Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

What did you do with the inner tube that is inside the column that the shifter housing slides onto?did you cut this as well? And did you pull it out from the main tube?if so how did you get the lower released with the spring?

Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

It's a column from a floor shift truck, so there's only the outer tube and the inner shaft. I'm guessing that you're using an auto or three speed column with the shifter tube in it? Wish I could help you more with your column! I've got an extra three speed column that I can tear down to see how it goes together, and what it would take to shorten it.

Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

Here's how I shortened the steering shaft. It was also stripped to bare metal, but I didn't have any hose clamps small enough to fit around the shaft tightly. I used a framing square and masking tape to get the tape on exactly 90* to the shaft, so the tape edge would make for a straight cut line.

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/93aebc44.jpg


3" cut out and the edges beveled. I cranked the welder up and burned the welds in pretty good, don't want this thing coming apart!

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/07c08f7a.jpg


Welds ground down and smoothed out.

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/9810bc43.jpg

Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

Fantastic work!! Your a pretty brilliant fella!

Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

Thanks Malibu! Not sure if I'm all that brilliant though, the really smart ones buy a truck already finished!

Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

Ya but the ones you buy NEVER have your level of detail for under 200K

Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

WOW, did you just take a pic further up the rod. I'm amazed how you and Frizzle etc make your welds disappear. Brilliant!! I always have flat spots, or dips what is your secret to the roundness, looks like it was in a lathe?

Also was this a '69 or '72 column, and this is why the shortening? I have one and noticed they are too long, if this is the fix I better pay attention. Thanks for the great instruction.

Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

Shoot, I'd take $200k for it when finished!! I think you got a little fat-fingered with the keyboard there!



Thanks 65pickup! I used 36 grit on a 2" right angle pnumatic grinder to knock the top of the welds down nearly flush with the tube and shaft. Then I switched to 50 grit to finish off the weld and blend it out. Then sand it with 80 grit on a 6" DA sander to remove the grinding marks. The key is to just knock the top off the weld and not dig into the base metal around the weld.

It's a floor shift column (smooth bell, no shift rods) from a four speed floor shift 64-65-66 truck. I drove the blue '65 this past weekend and my arms are still cramped from wheel being so close to the seat!

Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

Thanks for the tips, I see what your doing now, just getting the wheel closer to the dash. I picked up a '69 floor shift column, nice clean shape but 2" to 3" longer than a '65. For a later time. Thanks again.

Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

[QUOTE=theastronaut;5282184]Shoot, I'd take $200k for it when finished!! I think you got a little fat-fingered with the keyboard there!

What!?!?!?! You do good work brother!!

Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

Ive been wanting a smaller diameter steering wheel since I'll have power steering but I couldn't find a 15" rim with similar grips to swap over. Do instead of swapping rims I section the original wheel from 16 3/8" down to 15". I've still got to grind the plastic back from the inner steel frame so I can weld it all together, then build up the joints with epoxy.



The original '66 deluxe wheel.

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/3420999b.jpg


After cutting.

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/ea8f2d9b.jpg


Marking the spokes for the cut. I've got a plan in mind that I think will make remaking the tapered end of the dimpled indention pretty simple when it's time to start epoxying and reshaping the wheel.

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/8bb96d3c.jpg


Spokes shortened, super glued in place temporarily for mock up purposes.

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/c9e53210.jpg


First mock up (after also shorting the two pieces of the rim). To get the hub centered, the edges of the rim and spokes on one side didn't meet up. I shortened one edge and will have to lengthen the other.

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/8064bc57.jpg


After getting everything roughly in the right position and the center hub centered in the rim, using one of the cut pieces to fill in the gap.

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/db71d45a.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/ab0f2236.jpg


Roughed in and ready to start grinding back the plastic to weld the rim in place. It measures 15 inches now. I'll grind the edges back and glass bead the old paint and grime off, then use the steering shaft with a level and make sure the hub is level and centered, and 90* to the rim before welding the rim back together. I'll post pics once I get all that done.

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/aaa6ba2e.jpg
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Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

Great purchace and some nice work . You have got me tuned in from Canada. Not to many in this part of the world in that nice of condition to start with. Great work keep us posted

Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

Thanks MARTYZ!! It took me awhile to find one this solid; they're all eat up with rust down here too!



A little more work on the wheel. It's ready to epoxy and start shaping the bare areas.

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/e9c7f4e2.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/866f5d67.jpg

Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

Awesome :metal:
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Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

Thanks Frizzle! Always enjoy browsing though your threads!


Started working the epoxy. It's gunna take a couple coats on some of the rim areas.

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/d32bac2f.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/0ae26ac9.jpg

Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

With your attention to detail it will be perfect.

Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

Nice looking job on the steering wheel. My wheel is just like yours and has some cracks. What name brand epoxy are your using and is it the kind you squeeze from the tube and mix the 2 parts together?? I have to repair my cracks so I can repaint mine. Thanks

Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

It's going to be acceptable, I'm happy with the way its turning out so far, but it won't be perfect by any means. Swapping rims would have been a much better approach. The rim still isn't 100% round and I'm not sure if I can shape it much more at this point. It's close enough to still be useable and I mainly wanted to see if I could actually do it, so it's been worth the effort just to satisfy my curiosity.



