1966 "find and fix"

[T and S]

Just picked this up yesterday. A friends step-dad has owned this truck since 1969. After his passing it went up for sale.
The truck has 59710 miles on it, and is very solid.
250 straight six
3 on the tree
original wood in bed, still solid as a rock.
very little rust, and I mean VERY LITTLE!

Only draw back is that at some point he removed the spark plugs and left them out, so the motor is stuck.

more pics soon

[hopped up]

Wow! Very nice truck! You're very lucky to have found a clean original truck that looks to be in great shape, let's see the interior

[cutb4udye]

good starting project!

[DPowers]

Nice score- plans?

[T and S]

cut wood for 5 hours today, crap I'm tired! Anyhow more pics as promised. As for as what I am going to do with this truck ? Plans are to get it running and driving first. I am mostly looking at reliability and drivability. Maybe some rally wheels. I am old school, so thinking rebuilding the stock suspension, new springs at stock height. Still thinking it out as I go.

[firemanjimtfd]

Squirt some marvel mystery oil in each cylinder and let set for a day or so. Try turning motor back and forth it will probable loosen up.

[gimmy 64]

nice truck . I would find another 250 and put in and do brakes and drive it. inline 6's are cheap because everyone takes them out to do a v8

[T and S]

I'm going to try to get this motor running. I think soaking the rings will free it up. It sat in a closed garage on a concrete floor since 1980, I don't know how long it sat with the plugs out, I'm thinking it is probably not rusted to bad. At this point their is nothing to loose by giving it a try.

[McMurphy]

Either the Mystery Oil or a healthy shot of PB Blaster in each cylinder should do the trick.
If that truck is numbers matching, you may consider doing a back to factory restoration on it.
All original rigs are getting harder and harder to find the older they get, and when they are discovered they fetch a pretty fair price.

Congrats though, no matter what you do with it!! Sharp looking truck

[Jeff La]

You found a really nice truck, good luck with the engine

[sodly]

It would be a real shame to alter the great originality of that truck. From what I can see of it, you might be AMAZED at how well that original paint (in a rare color, no less) might buff out. The original wheels/caps and the cool bed side extensions just seal the deal, at least for me. With such low miles what would be wrong with the factory springs? Sure, the brakes will need attention but the stock setup should do everything you need. At any rate, hope you don't make any alterations that can't be undone (like paint... yikes!). Can't wait to see it all cleaned up.

[TJ's Chevy]

I agree with Sodly. I am an old school person as well. I like the old school looks..but a hotrod drivetrain. I am hotrodding the 6 banger in my truck, Just cause I can and I like to do something different. Nice truck and I second the Marvel Mystery oil part. Hope all works out.

[Ta2Don]

At this point all I can do is agree with McMurphy and Sodly. Nice Score!

[T and S]

Put 4oz of marvel in each cylinder today. I am going to let it soak a couple of weeks. Also found these jewels in the glove box, original owners manual, warranty book, all still in the plastic sleeve, and registration from 1969. I also rubbed out a little spot on top of front fender, I think she will shine up just fine with a little elbow grease.

[McMurphy]

If you add some penetrating oil to your car wax you can get beautiful results faster...
A small tid bit I learned recently from one of the pros around here....

[Jeff La]

Shoot some Kroil in those cylinders and rock the engine a little when you do it. Do that for a few days and it'll come loose.

[aggie91]

Nice find. I agree with the others, leave it be with a good clean up and rub out on the paint. Don't change anything that can't be changed back. From the pictures, I don't see the need to do a full restoration yet. That truck still has some life left before a restoration. Preserve what you got and enjoy it for a long time.

[T and S]

Pick of engine. Added more oil to cylinders today.

[oem4me]

WOW! Boy, do I like this truck! I too will stoke the keep it orig fire. What a beaut! I'm looking right through that dirt, and I see a real gem. SCORE!

[TJ's Chevy]

Originally Posted by T and S

Pick of engine. Added more oil to cylinders today.

Little soap and warm water and it looks like that engine will clean up really nice.

[60-66]

this truck is making me drool

Nice find, Congrats !

[Bigru]

Nice score..

[chevyrestoguy]

They're only original once, and you've got a very nice example. When it warms up enough to give that truck a 100% clean-up all the way down to the nooks and crannys, you are going to be blown away at how that truck is going to look. I think that it'll be a good resource to us guys who like factory grease pencil marks and torque paint markings.

I like your decision to take your time on freeing up the engine. I'm pretty confident that your cylinders are going to be OK, but keep oiling them. You want to make sure your rings are free because a stuck ring can snap when you're trying to break it loose. You have a real advantage with your 6 cylinder. It's much easier to ensure that the entire piston and rings are getting oil due to their vertical position. V-8s can be a little more challenging because the oil wants to drain to the lowest point because the piston is sitting at a 90 degree angle. You may even want to consider yanking the valve cover and taking a look and clean the gunk if necessary. Put fresh oil (find one with a high level of zinc in it or add a ZDDP additive) in it and and find a pre-oiler and pump fresh oil through the lifters and get the cam lobes oiled before you fire it off. Chevy 6 cylinders are amazing engines that are incredibly durable. I think that your engine is going to be just fine.

That truck is a time capsule, keep it original.

[T and S]

The only change I am considering is going to a duel master cylinder set-up, mainly as a safety issue . I may do rally wheels, but if I do I am going to keep the original wheels and hub caps and store them.

[1963c-10]

nice find. Hopefully the engine will work out for you. I agree with the rest. Clean it up and drive as is.