Newbie with 66 Fleetside in Washington
 

Howdy, Just a short introduction. Been lurking and reading the past few days, love this forum.

I acquired a 66 fleetside pickup about 20 years ago. My grandfather bought it new at the end of 65. 6 cyl. 3 spd. The truck had 54,000 miles when I got it, and it is up to just over 60,000 now. Unfortunately the truck sat for several years with a burned out clutch and due to family dispute over ownership and who should pay for the repair it sat parked. I wasn't about to put money into fixing it until I had the title in my hand. It was finally "officially" given to me after sitting for about 4 years waiting and I finally got the title, but it had sat for several years not being started and the motor suffered from the neglect. :( One of the saddest days was when I fired it up and covered the neighborhood in blue smoke. I put in the new clutch and drove it anyway for a few years always hoping I could rebuild the motor soon. It smoked really bad, had very little power, and needs brakes totally redone, but it was drivable. Other than that it is a very clean, straight, truck with minor rust. Then more bad, since the brakes went out I haven't driven it in 10 years but I just can't part with it so there is sat. I decided I need a project so it is time for a total rebuild, from the ground up. I am ready and excited. I will be dragging it into the garage soon to start and I know I will have lots of questions. I am debating on keeping it a total stock rebuild or going more modified. Stock brakes or disc upgrade, 6 cyl or v8, factory colors or upgraded paint job? So many questions and no clue which way I will go yet. Finding this forum will be a wonderful resource and I look forward to contributing as well picking your brains for help. I will post pics once I pull it out of the field and give it a bath. I'm to embarressed to let anybody see it in the condition it is in right now. :)

Re: Newbie with 66 Fleetside in Washington
 

:welcome2: to the board from Mid-MO!!!

Re: Newbie with 66 Fleetside in Washington
 

Welcome to the board from Texas

Re: Newbie with 66 Fleetside in Washington
 

Welcome from FT Worth TX.

Re: Newbie with 66 Fleetside in Washington
 

:welcome2: From CT!

Frank

Re: Newbie with 66 Fleetside in Washington
 

welcome to the board from just down the road from you in Bothell. I have a buddy with a '66 3/4 ton 4wd long bed. It's a tough work truck.

As for the restoration, do what you want. It's your truck. Sure, they'll be purists who will bock if you modify it, but they'll be guys who look at it and want to chop the top if you keep it stock. Just have fun.

Re: Newbie with 66 Fleetside in Washington
 

welcome from Mount Vernon

Re: Newbie with 66 Fleetside in Washington
 

Welcome to the board from South Mississippi!:D

Re: Newbie with 66 Fleetside in Washington
 

Wow bouncy, we're almost neighbors!

I understand what you're saying about the restore, I've seen some pics of really nice trucks on this forum from both worlds. I'm not into dropping and chopping personally, but I like what others have done. Wish I had the talent to do what others have accomplished. I have much respect for the hours, $$, and skill that have been put into their rides and love to see them at the car shows, I just don't want to own one myself.

Here's my delema, the truck is still all stock and I've always dreamed to keep it looking like it just rolled off the showroom floor, but I don't like the tan/bronze color and I want it to be a DD so maybe some upgrades would be better. My wife wants it to be more useful as a truck, swap the gutless stock 6 for a built v8, move the 3 on the tree to a 4 on the floor, beef up the suspention to actually hold a load of dirt or bark (she likes gardening), upgrade brakes so it will stop, and paint it a nice color and not what she refers to as baby poop brown. :) I don't totally disagree with her.

I won't know what I'm going to do until I start pulling stuff off and working on it.

I also have a 48 and 49 F-1 trucks that my dad drove when I was a kid. They haven't run in 35 years. (please don't kick me off for having them old trucks, I respectfully didn't use the "f" word.) :) I've thought about selling them but held onto them for my kids hoping one of them would take on the project. They are all driving geo's instead...well at least geo was sold by Chevy. :lol: Maybe one of the grand kids will someday want them.

Re: Newbie with 66 Fleetside in Washington
 

:welcome2:from PortOrchard WA

Re: Newbie with 66 Fleetside in Washington
 

:welcome2: from Knoxville Tn....

Re: Newbie with 66 Fleetside in Washington
 

welcome to the boards

Re: Newbie with 66 Fleetside in Washington
 

welcome from RENTON

Re: Newbie with 66 Fleetside in Washington
 

Welcome to the board from West Tennessee.

Re: Newbie with 66 Fleetside in Washington
 

hi, welcome to the boards from crockett, texas

Re: Newbie with 66 Fleetside in Washington
 

welcome to the board! from TEXAS

Re: Newbie with 66 Fleetside in Washington
 

Welcome - very cool that your grandfather bought it new.

Re: Newbie with 66 Fleetside in Washington
 

Welcome From Knoxville Tn!!!