Grandpa’s 63 C10 build

[J Williams]

This truck carries some history. I am the third generation in my family to drive this truck since my grandpa purchased it brand new in 63. I have been slowly doing little things here and there since I was 15 years old.... now 37 and looking forward to my son or daughter to be the 4th generation Williams to enjoy this vehicle. So to start I pulled the I6 292 out my senior year in high school auto class and put a 350 I built into it. I left the stock transmission and most other stock parts in so after several years later I am back at it. In the next several months..... maybe years I will be fixing it up to drive. I will post my build as I go.

[J Williams]

One of the first things I figured I would want my kids to have was something I never had in this truck and that’s a little safety. So I found a front seat out of a 2002 Chevy suburban. I had to do a little fab work but they fit great. As you can see the center console/ seat sits a little high in the front. I will be pulling it back out and cutting the legs down to make it fit. These seats are perfect because not only did I gain the built in seatbelts but I also gained the luxury of power seats.

[J Williams]

The next couple things I wanted to do were for safety and luxury as well. As you can tell from most of my posts this will be done on a cheap budget. I had an old truck on the farm that a guy wanted, he had a 78’ Chevy that I could rob parts off for my 63. So we did some swapping. With the help of non other than Cpt. Fab, a lot of you know him on here for his parts. I added power steering, power brakes and a hydraulic clutch for the soon to swap NV3500 transmission. I pulled the whole front clip out of the 78 and bolted it in adding disk brakes and radial suspension.

[J Williams]

Here is a picture of the hydraulic clutch master cylinder mounted on the bracket from Cpt Fab.

[J Williams]

Over the next couple weeks I will be installing the NV3500 transmission I have out of a 90’s 1500 pickup. I also have the rear end out of the 78’ Chevy that I want to mount up. I ask that if you are reading this and you have ideas or tips or see something I did that won’t work or you have seen or know will fail, please by all means let me know. I always appreciate a little insight and wisdom.

[LostMy65]

Grandpa's truck! Good for you!

[J Williams]

Originally Posted by LostMy65

Grandpa's truck! Good for you!

Thanks, as you know from your 65 it’s always fun working on something with history!

[raylube]

Awesome truck. My wife is from Burley and her sisters family live and farm in Paul. Hope to see it sometime.

[J Williams]

I am actually from Paul as well. Hopefully soon it will be rolling around!

[J Williams]

Okay, so I lowered the engine back in and went to bolt it to the new front cross member and my engine mounts don’t line up. Could use some tips here. I replaced the whole front cross member out of a 78’ Chevy gaining the disk brakes. I used the same engine mounts that I had in it prior to pulling the 350... these are actually the same engine mounts that the original l6 292 rested on. They have been moved to the forward location so my new transmission, the NV3500 shifter will be in the same location. I got the left side mount bolt in then moved to the right side and the engine mount sits about 2” too high on the mount. Any ideas what will work?
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[Clyde65]

should only require you to drill the mount in the crossmember

[J Williams]

Originally Posted by Clyde65

should only require you to drill the mount in the crossmember

I didn’t have to drill any holes on the cross member it’s self or the frame. The holes all lined up. The mounts are mounted to to cross member and frame. The bolt hole just wouldn’t line up on the rubber mounts on the engine itself.
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[Robert Haas]

The Motor mounts sit on top of the frame rail and bolt into the frame and the cross-member.
If the mounts are not upside down or flipped side to side and they bolted up to the old set up.....you are doing something way wrong.

[Captainfab]

The original engine mount brackets are not designed to be used in the forward location. Having the later model crossmember changes the equation some but the center to center measurement of the holes in the brackets for the bolt into the mounts is likely not the correct distance. For the forward location, I always recommend the '67-'72 small block engine mount brackets. those are designed to be used in the forward location.

[J Williams]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

The original engine mount brackets are not designed to be used in the forward location. Having the later model crossmember changes the equation some but the center to center measurement of the holes in the brackets for the bolt into the mounts is likely not the correct distance. For the forward location, I always recommend the '67-'72 small block engine mount brackets. those are designed to be used in the forward location.

I have been looking online and have seen these. The only thing that made me leery about them is the cross member is out of a 78. But I think they should work and I am going to order a set. Thanks man, you have always been a great source of info.... hope you seen one of your brackets holding the brake booster/ hydraulic clutch master cylinder to the firewall!
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[J Williams]

Well another productive weekend. I was going to stab the engine and transmission in but the motor mounts I ordered that stated the rubber mounts came with them... well they didn’t. So I decided to put in the rear axle from the same 78’ Chevy I got the front end off of. We unbolted the old one after bracing it and taking measurements to get the correct pinion angle. Then stripped the cleats off both axles, put the new one in place, tack welded everything in place then removed it and welded it all up. Everything bolted up really nicely. Went from 4.11 to 3.07 gears. That should make a difference!

[J Williams]

Originally Posted by J Williams

Well another productive weekend. I was going to stab the engine and transmission in but the motor mounts I ordered that stated the rubber mounts came with them... well they didn’t. So I decided to put in the rear axle from the same 78’ Chevy I got the front end off of. We unbolted the old one after bracing it and taking measurements to get the correct pinion angle. Then stripped the cleats off both axles, put the new one in place, tack welded everything in place then removed it and welded it all up. Everything bolted up really nicely. Went from 4.11 to 3.07 gears. That should make a difference!

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[J Williams]

Trying to figure out how the heck to add pictures. Not a fan of this new format.
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[J Williams]

Now I am sitting here in a sling after having my bicep re-attached to my shoulder and a rotator cuff repair. Typing this all left handed.... not my dominant hand! So things are probably going to slow down a bit.
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[LostMy65]

Originally Posted by J Williams

Now I am sitting here in a sling after having my bicep re-attached to my shoulder and a rotator cuff repair. Typing this all left handed.... not my dominant hand! So things are probably going to slow down a bit.
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I'm sorry. That stinks. Hoping for a quick recovery.

[J Williams]

Originally Posted by LostMy65

I'm sorry. That stinks. Hoping for a quick recovery.

Well 3 months with a 1lb lifting restriction then the next 3 months will build up from there. But I also have a couple hella good friends that are going to assist me in my one arm restoration! So this build will continue!
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[Big Daddy Bear]

Don't over do it, take it easy and heal, the truck and all of us will be here when you are able to continue!

[J Williams]

Haha, well you sound like everyone else who knows I have a project in the shop. And you’re right, I just get so dang bored. About 6 years ago I had my bicep re-attached to my left arm. A week after surgery my wife pulled in the driveway and since I didn’t have the shop at the time she caught me putting the under bed gas tank in. Boy was I in trouble! I think I will try and stay away from it; probably good advice

[J Williams]

Well, I decided to order a wiring harness. Too many wires are looking like they are 57 years old! I decided on the Speedway 910-64022 harness. Some other people on here have spoken highly of them. Have any of you guys used one of these? I am a novice at electrical so this will be a little bit of a challenge.
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[J Williams]

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