ChevyMike's '65 Hot Rod C10

[chevy_mike]

Well, I have been working my '68 C10 project, Hot Rod Hauler, for the last year and a half. This was only to be a quick 6 month project but as things happen, one thing led to another and it became a full frame off build. During this time I have been totally wanting a running/driving classic vehicle and had been looking at old Nova's, El Camino's and even classic (pre '70) vans. As it would be, I found a good deal on this '65 C10 and pulled the trigger. This ended up looking just about how I wanted to do my last '64 that I sold when I bought the '68 project. I want to keep this one kind of old school hot rod.

As for the body, it is fairly straight but has 45 years of bumps and dings. It was rattle can primered, then rattle can satin black and white. Overall it's a 20 footer and looks much better in pics but at this point, it runs and looks decent. The interior is plain and had "some car bench" seat that wasn't really even bolted down. It also had two sets of wheels/tires but due to issues with either set of the tires or wheels, it wasn't riding on a matching set front to rear. No worries as I had my old '68 bench seat and some different wheels at home. Also, a rear roll pan was installed too.

The suspension had been swapped over to a '73+ disc brakes on the front and 5 lug rear end with some decent highway gears in the back. The front was lowered with some Ground Force 3" dropped springs and for some reason, a PO swapped the trailing arm setup for a leaf spring setup. They also did a shackle hanger reversal and lowering shackles. At some point I'll swap back to a trailing arm setup but for now it works okay.

The engine and transmission are fairly decent. Strong 350 SBC and a SM465 4 speed (granny first). It has an Edelbrock carb and Performer EPS manifold along with a set of Hooker headers. This is all flowing out a set of Flowmaster mufflers. It was also converted to an HEI distributor and MSD wires. I'm going to run the engine until it needs to be replace and will swap the tranny for a real 4 speed. Either a T10 or Muncie, depending on what I find a deal on.

The biggest problem the truck had was electrical (don't most old vehicles, due to previous owners). It was a mess and I am lucky I made the 150 mile drive home. The day after I got it home, I went to start it and found the positive battery cable had melted thru on the headers and was sparking. Also none of the running or brake lights worked, nor did it charge. A very good buddy of mine, who does auto electrical work, came over and in 11 hours, we got everything working correctly. Lights, charging, new gauges, etc.

With that done, it was still not running 100%. My pop came over and we did some tune up work. New plugs, got the timing set correctly and hooked up the vacuum advance. Now she starts and purrs like a lion (no kitten here). LOL

I also decided to use my slot mag wheels on this truck instead of the '68. I just think they look better on this body style and truck rallys on the '68, so that's the plan. Wheels are 15x7 front, 15x8.5 rear with BFG 235/70-15 front, 255/70-15 rear. White letters out and it just looks like a hot rod should.

Future projects are to swap over to power steering and power brakes. I forgot what it was like to arm wrestle an old truck. Went to the junk yard today and bought a PB booster and I have a new master cylinder and prop. valve from the '68's Early Classics drop kit, that I am not using on that truck since I went to 4 wheel discs. I also started to setup some tailgate cables as one of the PO had shaved the tailgate chains.

Well I guess that was long enough, time for some pics.

The just arrived home pics





Side view with old wheel/tire setup



Ahhh... Slot Mags and BFG's, what could be better...



Engine shots







Interior after adding gauges and '68 seat



That's it for now. Hope you enjoyed the story. Stay tuned for more to come...

[bubba327]

Looks like a great project The new tires are good but the whitewalls in the rears really made it cool!! Welcome to the joys of a old truck !!

[AZ66GMC]

Nice ride! Looks like a great start to a cool project


Tony

[chevy_mike]

Installed tailgate cables. Write up can be found here.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=415879

[chevy_mike]

Really didn't take any pics but did a few projects today.

1st, installed the glove box door catch on the dash so now my glove box will latch closed.

2nd, installed a set of Cherokee door stops which work great as now the door has two spot it will hold open. No more slamming my leg in the door when parked on hills.

3rd, installed some headlight bezels I got from another member here. Definitely looks much better.

4th, replace the speedometer head in my dash as the original one went nuts, made some horrorable sounds and finally broke the needle off. Got another one, cleaned and lubed it up and installed it in my gauge cluster. Now it works correctly and the needle is stable. Based on my GPS, I am reading about 5 mph slower than actual speed.

Not too bad for an afternoon's worth of work. Now I just need to figure out what I am going to do with the transmission. Not sure if a car type 4 speed, a S-10 T5 swap or go to an auto. Decisions, decisions... Also need to get power brakes and power steering swap going. Oh and sort out the suspension and ... man the list never ends...

[protrash64]

The truck looks killer!!

[fryer1979]

Truck looks good. Subscribing to watch the progress.

[Broke1]

looking good

[chevy_mike]

Thanks for the props guys. Hopefully the next projects will be power steering and brakes. My poor '68 is gettin' no lovin'.

I so have to keep from steeling parts off that project to put on the '65. LOL

[chevy_mike]

Been doing little things over the last month. Swapped out the speedo head unit as my original one freaked out and broke the needle off. Swapped in another bench seat I got of Craigslist. Installed a glove box liner.

Yesterday I tackled a bigger project to correct what a PO had done. They had put in 3" dropped coils up front and in doing so, I only had about 1.5" of travel (at the bump stop area) and it would bottom out all the time. Worn shocks didn't help.

I picked up a set of CPP modular (because they were out of the standard one) spindles with brackets for the stock brake calipers. My plan was to take my left over front springs from my '68 and cut them so between the dropped spindles and cut springs, I would be at the same height I was with the 3" springs.

