Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

Shoot me a PM if you're ever going to be in the FG area. Always welcome to stop by and check it out :). If you're around often PM me and I'll send you my cell in case you want to swing by sometime.

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

Will do :metal:

I got the chance to work on the truck all weekend. While I didn't get to make progress on the things I wanted to, I was able to hammer out a bunch of little things that had popped up and I did get to hear it run! I still have to tinker with the alternator bracket and build my power steering adjuster bracket before I can run it for longer but hearing it run was definitely awesome!

Work was a little slow on Friday so I was able to break away from my desk for a few and hammer out the pieces I needed to hook my clutch pedal up to the master.
https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7042/2...65eb7e46_b.jpg

I had tapped one of them to 5/16-18 but needed 5/16-24, doh! I actually cut a section of the factory panhard bar to remake it, worked slick!
https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7781/2...bfbc2e95_b.jpg

Linkage shot
https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7731/2...19ccb77f_b.jpg

Pedal is right in line with the brake pedal, much better for me :)
https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7488/2...62a469ba_b.jpg

The lower radiator hose put up more of a fight than I thought. I spent easily half the day on Saturday just trying to find one that worked. Thought I had it but when I got home, it still didn't work. I had some 1.75 tubing laying around from an old project and had the perfect bend in it. Lucky!
https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7159/2...154cb04e_b.jpg

Finished up, looks great! I did run a weld bead around each end to create a lip so the hoses don't slip off later.
https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7328/2...c8312647_b.jpg

Got the shocks on
https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7053/2...c6c79d9b_b.jpg

Sunday night, I pushed it out of the garage to give it some fresh air and make room for the bed pieces. This is the first time it's been outside since March!
https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7400/2...faa7443b_b.jpg

https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7441/2...127960df_b.jpg

I did get a wild hare and fired it up too. I didn't have the belts on it so I only ran it for a short time. It seems to run great!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e9-tnDUMeo

Yesterday, I worked on the bed and dad came by to help troubleshoot the clutch. He fixed some of it but it appears that the throwout bearing isn't 100% correct on the shift fork so looks like I get to pull the tranny and fix that.

Bed wood turned out great! I wish it had the holes in it but that's also looking like why this kit was cheaper than anywhere else. No biggie.
https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7358/2...a1c14b92_b.jpg

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

Looking real good! :metal: Engine sounds good! Might retard the timing a hair. Hope the clutch is an easy fix! :chevy:

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

Nice work, your sure getting a lot done

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

Thanks man! I put the engine at TDC and then the distributor close to what I remembered seeing so you may be right on the timing. I still need to get a couple things done before I can run the engine long term to check the timing and such.

Thanks! Being single does have it's benefits sometimes :chevy:

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

Won't the inside of that tubing rust?

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

Yep, it will rust. The water pump and engine block will rust also.

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

Keep Antifreeze in there and that will help prevent rust. :chevy:

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

The throwout bearing was wrong as I had thought. The Astro Van TO bearing is plastic and I kind of marred it up a bit so we went and got one for a pickup that is all metal. Got it on and between dad, me, and the tranny jack we were struggling to get the tranny back in. I'm a little burned out to say the least so I decided to stop fighting it and come back to it next week. I've got a Jeep Jamboree this weekend so that'll help me get my mind off things and come back to the truck nice and fresh :metal:

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

Alright, had an awesome weekend with the Jeep Jamboree crew, it's truly one of my favorite events that I get to help out with. The participants make it awesome and I can't wait until next year!

I tinkered with the truck last night and ended up getting the tranny back in, it was a bit of a chore at first but I was able to get the angle of the tranny close to the motor and it basically slid right in. I was super stoked!

The reason why I had to drop the tranny in the first place. That spring clip is supposed to be on the other side of the throwout bearing, doh!
https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7519/2...bf55afe7_b.jpg

And it's back in!
https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7283/2...9ca4b0c1_b.jpg

If my buddy doesn't work on the fenders tonight, I'll be getting the driveline put back in and work on the modifications I need to do to get the alternator on. Once that's done, I need to work on the bed and get it back on while transferring some of the wiring over from the front clip just in case I'm far enough along to take it to the show on Saturday :chevy:

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

Here's a shot of my Jeep from the weekend. The local 4H club was washing the Jeeps, we had over 100 between participants and trail guides, as a fundraiser so they could go see the presidential inauguration. I kept it pretty clean on Friday but told them I'd bring it back even dirtier on Saturday. They definitely earned their money from me :metal: Picture stolen from my work's Facebook page.

https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7450/2...3989a176_b.jpg

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

Tinkered on it again last night and got the alternator and power steering pumps mounted. Had a buddy come over to see if the clutch is releasing and it still isn't. Another buddy gave me the part number for a longer throwout bearing so I'm going to look into that during lunch today. Not looking forward to pulling the tranny again but if it'll solve the issue, it's worth it.

