New project - keeping it in the family

[Aussie Boy]

Hi - I've just bought my father-in-laws 1965 C10 truck for my wife. Her father passed away many years ago and just last year her mother also passed away. Her brother was selling the truck but after hearing of my wife's memories of the truck I couldn't let it go. So now we have a truck in the US waiting for us while we are living in Australia.

I'm after any hints, tips, tricks or ideas about these trucks given that;
1 - I'm Australian have zero clue about them
2 - I've historically been a Blue Oval fan

We have time on our side and are obviously not in a huge rush but anything is appreciated. I know that personal taste comes in to these projects a heap.

[PGSigns]

Pretty nice solid looking truck. Here is what I would do. Clean it really good from top to bottom. This will give you a good idea of the overall condition. Gonna need a set of tires for sure. I would completely go through the brakes and update it to a duel master cylinder for safety reasons. Then evaluate the engine and see what you have to work with. Never know it may roar back to life with a good cleaning of the fuel system, a new battery and some fresh oil. Then drive the wheels off it.
Jimmy

[62 Barnfind]

Good looking truck! I agree with PDSigns about the condition. Cleaning it up, clay, compound and polish will totally change the look of the truck. I bet a basic tune up will get that truck running good. Does it still have the six or was it changed?

[timmytimm3]

Originally Posted by 62 Barnfind

Good looking truck! I agree with PDSigns about the condition. Cleaning it up, clay, compound and polish will totally change the look of the truck. I bet a basic tune up will get that truck running good. Does it still have the six or was it changed?

Agreed. I'd love to see that truck buffed out.

[Wasted Income]

Very cool! Following.

[flashed]

Very nice old truck ,Im in too.

[Aussie Boy]

Thanks for your support guys. To be honest I hadn't even thought to just buff the body out but I'm thinking that will be the way to go. It would look pretty cool to make the scrapes and scratches a highlight rather than spend big to hide them, they are the trucks (and Dad's) history.

A brake upgrade on the old girl is great too so that one is in the mix - safety too.

As for the rest we'll see. We are about 2 years from being in the US and able to start working on it but I'll try to keep things up to date in here.

Cheers again

[Aussie Boy]

So, we have finally arrived and I have been and visited the truck. A few mixed emotions, but overall I am fairly happy with how things are looking.


Please excuse my finger, still trying to remember where the lens is for the camera


My beautiful wife in her Father's old truck



Although, here is the good news/bad news situation.


Nobody mentioned to me that the motor was in bits, but there is now the option of a new powerplant to replace what is now sitting under the hood and in the cab. I guess it is time to research what kits are available for a fairly painless swap.

[Captainfab]

If you are just wanting another I6 or even a small block, there is no need for any 'kit'. A small block will bolt in right where that I6 is, even using the same motor mounts. Now if you are considering an LS swap, that is a little more involved.

[Aussie Boy]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

A small block will bolt in right where that I6 is, even using the same motor mounts. Now if you are considering an LS swap, that is a little more involved.

That is music to my ears, a small block is exactly what I was hoping for. Maybe down the track there will be a swap to an LS but for now I just want to get this back on the road quickly and without hurting the finances too much.

[cwcarpenter98]

Looks like you have a pretty solid truck to start with! I agree that with a little elbow grease, that paint will shine.

Also, look on Facebook marketplace for some small blocks. I found my 283 there for 400 bucks and it was complete from the intake to the oil pan. I got a great deal there

Good luck on your project, I'll be following along

[Aussie Boy]

Originally Posted by cwcarpenter98

Also, look on Facebook marketplace for some small blocks.

Thanks for the heads up. I've just started scouring Facebook for something to help fill the hole under the hood.

Cheers!!!

[shp4man]

Man, that's a nice truck. The old school Arizona license plate reminds me of my miss-spent youth growing up there- had a truck very similar to that one back then.
You'll need a bigger radiator and a few other small things to put an SBC in there, but it's not much.
I'd go with another 6, but that's just me..

[kdad]

I agree that paint will buff out nicely and an I6 would be my choice.. build on!

[Lokin4AReason]

nice project and glad to see that it ll still remain in the family ....

[Aussie Boy]

A little catch up on progress of our project.



We got the truck to our house, then we had a fire in the garage on August 6th, 2020. The garage door motor fused and dropped molten plastic on some boxes we had stored underneath it. Luckily the truck escaped unscathed mostly, just smoke all over the paint. The landlord was really nice about it all and blamed us - despite the investigators report that it was the garage door motor. She promptly evicted us.

]

The silver lining, we bought our own home - September 27th, 2020. Here is the truck in its new garage (nothing gets stored under the garage door motor).



Fast forward to November 22, 2023. Progress begins, like most truck work, with the bed coming off.



It's in good enough condition that the original timber will be staying. What do you all use to preserve the OG timber? I was thinking of a decking oil?



In the process of cleaning everything up.

[Braunschweiger]

Nice truck, I'm excited to see what you build. Yes, one door closes and another door opens, you were lucky in your misfortune.

[Shifty One]

Fine looking pick-em-up! I'm in for the build as well!

[Aussie Boy]

Thanks for the positive vibes fellas, inspiring to know people are interested in what we all enjoy doing.

The next step was the hood and front clip. Luckily there is YouTube to tell me how many ways I was going wrong with the front clip, but we got there in the end.



Next was the engine, cab and then the transmission. Again, off to YouTube and I built one of the lifting frames to go on to my 2T hoist. This made the task of lifting the cab off so much easier.



On the 6th of January this year, this is all that I was left with. Anything that could be unbolted had been removed. Now it was time to clean and prep, after I had cleaned up all the mess that had been left behind.



The differential went out and was rebuilt. While it was apart I did the swap to a 5 bolt stud. The gearbox went out for a freshen up also. It is the SM420 granny box so that was chore to find somebody that could do it. Found someone a little over an hour away that worked from his backyard - also found a nice bar in that town which made the drive worthwhile.

While the frame was undressed I cleaned it up and applied the Black Out from Sweet Patina. The product applied well, given that the prep may have left a little to be desired, but it is also my first rodeo with any rebuild.



Once the Black Out was applied it was on to the rebuild. Crossmember back in, trailing arms, 3" lowered springs and differential installed.



With the back end taken care of it was time to turn attention back to the front end.



This is definitely a budget build. The only things I have handed off has been the differential, gearbox and engine. I am regretting the engine though. It has been out for machining for 10 weeks and that is where everything has stalled now. I want to install the engine before the cab, so for now I am pottering around prepping a whole lot of stuff, ready to get a call about the engine. It has been difficult to get people to work on these I6's, everyone wants to work on SBC and LS's.

[Pick121]

Wow glad to see this build resuscitated and alive & well! Just need to get that engine back, then it will be on the road in no time

[shp4man]

Much as I love 6 bangers, that old block is probably just a boat anchor. A small block Chevy V8 would be way easier for you. They're common as dirt and readily available.