Thanks, the epoxy is PC-7. I think Eastwood sells it, and you may be able to find it locally though; I bought mine from our Ace hardware store. It works great for filling in the smaller gaps you'll have after grinding out the cracks but it's a little on the thin side for larger gaps. Wetting a rag or your fingertip with solvent will really help smooth it out and minimize the amount of sanding you'll have to do.
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Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

Got a little more work done on the wheel, started sanding the repaired areas. Also tried out remaking the pointed tip of the recessed textured area, and that looks like it's going to work out well. I pulled our lawnmower into work today, so since I had the trailer I went ahead and picked up the rest of the steel tubing for the frame bracing. I guess I'll be on the hunt for another T56; the guy I was going to get one from has already sold his, that's what I get for waiting too long. :waah:


http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/f9869058.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/8e449497.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/716f1ff6.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/c516c308.jpg

Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

wow, that's turning out really nice! i love seeing the work of you guys with such attention to detail :metal:

Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

Nope you were simply not ment to have that T56 so there must be a better one waiting.

The wheel looks good.

Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

Thanks dudes! :metal:



I've got one side nearly finished.

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/e21ef561.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/59169a33.jpg

Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

Very cool idea. It looks good.

Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

Nice work Spaceman, that wheel looks great. I'll have to look for that epoxy.

Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

Thanks Alan, you're making me jealous with all the progress you're making and being that close to completion. I keep heaping more and more on the "to do" list so it's great to see other guys getting to the final build stages. Builds like yours help me push on!



Thanks, it's great for fixing wheels. It can be smoothed down pretty slick if you wet the tip of your finger with thinner and work the epoxy to shape; makes for much less sanding after it dries!



Got a little more done on the wheel last night. I re-did the tip of the indentions so that the indentions would be the same length on both sides. Guess I should have checked that already. :o Once the epoxy finishes hardening it'll be almost ready for sanding and primer. I say almost because I had an idea that I want to incorporate into the wheel. More on that below.

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/4638c411.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/19ed89fb.jpg


I also checked the fit of the horn ring, and it looks great on the smaller wheel. I was worried that the proportions would be off, but it looks fine.

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/2eabddd3.jpg



After running this by MalibuKasey (co-conspirator/Goldilocks' official project consultant) :lol: and recieving the green light of approval, I'll be adding two chrome rings to the top of the rim from a mid 60's Nova wheel. They'll be spaced one inch apart, and the rim will be painted dark fawn to match the dash color inbetween the chrome rings. The rest of the wheel will be fawn like stock. I wanted a stripe at the top of the wheel like race/drift/rally cars have as a reference, which supposedly is helpful when you're sideways. Of course, I'll need to test out that theory once she's back on the road... ;)

I thought about adding just a dark fawn stripe, but I remembered that Impala's had chrome rings that were used to separate the two tone rim colors. Impala's had a different grip profile though, and those rings wouldn't work. MalibuKasey had a Nova wheel and confirmed that the rim profile was the same as on truck wheels, so I'll be using Nova rings to add to my wheel. This will keep with the OEM/factory styling trend, and also give nod to the suspension mods, and the type of driving I'll be doing.
:burnout:


http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/gomiata/Mod072.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/9669aec1.jpg

http://chevynova.com/uploads/1964%20...or%20400-2.jpg

Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

I like it.

Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

Official Consultant huh... Im honored!!

Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

How big of a turbo are you going to be putting on that straight 6??? I say after the first few Autocross passes... that youll be itching for a nasty little SBC.

Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

No turbo, it'll be running triple side draft Dellorto's. I'll be happy if it runs in the 13's, don't care if it's high or low 13's. I think 350-375 hp is do-able with the six, and that should get it well into the 13's if it weighs around 3600 pounds. I think between the six cylinder and an aluminum trans I should be able to keep the weight down somewhat. I'm building a stroker motor for the Bug for when I want to go fast!

Going by an online 1/4 mile calculator:

325hp/3600LB= 13.68 ET

350hp/3600LB= 13.35 ET

375hp/3600LB= 13.04 ET

Of course that's assuming that it hooks up and is geared decent. Raising the trailing arm mounts and moving the tank to the back will help it hook, and it'll have 4.56 gears since a T56 is double overdrive.

Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

Thanks James!


Got the wheel from MalibuKasey in the mail today and the Nova rings are going to be perfect! The Nova wheel is identical to the truck wheel so the rings are a dead-on match for the rim profile. Now I'll have to figure out how to make indentions on the truck wheel to fit the rings...


http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/9795f70c.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/18763ed2.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/93669ab8.jpg

Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

Love how the steering wheel is turning out!

Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

subscribed

Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

Thanks guys!


