Re: Johns 66
 

It's looking good John!

Re: Johns 66
 

liking at how the cab is coming along ....

are you having a butt weld on the corner of the cab or an overlap ?

Re: Johns 66
 

They are gonna butt weld it.....Scribe the panel and cut it and leave a slight gap that they are going to fill with the weld

Re: Johns 66
 

Another Update from Bryan.....The piece you see that he made and tacked up was originally pretty beaten up....it had 1/2 of bondo in it...had several holes...probably from previous poor body work....in essence it was messed up...So he made a new piece and replaced it....Least I know what the other side will look like because it is the same way...not sure how that area got beat up but its getting fixed now.

Re: Johns 66
 

Nice work, looks like the gas tank is staying in the cab??

Re: Johns 66
 

Thanks Robert.....I am gonna leave the tank behind the seat. I have contemplated buying a coating, kinda like NASCAR uses that will help eliminate explosion hazards..... the only things that will not be stock on the truck at this point is the 700R4 tranny, an updated radio that looks like the old one and eventually going to put discs brakes on the front on a 5x5 bolt pattern, plus I am gonna paint the interior a different color and different fabric on the seats.

I bought a bigger tank, I think its 24 gallons that fits behind the seat...it pretty much goes from side to side and fills the entire area behind the seat but uses the stock sender and pickup tube.

Re: Johns 66
 

Love your truck. Mainly because I have the twin. Mine is red with white insert. It has the original 327 with powerglide and factory air..custom cab SWB. My engine is also the original green color and I'll be doing some of the same things. I will be keeping as original as possible. The only thing I may leave changed is the original owner put disc brakes on the front. He did keep the 6 lug hubs. This is the third 66 SWB I've had. Since it has mostly original paint, everybody tells me to leave it the way it is, but I do like the new look verses patina.

Re: Johns 66
 

Thanks D....I also forgot to mention that I am changing the grille as well...I went with a C60 Grille. I still have the aluminum original grille and its in great shape that I will be keeping if I ever wanted to change it out all I would have to do is change the headlight buckets out and put it in.

I see you are new...Thanks for stopping by and don't be a stranger!!!

Re: Johns 66
 

The cab is starting to look really good! My truck got hit in the rear at some point and the bed was pushed in to the cab on the passenger side, so I am going to need the same repair.
Where did you get that gas tank? I wouldn't mind having a bigger tank in mine, but I still want to keep the tank in the cab

Re: Johns 66
 

Christian...I bought it at Classic Parts...Its a 24 gallon tank

https://www.classicparts.com/1960-66...tinfo/23-927B/

I cant remember how much I paid for it because it has been awhile....but I think I signed up for their email updates and bought it on sale.

Re: Johns 66
 

That's not too bad. I did not know that someone repoped the in cab tanks. Thanks for the link!

Re: Johns 66
 

That is my philosophy for the entire truck...purchase and forget....at least that is what I tell the wife..."huh...what did what cost? I don't remember, not much!"

Re: Johns 66
 

Hey, still looking at your old posts. The quadrajet had a small metal tag and one of the top cover screws. It had a number on it. Mine matched to the 327. Sometimes if the carburetor was rebuilt, they left it off. Still following all your posts.

Darrell

Re: Johns 66
 

I'm wondering..do you have the P/N off the intake manifold? Do you know where I can get the piece that goes under the thermostat that has the fitting for the bypass hose?

Re: Johns 66
 

Also, can you give me the green engine paint info. Sorry, just going through the same stuff.

Re: Johns 66
 

For the minimal price difference of an under bed Blazer tank, I would never replace an in cab gas tank.

Many years ago I had someone close to me burn to death in the cab of a truck after being in a wreck that she would have otherwise survived.

Re: Johns 66
 

That is horrible! Always heard horror stories of those gas tanks and the old Ford Pinto gas tanks.

I was lucky and the PO moved the tank to the rear (with a small gas tank..that i upgraded), but even if he didn't, I would have anyway even if I was doing as close to an original restoration as I could...Maybe mock it up behind the seat to look correct, but have the actual tank under the bed. I am thinking of putting the filler neck back on the cab (blocked off) for looks.

Re: Johns 66
 

Yeah my tag was long gone by the time I got it.

Im not sure what the part number is on the intake....I had a time trying to find the water pump bypass fitting, luckily Yelmer found me one.

If you get with Andy....Roll_The_Dice he will have the code...I think it is Alpine Green but its been awhile since I painted mine.

This thing nickels and dimes you to death...in my case 20's and 50's....LOL

I am so sorry for your loss....Ironically I had a friend who died in a car fire because he was unable to get the seatbelt unlatched, this was many years ago....and it took a long time before I would even touch a seatbelt. I thought about putting it under the frame and at the time I bought it I simply was gonna have to change the rear main seal because it was leaking......boy how wrong was I then. Little did I know what depths that seal would take me.


I have heard a lot of stories about exploding gas tanks, especially in the Pintos and I know it wont be good if I get hit in the cab corner.....at some point I may change it but since I have already bought it I will use it. I would need a lot of fab work to make it look like I would want with the filler neck coming out of the side...I am gonna get Bryan to weld me a bracket on the frame rails in case I choose to do it later. My thoughts are if I were to do that I would go with either the Holley Sniper, or Fitech Fuel injection systems....but that is a long ways away......gonna do the discs first and rear axles, Power steering and Maybe AC.....The never ending project..lol

Re: Johns 66
 

Never ending project indeed! I just ordered John's (CaptainFab) booster bracket with clutch MC. I feel I am getting closer to start putting things back on the truck rather than taking them off.