Turnbuckle for the power steering pump belt
https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7739/2...259bf01c_b.jpg

Alternator and power steering pump on with an alternator belt even :metal:
https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7352/2...b43b7102_b.jpg

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

Cool! I'd give LugNutz65 a shout about that tranny problem. He knows a lot about t5's.

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

Will do, thanks!

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

After talking with a buddy today, the thought is that the pivot ball isn't in the correct location in relation to the face of the bellhousing. I'm not sure that I'll be picking the longer throwout bearing up until I can get the tranny out, again, and measure stuff. At least I'll be really good at dropping the tranny on this thing :lol:

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

I don't know if you have tried this but one way to remove and replace the transmission and make it easier to do is to buy two bolts that are about 4-5 inches long. Cut the heads off, and place them in the block so that you can use them as sliders to slide the transmission in straight. After it is in place and the other bolts in place then put the original bolts back in one at a time. It makes it easier especially if doing it by yourself.

Dwight

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

My buddy and I checked some things out on the old pickup last night hoping to solve the problem without dropping the tranny. We didn't come up with anything except a list of what it's not and what it could be.

Here's what it's not:

It's not air in the system
It's not a clutch fork throw problem
It's not a fork geometry problem

Here's what it could be:

It could be the input bearing retainer bottoming out on the clutch disc
It could be the input sticking on the crank (doubtful but not ruling it out)
It could be the input shaft bottoming out on the pilot bushing.
It could be something in the tranny
It could be something with the clutch itself

Looks like instead of enjoying the truck at the show tomorrow, I'll be tinkering with the tranny and trying to figure out what's going on. Oh well, that's hot rodding :bo2:

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

Update from the weekend. I dropped the tranny down Friday night to take some measurements and everything seemed to have plenty of clearance, until I measured the length of the input and compared it to the dimension from bottomed out on the crank to the bellhousing. I had a bunch of interference there. I put the tranny in my vise and chopped about 1/4" off the end of the input shaft. When we went to stab it back in, we kept hitting a hard stop and no matter what, we couldn't get it to slide in. What had happened was after the tranny came out, I put the clutch alignment tool in the clutch and had dad push the clutch pedal, the clutch released and I must have pulled the alignment tool out a little too soon and the clutch disc dropped down so the hard stop that we were feeling was the pilot bushing.

Last night, I put the new pilot bushing in place and got the clutch and bellhousing on the motor. Tonight, the tranny will go back on and hopefully work like it's supposed to. Fingers crossed!

https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7260/2...4505d53d_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7736/2...58c0cd06_b.jpg

New throwout bearing, it'll get rid of the free play in the pedal.
https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7694/2...e16ee5ce_b.jpg

Gotta love backwards progress!
https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7298/2...4265af9b_b.jpg

The awesome pilot bushing
https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7489/2...90a4f047_b.jpg

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

Fingers Crossed!

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

I made some good progress last night on the transmission front. I put it all back together and the tranny was still bound up, slid it back on the bolts and everything worked like it should so we pulled it down and I cut another 1/8" or so off the input and put it back in place. This time, it seems that I didn't have the pilot bushing in as far so the splines were hitting it but it was almost working properly! I ended up screwing that bushing up too so today I will make an install tool and try again Thursday night.

While bummed, I'm still making forward progress so that's what counts :chevy:

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

I did just order everything I need for the power steering hoses. All I'll need is a belt and that system will be done :)

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

Progress is always a good thing. :chevy:

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

Been busy with other things the last few nights, a buddy at work decided to break his leg a couple weeks ago so work has been busier and I've been helping them out outside work whenever I can. I also got AC installed in the house yesterday too, this summer is going to be so nice!

Tonight, I plan on getting back to the truck so I can swap the pilot bushing out. I decided to make myself an install tool on lunch the other day. Should work well and hopefully end my days of munching pilot bushings :lol:

https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7390/2...199c5620_b.jpg

I should get some good truck time this weekend again, hopefully I get to work on something other than the transmission! :chevy:

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

is the shaft the right size also for the clutch disc? then you would also have your line up shaft
ron

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

If I'm reading your comment right, yep, the shaft is the right size for the clutch disc. It slides right in to that luckily :lol:

What I think the issue has been is most of the guys add a spacer between the transmission and bellhousing, I originally thought it was an adapter but after playing with my setup, it appears that it's a spacer. This spacer keeps the input shaft out of the crank and the pilot bushing and unfortunately isn't a route that I want to pursue at this time due to not wanting to re-do the driveline again. The next time it will get modified is when the truck has a V8 and a 6 speed :metal:

I guess it all boils down to learning lessons the hard way but hopefully I will have valid input for others doing the same thing :chevy:

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

the spacer or adaptor is so that you do not have to cut off the end of the pilot shaft and a couple of other mods. it is essential that the pilot shaft is supported by a bearing or bushing
ron

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

Pretty sure I have this tranny problem licked. It appears that I had 2 issues with the input shaft. The first was that it was too long and it was hitting the crank. The 2nd appeared today and that is the clutch disc was bottoming out on the backside of the splines which was also binding things up. I'll make a spacer on Monday and hopefully have this thing figured out soon. The spacer will go between the tranny and bellhousing so I will have to modify my crossmember a bit and also will need to remeasure for the driveline and get it shortened. Oh well at least I have it figured out!

For a father's day surprise, I had dad's new wheels powder coated white and even got to get his new tires mounted and on the truck this morning. I can't wait to see his reaction when he gets home tomorrow!

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

Instead of making a spacer plate couldn't you just shorten your bearing retainer? That is what I did with mine

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

It's not the bearing retainer, I chopped quite a bit off that as well. Where the splines end and you can see the ramp up from the tool that cut the splines is where I'm bottoming out. This picture may help explain a little better.

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

Hhmm.. I didn't have that problem and I have no spacer plate. It must be that I am running a jeep 10 spline input shaft. Hopefully you didn't cut too much off the pilot tip now that your going to use a spacer

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

you just have to cut out the splines a bit so that the disc can go back, 4 1/2" angle grinder gently to clear excess then clean up with a file. you do not have to go that far. cut the retainer shaft to the same length as the original one.
it will be a lot more work to make that adaptor plate. remember on that plate that it has to be machined to fit the hole in the b/housing and the the input brg collar has fit the adaptor so that means machining a place for it corresponding to the other machined part on the frt side so everything lines up properly
you may have to also grind a little off the end of the splined hub of the clutch disc. none of this is complicated
ron

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

My bellhousing might be a bit shallower than others, I'm not sure but I'm running a 460486 bellhousing. It came with the setup so that's the main reason I'm using it. The pilot tip should have good engagement still in the pilot bushing. It may not be ideal but it should still have enough engagement to be ok.

On the machined hole to fit the bearing retainer, my bellhousing has a way bigger hole than what the flange of the retainer is. I can't see it causing issues but then again I'm new to this part. What do you think?

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

it will have the same effect as having no pilot bushing. nothing to align it. the clutch disc has to remain centred if not it will be out of balance. how long do you think the trans input brg will last and the trans.. sounds like you have a later truck b/housing that took a sm465 trans which had a larger in dia pilot brg retainer. you need a machine shop make an adaptor between the frt brg retainer and the b/housing or get an earlier b/housing or one from a car that has the same size. there is no difference in depth of b/housings. there are numerous articles on this t5 swap online. perhaps google it and do a bit of research for yourself before you assume everything
ron

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

rings are avl in the after market. ck advanced adapters for one.

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

Alright, here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to have my buddy cut out a spacer on his plasma table and space both the transmission and the bearing retainer the same amount and then install the bushing ring from Novak to get the bearing retainer to fit proper in the bellhousing.

This should get me everything I need and have it all work like it's supposed to.

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

When it comes to T5 info Lugnutz65 is The Man!



scoot_mcgrute, I think these two posts are your best advice. I'm not sure which T5 you're running, but if it's an S10 model the Jeep input shaft swap is easy, and no spacer required. They can be purchased from Summit for less than $90.

Info here: http://lugnutz65chevystepside.weebly...ter-plate.html

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

Thanks for the link. I'll be using a 3/16" spacer so nothing too thick. I'll have to shorten the driveline but it was already a little long anyway so that will be fine and then my crossmember will have to be modified as well. No biggie, this is all in my wheelhouse of skills :chevy:

It's just super hard for me to spend a whole bunch of time, 3 weeks on the tranny so far, and money of a setup that ultimately will only be in the truck a year. I'm already saving for an LS and a T56 :metal:

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

Scoot, you make a valid point.

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

Alrighty, got started on the bellhousing spacers last night. My buddy has a Torchmate table in his garage which is super nice to have access to. A little clean up work and turning the OD of the spacer for the retainer down and I should have a neat little setup.

https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7292/2...fda1fa05_b.jpg

https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7449/2...e37ae079_b.jpg

I was contemplating swapping the input shaft to the Jeep unit but decided to go this route to get it on the road a little quicker. I'll have this thing licked sooner or later!

Re: 1966 C10 Project Truck
 

That is slick.