Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

I was going to say what did the guys do after lunch but I see they did body repairs , man they do great work.

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Very cool build man! :metal: Subscribed

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

That's the kinda friends to have! This is gonna be killer. Totally beater, yet totally bad ass!
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Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Thanks, James! I hang around with some talented guys, and we all pitch in on each other's projects whenever we can. It just feels weird for me to be at work and someone else is at home working on my stuff.....

Thanks!!

That's the idea....a little rough on the outside, but with a nice riding chassis, strong engine, and a quiet, well-insulated interior. I want this thing to be a vehicle that I could hop in and drive it 3000 miles to the opposite coast, comfortably, and in style!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

I have never heard of anyone using CLR to remove rust from vehicles, but thinking about it now makes sense. How much do you dilute the CLR, or is it just straight? Do you let it, or use it with scotch brite and then scrub? Thanks for the info in advance!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

I used CLR, diluted about 50% in a spray bottle, and scrubbed lightly with a red Scotchbrite. I did all of the scrubbing with the hose spraying directly on the area. Kind of like wet sanding with a Scotchbrite. You will take some paint off, so be really light with the Scotchbrite.

I wish I would have waited before I did mine because all of my areas flash-rusted. I plan to spray clear over my paint, and I would like to keep as much of the original paint as I can. I'm just not ready to spray the clear yet because there's still some bodywork to do.

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Thanks for the tip and info! That is one sweet looking truck!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Did you guys put the motor back in after lowering the mounts? What kind of room do you have between the oil pan and crossmember? Work looks great.
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Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Yes, the motor is back in the mounts and in place. The engine was put back into it's stock "elevation" with two mods. First, the engine mount stands were shortened 1" and second, the engine mount clamshells were trimmed and the engine mount thru-hole (the one for the long bolt) was raised 1". These two mods lowered the engine 2" to offset the 2" Z'ing of the chassis, essentially putting the engine right back in it's stock "elevation". There is about 2.0" of clearance between the oil pan and the crossmember at it's tightest point. I won't be able to remove the oil pan with the engine installed, but honestly, how many times do you ever do that anyway? I've done it a few times with the engine installed, and it's a pain.

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Great info thank you
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Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Did a lot more work this weekend, and it wasn't the fun kind, either. With all of the stuff under the hood that will get covered in chassis black along with the fresh Chevy Orange engine, I knew that the firewall was going to have to get painted. If you've ever done this before, you know that it's not fun work.

My truck originally came with dealer-installed in-dash air. The '64 trucks had this option available, but it was installed at the dealership. The later '65 and '66 trucks had the A/C option installed during the assembly line process. My truck was missing most all of the A/C system with the exception of the dash vents and ducting, and the A/C -only ash tray. Weird...that's usually the FIRST stuff to go. Anyway, I found the rest of the parts and I needed to test-fit the evaporator to ensure that the holes in the firewall were drilled in the right place. The dealer had to hand-drill all of the holes, and some people can't read a schematic to save their lives. Here's an older picture of the beautiful job the dealer did (I'm kidding). In this old picture, I had an extra set of block-off plates, so I installed them to help keep the critters out.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...igslist048.jpg

I wanted a nice firewall that was as air-tight as I could make it, so after the test fit of the high and low pressure fittings, I decided that they needed to be smaller and placed correctly. That meant a lot of cutting and fitting of patch panels. While we were at it, we filled a lot of the other unused holes in the firewall. There were a bunch. After a few rounds of filler, it was ready for metal etch primer:
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...onshots025.jpg

And then, it got a few good coats of filler primer. You can see that the original holes are in a slightly different place and much smaller than before. My intent is to have the tubes penetrate the firewall through rubber grommets, but we'll see when it's time to install the evaporator and heater box for the final time.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...onshots028.jpg

The overspray area below the firewall will be sprayed with undercoating after the white paint is shot on. No reason to go crazy trying to mask that area off, as tape will not stick to the old asphalt-based undercoating.