Well, of course, this weekend we hit a heat wave and it's 90+ outside. I proceeded to take apart the pass. side first, since it was on the shade side. Since the dropped springs (and missing upper A-arm bump stop) did not put any pressure downward, I couldn't use the "hit the spindle with a hammer to pop the ball joints loose" method. I built a simple device that allows me to "expand" the ball joints from the stud side without damaging anything. Worked perfect. With the spindles out, I got the springs removed. Based on info I have read, it seemed like cutting a half coil off my stock '68 springs would be about a 1" drop. I mocked the springs/spindles on that side, put the wheel on and lowered it back down to check. Much to my surprise, it was only 1/4" lower than the driver side. Back up in the air and start tightening everything up.

I took this time to also replace two studs on the pass. side rotor. One was missing and another just didn't feel right. Figured this is the time to do it. Up to NAPA and got a couple new studs and also a new set of sway bar bushings, as the original ones were shot.

Came home and pressed in the new studs and finished up the pass. side. Proceeded to do the driver side. Once both sides were done regarding springs and spindles, I moved onto the shocks and the CPP renforcing bracket for the upper stud. I put a pair of KYB shocks from the '68 project I hadn't installed yet (and decided I am going with Bilstein's). I put the CPP brackup up and marked the holes to drill. Overall that went well on both sides. Now to tackle the sway bar bushing. Found having the supension drooped down would not allow everything to line up. I ended up loosely putting the A-arm brackets on then lower the truck down. Then I was able to get the frame side one to line up. Overall not too bad.

Took it out for a couple trips around the block and man, it's like a different truck!!! No more bottoming out, much smoother ride and way less body roll. Definitely 100% better and worth the work, even in the heat. Didn't take nearly as many pics but for the most part, there are a ton of right ups already on doing this. Here are a couple pics I did take.

All torn apart


3" dropped spring versus uncut stock springs. Took a half coil off the bottom


CPP modular spindle without the brake bracket on

[chevy_mike]

Finally got all the pieces together to put on the valve covers I have been wanting to do since day one. I had picked these up about 4 years ago for the '64 C10 I had but never got working on. I think they fit the theme much better. Took the air cleaner from my '68 C10 project, since it will be a while before it will be on the road. Me happy!

Engine as I bought it, not bad but too "modern" for the vibe.



Very HAPPY surprise when I took them off. Comp Cam roller tip rockers!



New valve covers and air cleaner. Much better!

[DRTYRAT30]

Looks good man

[Wanderlusty]

What kind/where did you get the valve covers? Cool truck!

[chevy_mike]

Thanks for the props guys.

protrash64 - Just do it...

[protrash64]

Originally Posted by chevy_mike

Thanks for the props guys.

protrash64 - Just do it...

Do I need a #3 ????

[chevy_mike]

Originally Posted by protrash64

Do I need a #3 ????

Need... no. Want... Yes!

[protrash64]

.......no doubt!!

[TwoFiftyShifter]

Mike do you happen to have a side pic of the truck at stock height and with the 3" drop coils? Also are those drop shocks that you put on?

Also I'm running slots too, I'm running 275/60/15 out back but need front tires, was thiknig 235/60 or 225/70. what size are you running?

Anyways its a cool ride good job on it.

[chevy_mike]

Originally Posted by TwoFiftyShifter

Mike do you happen to have a side pic of the truck at stock height and with the 3" drop coils? Also are those drop shocks that you put on?

Also I'm running slots too, I'm running 275/60/15 out back but need front tires, was thiknig 235/60 or 225/70. what size are you running?

Anyways its a cool ride good job on it.

I never had the truck with stock springs, so no shots of that. The side view with the slot mags is with the 3" dropped springs and it looks identical now with the cut 1" springs and 2" dropped spindles. The shocks are stock length, since I was only dropping 1" via springs, which relate to shock length. Spindles don't change the shock length. With 3" dropped springs, you would want shorter shocks.

Tires are 235/70-15 up front, 255/70-15 out back.

Hope that helps.

[Shaun1162]

Wow, very cool build! Those new valve covers/air cleaner definately look much better... Not a big fan of flames.There's a 66 C-10 long bed on Craigslist near me that I think you just talked me into going to look at!

[chevy_mike]

Originally Posted by Shaun1162

Wow, very cool build! Those new valve covers/air cleaner definately look much better... Not a big fan of flames.There's a 66 C-10 long bed on Craigslist near me that I think you just talked me into going to look at!

hahaha... the desease spreads.

[chevy_mike]

Well, spent the last 2.5 days installing power steering. Ended up having issues during the install but now that it's done, I LOVE one handing the wheel now!!!!

Here is the build thread I did showing the problems I ran into, http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=437711

Teaser pics

Old


New

[Dudewith4x4]

I love the look your going for. Subscribed.

[chevy_mike]

Well, I haven't done a whole lot since getting the power steering conversion done. Been driving it to shows and cruise nights. Definitely getting the PS installed made it SO much nicer to drive.

During my Christmas break I had planned on also getting my 5 speed swap done but it rained most of those two weeks, I was only able to get the PS conversion done. Last week, the clutch finally gave up and I started having problems so it was time to do the 5 speed swap.

I am documenting this in this thread AX15 5 Speed Conversion

I am in the middle of this but will share a couple pics.

Old SM465 removed (one heavy SOB)


Jeep AX15 5 Speed trans


Novak adapter plate to mount trans to GM bell housing


Check out the conversion thread for more pics and to follow the conversion.

Oh, here's "glamor" shot from a local car show.

[chevy_mike]

Well it has happened, I sold the truck to a guy who had been wanting to buy it for over a year. I has been a great truck and I've been to a bunch of shows and cruises with it but I found something I wanted even more. Sad to see it go but here is what I bought to replace it.

'64 Chevy II Wagon (sorry for the crap cell phone pics)







Still need to get my Panel on the road and then back to the '68 C10.