I went with the FITech Fuel injection. Can't wait to get to the point of actually using it! haha

Re: Johns 66
 

Hey, found a NOS bypass hose and new take-off thermostat bypass spacer. Got it while I could.

Re: Johns 66
 

This pic was when I painted it///I put plugs but have since found the correct fitting....The local Napa store had a bypass hose for 9.00 so not too bad

Re: Johns 66
 

I like the engine color :lol: Your paint job turned out great!

Re: Johns 66
 

Trust me it looks better in the pic..lol. Only issue I had was that it wasn't heat paint so when the intake got hot it kinda turned it brown a lil bit...Plus I had to replace the water pump after this cause it LEAKED...so when I put a wrench on the bolts it cracked the paint a lil bit but as we say...It aint a Show Truck...LOL

Re: Johns 66
 

Lol at least it's all one color! My block and heads are still orange, but I don't feel like pulling the engine back out to clean, prep, and paint. The oil pan, intake, valve covers, timing cover, and water pump were all pulled off the engine, so they got paint, but I was trying to make power tour so I skipped painting everything else

Re: Johns 66
 

I painted some bolts yesterday that I know will chip when I install them, but I figured I could touch them up better than paint the entire bolt while they are installed. Maybe we should trademark..."it aint a show truck"™ haha

Re: Johns 66
 

Nah....we just gotta make some T-shirts...bet we could sell them

Re: Johns 66
 

Get a good design on the shirts, and I bet they would sell. I'd wear one proudly :lol:

Re: Johns 66
 

Well not too much done today since today is kinda dreary and overcast but you know what makes a dreary and overcast brighten up? Yeah I know the Sun...and Son but besides those...You wanna know what makes a dreary day bright?...….Wait for it...…..


CHROME

Yes sports fans we got some CHROME today...specifically my grille came back from Electroplating of El Paso and it looks AWESOME!!!! If I had to grade it I would give it a 9.5 out of 10.....because there is only one thing that is perfect.....

So I went ahead and put the headlight buckets back in, I have new adjusters and springs coming for it....I have painted the retaining nuts with POR15...just waiting to let them dry......To give you an idea of what it did look like I will post a couple of before and after pics. I still have to paint the center CHEVROLET and the back center brace …...so you be the judge of it...…….

Re: Johns 66
 

And now for the after.....I put the headlight buckets in on the ole work bench...AKA The Kitchen Table...lol

Some may not like it and that's ok...I still have the original grille if I ever wanna change it back....but kinda doubt it....It will make GREAT Wall Art.

Yall know I had to get my girl some bling for Valentines Day...LOL

Re: Johns 66
 

That looks awesome. I love it...and love the big truck grille. Now I need one...someday! I thought you were going to chrome "Chevrolet" also, but I think painted will look nicer...make it stand out more.

Re: Johns 66
 

Nah...Ill Paint it like this...I took this idea from Maggies truck build...I think it looks really trick...although not original...it should have been ..lol

This is what it will look like when finished completely....This is Maggies Truck

PS...I know where there is one at...jus sayin

Re: Johns 66
 

Ooooh shiney Looks absolutely beautiful :metal:

Re: Johns 66
 

Hey John, not sure if you have decided on what color between the trim on the bed and door, but I wanted to let you know that I saw a 65 c10 or c20 long fleet custom cab that was white with the same red/maroon stripe that yours had. Unfortunately I was not able to get a pic of the truck, but it looked like it might have been original paint. It's not far from the house, so I might be able to head back up there in a couple of days to snag a pic

Re: Johns 66
 

That would be so cool Christian....I am gonna go back white with the red stripe.

Re: Johns 66
 

Sweet, I think that will look great. I'll see if I can get a chance to head that way later this week. Got two tests this week, so those come first

Re: Johns 66
 

The grille looks great John!

Re: Johns 66
 

They say in life you should always be learning...Well I was Baptized by fire today.....and in the process learned many things...learned what I didn't know, and learned a lil bit about doing body work...some do's and a lot of dont's

I block sanded both beds, the header panel, rear cross brace, and the cowl piece....My initial intent today was get everything sanded with 80 grit and spray epoxy primer and 2 coats of high build tomorrow...That was the plan......the best laid plans of mice and men as they say.

I did get all the parts sanded with 80 and had some glazing putty with me and decided that I would fix some of the small areas...LOL..YEAH RIGHT

First thing I learned is glazing putty sets up quick...real quick. Maybe I used too much hardener...but anyways I finally got what I thought would be enough spread and started block sanding with 80 grit again...and quickly realized that I was wasting my time...but got it all sanded down. I see now why they smear filler over the whole panel and then sand it off....I had highs and lows with the glazing putty.....basically I would have had a wavy bed side....I mainly was concentrating on the inside of the bedside and after trial and error most of the day I think tomorrow I will smear filler on all the flat area, wood upward.

I also learned what a properly blocked area looks like and while it was a small area I now know what I am looking for when blocking, also learned that when you apply filler/putty that you need to use a longer block.

All in all it was a good day, didn't get a lot of progress but learned what to do going forward ……..So the new plan is to get all the filler work done, get the panels blocked down to 180 then I will epoxy prime and the 2 coats of high build primer, then block down dry 220 then 400 then wet sand 500 then 600....My hopes are that will get me good enough to put color and clear on it.

Any advice is greatly appreciated. I think this is a learning process and the more I do the better I will get and learn what to do and what not to do.

At this point I am not really sure how much the high build primer will cover.....hopefully I will have these 4 pieces done by Saturday then epoxy and high build them

Re: Johns 66
 

Looks great John....

Re: Johns 66
 

Looks good!

Re: Johns 66
 

Thanks fellas.....more in next post