While I was toiling away on the firewall, Brad starting putting filler on the driver's side bed, being extra careful not to go too far out with the filler because these areas will be spotted in to blend in with the old, original paint.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...onshots027.jpg
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...onshots026.jpg

All in all, a very productive weekend. A big thanks to Brad for guilting me into doing the firewall and for doing the bodywork!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Yaaaay update! God, I want those wheels. Just in 8.5 and 10 for my 87!
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Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Ps- you still under Momma's radar?
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Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

No, I broke the news to her a few weeks ago, and she was completely cool with it. She's that way, she understands. I was into cars long before we met, and she knows that I put aside my hobby for years to ensure that the bills were paid and that everybody in the family was taken care of. I don't hit the bars or stay out late, I get alot of stuff done around the house, or blow money frivolously. I told her that we needed a truck to use for errands and that I was building one from extra parts I had laying around ;)

You can find the old style wheels if you hit the swapmeets, Craigslist, and even the recycling centers. Some fools only look at the wheel for it's aluminum value, and they'll take them to the local recycler. I bought a pair of Torq-Thrusts years ago from a recycler, who had them stashed in the corner. He made money on them, and he was happy to sell them. Finding them in 8.5" is relatively easy, as that was a very popular width. Finding the 10" ones in the old straight-spoke style is nearly impossible because only one company made them back in the '70s(Crestline). You can find them in the curved spoke style (i.e: Torq-Thrust "D"), but I'm not a big fan of that look. The straight spokes look "right" and have that vintage '60s look. It's easier to find the American Racing 200s (Daisy) wheels in 5x5 and the widths you need because they were really popular on the trucks and vans back in the '70s. I have a pair of 10" Daisys in 5x5 in my wheel stash that I bought years ago with the intent of putting them on a '73 C-10 but never used them.

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Glad to see you're still at work on it, good progress. I agree, the wheels look at home!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

I've heard about the Crestlines, easier to get a winning Lotto ticket. I really want a set of new t70's. I kinda dig'em. Glad to hear Momma's hip on your scheme, sure makes life easier. Keep it up, I can't wait to see this thing Rollin!
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Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Don't know how I missed all of the progress on this one, but it really looks great, Alex.

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Yeah, I'm really getting the itch to finish this thing. My work schedule is crazy right now, and I can only get the weekends to work on it. It makes for a rough week at work when you're dead-tired from the weekend and you never got a chance to rest.

I know what you mean about T-70s.....they are my favorite of all the Torq-Thrust type wheels. The crisp edge on the tops of the spokes and the 200s hex cap gives those wheels a completely different look. Do you know that back when they were introduced, they were a flop? Nobody liked them and they were quickly discontinued. American is reproducing them, but I don't think they make them in 5x5. I went through all of that about a year ago, and every option I looked at was either too expensive, the wrong backspace, or the wrong bolt pattern.

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Yeah, you almost have to go vintage to get the deep barrels necessary for a square. They just don't make 'em like that anymore. I love 'em though!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Any Progress?

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Not much to show in pictures, but I have been busy collecting the parts. When we disassembled the front clip to gain access to the frame for the "Z" job, we noticed that the driver's side bolt (the big one, going vertical) that holds the core support to the frame was way far forward, and rubbing the front edge of the hole in the frame bracket. After some measuring, it was determined that the factory had made an error when they built the driver's side inner fender, as it was 1/4" longer than the passenger side. This difference in length caused a bunch of problems because everything was in a bind, and it cracked the core support in 8(!) places, and broke the flange at the firewall where the passenger side inner fender bolts to. It made a mess.

So, I have been looking for a matching set of inner fenders on Craigslist, and hadn't had much luck until today. A guy in Pomona had a set, along with a core support, but the core support was junk. I got the inner fenders, and on the way home, hit the Pick-A-Part in Ontario and got a core support out of a '63. That was fun......This truck was obviously used in a stockyard, because as soon as I pulled the first bolt out, the worst possible smell of ancient cow manure came out of from under the truck. It was like disturbing a poop tomb. It was disgusting.

I'll have to do some metal work to get the parts ready to install, so that's next on my list.

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Always a good feeling making chicken salad outta chicken s#@t! Or cow patties to prime rib, in this case! Glad to see you got some progress made!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

PS- I had to make several, ahem, modifications to the core support biscuits/brackets on yella to get it all to fit correctly. The carbide burr and the bandsaw are your friend!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Yeah okay I have to admit that the 64 is looking good in fact I will use the word great, but we are still waiting for you to come back over to the 47-59 side you traitor.lol

Nice work on the 64 man, really nice work.

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Yes, the truck is looking great! As far as Alex being a traitor, he has helped me on my truck a little recently and it being a '49 still keeps him in our group, so cut him a little slack! :)
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Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Okay since he has been helping you on the 49 I will cut him a little slack, but just a little. I'll be watching Alex.lol

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

I want to get this truck done so bad..........too many irons in the fire and no time to tend to any of them. I worked all day on a major project at home. I'm getting an area prepped beside the garage for 22 yards of concrete so I'll have more room to park all of the "irons" (aka: the other projects).

