New to the forum

[Dhrider75]

As many of you have already seen this is my 66 step side.



My name is Josh and I'm from Petaluma CA. I have my own buisness doing custom metal fabrication(mostly custom fences and other iron work). This truck serves as my work truck but I still have to put my logo on it. Anyway just wanted to say hello and thank you all for all of the great info on this site. I have been lurking for a while and now that most of the work is fininshed on my truck I thought I would say hi. I wish I could make the truck meet but I will be out of town. I will definatly come to any future meet.

One quick question. Where is a good spot to start trouble shooting the fuel gauge? When the truck is on it says full all the time( I guess I get good mileage ) and when the key is off it goes down to about 1/2 a tank.

Thanks in advance

Josh

[LILRED66]

Josh:

Welcome from Overland Park, KS. Nice work on your truck. My father and brother are metal fabricators, but neither have a cool ride like yours. I bet you get a lot of attention in this rig.

With regards to the fuel gage. I think you have the fuel gage gremlins. I recently struggled with this issue. Make sure your fuel sending unit is 30 ohms. Some of the aftermarket units being sold are 90 ohms and this creates an issue with the gage reading properly. I replaced the fuel gage and fuel sending unit and made sure the wire from the dash fuse block to the sender was in good order. Also, double check the ground wire from the sending unit to the screw hole above the sender. Sometimes when this area is repainted, the ground is compromised. I am not versed with the multi-meter, however this will usually isolate your problems, as well.

Good luck with your gage issue and welcome aboard.

Tony

[62ChevyStep]

Josh,

Welcome from New Mexico - Sweet truck!

Originally Posted by LILRED66

Make sure your fuel sending unit is 30 ohms. Some of the aftermarket units being sold are 90 ohms and this creates an issue with the gage reading properly. Tony

Tony,

I would love to get my hands on a aftermarket 90ohm sending unit for the stock tank. I have aftermaket gauges (VDO) and a stock tank with a 30ohm unit (doesn't work) either need a new tank in the rear or find a 90ohm for stock tank.

[EAST SIDE LOW LIFE]

Welcome to the board from Vancouver island, B.C.

As far as your fuel gauge goes there has been allot of stuff written lately. Try search and if that doesn't work do a separate thread. My experience has always been wiring at the fuel sender but the experts will be able to pin point this far better then I.

esll/

[krue]

Welcome to the board from South Mississippi!

[hewlett2002000]

Welcome From TEXAS!!!!!! very nice truck. i also have a gauge problem, my fuel gauge does the exact same thing. none of my factory gauges work except the oil pressure and speedometer. volts worked but my wiring is screwed up and i found out something in the cluster was draining my battery so for now its unplugged till i have the time to go through the under dash wiring. im fixing to replace all my gauges with aftermarket gauges anyways. very nice truck.
thanks,
John

[LILRED66]

Factory rules! Stay with the factory gages and get them working. They look cool when they all read properly and are back-lit at night.

[L0WRIDE]

Welcome to the board from New zealand

[hewlett2002000]

i dont know where to get replacement parts to fix the cluster. i know for a fact that the temp gauge is shot. and the fuel gauge works but the wiring is messed up at the tank. if i stick with stock gauges ill probably get a refurb set off ebay. there pretty neat.

[LILRED66]

hewlett2002000:

Send me a personal e-mail at: dynamiccontracting@sbcglobal.net

I can give you some information on factory gage clusters.

Tony

[jchav62]

Welcome from New Mexico...

[slepysal]

WELCOME From the south bay San Jose.
I am running an autometer 30ohm fuel gauge,and it woorks fine with oe sender. If you go witha a 90hm you will need a sender as mentioned but keep in mind that our senders have the fuel feed tube built into it.

[LILRED66]

I believe you can get a 90 ohm sender from most of the aftermarket truck suppliers. Here are a few:

www.lmctruck.com
www.classicparts.com
www.bowtiebits.com
www.oldchevytrucks.com
www.brotherstrucks.com

I hope this helps.

Tony

[six4flat]

another welcome from san jose.....but whats with the green wheels?

[Phildooney]

Hi from across The Pond. Nice Truck!!

[Frizzle Fry]

Welcome From Oregon. I'm originally from Sonoma Ca

[1LoC10]

welcome... very cool looking truck

[Dhrider75]

Thanks for all the kind words. The reason for the green wheels is because everyone does red wheels(I like red). I think green is going to become the new red . I see a lot of old ford model A's with green wheels, thats where I got the idea. Me and my dad are building a 1928 ford roadster highboy with the flat head v8 and he is going with the red wheels. I couldn't convince him otherwise. I finally got the wood in the bed(not a very fun project for one person) and I am very pleased with it. Now the truck is in full work mode. I drive it almost every day and I enjoy it so much. I did notice it dosn't get the gass millege I would hope for(13 mpg ). What do you guys get with the 250 inline 6 in terms of gass millege?

Thanks
Josh

[Captainfab]

Welcome from a fellow fabricator....nice truck

[rickf]

Originally Posted by Dhrider75

Thanks for all the kind words. The reason for the green wheels is because everyone does red wheels(I like red). I think green is going to become the new red . I see a lot of old ford model A's with green wheels, thats where I got the idea. Me and my dad are building a 1928 ford roadster highboy with the flat head v8 and he is going with the red wheels. I couldn't convince him otherwise. I finally got the wood in the bed(not a very fun project for one person) and I am very pleased with it. Now the truck is in full work mode. I drive it almost every day and I enjoy it so much. I did notice it dosn't get the gass millege I would hope for(13 mpg ). What do you guys get with the 250 inline 6 in terms of gass millege?

Thanks
Josh

I got about 16 mpg from a 230L6 when it was running well.
I blame the gearing for such a low figure for highway usage.
Mine was originally bought for a farm truck, 3-speed and ? rear-end.
I don't know if mine is geared lower than standard, but at 50 mph it was comfortable, at 55 it was already breathing hard.

[19GMC63]

very nice work truck, and welcome to the board.
I have one question though, is there a plate or something on the back of the cab corner?

[Dhrider75]

Originally Posted by 19GMC63

very nice work truck, and welcome to the board.
I have one question though, is there a plate or something on the back of the cab corner?

There is no plate, just bed liner that protects where the chains hang.


rickf

As far as the rear end goes I'm not sure I will check. This has the original 3 speed and rear end so about 65mph = 3000 rpm. I need to find an overdrive. Do they make any sort of overdrive kit or do I need to look for a whole new tranny?

josh

[Captainfab]

Originally Posted by 19GMC63

very nice work truck, and welcome to the board.
I have one question though, is there a plate or something on the back of the cab corner?

It sounds to me as though you are refering to the piece of sheet metal below and inside of the cab corner and in front of the step? if so that piece comes standard on trucks originally with a stepside bed.It helps keep the step clear of road debris,dirt,mud,snow. etc.

[19GMC63]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

It sounds to me as though you are refering to the piece of sheet metal below and inside of the cab corner and in front of the step? if so that piece comes standard on trucks originally with a stepside bed.It helps keep the step clear of road debris,dirt,mud,snow. etc.

Yes, that is what I was referring too.
I always thought mine looked odd for some reason, I need a set of those.

[gulfcoast66]

fm South Texas!!!!!