Well, I took the worst roadtrip of my life yesterday evening. I found a cheap ($600 bucks!) T56 on craigslist tuesday night, and made a deal to buy it wednesday morning. Only problem was, it was in Cherokee NC, and I've been sick since tuesday with a nasty cold, so I didn't really feel like driving 240 miles round-trip to pick it up. I'm a sucker for a deal though, and sure didn't want anybody else to grab it before I did, so we decided to go ahead and get it last night. It started POURING rain about an hour before we got there, to the point of not being able to see 500 feet infront of the truck. About halfway home the dayquil wore off, making the trip even more miserable, but it was worth it. The scenery sure was nice when it wasn't raining. It's not in the pics, but it came with bellhousing too. It's from a wrecked '94 LT1 Z28 with 58,xxx miles on it.



http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/8ccd30ee.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/f9b0c2cc.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/27bf9960.jpg

Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

Like I said!! well worth the drive for a killer score! The deals are out there and you seem to finding some good ones. The direction your truck is going in... its going to get ALOT of well deserved attention!

Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

Been keepin my eye open on craigslist and ebay for 64-66 parts, and it's surprising how many good deals are out there if you look often enough. Last Friday I found a '66 only tach and air pressure gauge cluster for $245 shipped, Buy It Now on ebay. It had only been posted a few minutes when I found it so I jumped on it before anybody else did- it should get here tomorrow or saturday. There was a tach dash on ebay yesterday for $199 BIN or Make an Offer; it lasted less than two hours. Cleaned up, those tach gauge clusters have been going for $500+ so I was thrilled to find one half price.



I'll buy a set of decals to restore the gauge faces, get a new lens, blast/paint the frame and use it in Goldilocks. I may take the tach out though, use a modern 8k rpm tach and have a new face made that has the original look and fonts, but go to 8k rpm instead of 5k. North Hollywood Speeometer takes old gauges and puts modern guts in them, while keeping the old look so I may use them to redo the tach. The air pressure gauge will be perfect to keep check on the pressure in the air bag's tank.

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/7a33dd7c.jpg

Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

I did some digging around and found the gear ratios for the T56 and plugged them into a gear ratio calculator to figure out what r&p ratio I'll need. Looks like a 4.56 will be a good match if I use 29" tall tires. I'm just guessing on the tire size though. I plugged in 1500, 1800, 2000, 3000, and 6500 RPM to see what the speeds would be in each gear.

Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

No wonder I can't find any ( tach dash ):lol: man hope you feel better.

Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

A couple of great scores. I'm looking to pick up a t56. I'm a ways off from needing it but I'm always looking. I hope I get as lucky as you did. By the way, the steering wheel is looking great. I picked up a 65 car wheel that I'm restoring. I used the same epoxy and it turned out great. I haven't painted mine yet. Have you decided on what paint to use?

Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

Ya snooze, ya lose! I'm pretty much back to normal, thanks!


Thanks, I'll be lightly spraying it with Bull Dog adhesion promoter first, then a coat of PPG DP90 over the whole wheel. I'll let that sit a day, scuff it, and then shoot Slick Sand over everything except the textured area. I'll dry sand the slick sand smooth with 120/180 grit, then spray a coat of K36 high build and wetsand it with 500. I think I'm going to use Spies Hecker just like I did on the blue '65 since I'm familiar with it and had good results with it on the '65s interior. I'll do base/clear on the wheel even though they weren't shiny from the factory; if I used a satin finish it would get worn spots and eventually turn shiny around the rim from use. This way it'll keep an even shine all over, and I like the contrast from the satin interior to the glossy wheel and column.


Here's the wheel and column in the '65.
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...toshoot009.jpg

Re: Project Goldilocks, '66 C10 SWB BBW Build
 

Got some work done on the gauge cluster. I dug around and found a repro lens that was left over from the blue '65 build. It had some pretty rough shelf wear when I recieved it, so the company sent me another one to replace it. I spent some time buffing it out and it actually cleared up all the way- I really wasn't expecting the plastic to buff out that well. The background panel was faded so I scuffed it and resprayed it with low gloss black, and I also masked out the gauge faces and repainted the needles with a pinstriping brush. I've got a set of decals for the gauge faces ordered so the gauges will look 100% new as well. The numbers on the odometer were flaking and peeling off, but I've got two parts gauges that have better odometers in them. I should have it back together later this week when the rest of the parts come in.

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/999f16c4.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/4dff3989.jpg



I picked these bulb housings up at a swap meet, they've got a narrow spot beam pattern for long distance visibility and take H3 bulbs. I'll put 100W bulbs in them and wire them up to come on with the high beams. I should be able so see pretty good between these and H4's with 80/100W bulbs! My VW has nearly the same lighting set-up, and I can easily see 1/4 mile down the road. Still gotta find some chrome housings to put them in. The "For Rent" tag was too cheap to pass up; been thinking about running it on the front bumper. :lol:


http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/77fea2d0.jpg



Similar, slighly smaller lights on my VW, with only 70W bulbs in the spot housings. I had them tinted yellow at one point with electrical tape X's over them (rally/road race style) but that blocked alot of the light output, so they're back to clear now. They help out some on the bug, but it's dropped so low (3" ride height) that probably 1/3 of the light is aimed down on the road right in front of the car.


http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/f8d4eabb.jpg

http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/777321.jpg