Hey Bam-
You're always welcome over here in the '60-'66 section. Just be careful: there are so many cool '60-'66s being built over here you can catch the fever real easy, and the next thing you know, you'll be bringing one home. It happened to me!!!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

I'll cop to it-I'm catching the fever, but I love my 87. Congrats on the new pad, Concrete is always a good thing! Gonna put a building on top of it? Better hurry on Cheapskate so you can drive it to your "new pad"!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Hey Alex I had a 64 Suburban once upon a time, so I know how cool they are believe me. I had a lot of great times in that truck. But I caught the trifive bug and trifive crazy. Well I've always been trifive crazy I just never owned one, but once I did I am never turning back. So once I got the car I had to do a truck to match.

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

ALEX NICE WORK!!you nailed the stance

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

I got kudos from the King of Stance!! Thank You for the kind words, brother!

I wish I was going to be hanging with you guys this weekend......:(

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Hey Alex! Gonna bring Ol Whitey home this holiday weekend? Get your pad done? We're DYIN' over here!
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Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

'Ol Whitey is still at my house! Alex got his slab poured and he is one happy boy! He's not too happy right now 'cuz they're killing him at work so he has no free time! On a better note, he brought me his heads for the motor so I can finish them up and we can get it all together. I wish I had more time to help because if anybody NEEDS the relaxing feeling of cruising around in their truck, it's Alex!
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Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Well, I hope they let him get some turkey! I don't know why, I'm just really stoked on this truck. Can't wait to see it Rollin down the road.
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Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Hey Alex, hope the man took his foot off your neck so you can get up on this! Hope you get some time loose soon.

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

No, the Man is still holdin' me down!

It looks like I'll probably be working 7 days a week until mid January. I work in aerospace for a large defense contractor, and we're trying to get a new airplane for the Navy ready for it's first maiden flight. Things are not fun at work right now............. When I get home every night, I am physically and mentally spent. It sucks, because I have a ton of things still to do on the '64.

I have been rebuilding my heater box in the evenings when I get home, so at least something is getting done. Brad has graciously volunteered to reassemble my Vortec heads, and I am greatly appreciative. I bought them about 5 years ago for another project, and did the performance mods (cut down the guide bosses for increased lift and bowl blended the chambers) but never got around to reassembling them. They will be a nice set of heads when they're done. The short block has already been assembled, so this little 350 will go together pretty quickly. I have seen similar builds in magazines with about the same parts I'm using, and the engines make between 370-400 horsepower. I take that with a grain of salt, because the magazines tend to fluff the dyno numbers to get people excited.

I'm still at it, but the pace has slowed quite a bit. I will keep leaning forward, though!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

I understand completely. Yeller's cab was metalworked and in primer, and I got a job At an Ammo Mfg'r making a new thing. 12's and weekends for 18 months on graveyard. Great for the bank, not so good for Dad! It sat for 2 years, then I got a different position and decided to get it done this last new year's. It'll be there when you get back. I might have an infarction from waiting, but it'll be there. Good luck!

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

I finally got a few days off of work, so I decided to do a few things on the '64.

I put the Vortec heads on the motor and did a few other things to it. I decided to do a nut and bolt inventory to make sure that I had all the hardware I needed, and discovered that I was short a few oil pan bolts. So this morning, I got up early and went to Pick-A-Part to get what I needed.

After I grabbed a bunch of miscellaneous bolts, I decided to do a "recon" of the rest of the yard and see what was there. The last time I was there, it was a bust. There was nothing cool in the yard. Today, I went down a row, and saw a white 60-66 fender poking out, so naturally, I was like a hound dog tracking a scent. I couldn't believe it. It was a stripped '66 C-20, but it was an original A/C truck, and all of the components under the dash were still there, along with the ducting. It was missing all of the desirable pieces, like the bezel and the ashtray, but I already have those. It also had the A/C-specific heater box, and all of the cables were in excellent condition. The core support, lines, dryer, and condenser were still there. So, I broke out the tools and 3 hours later, I was done. I got everything, including the A/C wire harness and all of the firewall grommets. It was 40 degrees outside and raining, so I have to say that I earned those parts. I was freezing the entire time, but I knew that if I didn't grab them today, they would be gone tomorrow.

All in all, a good day.

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Congats....Excellent Score!!:metal::metal:
What are the odds of that happnin' ????
Probably got them for a reasonable price as well ?

Re: Project '64 Cheapskate
 

Not as cheap as it used to be, that's for sure. The prices have gone way up due to the new owners, and when he shot me the price, I nearly choked. The problem was, I had already invested too much time to give it back. I could sell the parts for more than I paid, so in that sense, I did OK.