restore it.

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

Forgot to mention...in the circled jagged hole, the PO had the hydraulic clutch rod through it...held in, by a large balled up wad of...you guessed it...SILICONE! Maybe they had stock in silicone.

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

Well my friend Andy...makes me think of Shawshank Redemption ...lol

Im sorry you found swiss cheese too...It seems like its a pretty standard thing on these old trucks....Most likely from the heater core leaking antifreeze on it......But you can get it taken care of Im sure, yours is not as bad as mine was although mine was filled with Bondo and not silicone.....what some people thought was a repair is beyond me but then again never know what those who owned it were going through at the time.

But good news is it is starting to take shape!!!!! and this should be the worst part you find!!!!!!

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

If you plan to fix the rust correctly at a later date, I would just clean the area the best you can, treat it with a rust converter, possibly a coat of paint and then rivet or screw a piece of sheet metal over the area. Treat and coat the sheet metal as well.

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

Thanks John...that is a good idea. I would like to get it repaired correctly. My main concern of the fiberglass was repairing it down the road with this fix. I was planning on using POR-15 anyway...but I do like the idea of putting a piece of sheet metal over the top and treating that as well. Much easier to remove the rivets to get to the area than having to cut out the fiberglass work as well.

Now I have a better plan!

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

I love that movie!

That's OK...I knew there had to be rust somewhere and now I am a proud member of the rust club. Hopefully I can get it repaired correctly this summer when I am planning on getting the doors repaired later this year. Just knock it all out at the same time.

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

Didn't get much done today, but I did get the steering wheel column removed. While I wait on the POR-15, I am going to get the firewall painted (if it gets warm enough) and start blasting parts again for paint. I just ordered the paint to paint the inside of the cab. Once that is completed along with the floor repair, I will get the wiring harness in and start putting the truck back together... Getting closer!

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

Finding that swiss cheese sucks! The PO of my truck found some about 20 years ago and decided to do a repair similar to yours. After all these years, the rust still spread, I'm just ignoring it :lol:

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

While I wait on parts and POR-15...I thought I would prime the firewall today, this is the first coat...beautiful 60 degrees here. Since this isn't a show truck, I did not worry about getting all the undercoating off at the bend of the firewall. But It will look much better with the basecoat on later this week as well.

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

look'n good!
sorry about the rust but it doesn't look to bad.

Being the redneck I am I would just screw some sheet metal down and call it good.:lol:

Nothing like doing things right however.

Keep up the good work!

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

Thanks! I appreciate it.

I agree...I am going to put POR-15 on it and then screw or rivet some sheet metal over it and seal that also. When I have time and more money to put in the truck, I will get it repaired correctly. I don't ever plan on selling this truck, so I might not care or think about it once it is under carpet or floor mat.

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

Andy...this is gonna be SWEET, looks REALLY Good....Weather is so nice today......but supposed to snow tomorrow...…

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

Thanks John...not bad for a rattle can. :) No snow thank goodness here, but maybe some rain tomorrow afternoon.

Re: 1965 LWB Stepside Build
 

Rattle can is best can :lol: I can't wait to see it with some color!

I'm hoping the threat of snow will cancel my 8 am accounting class tomorrow, but I doubt that will happen